Kingsley Club blends firm fescue turf and ingenious, minimalist routing to evoke the spirit of Old World links on glacial Michigan terrain. This is a pure golf experience where every shot presents options, angles, and a reason to think, all wrapped in a laid-back, golf-first atmosphere.
Kingsley Club is a masterwork in minimalist design, sculpted across ancient glacial ridges and kettle bowls with hardly any earth moved. Mike DeVries’s approach channels the soul of Old World links, delivering lumpy fescue fairways, wind-drawn ground game options, and a focus on strategy over brute force. Every hole offers compelling decisions: wide options off the tee, risk-reward alternate routes, and wild, swooping green contours that reward creativity and precise positioning. Bunkers are placed for strategy rather than punishment, and severe green runoffs create a constant test. The balance of natural ruggedness and clever architecture makes each hole feel both distinct and part of a coherent whole.
DeVries’s Kingsley Club is his first solo canvas—a tribute to links tradition, strategic nuance, and restraint, where decisions matter more than distance.
An inviting opening hole, the first features a split fairway and sweeping views that instantly showcase Kingsley’s strategic DNA. The landing area is guarded by a sentry of bunkers, asking players to chart their route from the start.
Choosing the correct landing zone shapes your approach; aggressive lines can set up a reachable second, but the wrong angle brings bunkers and slopes into play.
Misjudge the tee shot and you’ll find sandy trouble or a blocked approach—par is always in doubt if you lose position off the tee.
Consistently firm, very fast greens, natural and rugged yet immaculately presented.
Usually quick, golf-first pace—minimal distractions and efficient routing.
Serious golf with a laid-back spirit—expect enthusiasm for architecture and camaraderie, not formality.
Bump-and-run, putts from off the green, and low-trajectory shots will pay dividends in these firm conditions.
Strategic angle play and smart misses are rewarded; bring a patient, plotting approach.
Exposed sites mean breezes often add an extra layer of challenge—assess every shot accordingly.
Spend extra time on the practice green to get dialed into the quick pace and wild slopes.
Club founded by Ed Walker and Art Preston
Course opens as Mike DeVries’s first solo design
Quickly recognized as a 'modern classic' by national media
Crystallized as a must-play for architecture fans
Announced plans for new Coore & Crenshaw course and 19th hole
Construction begins on second course and clubhouse expansion
Kingsley’s routing moved only about 20,000 to 30,000 cubic yards of earth, yielding a course that rides the land’s raw, glacial contours. Golfer gossip always circles back to how the course feels ‘discovered’ rather than built.
Mike DeVries grew up learning the craft at Crystal Downs, and its strategic DNA pulses through Kingsley: bold contours, risk-reward options, and greens that can make or break your scorecard.
Despite national acclaim, Kingsley keeps distractions minimal and the vibe almost monastic: no pretense, just riveting golf, open sky, and a culture that’s all about shotmaking and camaraderie.
With work underway on a second 18 by Coore & Crenshaw and a new 19th 'bye hole,' Kingsley is set to add fresh chapters while keeping its original course untouched.
More than 80% of Kingsley’s membership lives outside Michigan.
Mike DeVries honed his style under Tom Doak and at Crystal Downs.
Course features over 120 bunkers sculpted into natural landforms.
Almost no earth was moved—less than 30,000 cubic yards—to build the routing.
A new Coore & Crenshaw course and 19th hole are under construction for 2029.
Macdonald/Raynor classic ranked among the nation’s elite
Dramatic, must-play public resort with Lake Michigan views
Top-tier, tour-proven challenge
Playable, scenic, and visitor-friendly
Traverse City or Acme for lodging, access, and post-round options
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? Rewards imagination from tee to green and demands the same precision once you reach the putting surface — a familiar feeling, expressed in The International Golf Club's own setting.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Kenwood Country Club (Kenview Course) makes the greens a central strategic puzzle, making it a compelling counterpart to Kingsley Club.
Why it matches: If Kingsley Club is your kind of course, Shoreacres Golf Club is worth a look because it rewards imagination from tee to green.
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