Michigan Golf Journal September 2019

bunkers covering the left side of the fairway. Stay to the right to attack the two- tiered green. The green also has a feature where the right side is mown down to and level with the back of the 18 th tee box. “We knew when we built it, it was going to be different,” GM Bill Shriver said. “There’s pretty much an entire generation of golfers that haven’t seen a course like this. Now (courses are designed) with big gouged-out bunkers and dramatic sloping. “The golf course itself has matured just exponentially faster than we thought it would. It’s softer than it was last fall (it opened August, 2018)… but we’re looking at another 3-to-5 years before the fescue grasses are full. But tee to green it’s really come a long way and we’re really happy with it. “It’s a great compliment to the Bluffs and things couldn’t have gone better (the first year). It’s worked out really well.” New South Clubhouse Now Open: The original clubhouse at the Bluffs location is more formal, with seating for over 300 and white walls, and white linins on the table, for example. But the new South clubhouse seats about 125, has almost a dozen TVs, and is highlighted by an all-glass sunporch with elevated views across the course. Food choices are also more casual at the South, with items like Fish & Chips, fried chicken, pasties, steak sandwiches and the like. “It provides a more relaxed, bistro-type feel,” Shriver added. “We’ll do fish fries on Friday night, those types of things. We want to appeal to the lodge guests, but also the local community as well.” The South Course clubhouse is designed to be open all winter long, providing dining options for people who live nearby and for the public taking part in winter sports. Arcadia also wanted an opportunity to provide local jobs year-round. “Up here in the winter it’s more casual; people are in blue jeans and bundled in winter coats,” Shriver said. “People come over from skiing at Crystal Mountain or maybe snowshoeing nearby. The new building sets us up better that way.” Whenever you visit Arcadia, it’ll be well worth the trip. All lodging choices at Arcadia are exquisite 11 September 2019 www.michigangolfjournal.com