Michigan: 'America's Summer Golf Capital'

Although a trip to Spain for the World Golfers Championship later this month is going to keep me from accepting Kevin Frisch's offer to come to Michigan, I've asked for a rain check and plan on going in 2010.

You might want to consider doing it also as Michigan is often referred to as “America's Summer Golf Capital” because of its collection of quality golf courses, featuring varied topography from dense forests to picturesque sand dunes, that are open to the public.

Treetops Resort in Gaylord appears to have the most to offer with 81 holes of golf, including the Signature and Tradition Courses by Rick Smith, the Premier Course by Tom Fazio, the Masterpiece Course by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and the 9-hole roller-coaster Treetops Course also by Smith. The Rick Smith Golf Academy is one of the top 25 in the country.

The Resorts of Tullymore in Stanwood boasts a highly-rated Jim Engh design that also has been ranked by national publications.

Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon and Arcadia Bluffs in Arcadia have been rated as the best public courses you can play in the state by national golf publications and should be on your “must play” lists if time permits. Other public courses that should be considered include Cedar Chase, Eagle Eye, Bucks Run, Pilgrim's Run and Shepards Hollow.

If you have connections, try to wrangle an invite to Oakland Hills Country Club, which has a rich heritage of golf history since its South Course, known as “The Monster” by some, has played host to six U.S. Opens and the Ryder Cup Matches.