Sedge Valley is Sand Valley’s shortest 18, but not its easiest

In this age of 460cc drivers and 300-yard drives, length is king. In the U.S., most recreational players immediately check the yardage of the back tees on the scorecard to determine a course’s difficulty or even its appeal. This is an amateur mistake, however. Distance and difficulty are certainly correlated, but correlation doesn’t imply causation.Continue reading “Sedge Valley is Sand Valley’s shortest 18, but not its easiest”

Sand Valley anchors the growing Sand Valley Golf Resort

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have made a handsome career for themselves designing golf courses following a “Minimalist” philosophy. Hand these two artists a topographically interesting and well-drained canvas, and they will deliver a masterpiece. Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska, Streamsong Red in Florida, and both Bandon Trails and The Sheep Ranch at BandonContinue reading “Sand Valley anchors the growing Sand Valley Golf Resort”

Step back into golf history at Belvedere Golf Club

A couple years before the famed Dr. Alister MacKenzie first visited northern Michigan to begin designing legendary Crystal Downs Golf Club north of Frankfort, another Scottish golf course architect arrived in nearby Charlevoix to take over the Chicago Club’s course there. His name was William “Willie” Watson. Watson had come to the US from ScotlandContinue reading “Step back into golf history at Belvedere Golf Club”