The hills are alive at St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Michigan
STANWOOD, Mich. -- Ignoring a couple of minor quirks, St. Ives Golf Club could easily stand toe-to-toe with its top 100 sister course, the Tullymore Golf Club.
The elevation changes of St. Ives make the 6,702-yard golf course infinity more scenic than Tullymore and play just as tough, if not tougher.
Jerry Matthews, who finished the course in 1995, perched tees and greens atop the rolling hills of the Canadian Lakes west of Mount Pleasant, allowing for the fun drop-kick tee balls that come standard in northern Michigan.
The tree-lined fairways squeeze tighter than Tullymore G.C., and hitting approaches to elevated greens is a constant theme.
St. Ives Golf Club's front nine starts with a demanding par 4, and finishes with the controversial ninth hole, a short par 4 wedged into limited space. A terrible pit demands a 205-yard carry from the blue tees to the fairway or a meager 180-yard layup short of the trouble.
The back nine at St. Ives reveals a gorgeous setting in an open meadow at the 14th tee. The second shot to the 14th green and the drive at no. 15 play hopscotch over the same wetland, a hazard that derails many a scorecard.
Those who finish strong -- the 448-yard 18th hole is the longest par 4 of the day -- deserve to be crowned king for a day inside the castle-like clubhouse at St. Ives.
St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Mich.
The open setting seen from the 14th tee at St. Ives Golf Club provides nice scenery.
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St. Ives Golf Club - hole 14
This 170-yard carry to an elevated green makes the 14th hole at St. Ives Golf Club a real knee-knocker.
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St. Ives Golf Club - hole 15
Carrying this wetland off the 15th tee is no certainty at St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Michigan.
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St. Ives Golf Club - hole 17
A pond runs up the entire right side of the par-5 17th hole at St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Michigan.
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St. Ives Golf Club - clubhouse
The castle-like clubhouse greets golfers at St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Michigan.
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St. Ives Golf Club - hole 1
The first fairway at St. Ives Golf Club drops to this green below.
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St. Ives Golf Club - hole 2
The second hole at St. Ives Golf Club features all carry to the green.
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St. Ives Golf Club - hole 3
The elevated tee reveals the third hole at St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Michigan.
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St. Ives Golf Club - hole 8
Birdie is possible at the par-3 eighth hole at St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Michigan.
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St. Ives Golf Club - hole 9
The par-4 ninth hole at St. Ives Golf Club plays over this wetland hazard.
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