In South Michigan
The economics of golf have soared lately to heights by no means seen earlier than. With inexperienced charges at a few of the high golf programs now costing greater than $400.00-$500.00 to as a lot as $900 for one spherical, together with golf packages at high resort locations costing 1000’s of {dollars}, it’s unlucky that the majority golfers will battle to afford these high-end golf experiences. For golfers who can’t afford that however wish to have the same enjoyable {golfing} expertise on a buddy’s journey, the place can they go? Think about, for the value of 1 spherical at Pebble Seaside or Bandon Dunes, golfers might expertise a three-day, two-night golf package deal and play as much as three or 4 rounds of golf. As one of many largest family-owned golf locations within the nation, Gull Lake View has been constructing a household golf legacy and worth for golfers because the Sixties.
A Wildly In style Southwestern Michigan Golf Vacation spot
A wildly well-liked Southwestern Michigan golf vacation spot took place due to one man’s imaginative and prescient. A superintendent at close by Gull Lake Nation Membership in Richland, Michigan, for 25 years, Darl Scott determined to faucet into his entrepreneurial spirit within the early Sixties. He and his spouse, who already owned and operated a close-by motel, got down to construct the Gull Lake View West golf course in 1962 on adjoining land. Little did the couple know that the small motel and golf course enterprise would lead the couple to change into pioneers in vacation spot golf.
As we speak, this stay-and-play lake nation golf vacation spot is without doubt one of the largest family-owned golf resorts within the nation. One that gives an reasonably priced worth proposition not generally discovered with bigger multi-course golf resorts. Gull Lake View’s six championship programs provide a particular expertise for golfers, all whereas not breaking the financial institution. Think about, for the value of 1 spherical at Pebble Seaside or Bandon Dunes, golfers might expertise a three-day, two-night golf package deal and play as much as three or 4 rounds of golf.
The Improvement of Gull Lake View
The unique Gull Lake View West is depicted by fields, ravines, hills, woods, ponds, and domed greens. Within the early Nineteen Seventies, the couple offered the motel and constructed Gull Lake View East – which options hilly scenic terrain, numerous distinctive water hazards, and calls for good shot placement. Alongside the East course, Darl constructed villa-style condos for golf teams to remain in, which was a brand new expertise on the time.
Through the late Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties golf course growth, the Scotts’ son Charlie, who had constructed golf programs for Wadsworth Development for seven years earlier than coming dwelling to construct the East course, designed and constructed Stonehedge South close by in 1988. The golf course is about on dramatic, rolling wooded countryside harking back to the Carolinas. Then, in 1995, Charlie and his son Jon constructed Stonehedge North, which showcases dramatic elevation modifications and performs roughly 5 photographs simpler than the South. On the identical time, the household purchased and refurbished close by Bedford Valley Nation Membership, an area course that had hosted a number of Michigan Opens however fell into disrepair.
“Darl (who handed away in 1999) appreciated to purchase land, and in that spirit, Jon and I seemed on the land subsequent to the South course, and it had an Irish-Scottish really feel to it with loads of motion,” remembers Invoice Johnson, CEO of Gull Lake View who was the corporate’s vp again then. “And that’s how Stoatin Brae took place, which opened in 2017. We have been taking part in at Pacific Dunes at Bandon Dunes and talked about getting in contact with architect Tom Doak. Inside a few days, he was right here to take a look at the plans with us.”
Attributable to a mission battle, Doak handed the Stoatin Brae job to his Renaissance Golf A-Crew of designers Eric Iverson, Brian Schneider, Don Placek, and Brian Slawnik. They have been accountable for the structure and demanding shaping, bringing the Scottish influences alive. They created a minimalist traditional hyperlinks fashion with architectural components from golf’s golden design period of the Nineteen Twenties and Thirties to create a surprising and memorable golf expertise.
Stoatin Brae is barely the second course of the six that isn’t designed by the gifted household with panorama structure backgrounds. And now, the course is ranked within the state’s high 5. Not like anything in Michigan, it’s situated on one of many highest factors in Kalamazoo County and instructions sweeping panoramic views of the encompassing panorama. It’s a particular course with a dramatic design that conjures up golfers to play their greatest.
“Most of our company will spend an entire day at Stonehedge throughout one in all their days visiting, taking part in the North and South,” says Johnson. “They prefer to play the East and West collectively, as properly. After which Stoatin Brae, which we’ve performed loads of work on to make it extra playable. It’s mature now and it’s lovely. The views are nice, and it’s completely completely different than any of the opposite golf programs. And Bedford Valley offers you that previous nation membership really feel. And it’s an enormous golf course that we will stretch to method over 7,000 yards if want be. These six programs have withstood the take a look at of time. They’re simply good-quality golf programs. And all people is aware of once they come right here, they’re gonna get nice situations.”
“We pleasure ourselves on nation membership situations,” continues Johnson. “We’re all about golf, and we’ve got the facilities, eating places, snack bars, and condos that individuals love. We’re situated proper in the midst of Detroit and Chicago, a simple drive from each or from up north and Wisconsin. It’s actually grown in reputation.”
For folks within the Detroit-to-Chicago hall, it’s a a lot shorter drive than going to Northern Michigan, and the golf high quality is equally good. What’s actually particular about all six programs is that they’re playable for all talent ranges. Golf has change into extra about enjoyable, leisure, and hanging out with pals. That’s what Gull Lake View emanates. You don’t must be an excellent participant to get pleasure from your keep.
As well-liked as Gull Lake View has change into—significantly because the pandemic—possession is reinvesting roughly $2 million per 12 months into enhancing the course situations, irrigation, lodging, and infrastructure in an effort to maintain all the pieces top-notch. They actually care concerning the general expertise. Golfers will seemingly see that spill over into extra rooms out there within the close to future, as properly.
“We’re positively at lodging capability lots,” says Johnson. “In reality, we work with loads of host resorts, the most important one being the Radisson in Kalamazoo, that we refill for weekends as a result of we’re simply full. So, by having the six programs, we will unfold company round. As for extra golf programs, you by no means know. I wouldn’t rule that out. We’re all the time taking a look at land and persevering with Darl Scott’s spirit,” says Johnson.
Happening the fourth era of possession because the early Sixties, this straightforward but charming golf resort is a enjoyable and rewarding expertise for on a regular basis golfers. It’s the final vacation spot the place buddies can have the identical expertise and camaraderie with out breaking the financial institution or touring nice distances to high-end or oceanfront locations that usually obtain all the eye.
Go to Gull Lake View.
