Some Tips for Your Next UP NORTH Trip
We had several excuses to take a couple of swings through Michigan’s northern reaches this month. Things are mostly the same as we remember but we did experience a few new adventures of which you might want to take note.
My sisters in law both wanted to go across the Mackinaw Bridge and gamble a bit in St. Ignace. One of them wished to disperse the ashes of her late husband in Freesoil MI. Of course, Alice and I had numerous GroupGolfer vouchers to use up. So we took a couple of trips over a few weeks and, in case you’re headed up that way, here are a few tips.
Mackinaw Bridge, St. Ignace You have to pay coming and going on the bridge now. Other than that, not much has changed in St. Ignace except for the type of slots at the Casino. Almost every slot now requires you to build up the pot in order to win. You can feed it all day and not win a dime. We prefer the ones where you put in your money and take your chances. Either way, if you play long enough you lose, but we’re not much for patience so if we don’t win promptly, we lose interest.
Peshwabestown, Leelanau Sands The hotel sits on a bluff over East Bay with a nice view from inside and from the small porches. The room was clean and comfortable but so poorly laid out that it was almost like some sort of comedy routine on SNL. Best part was the very crisp new sheets on the bed and ample seating. Nice big TV too, but you cannot see it from the seating area. The lodge is not large nor is it attached to the Casino or the concert hall. This is good because it probably saved us money and allowed us to avoid seeing the mega-loud grunge band Hairball. We did enjoy a nice meal with our friends Scott and Ruth Walker at Knot just a Bar in nearby Omena.
Onekama, Glenwood Inn Our niece and nephew suggested we go to the Glenwood. It was a great suggestion. We loved it. Service couldn’t have been better and our food was spot on. They even put anchovies on the Caesar salad. The wines were well chosen and we even tried a shot of Woodford Reserve Double Barrel Bourbon. It is much bolder and a bit smokier than the regular reserve. After a couple of sips, it was just as smooth.
Kalkaska, Grandview Golf Course When we were young, this might have been a good fit. The terrain is extremely hilly with many steep inclines. Lots of blind elevations and even more observation decks to climb before teeing off. Even with a cart, there is lots of arduous walking, Play was slower than slow. They definitely overbook.
Manistee and Manistee National Golf Resort The first night we stayed at the Hampton Inn on the Lake Michigan beach before we moved to the resort. It is, by far, the best hotel in Manistee. Off season, the pricing isn’t bad. The food in the restaurant on the top floor is very mediocre. I would not recommend it other than a quick app and a drink maybe. The best restaurant in downtown Manistee is the Golden Stag. It is sort of American-Mediterranean and everything we’ve eaten there has been delicious. But, the best food in the area is just about 10 miles down the road in Freesoil Michigan. Doc’s on the River serves the absolute BEST catfish dinner on the planet!! We’ve eaten there multiple times. Typically, a place that we rave about is never as good the second or third time around. Doc’s is the exception. We like it more the more we go there. I used to find catfish, pollack, sheepshead, white perch and tilapia distasteful. It all depends on how it is prepared, I guess. We’ve had WONDERFUL pollack at St. John Vianney’s Lenten fish dinners. Alice’s cousin is the master of clean sweet tasting sheepshead. And now, we have found Doc’s which prepares catfish in a way that is not only the best catfish I’ve ever had but in the top couple of ranks of ANY fish I’ve ever had. I’ve got a theory on how to make white perch and tilapia edible. I’ll post it here if it works. While we were at Manistee National Resort, we played both the Retreat and the Revenge courses. We’ve played them both many times starting when we were young enough to really sock the ball and have continued playing here well into our old age. Both courses are very playable for older golfers from the red tees.
Cadillac, Cadillac Country Club We ate twice at the Clam Lake Brewing Company. With Alice and her sisters we had a variety of appetizers for lunch and, a week later Alice and I dined there. Both times we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, the beer and the food. Cadillac Country Club allows the public to play a couple of days per week. If I lived in Cadillac, I would definitely be a member. Play was the fastest we’ve played in years, it was very playable for seniors from the red tees and the course was in impeccable condition. We did not eat there on this trip but have in the past with good memories.
Muskegon, the Thoroughbred We had purchased golf vouchers to the Thoroughbred in Rothbury MI but were unable to get ahold of anyone to book a room. We’ve stayed there in the past and enjoyed it but they anticipated some sort of major event in early June so wouldn’t take any room reservations. Consequently, we booked at the Shoreline Inn in Muskegon. We’ve stayed there many times and every time we like it less than our previous stay. Like European youth hostel hotels, the entrance is quite grand but the rooms have become so bare bones, I don’t think we’d stay again. We had a wonderful dinner at the Hearthstone however. Shortly after I retired, I had heard that Frank Lister had passed away and his employees purchased the Hearthstone from his widow Gina. On this trip, we learned that neither was true. Frank and Gina are alive and well and the restaurant was purchased in 2017 and still owned by the Lister’s friends Ben Soyars and Steve Jackson who have loyally upheld the high standards that the Listers had established during their 42 year ownership. I had played the Thoroughbred about 30 years ago and I remember it being a tough course. It is even tougher than I remember. NOT a good course for old people. It offers many crazy side hill, up hill and blind shots. Some spots, I could hardly stand erect let alone take a golf swing. No thanks.
Fenton, Willow Brook and the Laundry We golfed at Willow Brook Golf Course just outside of Fenton in the village of Byron. Alice felt that the undulating terrain was a bit too much but I really like the course. From the red tees, the distances were manageable and the fairways wide enough to take a good rip without danger of going off course. It had just endured torrential rains the night before so many of the soft spots were roped off making large portions inaccessible to golf carts. That did contribute to extra walking but play was super fast and most of the undulations in the greens and fairways were very predictable and playable. In spite of having been soaked, the greens were very true and reasonably fast. We’ve eaten at the Laundry restaurant in Fenton several times now and every time we like it less and less. The last time we ate there would have been our last except that the manager gave us a gift certificate for us to try it again based on our experience. But, the total scene always seems discombobulated. It took almost an hour after being seated to be served our food and nothing was quite right. Looking around at other tables, it was clear that the kitchen made no attempt at presentation or traditional standards. Everything looked like it had fallen on the floor, scooped up and put on a plate. There is an old saying you’ve heard a thousand times. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Seems like the Laundry is trying to reinvent everything. It makes me wonder if they don’t have the skills to do it correctly or if they don’t want to spend the money on the traditional ingredients. How hard is it to make good soup and a sandwich the old fashioned way?
Enjoy in Good Health,
A Brian Cain, the Michigan Vintner
