Manistee National Resort - Cutter's Ridge Course
(231-723-8874) (800-867-2604)
Michigan Golf Course Review - 8/11/02 -
REVIEW UPDATE - August 2006 - Wonderful renovations in landscaping and condition have taken
place since our initial review. Also, hole # 12 is now a par three measuring 209/187/149/138 and 115
yards (formerly a par four). Total distances from the five sets of tees now measure 6654, 6321, 5806, 5301 and 4571 yards.
Manistee National is a full service golf resort located on M-31, just south of the town of Manistee and a four
hour's drive from Detroit. We had driven past the property on numerous trips up north - to Traverse City and the
Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes - and were unaware of the fine golfing opportunities in this area. Quite frankly, from
the road the resort and golf courses appear ordinary. After spending a few days there, we discovered that
Manistee National is truly a hidden gem, with amenities designed to satisfy the seasoned traveling golfer. The
resort underwent significant renovatiuons for the 2006 season, including improvements to both golf courses.
Additionally, a beautiful outdoor pool area with hot tub has been added, and the clubhouse restaurant and resort lounge facilities have been expanded to better serve visiting guests.
The property includes a resort complex that features 42 comfortable hotel-style accommodations (some suites
and hot tub rooms), a meeting area, lounge, and indoor and outdoor pools with Jacuzzis. A continental breakfast
that includes cereal, bagels, muffins, coffee and juices is complimentary to guests. The resort offers cross
-country skiing during the winter, with downhill slopes within a half hour's drive. Sand dunes and bluff lined
beaches are a great attraction, located just 10 minutes from the resort. The main draw however, is golf. The
Canthooke Valley and Cutters Ridge courses begin slowly but ultimately provide 36 holes of high quality, exciting
golf, comparable to other 4 star courses in the area. Also on property is a beautiful driving range (grass and
mats), short game area with practice bunker, and putting greens. A residential golf community with ridge line
building sites overlooking fairways, greens and natural wetlands of the Cutters' ridge Course is in the works. For
now, you will find complete seclusion amidst the natural Northern Michigan setting, with two distinctively challenging courses to choose from. For more information, visit our page for the resort by clicking here.
Both courses are well marked with 150 yard stakes quite visible in the fairways on all of the par fours and fives.
These markers make great targets off the tee, especially to first time visitors. Yardage plates are a nice feature
on all the tee boxes, and small flags on all the flagsticks indicate the days pin placement. The greens are of
medium size and speed, and are well conditioned. The Canthooke Valley Course is a traditional layout,
wandering through hardwoods and pine forest, while Cutters' Ridge is a modern, Jerry Matthews design, with upscale conditioning set amidst rolling topography and abundant natural wetlands.
Cutters' Ridge is the more upscale of the two designs, with wonderfully sculpted tee boxes and fairways, and
medium to large size greens that roll quick and true. On many holes, there is ample opportunity to lay up in front
of the green and "bump and run" it to the flag. Ridges running across most of the greens set up some tricky pin
placements, and natural wetlands are in abundance throughout the layout. Overall, this is the more challenging of
the two layouts, with slopes ranging from 114 to 148. Five sets of tee boxes provide ample choices to fit
anyone's handicap, with play from the 6707 yard blue tees an incredible challenge. At 4966, the seniors and
ladies receive enough of a relief from the daunting marsh areas, with reasonable carries on most tees. The whites, at 6114, play to a 132 slope and provide an interesting layout for the average golfer.
The opening hole begins with a tee shot over a creek to a generous fairway. The approach tightens however,
with trees left and marsh right defining the landing area. Short is better than long here. A beautiful par three -
almost all carry over wetlands, follows. There is about 10 yards of room between the hazard and the putting
surface. Number three is a pretty dogleg left that is difficult to cut. The right side of the fairway sets up the best
approach over marsh to an undulating green. Go for the flag! The par five 4th also doglegs left with the right side
be the advantageous position of the tee. Shots hit near the end of the fairway will set up the best approach to the
green that turns 90 degrees from the landing area. The 150 yard marker makes a good target off the tee on the
par four 5th. Trees on both sides and a ridged green provide the challenge on the approach. The left side is the
place to be on the dogleg right par five sixth hole. As with many of the tree lines doglegs - it is difficult to cut. The
seventh is a pretty hole that demands placement in the landing area surrounded by wetlands and trees - go for
the 150 yard stake. The approach is also over marsh, to a noticeably ridged putting surface. You will need 1 club
extra to reach the flag on the pretty par 3 eighth. Short is preferable to long here, however. The closing hole
features a water hazard/marsh all along the left side. The uphill nature of the approach and surrounding wetlands makes this one of the most difficult holes to par on the course.
The back nine opens with long carry over marshland and an extremely tight approach. Long is trouble here! The
eleventh also demands a considerable carry off the tee with a formidable bunker complex just short of the green.
Good drives a re paramount on these two beginning holes. A lay up off the tee is recommended on the next three
holes - all short par fours with plenty of trouble lurking. Long hitters should stifle themselves on number 12 - there
is no room for error short, and the slope is downward off the green on anything hit long. The more prudent move
is to use two mid to long irons to reach this well guarded putting surface. On thirteen, a lay up before the second
marsh near the 150 is a good move. There is 15 yards of room between the wetlands and the green on the
approach. Number 14 is tight off the tee. There is room to go for some distance off the tee, but accuracy is
more important than distance here. Aim past the 150 and an easy approach is your reward. Play it smart on 12
-14 and you may be able to record some low numbers on this back side. The 18th and 16th handicaps follow.
Number 15 is the easiest par three on the course, and is followed by a reasonable par five that can be reached
in two. A grass depression guards the front of a ridged green. The finish is tougher, beginning with the narrow
par four 17th. There is a marsh short right and long left, creating the need for two accurate shots to reach in
regulation. Number 18 is a great closing hole. This dogleg right par four demands an accurately placed tee shot
over a lake, to a well defined but abbreviated landing area. There is no room short on the approach over
wetlands, and the rolling topography near the greens means only a high, soft iron shot will stay on the green. Par is a great score coming in.
Play on Cutters' Ridge presents a nice contrast - beautiful scenery and wildlife set amongst the considerable
acreage of natural wetland habitat. This is a tough layout from the tips - but quite reasonable from the white tees.
Together with Canthooke Valley, this pair provides some great resort golf experiences - making the Manistee "
SLAM" (Sunday night stay and unlimited golf on both courses from Sunday 2 PM to sundown Monday) an ideal
package for those who can't get enough golf. Looking for more variety? A 3 or 4 night stay at the Manistee
National will afford the opportunity to play some of the other wonderful courses in the area. Located within 20 to
25 minutes (and also highly recommended) are the new Hemlock Golf Club, the Heathlands Golf Club - and the
infamous and exclusive Arcadia Bluffs. Manistee National Golf Resort is a highly recommended place to stay -
and a great golf destination in an area that is a bit unfamiliar to golfers in the Metro Detroit area. Bring your
family - they will have plenty to do in town at the quaint shops and restaurants, and on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Tell them we sent you! You will definitely appreciate this tip!
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.
For our information page for the Manistee National Resort - click here.
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