THE JEWEL AT THE GRAND HOTEL (MACKINAC ISLAND) 906-847-3331
REVIEW 8/10/03
 Boats, Horses and Golf Carts - new movie now playing.... Ever see the
movie"Planes, Trains and Automobiles"? Well, an experience at the Jewel at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac island will play similarly, except that
everything is PERFECT! From Mackinac City or St. Ignace golfers and normal people are swept up into huge speed boats and whisked away to the Island of Mackinac.
 From there you will have to take a "taxi", which is
really a horse drawn carriage - for a 5-10 minute ride through the quaint village to the clubhouse located adjacent to the Grand Hotel. Ride on a golf cart for the front nine, then you
are taken again on a beautiful 15-minute horse drawn carriage ride (this time complimentary) to the back side - with some outstandingly gorgeous scenery along the way to your "other" golf cart.
Some tips here - let the folks know before you board the ferry in Mackinac or St. Ignace that you need a taxi to the golf course - so one will be waiting for you. Otherwise the wait may
approach 20 minutes or so. The fare to the clubhouse is about $4 per person one way. The Boat rides are $16
.50 round trip in 2003 - with $1 off for AAA. If you like casinos, save the stub and you can pick up a $10 roll of
tokens for free at the St. Ignace Casino, which is just minutes away from the bridge (restricted for play on
certain machines). While on Mackinac - you would be remiss not to do lunch, dinner or shopping - and guided
tours are available from many locations. Don't plan on a quick round - make a day of it and the experience
should be a highlight! Finally - ask the "driver" to take the West Bluff route either coming from or going to the
back nine - wonderful lake views! A stay at the Grand Hotel is also a wonderful experience. To visit our page for the Grand Hotel, with direct link to their website, click here.
 The front nine or Grand Course is a short but beautiful layout over a rolling
terrain, featuring dramatic elevation changes with spectacular views of the ocean and inland property. The tips here play to a par thirty three 2405
yards, with 3 par threes and 6 par fours that measure between 286 and 356 yards. Doglegs and elevation changes create some challenge and
the very small bent grass greens will test your accuracy. Mostly this is just a beautiful course - fun to play and relatively easy to score on- a great
resort experience. As with the back side, the fairways, tees and bunkers are well defined, and there are 100 and 150 yard markers on the fairway,
as well as sprinkler heads that are measured to the center of the green and yardage markers on the tee areas. There are no pin placement indicators, but none are needed.
 The opening hole plays downhill along a narrow fairway with a pond on the
left about 115 yards out. A short carry over another pond is necessary off the tee on two - just hit the fairway and this is an easy hole. The par three
third is uphill and tight, and precedes a pretty dogleg right par four that invites a shot hit along the right tree line - or a lay up to the center of the
fairway - another good scoring hole. Five doglegs right also, this time with a pond on the right about 135 out, and trees left that come into play about 120 out.
 After a short and simple par three on six, golfers will find the
course's # 1 handicap - a par three from an elevated tee area that plays to 245 yards from the back tees. This is one gorgeous golf hole - and one that few golfers will reach - lots of trouble here.
Eight is very tight but also short (312 yard par four), and is followed by another narrow four par - this one playing downhill off the tee to a tree lined fairway.
One gets a little nervous hitting towards this green, with the Jockey Club bar/restaurant behind and lots of foot and horse traffic to the left.
 The Woods Nine is a completely
different golf course - as it plays into heavily wooded seclusion with some great views and a few water hazards mixed in. The putting surfaces here
are large and mildly undulating -and quite receptive, and the bent grass fairways are often flanked by trees on both sides. Heather has grown in
along many holes - mostly for aesthetic purposes. The tips play to 3040 yards, with 1 par five (552) and also two par fours of plus 400 yards.
 The
tenth is a short par four that invites a tee shot to the left center of the fairway, with an easy approach being the reward. Number 11 bends to the left,
demanding a tee shot that rests in the 170-140 range along the dogleg - anything too far left will be blocked by trees. From an elevated tee area (back tees)
 golfers will find one of the prettiest
holes on the course - a par three that is all carry over a pond, with mounding and bunkers long. Short is not an option
here. You must carry another pond on 13, with the right side of the fairway past the 150 a good spot to be. The uphill approach requires 1 extra club. Fourteen is
a mid range par three with bunkers short on both sides - a good scoring hole. This precedes the course's # 2 handicap - the long par five 15th, which is a different
hole from the tips. This dogleg left narrows about 100 yards out, with a tight approach to an elevated, two tiered green. The 16th is a long, uphill par four, and is followed by a
 simple par three that plays long from the back tees. The finishing
hole does not disappoint - as this par four requires an accurately placed tee shot along the left edge of the fairway, with an approach
aimed over a water hazard on the right that comes into play about 70 yards out - not much room for error here, although there is some bail out room short left.
That's it...jump back into the carriage and enjoy the ride. Stop in for lunch or dinner at the Jockey Club near the clubhouse, or venture to the Grand Hotel
for a more upscale experience. There also are plentiful restaurants, fudge shops, and stores to explore near the dock areas. A stay at the Grand Hotel is highly recommended - making
golf here an even more comfortable and relaxing experience. Golfers who like to hit driver off the tee on every
hole may not necessarily find this layout to their liking - but everyone loves beauty - and this is one beautiful golf
course! A highly recommended experience indeed - we stopped here for an afternoon round (1:30 tee time),
had dinner and made it back to Mackinac by 7 PM. The boats depart every half hour, so spend as little or as
much time as you please. Try to depart for the Island at least 1 hour prior to your scheduled tee time. At $100 per
player including cart (and carriage) this is definitely a worthwhile experience. 9 hole rates are also available.
Check out the Two Guys Who Golf detailed information page on this course (which includes a link to the course's website if available) - click here.
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