JMDSportsTalk

Nestled atop dramatic cliffs overlooking Lake Michigan, Arcadia Bluffs is a public gem renowned for its windswept, links-style design and breathtaking vistas.

You’re right on the water at lake Michigan, and the stunning views from holes like #3/#12/#13 are unrivaled by any course you can find here in the Midwest.

📍 The Setting

Stunning views: You’ll play on 245 acres with 3,100 ft of sheer Lake Michigan frontage—expect the lake to feature on nearly every hole of the Bluffs course. Or, take on the South course in a carbon copy of Chicago Golf Club.

Irish‑style links terrain: Designed by Warren Henderson & Rick Smith in 1999, the course offers rolling fairways, soda-walled bunkers, golden fescue (you don’t want to find yourself in here), and significant elevation changes.

Wind factor: Lake breezes can be strong—flagsticks are intentionally shorter to resist high winds. But when our buddy’s trip out there played, we experienced serene weather that not even the caddy’s could believe.

🎯 Course Features & Strategy

Multiple tee options: Ranges from 7,300 yards (championship) to 5,529 yards (forward tees), so pick your challenge wisely. We played from the 6,300 yard tees, and man was it challenging. This course requires you to play a bunch of different shots, and is the only course I can ever remember taking 5W-4H-4H on the par 5 11th.

Wide fairways, huge greens: Fairways are generous, but greens are big and subtly sloped—approach shots and green reading are key. What I was told, and what worked for me en route to my PR 78 on the bluffs, was that every green slopes to the water. It was a weird feeling, because most of the greens appeared sloped in other directions…but sure as shit our Caddy (Jeff, great guy) was right. It’s almost an optical illusion on holes such as #15 where you think it’s headed to the clubhouse but it was completely the opposite.

Bunker warfare: Expect an abundance of bunkers—fairway, greenside, pot bunkers and dramatic waste areas that punish errant shots. From the tees we played, not many fairway bunkers were actually in play. However, if you found yourself in them….boy were you in for a rough score.Memorable holes:Hole 11: A 633‑yard par‑5 with huge elevation drop and a wild green complex. I hit 5W-4H-4H to get it to the green. I learned my lesson day 1 when I went OB left in the trees (actually quite hard to do) and put up a 7. I parred the hole on day 2 of the trip with 3 beautiful stripes down the middle, leaving myself about 15 feet for birdie which I missed for a tap-in par. Hole 12: A panoramic par‑4 against the lake with blown-out bunkers and dramatic contours. God, I have a video here that you can watch and just admire the look of this entire hole. It truly is a golfer’s dream hole. Actually, this is a split hole (two fairways and two greens) and luckily enough, we played the left side both days. The right side seemed beautiful as well, but being on the left kept our groups on the lake the entire way.

💡 Tips for a Great Round

The putts will roll towards the lake: Day 1 I struggled finding my roll on the greens because of the optical illusions it they presented. As a general rule, all greens will slope towards the lake. Good speed and keeping this in mind on day 2 helped me go from a 93 to a 78. Play the breeze: Watch the wind; it can either help your ball fly or flatten it—judge shots carefully and make sure you focus on being in the green stuff. The fescue is a killer. Those mounds make for some interesting lies and will have you questioning your game. If you stay out of the fescue, you will be fine.Pace matters: The course is beautiful but lengthy—plan for ~5-hour rounds. Jeff the caddy told us on day one to just take in the views and enjoy the time. Arcadia bluffs is amazing, but she is a slow round. I think he mentioned a group took 7 hours one time….and that’s not with stopping at the clubhouse…

Enjoy the experience: Whether or not your game shines, the scenery, clubhouse, and patio views at sunset make it unforgettable. I walked away from the bad round of 93 just grateful to be there. This has a lot to do with the people I went with, but the course was just breathtaking and I couldn’t help but leave the round with a smile on my face.

🏌️ Facilities & Extras

Practice options: A solid driving range plus an excellent short-game facility with varied bunker and green styles will get you ready for the challenge ahead. The range has free balls, but bring some tees if you want to hit driver. Hole 1 will have a sweet divot repair tool and plenty of tees to replenish your bag.

Clubhouse & dining: Comfortable, viewer-friendly clubhouse with out of this world food, and a patio overlooking the lake—great food and atmosphere for everyone. Trust me when I say this…the food is worth the price. I don’t remember an option under $28, but I would pay double to eat at the restaurant again. I had the cajun chicken tortellini and the great lakes walleye. I also tried some of the NY strip from a group member…melt in your mouth amazing. For breakfast, get the croissant sandwich with bacon. You will not regret it. Also, if you go you need to ask about the chef’s background…trust me, it’s a story worth listening to.

🏅 Reputation & Recognition

Top-tier: Consistently ranked among America’s top-50 public courses and Michigan’s best, positioned at #37 overall and #3 in the state currently.Bottom Line:Arcadia Bluffs delivers an unforgettable golfing adventure—spectacular cliffs, strategic design, and wind-swept character combine to offer a challenging yet breathtaking round. Best advice? Play smart, embrace the surroundings, enjoy the food and let the views do the talking.

This is a place I will be excited to get back to someday. And hope to hear great stories from anyone who is able to get out there.

I’ll see you on the next tee box.