HAWK'S EYE GOLF CLUB at Shanty Creek Resort (231-533-4295)
Michigan Golf Course Review
General Information
Shanty Creek Resorts in Bellaire just NE of Traverse City is a four season resort that has been has been ranked Silver Medal Resort by Golf Digest, Top 25 Golf Resort by Travel &
Leisure Reader's Survey, and Best Golf Resort in Michigan by The Detroit News Reader's Poll. Five18-hole championship layouts include the upscale 4-1/2 star Arnold Palmer
designed Legend, the spectacular Tom Weiskopf designed Cedar River, one of Michigan's long time top public courses Schuss Mountain, Hawk's Eye - one of the top 25 layouts
in the country, and the player friendly and original design at Shanty Creek, the Summit. Three distinctive villages at the Summit, Schuss, and Cedar River offer a variety of
accommodations ranging from standard rooms and suites to condominiums, chalets and fully equipped homes. A great variety of dining and recreational opportunities are
available. For more info on the resort, visit the Shanty Creek Resorts website by clicking here.
Hawk's Eye
Hawk's Eye, which opened in the summer of 2003 is one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in Northern Michigan and has now become an integral part of the Shanty Creek Golf collection. We were stunned by the spectacular terrain - and also were humbled by the subtleties of the course design - which is arguably the toughest in Northern
Michigan. Located extremely close to Shanty Creek Resort and their four other courses - this area of the state has to be recognized in the same light as Gaylord as a true golf mecca.
One realizes he or she is in for a wonderful golf experience after driving up to the first tee box. This hole doglegs to the left around a beautiful lake, and is followed by a gorgeous
par five with another water hazard to the right of the green. These holes can make a sound argument as two of the best opening holes in the state. The conditioning from tee to
green on our early July visit was outstanding, with short bent grass fairways, sculpted tee areas and manicured greens and bunkers. There are 70 sand traps on Hawk's Eye, and
nine holes feature water hazards in play. The par three third and par four eighth are great examples of how water can be used to penalize bad golf shots, without unfairly punishing
those with enough direction. This is how life should be...
The lakes and ponds that are prevalent on the front, are sparse on the backside, but the par three 11th is a beautiful exception. The tee shot is nearly all carry, as the slope in front
of the putting surface leads down to the hazard. The green is double tiered, rewarding shots hit towards the flag. If the pin placement is to the right however, it is possible to end up
there by hitting one left center, to the ridge that separates the right and left portions of the putting surface. In fact, all of the par threes at Hawk's Eye are quite interesting. The
thirteenth plays from incredible elevation to a well bunker green complex - but with plenty of room greenside is a score-able hole. On the front side the third and ninth play over
water hazards, making these four an outstanding set.
Fourteen is a tricky dogleg that is tough to cut due to a sand bunker strategically located on the short side, and fifteen allows for a grip it and rip mentality as a grass ravine must
be carried off the tee. The 16th plays uphill but at just 366 yards from the tips (306 from the white tees) it is possible to drive the green here. The closing holes are every bit as
spectacular as the opening ones. The 17th measures 607 yards from the tips and features a pond short right of the green complex which rests below the fairway that ends with a
downward slope about 100 yards away. The 18th doglegs slightly right from terraced tee areas, and play uphill on the approach with plentiful room greenside. From atop the hill
near to the clubhouse, the panoramic view of this hole is memorable.
There are 4 sets of tees allowing golfers to choose from boxes that play to 7011 yards with a 148 slope, 6341 yards/144 slope, and 5655 yards/125 slope. The forward tees
measure a playable 4855 yards/133 slope. On course golfers will find 200, 150 and 100 yardage blocks on the fairways, and GAM's on each of the white tee boxes. Pin placement
is indicated by small markers on the flag sticks.
For more info, visit our page for Hawk's Eye by clicking here
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