Brown and Lavely added to their golf empire by purchasing Antrim Dells in 2010 and Charlevoix Country Club in 2017. Charlevoix was a private club at one point but, after suffering damage in a fire, it was on the brink of closing when Brown and Lavely saved it. Now, in addition to a particularly well-conditioned golf course with four of the toughest finishing holes in Michigan, it has such amenities as a fitness center, swimming pool and pickleball courts. Antrim Dells opened in 1971 and was the 36hole qualifying site for the Michigan Amateur throughout the 1980s, before the finalists moved on to the match play portion of the tourney at nearby Belvedere Country Club in Charlevoix. The Managing Partner at Antrim Dells, David Hill spent several years working at the Boyne Resort and calls Antrim Dells his “retirement gig.” After purchasing AntrimDells, over 500 trees were removed to make the course more user-friendly. Bird houses and yardage signs were made from redwoods on the original course, as well as the unique décor in the Sunset Bar & Grill to add a special touch to the facility. Antrim is a county in Ireland, and the clubhouse theme underscores that. A view of Grand Traverse Bay, and six of the holes can be viewed from the clubhouse patio. Hill told us, “We’re a family here and our four courses can stand with anybody.’’ A-Ga-Ming is spread out over 30 miles, but the courses offer visitors the true feel of Northern Michigan golf. The accommodations include Maplewood Ridge, Cedar Hollow and Vista Townhomes. Michigan Golf Journal
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ2Nzk4