Arcadia Bluffs South delivers a Golden Age-inspired challenge with wide corridors, dramatic bunkers, and sweeping open views. It's a regional destination overflowing with strategic shotmaking and a must-play for golfers chasing classic design in a public setting.
Before your round, ask for a highlight of the day's best template hole from the staff—every visit, the wind and pin location create a new 'signature' experience.
Arcadia Bluffs South is a rare, modern homage to the classic strategic architecture of Macdonald and Raynor—wide corridors framed by bold bunkers, firm ground, and template greens that encourage creative lines and reward thoughtful angles. The land rolls out in sprawling, wind-exposed fashion, prioritizing shotmaking over brute force and inviting every golfer to test both their imagination and nerve. It's a meticulously built, timeless experience that feels steeped in architectural tradition, yet always fresh thanks to the scale and drama of its open setting.
Dana Fry and Jason Straka designed the course as a tribute to Golden Age masters, crafting a strategic masterpiece with template holes and classic principles on a modern, public canvas.
A sweeping 604-yard par 5, this hole is an immense test where the wind and wide landing zones challenge every shot decision. Its scale and layout reward precise positioning and thoughtful layups over sheer distance.
Choose your line off the tee carefully, as the correct angle to the layup zone offers the best opportunity for an aggressive but safe third shot into a guarded green.
Deep fairway bunkers and a false front await errant or lazy layups—forcing tough recoveries if you flirt with greed.
Firm, fast turf with destination-quality grooming and bold, classic visuals.
Expect a steady, deliberate round; walking encouraged with caddies/forecaddies available.
Special-occasion, big-trip energy with a strategic purist’s feel—more focused and serious than the original Bluffs.
You'll need creative short shots from tight lies and bold green surrounds.
The firm, squared complexes run true but are tricky—master the speed before teeing off.
Reading up on Macdonald/Raynor strategies will help you recognize risk/reward cues throughout the round.
Limited play begins on the new South Course.
Grand Opening for full play (April 1).
Debuts on Golf Digest's 100 Greatest Public list.
Ranks among Michigan's top 10 golf courses.
Holds #53 spot in America's 100 Greatest Public (Golf Digest).
The South Course at Arcadia Bluffs was purpose-built to channel the spirit of Macdonald and Raynor, using template holes and bold architecture to craft an old-school test in a modern setting. Its creation challenged the property to deliver an experience as addictive as the famed Bluffs layout.
Despite opening in 2019, the South Course rapidly vaulted into top-100 national public-course status, earning prominent spots on Golf Digest and Golf Magazine lists. Its rise is a testament to the strength of its design and execution.
Located just two miles from its original sibling, the South Course pushes golfers to compare strategic, classic challenges with the drama of lakeside dunes. Savvy visitors pair both courses for the full Arcadia Bluffs experience.
The South’s square greens are rooted in early Macdonald template traditions.
Despite being a modern build, the course plays firmer and faster than most Midwest publics.
Caddies and forecaddies are a distinctive offering for a Michigan public course.
The South opened more than a century after its architectural inspiration, but stays true to the classic template concepts.
Sweeping Lake Michigan views and dramatic dunes—play it alongside the South for the full Arcadia experience.
Extra round under 30 minutes away, fun and accessible for all.
World top-20 brilliance if you can secure an invite—one of Alister MacKenzie’s US masterpieces.
Stay at the Arcadia Bluffs resort lodges or in nearby Manistee for great access to all top public options.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Sewanee Golf Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club (South Course).
Why it matches: If Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club (South Course) is your kind of course, Shelter Harbor Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. The Links of North Dakota a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club (South Course).
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