Getting To Know: Shanty Creek Resorts: The Legend GC, Cedar River GC, Schuss Mtn GC, Summit GC

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Chris Hale who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Shanty Creek Resorts (SCR), located in Bellaire Michigan near the shores of Torch Lake and overlooking the blue hues of Lake Bellaire, boasts four distinct golf courses offering players much-sought after VARIETY at a single destination resort.

Led by the King, Arnold Palmer, who designed The Legend, which ushered the explosion of courses throughout northern Michigan's lower peninsula. The Legend sweeps multiple doglegs left and right, up and down, while forcing players into tight fairways and shallow greens.

Cedar River GC may be Shanty's most sought after course. Featuring a gorgeous flowing design carved into its natural setting. This Tom Weiskopf design is highly playable with spectacular views, gentle elevation changes, and wider, more favorable bounces. Annually among the who's who of Michigan golf.

Schuss Mountain GC rests in the shadow of its iconic ski mountain of the same name. This course plays like two separate courses: the front nine weaves through pine tree forests doglegging left and right; the back nine jumps down and back up with dramatic elevation changes, and challenging shots. Many have said the backside may be SCRs best nine hole play.

Summit GC is highly playable, and as such has become SCRs course for beginners, young families, and players looking to improve their game without the pressures of a more challenging course. The resort has given Summit beginner-friendly enhancements like Par Three tees on every hole, 90-125 yards away, and added 8-in big cups (in addition to standard putting cups) to every green offering young players a more "attainable" putting challenge. These efforts to grow the game have proven valuable as play on the course has increased double-digit percentage over the past three years.

Golfers who play SCR regularly comment that the conditions of all four courses are well-maintained and that the variety of courses designs in a single resort destination keeps them coming back.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
For golfers of every ability, Shanty Creek's four courses offer something for everyone. Variety of play, variety of price point, variety of scenery-each is part of the SCR golf offering. The only thing that doesn't change is the care its staff gives to each course. All four are well-maintained and conditioned throughout the season, as are the grounds throughout the resort's 4,500 acres.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Nothing will help you score better than a clinic session with one of our four PGA Golf Professionals. Our staff demonstrates techniques to improve swing, stance, arm positioning, hazard/trap saves, and reading greens. Available from PGA Professional at SCRs three Pro Shops throughout the resort.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Two recent accolades stand out.

* In 2012 SCR was named among the Top (121) Golf Resorts in the World by Conde Nast Traveler. The ranking aggregated golf course(s), lodging, dining, maintenance, service, and retail offerings. Extrapolated from Conde Nast's ranking was SCR as #9 in the northern US and #1 in Michigan among golf resorts.

* In 2011, SCRs Cedar River GC was named by Rolex Timepieces among its Top 1,000 Golf Courses in the World. Along with 11 other masterpiece courses in Michigan, this inclusion tells us and golfer's around the world that our one-two punch of The Legend and Cedar River, in one location, gives SCR a strong position in Michigan's golf industry.

Both of these recent awards are more meaningful for us because they are on the world-stage. It sounds conceited to admit but for many years Shanty Creek has been among the who's who in Michigan golf. Having recognition within the world's best golf is a nice feather in our cap.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Among 72 holes at Shanty Creek, there are many that could be considered "signature."

Arnold Palmer called #7 at The Legend among his favorites: a long-par 5, it features a right-side fairway water hazard, forces players to cross two creeks, and has a slightly elevated, shallow green. Other featured holes on The Legend include #1 with its often photographed Legend Flowers, #2, #3 and #4 overlooking Lake Bellaire, #12 and #16.

At Cedar River, #6, 7, and 8 encircle a large lake creating a beautiful backdrop, #13 is special because Tom Weiskopf chose to split the fairway and keep a large maple tree in play, #16 is a long, gently climbing par 4, and the finishing green of #18 has been featured in the award-winning Pure Michigan ad campaign on billboards throughout the country.

Both Schuss Mtn GC and Summit courses also have several memorable and picturesque holes including Schuss' #12 and #18 and Summit's #7.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It? My favorite hole is Cedar River #13 because of the aforementioned maple tree splitting the fairway and also because here the Cedar River quietly flows along the left side of the fairway. In spite of the six sand trap hazards protecting the green, this hole has been one where I've scored well many times.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Post-round, there are several popular options. The Lakeview Restaurant at the resort's flagship hotel, also called The Lakeview, features small-plate tapas and full entree selections. The Twisted Pasta and Pork Rapoza are very popular.

For golfers looking for something else, many take the resort's shuttle service into downtown Bellaire for an evening at Short's Brewpub. Short's features deli-style dishes and 20 craft brewed beers on tap. The brewery was recently named by MLive as Michigan's Best Brewery.

Another off-resort-property destination is The Dockside, just 8 miles away from SCR on the shores of Torch Lake.

Back Tee Stats
Par: The Legend: 72; Cedar River: 72; Schuss Mtn: 72; Summit: 71
Yardage: The Legend: 6764; Cedar River: 6980; Schuss Mtn: 6922; Summit: 6260
Slope: The Legend: 137; Cedar River: 135; Schuss Mtn: 127; Summit: 125
Rating: The Legend: 73.6; Cedar River: 73.2; Schuss Mtn: 73.4; Summit: 70.3

More Information
Shanty Creek Resorts:
The Legend GC, Cedar River GC, Schuss Mtn GC, Summit GC
5780 Shanty Creek Rd
Bellaire, MI, 49615
800-678-4111
www.shantycreek.com