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 of Canadian Lakes - Semi-Private
in
Stanwood
9900 Saint Ives Dr
Stanwood, Michigan 49346
Mecosta County
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Photo Gallery: The hills are alive at St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Michigan
Ignoring a couple of minor quirks, St. Ives Golf Club in Stanwood, Michigan could easily stand toe-to-toe with its top 100 sister course, Tullymore Golf Club. T [...]
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