GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
1.0
6 Reviews (6)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
6
Conditions
0
Value
1.0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
6 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Private
Par 72
Length 6769 yards
Slope 138
Rating 73.0

Course Details

Year Built 1998
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 5/15 Closed: 9/01
Architect Bruce Matthews Jerry Matthews (1998) Ray Hearn (1998)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs No
GPS No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Available Activities

Swimming

Available Sports

Fitness, Tennis

Reviews

1.0
6 Reviews (6)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0

Member Beware

Northern Michigan has a bounty of great golf courses - scenic and challenging, public and private. Decisions as to where to play are made easy by the respect courses are given by those who have played them. But what about when interest turns to fondness and membership at a Club becomes appealing? Is it as simple as asking to join, paying an initiation fee and making a tee time, splashing in the pool or hitting the 19th hole?
It is not that simple. In fact, what is presented here represents two drastically different sets of rules and bylaws that can make club membership a wonderful experience, or a nightmare. Two long-standing golf clubs in the Harbor Springs area, Country Club of Boyne (CCB), and Birchwood Farms Golf and Country Club (BFGCC) represent vastly different approaches to membership, utilizing guidelines that govern how to join, rules of participation, and bylaws that dictate how and when you may resign your membership, and what it may cost You!
CCB, very simply, has an equity membership program. You buy, by way of an initiation fee, a membership that is sellable at the time you wish to no longer be a member. It may be that you can’t sell the membership immediately - their bylaws state that for every new membership sold an existing will be sold next - but you have something of value, a show of gratitude from the club for your dues over the term of your membership.
BFGCC, on the other hand, initially required property purchase for membership. There were varying lots of different sizes, some “buildable” others merely membership lots; prices were set accordingly. From that land purchase, like with CCB, you had something of value for your commitment to the club. The problem was the club had a decade of poor financial decisions by the management and board of directors that resulted in property values plummeting - to the point of being worthless. What the club chose to do to compensate for the downfall was implement bylaws that forced members, at the time they cared to resign their memberships, to pay a $15,000 buyout fee. And, additionally, should the family member who originally joined not buy their way out, upon their death the membership passed on to their family. Even a member of good standing, with 30-plus years of devoted membership, who was too old to play golf or use the facility, was subject to the exorbitant buy out fee. Not only was there no gratitude for the members allegiance, they were being held a financial hostage for their servitude.
This is a classic case of read the fine print, or in this case, the bylaws. No well intentioned person, interested in joining a club, willing to commit to monthly dues, should ever be held over a fire for a club’s ineptness and greed.

Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Birchwood, unlike many "equity" share clubs, initially required property purchase for membership. There were varying lots of different sizes, some "buildable" others merely membership lots; prices were set accordingly. The problem the is that the club experienced some questionable financial decisions by board and management that resulted in property values plummeting - to the point of being worthless. What the club chose to do to compensate for the downfall was implement bylaws that forced members, at the time they cared to resign their memberships, to pay a $15,000 buyout fee. And, additionally, should the family member who originally joined not buy their way out, upon their death the membership passed on to their family. Not an enticing way for a club to go about its business. Member Beware, and read the bylaws fine print

Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Member beware

Birchwood, unlike many "equity" share clubs, initially required property purchase for membership. There were varying lots of different sizes, some "buildable" others merely membership lots; prices were set accordingly. The problem the is that the club experienced some questionable financial decisions by board and management that resulted in property values plummeting - to the point of being worthless. What the club chose to do to compensate for the downfall was implement bylaws that forced members, at the time they cared to resign their memberships, to pay a $15,000 buyout fee. And, additionally, should the family member who originally joined not buy their way out, upon their death the membership passed on to their family. Not an enticing way for a club to go about its business. Member Beware, and read the bylaws fine print

Value Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Just a thought

Birchwood initially required property purchase for membership. There were varying lots of different sizes, some “buildable” others merely membership lots; prices were set accordingly. The problem is the club had a decade of poor financial decisions by the management and board of directors that resulted in property values plummeting - to the point of being worthless. What the club chose to do to compensate for the downfall was implement bylaws that forced members, at the time they cared to resign their memberships, to pay a $15,000 buyout fee. And, additionally, should the family member who originally joined not buy their way out, upon their death the membership passed on to their family. Member beware and read the fine print

Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Member beware

Birchwood, unlike many "equity" share clubs, initially required property purchase for membership. There were varying lots of different sizes, some "buildable" others merely membership lots; prices were set accordingly. The problem the is that the club experienced some questionable financial decisions by board and management that resulted in property values plummeting - to the point of being worthless. What the club chose to do to compensate for the downfall was implement bylaws that forced members, at the time they cared to resign their memberships, to pay a $15,000 buyout fee. And, additionally, should the family member who originally joined not buy their way out, upon their death the membership passed on to their family. Not an enticing way for a club to go about its business. Member Beware, and read the bylaws fine print

Value Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0

Just a thought

Birchwood initially required property purchase for membership. There were varying lots of different sizes, some “buildable” others merely membership lots; prices were set accordingly.. The problem was the club had a decade of poor financial decisions by the management and board of directors that resulted in property values plummeting - to the point of being worthless. What the club chose to do to compensate for the downfall was implement bylaws that forced members, at the time they cared to resign their memberships, to pay a $15,000 buyout fee. And, additionally, should the family member who originally joined not buy their way out, upon their death the membership passed on to their family. A cautionary tale, beware member

Value Poor
Nearby Courses
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Semi-Private/Resort
4.0
1
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Private
3.0
1
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Private
4.6667
6
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Resort
4.4357294118
34
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Resort
4.3764705882
20
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Resort
4.8333333333
8
Harbor Springs, Michigan
Resort
4.8252588235
22
Bay Harbor, Michigan
Resort
4.6108941176
46
Bay Harbor, Michigan
Resort
4.6108941176
46
Golf Packages

The Loon Golf Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $167 (USD)
GAYLORD | Enjoy up to 3 nights' accommodations at The Loon Resort’s Lodges at The Ridge and up to 4 rounds of golf at The Loon Golf Resort - Lakes, Loon, & Ridge Courses.

Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package

FROM $617 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 2 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn at Woodlake and 3 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River or Meadow Valleys Course) and Whistling Straits (Straits or Irish Course)

Destination Kohler - To Dye Four Golf Package

FROM $557 (USD)
KOHLER, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The American Club or the Inn on Woodlake and 4 rounds of golf at Blackwolf Run (River & Meadow Valley Courses) and Whistling Straits (Straits & Irish Courses).

SentryWorld Stay & Play Package

FROM $347 (USD)
STEVENS POINT, WI | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at The Inn at SentryWorld and 2 rounds of golf at SentryWorld Golf Course (site of the 2023 U.S. Senior Open).

SW Michigan Golf Around Package

FROM $127 (USD)
GRAND RAPIDS/KALAMAZOO | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at Quality Inn – Battle Creek and 3 rounds of golf at The Medalist Golf Club, Angel’s Crossing Golf Club, and The Grande Golf Club.
Now Reading