Nestled in the heart of Michigan, the Flint & Genesee County area, just a stone’s throw from the Ontario border, is a popular place for travellers during the summer months, folks who come there for the parks and beaches, museums, entertainment venues. Those people looking at a golf vacation, perhaps after watching the RBC Canadian Open going on this weekend in Hamilton, watching the plush greens and bright blue skies, are no doubt getting the urge to pack up the TaylorMades.
Driving over to the local range to hit a bucket of balls isn’t going to cut it. I mean, it’s important to practice, so you can compete when you get out there, but we’re all looking for the overall experience. A day of summer golf is such a fantastic way to get active, hang out with friends or family, breathe the fresh air and take in some natural beauty. Score be damned (well, maybe keep a side eye on it, to measure your improvement).
Ontario, as we have detailed in the past, is rich in golf courses, for players of all levels. Michigan, right next door, is a masterpiece for golf enthusiasts. And Flint & Genesee is a must go-to there.
Golf vacation: Where to play when you get there?
Michigan has over 850 public courses across the state, ranking them among the top in the U.S. for public golf excellence (Golf Digest ranks them second after California). Part of that has to do with the natural beauty of the state – dense forests and rolling hills, the shores of the Great Lakes, offering up picturesque back drops for tee shots.
The quality and maintenance of golf courses across the state attracts people who are serious about the game. You aren’t going to go through the trouble of planning a golf vacation if the golf course you are going to is some beaten-down dog track. That’s definitely not what you find in these parts. GolfPass’ top 25 public golf course for 2024 featured six from Michigan (based on reviews left by users on their app).
There are vacation packages including accommodations, dining, multiple golf course options all over the state. The weather in Michigan, from late spring to early Fall, presents ideal conditions for golf. And the state is steeped in golf culture – multiple PGA, LPGA and amateur events have been held there.
Flint & Genesee: Top spots for a golf vacation
In Flint & Genesee, golfers have a choice from more than 20 public, private and signature golf course, for every age, budget, and skill level.
Coyote Preserve Golf Club in Fenton is a Palmer Design Course featuring an uphill, 56-yard, par-5 first hole, and a stunning 18th hole – 545 yards, another par 5, a gentle downhill slope with a dogleg left. There are stunning views all around, from all tees – wetland, prairies, surrounding lakes, rock-lined streams. Fenton Farms Golf Club is a challenging par 72, on Lake Fenton, with a clubhouse converted from the original barn on the Crane Farm.
Flint Golf Club, which has been around since 1918, is for those who like more of a traditional course, designed by the world champion golfer Willie Park Jr. (who won the Open Championship in 1887 and 1889). The course plays 6,671 yards with a 72.1 rating and a 126 slope. Unique to this Flint gem, the course features five 3-par and 5 5-par holes that add much more variety to the game. Flint is a private club.
Goodrich County Club is a semi-private par-70, 5,500 total yards course spanning over 120 acres of streams, ponds and rolling hills. The Captain’s Club Golf & Event Center, in Grand Blanc, offers a premium 18-hole public golf course, designed by PGAer Raymond Floyd, a place marked by natural beauty, protected by wetlands and wildlife – 6726 yards from the black tees, 6107 from the blues, 5433 from the whites, 4915 from the reds. A beautiful veranda at the clubhouse restaurant overlooking the driving range is a great spot for a beer and bite after your round. Golf rates in the summer top out at $55 for 18 holes on the weekend during the summer. That’s it.
Head here for more information on Flint & Genesee golf.
If you’re planning a trip to Flint & Genesee, head here to plan your visit and scope out other attractions, restaurants and hotels.
Keep an eye out for The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren, an official event on the PGA Tour Champions, to be held Aug. 19-25. If you’re in the area for a golf fix, Flint & Genesee offers a variety of other attractions – the Flint Institute of Arts (the second largest art museum in Michigan), FIM Whiting Auditorium, and FIM Capitol Theatre.
Flint Institute of Arts Museum + Art School
Capitol Theatre
I am a 50-something Torontonian who loves everything about my city. It’s been my home, my playground, for my entire life. I went to school here. I met my wife here. I own real estate here. I love writing about the transformation of my city on the world stage, which hasn’t been anything short of dramatic. That continues on, as I write this. I write on the real estate scene. I write on travel and fashion. I like following the world of luxury watches.
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