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Golf Course Review & Scouting Report

LochenHeath Golf Club

80

Williamsburg, Michigan

MI #28
Established
2001
Architect
Steve Smyers
Access
Private
Par
Par 72
Length
5,227 – 7,278 yds
The verdict

Northern Michigan’s Strategic Standout

LochenHeath delivers an elite private-club challenge shaped by Steve Smyers’ bold vision and the dramatic bluffside setting above Grand Traverse Bay. With a tough, strategic layout and a story of rebirth, it stands among Michigan’s most intriguing modern designs even if it’s not a national bucket-list course.

Course DNA
Difficulty
91
Scenery
85
Conditioning
82
Shot Variety
80
Walkability
70
Green Complexity
78
Wow Factor
77
Design Quality
81
At a glance

Quick facts

Location
Minutes from Traverse City, overlooking Grand Traverse Bay
Terrain
Converted former cherry orchard on hilly bluffland
Elevation changes
Substantial, especially on inbound nine
Slope/Rating (Black)
77.2 / 148 (extremely challenging)
Fairway style
Wide, links-inspired but with inland contour
Season
Typical play April–October
Atmosphere
Quiet, exclusive, private-club vibe
Cherry orchard legacy
Built on historic Maitland family land
The design

The architecture

Steve Smyers’ vision for LochenHeath married classic links inspiration with Michigan orchard topography, yielding a bold modern design that leverages bluffside land forms, ample fairway width, and large, undulating green complexes. While the look recalls Scottish links with native fescue and exposed contours, the inland drama is pure northern Michigan – shaping a course that feels simultaneously international and local. Strategic play dominates: risk-reward driving lines, varied angles into greens, and penalties for missing the proper side. The result is a private club that rewards thoughtful golf and brings out memorable, dramatic moments at every turn.

Steve Smyers’ legacy at LochenHeath lies in blending international golf inspiration with a uniquely Michigan site, crafting a test that’s equal parts modern challenge and classic homage.

Defining features
  • Expansive, multi-angle fairways for strategic driving
  • Large, demanding green complexes with ample undulation
  • Constant elevation changes over bluff and orchard ground
  • Native fescue and rugged bunkers nodding to Scottish links style
  • Dramatic bay views on key holes
  • Firm, fast playing conditions rewarding ground-game creativity
Hole by hole

Signature holes

Hole 5

Orchard Corridor Challenge

PAR
4
YARDAGE
468

A long par 4 sweeping over the highest orchard ridgeline, demanding both length and precision to an angled green. The corridor is framed by native grasses, and miss left or right can mean a tough recovery out of thick rough or fescue.

Play it smart

Favor the right side for the best angle; a bold drive sets up a mid-to-long iron approach that must be controlled below the hole.

Where it bites

Deep rough and fescue left, with a green that rejects shots missing short or left.

Course management

Shots to think about

Windy bluffside tee shots
Throttle back driver—club selection and shape matter more than brute force.
Approaching large, undulating greens
Play below the hole; above the flag guarantees a tough two-putt or worse.
Long par 3s with trouble left
Trust the fat of the green—even a bailout right is better than flirting with double on the short side.
Short par 4s inviting aggression
Don’t get baited—angle and lie are everything; position trumps length.
Recovering from native fescue
Take your medicine and punch out safely—the penalty for heroics can be a lost ball.
Reading fast, triple-tier greens
Commit to the first break and don’t overread the tiers—pace, not line, dictates the outcome.
On the day

What to expect

Conditions

Firm, fast, immaculately maintained fairways and greens with creative bunkering.

Pace

Member-paced; expect a steady, unhurried round with room to strategize.

Vibe

Quiet exclusivity—discreet, clubby, and deeply focused on the golf experience.

Dress code

Traditional golf attire strongly expected (collared shirt, no denim); confirm specific policies with club.

Before you tee off

Your game plan

01

Fine-tune lag putting

Practice from 30-60 feet to handle sweeping, tiered greens and frequent long-range par saves.

02

Prep for elevation changes

Elevate your uphill/downhill club selection—bluffside shots demand careful calculation.

03

Play strategic, not heroic

Embrace position and angles over length; knowing where not to miss is half the score.

The lore

How it came to be

  1. 2001

    LochenHeath Golf Club opens on the old Maitland orchard site.

  2. 2004

    Recognized as one of Michigan’s top private destinations.

  3. 2008

    Transitions between public and private operation as financial pressures mount.

  4. 2009

    Club closes and property faces foreclosure.

  5. 2011

    LochenHeath is revived and reopens under new ownership after two-year closure.

  6. 2021

    Bunker renovation and tee additions planned as part of ongoing quality upgrades.

Stories & legends

What makes it special

comeback

Revival After Foreclosure

After closing its doors and facing foreclosure in 2009, LochenHeath rose from the ashes in 2011. New ownership and renewed vision transformed it back into a prestigious northern Michigan destination.

landscape

Bluffside Views and Bold Moves

Steve Smyers used the dramatic bluff above Grand Traverse Bay to carve holes with big drives, rolling approaches, and inspiring, wide-angle vistas. The elevation changes test even top players and give every round a sense of scale.

identity

Scottish Spirit in Cherry Country

Although hundreds of miles from the nearest Scottish seaside, LochenHeath’s ground-game options and rugged fescue nod to links tradition, all layered atop a cherry-orchard roots story unique to Michigan.

For the group chat

Fun facts

1

The course name blends 'loch' (lake) and 'heath' (native grass) in Scottish tribute.

2

LochenHeath was built on family-owned cherry orchard land, with some trees still framing play.

3

The site’s dramatic bluff overlooks East Grand Traverse Bay, making for spectacular sunsets.

4

Multiple holes play directly at or alongside restored native fescue, boosting the links effect.

5

The course’s par-3 11th tips out at a daunting 250 yards.

Build the trip

If you’re making a Traverse City golf trip

CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Resort

Michigan’s most famous public championship test nearby

The Wolverine at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Resort

Playable and scenic, a perfect travel partner

Crystal Downs Country Club
Private

Alister MacKenzie/Iowa classic, the region’s ultimate architecture pilgrimage

Treetops Resort Courses
Resort

Multiple courses, strong public trip in the Gaylord golf mecca

Traverse City—easy dining, lodging, and shortest drive to all marquee northern Michigan courses.

Course DNA

If You Like LochenHeath Golf Club

Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.

Strong DNA Match7.5

Vermont National Golf Club

South Burlington, Vermont

Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Vermont National Golf Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to LochenHeath Golf Club.

Strong DNA Match7.2

Pinetree Country Club

Kennesaw, Georgia

Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Pinetree Country Club's own setting.

Strong DNA Match9.1

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Why it matches: The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is a natural next stop after LochenHeath Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.

From the community

Community Sentiment

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