Nicklaus' The Bear in northern Michigan ranked in Golf Digest's 50 toughest

A recent feature at Golf Digest ranks America’s Toughest 50 golf courses.

The state of Michigan scored one track: the infamous Bear at the Grand Traverse Resort near Traverse City. It placed 18th.

While this course definitely put a hurting on me with it’s tricky green complexes, I would rank newcomber Eagle Eye near East Lansing as the toughest I’ve played in Michigan. Greens are huge, there are hazards everywhere and a few blind shots. It also features a replica of the 17th at Sawgrass.

There’s another difficult course in Michigan that will never be the subject of any national lists since it’s not an elite facility, but is noteworthy nonetheless: Faulkwood Shores in Howell. This was the site of my worst round in high school competition (54 in a 9-hole match Sophomore year). It was embarrassing and to this day, I never stop for gas when I pass through the town as a result. The course is long, trees are in the middle of the fairway, and the 18th had me wishing men’s field hockey was a fall sport. I would call that the most hurt-for-your-buck course to play in Michigan I’ve seen.

The most difficult course in our fine country according to Golf Digest was the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.

How was this list concocted? Well, even the editors admit their ranking isn’t holy:

“This is not a scientific or even definitive ranking. It’s our list of layouts that have battered and bruised us, ruined our scorecards and made us want to weep. You probably know some tough ones that we’ve missed.”

Other notables:

6. Bethpage Black

8. Whistling Straits

14. TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course.

24. Spyglass Hill

31. Wolf Creek

37. Legends (Moorland) in Myrtle Beach

39. RTJ Golf Trail at Ross Bridge (8,191 yards?!?!)

Does anyone else have any “unsexy” picks for their most difficult courses?