Why Great Lakes Loops?
I couldn’t find the quality of golf coverage I was looking for, so I decided to create it myself. Michigan is an incredibly deep state for golf, we can do better than simply showcasing the same handful of big name golf resorts in the state. I’m committed to showcasing courses from all across the state, with an emphasis on accessibility, affordability, sustainability, and emphasizing the impact of golf course architecture on enjoyment of the game.
About the author
I grew up in Michigan, playing golf in the Tri-Cities area, competing on the high school golf team, and working for a time at Apple Mountain Golf Club. I pursued a career in coaching basketball, spending time with the men’s basketball team at Eastern Michigan and the Detroit Pistons, before deciding that the coaching lifestyle was not compatible with family life. I lived in Chicago for a short but very enjoyable period of time, despite finding it impossible to golf in the city. Living back in Ann Arbor now, I love how much easier it is to get back on the golf course, especially my “home” course at the University of Michigan. I’m grateful to once again be exploring new courses around the state, sharing my experiences, and doing what I can to help make the game better for everyone.
Get Caught Up
These are some of my favorite and most-viewed posts at Great Lakes Loops:
The Tiers of Michigan Golf 2025
I don’t like course rankings, but I do like separating quality by tiers. This year myself and co-author Brendan Aumann rated 230 courses in the state that we have played, and separated them into tiers ranging from Tier 10, the highest and most unattainable tier, down to Tier 1, the disasters in the state that we cannot recommend.
Where To Find Value Golf In Michigan
Extrapolated from our Tier rankings, I compared value golf options in the Detroit Metro area, Grand Rapids area, Northern Michigan, and the Lansing and Tri-Cities region to see which local golfers have it the best.
Planning Your First Northern Michigan Golf Trip
The most common request I receive from out-of-staters is to recommend where they should play on their first Northern Michigan golf trip. Anyone who has attempted to answer this question before knows it’s a difficult task - there are just too many options. I make my best attempt, starting with an exhaustive and expensive “play everything” trip, down to more regional trips in areas such as Harbor Springs, Traverse City, Gaylord, and Grand Rapids.
Beulah: Northern Michigan’s Most Affordable Golf Trip
Andy Johnson of The Fried Egg put me (and a lot of other people) on to the golf at Pinecroft and Champion Hill. This is a recap of my first golf trip to the area, a trip that we are still taking four years later.
Reimagining Public Golf at Wolf River Golf Park
A perfect complement to the Beulah article, just down the road is Wolf River, where a remarkable and affordable transition has taken place. I’m happy to say that I returned the favor and was able to put Andy Johnson on to this place in 2024.
Loop Links, no. 6: “We didn’t do anything wrong”
Revisiting the disastrous construction story of Arcadia Bluffs, and examining how erosion still plays a big role at the course today.
The Lost Pebble Beach of Coore & Crenshaw
I document the plans for a Coore & Crenshaw golf course on a fantastic site on the Pacific coast in Santa Barbara. The 1990’s project was ultimately derailed due to environmental regulations, but in this two-part series I bring the course to digital life and show what it would have looked like.
Loop Links, no. 18: So Much Drama in the LBC
In this zany story that sort of fell in my lap, I investigate four mysterious golf holes appearing on the map in Charleviox, and uncover a contentious and downright odd fight over zoning restrictions, helicopter buzzings, and one of the most awkward interviews I’ve ever seen.
Consider Supporting the Future of Great Lakes Loops
I am committed to offering free subscribers to GLL a wonderful experience, and keeping you in the loop. If you would like to help me take my coverage even farther and make a bigger impact on the game of golf in Michigan, consider upgrading to a paid subscription to show your support.
I am offering the default recommended subscription plan for $40 per year. With this purchase, I will send you a merch item of your choosing. If you would like to up your support, the founding member plan currently defaults to $80 per year, but is customizable to any amount over $40. For any contribution of $100 or more, I am now offering two merch items sent your way.
Merchandise
I wasn’t happy with the monthly cost of my previous store, so for now merchandise is available through a paid Substack subscription, or by reaching out to me directly to organize an exchange.
I have lots of gloves and stickers still available, and a handful of towels still in my inventory. Keep an eye out for a winter hat option in the future, and a replenishment of towels if the last few are sold.
What Else Do You Have?
Join me on my social channels every weekday as we dig deep through the layouts across the state and in the most remote corners, and see how many you can guess. Courses are revealed around 3pm each day.
Socials
IG/Threads: greatlakesloops
BlueSky: greatlakesloops
Partnership Opportunities
Reach a fast-growing audience of highly-engaged golfers who enjoy visiting courses around the state of Michigan. Partnership opportunities are available for both the newsletter and for social media posts, delivered with exact engagement numbers. Feel free to connect and we can discuss how to increase your club or brand’s visibility in the state.
Digital Rendering
I started a digital golf course rendering hobby a long time ago, back in the days of the Arnold Palmer Course Designer in the Links PC game. These days things go much faster and generally look better with tools such as the course designer in PGA 2K, and real elevation data can be included thanks to a few intrepid golf design enthusiasts with coding skills.
I used this hobby initially to design courses that I wanted to play but never thought I could, such as Merion Golf Club. Then I moved on to using elevation data to make fictional changes to existing courses. Some of my favorite projects:
Rackham Restored - A fictional restoration of the original Donald Ross design in Detroit.
Chattanooga Muni - A fictional restoration of the original Donald Ross design at Brainerd GC in Chattanooga.
Raynor Farms - A fictional redesign of Twin Oaks GC in Freeland, MI, re-imagined as an 18-hole Seth Raynor design.
Dos Pueblos - The Lost Coore & Crenshaw - Using the original master plan, I created the design for Dos Peublos Golf Links in Santa Barbara, CA, a plan that never got off of the ground due to environmental regulations.
Commissions
I have worked directly with clubs, owners, and architects to develop digital renderings for renovation and new construction projects. Two that I finished recently were a renovation rendering for Pine Lake Country Club based on the plans of architect Drew Rogers, and a concept rendering for 21 Golf Club in Jackson, SC, based on the “Hammer Course” master plan created by King-Collins Golf.
Full list of projects:
Real Courses
Augusta National; CC of Charleston (contributor); Chambers Bay; Crystal Downs; Erin Hills; Kingsley Club; Lahinch; Meadowbrook CC; Merion East; Oakmont CC; Orchard Lake CC; Pasatiempo (contributor); Pinehurst #2; Sand Hollow (contributor); Shoreacres; St. Andrews Links - Old Course; Winged Foot
Renderings & Concepts
21 Club - Hammer Course (initial concept renderings)
Chattanooga Muni (Fictional restoration of original Donald Ross plans - Brainerd GC)
Dos Pueblos Golf Links (Fictional design in Santa Barbara, CA - based on original plans by Coore & Crenshaw)
High Pointe (Original routing - 2009)
Motown Club (Fictional restoration of original Donald Ross plans for Detroit Golf Club)
Pine Lake CC (renderings for renovation)
Raynor Farms (Fictional renovation of Twin Oaks GC - Freeland, MI)
Rackham Restored (Fictional restoration of original Donald Ross design at Rackham GC)
