We played golf, stayed in the lodge, and ate at the restaurant. Everything was outstanding and the staff was very friendly. I can't wait to go back! read more

So let me preface my review by saying that I'm a 2 HCP and have played Whistling Straits, Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay and Torrey Pines in the last 3 years. I think all of these courses take great advantage of the land and sea (lake) setting and are in a similar class (at least for arguments sake). So here we go... I'll start with the golf... Great driving range and short game facility. There isnt a single flat spot on the putting green by the range so I would advise you avoid that one all together before your round. Use the putting green in front of the clubhouse or you'll be frightened to death before your round even starts... But then again, the downfall of the course IMO are those stinkin greens! I played two rounds 7:50am and 1:50pm. I walked in the morning and took a caddy who was helpful but so used to carrying for 18 handicappers that he cost me two shots a side. I found the walk to be tough. It's hilly of course but there are some pretty good hikes from greens to tees (from 10 to 11 and 11 to 12 especially). The layout of the course is fair and really alot of fun. You have to pick your spots to be aggressive and you definitely have to know where to miss it. Which brings me to my issue with the course... The GREENS. I dont mind speed (running around 11) and I dont mind undulation but some of these are just kinda lame. Swails and slopes are tons of fun when you can utilize them or even when they're penal when you get out of position but the challenge they should present is that they require you to hit a great shot to get out of trouble. Unfortunately some of these greens (and pins they choose) are designed to make sure you take a beating. I don't pretend to be a professional golfer by any means but I'm a darn good player and there were a few holes where I walked off just shaking my head. Let me name them (front middle flag on 9, back left flag on 10, back right flag on 11, back left flag on 15, the WORST middle right flag on 16 and 18 green i suspect too). The best example is 16. I played the back tees so #16 was playing 476 yds. I hit a 310 yard drive down the hill so I've got a 9 iron into a section of the green right over the bunker that is about 4yds wide and 6 yds deep but truly impossible to hold. Any miss leaves you with an up and over putt from 30+ feet. You just have to see it to really grasp it but trust me... simply dumb. The shame of it is that the course doesnt need the gimmicks. It's hard enough putting on big vague greens and the landscape is ridiculously beautiful. IMO the some of the goofiness hurts the class of the place but aside from that it's a great track. It's more scenic than Whistling Straits and Spanish Bay combined but as a true golf experience, the other two are much truer tests. I had lunch and dinner at the restaurant and both were great. I echo all the other comments about what an unbelievable privilege it is to sit on the balcony and hear the bag pipes play as the sunsets... Truly amazing, impressive, relaxing and breath-taking. The food was really good as well. I love great soups and their Cream of Mushroom was unreal! It's pricey for sure but the view is worth the upcharge for food. Lastly, I found the staff to be the highest quality and level of professionals. They really bring alot of value to the experience. Awesome people! Word on the grounds up there is that they are looking to expand which means the price-tag will likely being moving north as well. I'd go back if my schedule allowed but I'm not dying to make the drive north again anytime soon. On the other hand if I got a letter in the mail saying they redesigned the greens and softened some of the slopes, I'd pick this place over just about anywhere. read more

Played with my father who was visiting back in late September 2012. The course is stunning! so was the wind! 30-40 mph sustained and it made the course almost unplayable. However, my dad and I had a blast and enjoyed the white caps on Lake Michigan. The restaurant was very nice too, the staff extremely freindly. I doubt my dad will be back as he is up there in years and lives in California, but I will be. It's a little out of my league price wise, but when I have the money to spend I would not hesitate on using it on another round of golf at Arcadia Bluffs. Might even consider booking a room overnight for a romantic getaway with my wife. First class indeed. read more

My husband and I went to Arcadia over Labor Day weekend to celebrate our anniversary. It was meant to be a quick get away from Chicago but once we got there, we felt like we were a world away! It was absolutely amazing! Everywhere you look, the views were amazing. The course was stunning, club house and hotel were so clean, bright and beautiful. The bed was more comfortable than our bed at home, we didn't want to leave! My only regret was not staying longer. I wish we stayed 2 nights and played the course twice. The round of golf moved a bit slow, but we didn't mind... it was the most beautiful course we've ever played so having to wait on the tee box for a couple of minutes was a nice way to take in the views and appreciate the course without feeling rushed. Food was amazing - we had 3 meals there, lunch and dinner the day we arrived and breakfast the next morning before we left. All 3 were delicious! We didn't mind eating at the same restaurant 3 times with views so beautiful. Finally, to top off our trip - I had forgot my expensive electronic toothbrush in the room and my husband forgot a pair of shorts and belt. I didn't even have a chance to call the hotel after to ask them to send it back when a box arrived at my home with our forgotten belongings. They sent it back to us without us even asking. I've stayed other places and when I've forgotten something, they charge my credit card to send it back. Not at Arcadia - they went above and beyond without even asking. This may seem like something small but I was so happy when the box arrived and it saved me the phone call and expense of sending it back. We will without a doubt be going back to Arcadia... it has become our #1 mid-west vacation spot! I can't wait until they build the spa too - I'll be there ASAP! read more

We recently stayed here for my husband's birthday. When I made the reservation, I was assured that we would have a complimentary bottle of wine with a welcome card in the room. And that at dinner we would have "something special." I just presumed that would be a nice glass of champagne, or a dessert. There was no wine....no card....and at dinner, when I was expecting a birthday recognition, we got a birthday card (!) handed to us by the server. Signed from The Arcadia Bluffs "team," or whatever. I was so embarrassed. I would have organized something special if I had known nothing was going to happen for him. It's not like we can't afford our own wine, dessert, etc.... But after spending $825.00 for one night, and being told a couple of times on the phone, that Arcadia would "handle" something special, I really believe that Arcadia could have upped their game like a high end resort property would have. read more

Good luck finding a view like this outside of the coasts. We've come back here on several occasions and just watched the sun set on the deck. Something that we are all very luck to have. read more

I've been fortunate to play Pebble, Spyglass, Harbor Town, The Ocean Course, Crosswater, ...... Arcadia is just as nice if not better when you factor in the lodge and the relatively low green fee. If you can play it on a nice sunny day, really, it just doesn't get any better. For me, a round here is the perfect day-all about playing your best and enjoying yourself with great food and unbelievable views. Not pompous or over the top. Staff knows golf and were great. Bring your A-game if you expect to score-greens are tough!! read more

This golf course is VERY expensive but supposedly VERY good. I've only eaten in the dining room, which was pretty good as well. I wish they'd let you walk the course (or rent a cart for 30 minutes), as it is quite beautiful, as it overlooks Lake Michigan. read more

The absolute best place in the area to watch the sunset! Check out their new bar, too...friendly bar staff and a fun place to chat up some other fun people! read more

Over-priced food, but a nice view of the lake. A glass of lemonade was $12, the fish dinners were $32. I thought the food was fair, but there are better places to go. Service was slow, but we weren't in a hurry. read more

I am rating my personal experience. I did not stay at the resort, nor did I golf. I was there for a wedding rehearsal dinner. I really wanted to give it one star, but there were a couple things which were nice, like the full-window view, and the bagpiper at sundown. First, the parking was very far from the door. They did have valet parking, but with the large group all arriving at the same time it would have been very slow. Several of us opted to instead park ourselves and take the golf-cart shuttle back to the door. The gentleman driving the cart was very nice and friendly! We were seated in a beautiful room with full windows to have a view of Lake Michigan while we were dining. We walked out the back door to a grassy area with a number of Adirondack chairs available for viewing the sunset. From this back area, you also overlooked some of the golf course with rolling hills. It was a beautiful site. Just as we all sat down for dinner, a bagpiper arrived and played on one of the hills. We were told we were supposed to have free wine with dinner, but I never had any sever come by with the wine. My friend and I finally went to the bar to get a drink, since we weren't being served at the tables. I asked about a local brew which was on the menu, and the bartender had no clue what type of beer it was, nor could he even find one in the cooler. A single bottle of beer was $8. Yikes. Dinner began with a salad. It was good. We had to wait a long time in between each course. Each guest was given a choice of a pasta with tomato sauce or fish with rice and vegetables for an entrée. I had the fish. It was supposed to be oven roasted. Instead it tasted like it was boiled and then covered with chopped dill. It also tasted as if it was spoiled. I love fish, and was expecting some of the best ever, since this place was extremely expensive. However, I had better fish at some of the local diners in the area. I rarely do not each everything on my plate, but this fish was absolutely unpalatable. I left more than half of the little fillet. I ate most of the rice, but it wasn't great. The vegetable mix was cooked unevenly, so some pieces were cooked and others tasted almost raw. We were served ice cream for dessert. They couldn't mess that up. Finally, as the sun was setting, the bagpiper went back to the hilltop and played "Amazing Grace" as the sun set. It was the highlight of the night. read more

Stunning sights, bagpipes playing, beautiful course, food was really good, and Lake Michigan looked so clear when I was there!

This is the finest golf course I've played in the eastern half of the US. Absolutely stunning course, with views of Lake Michigan and the beautiful clubhouse as landmarks visible from everywhere. Excellent range and practice green with pot bunkers. Service in the restaurant left a bit to be desired, but they were obviously young, relatively inexperienced kids in there. The food was good though. South Carolina's Caledonia and Rochester's Oak Hill move to #2 and 3 on my list, respectively! read more

This is my favorite place in entire golf course in Michigan! Breath taking view from each hole especially hole 13, 14 and all the way to 18th... the Lake Michigan was picturesque!! Got a have this course in your next visit!! read more

This is a "nit-picky" review. So, take it with a grain of salt. For the golf course, you will find few, if any golf courses around that match the beauty of this place. The views of the lake are breathtaking. And, I know a lot of folks were disappointed about the amount of dirt that was moved to rout the course, but the course is routed beautifully. Also, for a 10-20ish handicap this is a wonderful course because it is not overly penalizing off the tee and the schmeng does not come into play unless you hit a really bad shot (unlike Kingsley. . .) My only beef with the golf course is there are a handful of holes that are hard to start with that don't reward you for hitting a good shot into the green because of the severe undulation. The par 3 fifth is a good example. It is an uphill shot with a big bunker protecting the green. If that is not enough of a challenge, there is about a five foot elevation change from back to front. And, if the pin is on the back shelf, you have to hit an absolutely perfect shot to get it to stay there (unlike mine that hit the top of the hill and rolled down fifty feet . . . yes). 6,9,17 and 18 are kinda like that too. For the F&B, they have a great wine list for high end stuff (two first growth bordeauxs, all of the $100 Cali cabs, etc). The bar and seating area is a little generic, but the view is obviously great. All of the staff are really nice. This course is part of my fall golf trip rotation and will likely stay there for awhile. read more

This is whistling straits but better. More topo, faster and tougher greens, better views, outstanding condition, cart playable and less expensive. Only negative, it is in the middle of nowhere. We were the first group off so pace was not an issue. Took our time and played in 4hrs. An hour later after finishing lunch the group behind us hadn't come off 18. Clubhouse is beautiful at the highest point on the property with outstanding regional fare. Didn't spend the night as we drove down from traverse city but would be a great location for a 1 or 2 nite golf trip. read more

Stayed at The Cottages which are advertised as accommodating 8 people. There are, indeed, 8 fairly comfortable twin beds and 4 bathrooms. However, front room has seating for 6, kitchen table seats 4. No where except outside for all of us to be comfortably together. Thankfully there is a beautiful view, but once it started raining, that disappeared along with any way for all of us to be in the same place. read more

Service was outstanding. A group of us stayed in the cottages and truly enjoyed our weekend. I unfortunately experienced a flat tire on our drive up and the staff took care of everything. They were able to find a place to fix my tire even during the holiday weekend. I can't thank them enough. Will be back soon. read more

Played Arcadia for the second time and, while I scored better, the pace of play was abysmal. Took 5.5 hours to play on a day when the course was nearly empty. Saw the rangers several times, but they did not say anything to the groups that were delaying the entire round. I did enjoy the views of Lake Michigan while enjoying lunch on the 12th tee as we waited for the two foursomes in front of tee off. I cannot comment on the restaurant/bar as we were told to leave immediately after the round due to a large wedding taking place that evening. read more

My husband and I stayed here Saturday, May 5th. We had an amazing time and the golf course was absolutely breath-taking! I want to personally thank Paul and Lola for their absolute top notch service. We could not have asked for better service and accommodations. Paul made sure we had everything we needed and did not hesitate to grab something for us from our car when we needed it. We were highly, highly impressed with how well we were taken care of by them. It was almost sickening! LOL. Lola was awesome, and just as sweet and gracious as could be! Zack Chapin was great as well. Very, very friendly and very helpful with anything in the pro shop. He even chatted up with my husband on Sunday morning about his golf round. He shot an 83! Billy our fore caddy was great as well. He did a great job and we enjoyed having him as our caddy. I think he enjoyed watching my husband play. So, a good time was had by all on the course that day. And last but not least, Ketty. She was very sweet and let me take over the front porch to take pictures of the moon. She was great and was glad we got to meet her! Dinner was fantastic and Jennifer our server was great. The asparagus bruschetta we had as an appetizer was wonderful! The room we stayed in was absolutely gorgeous and that bathroom was amazing! We had a beautiful view of the lake and the course. We felt totally pampered the whole time we were there. It was a great birthday weekend for my husband. read more

Course was aerated and over seeded, yet they still charged a premium rate. I have played nicer courses, firestone, sawgrass and the bull. The one thing they have in common is the staff realizes the customers pay the way. The majority of the Marshall's were rude. Yelled about pace, but did nothing to get the drunks ahead of us to play. Better money in the area at a ga Ming. read more

Beautiful view of Lake Michigan but the atmosphere was taken away by the snobby wait staff. Older lady that was our waitress acted as if she was doing us a favor. $135.00 lunch isn't anything to blink at. We then went into the pro shop to buy a sweatshirt and the two younger men running the place obviously put their pants on differently were to good to even say hello. I would think twice about ever going back. read more

Dinner was horrible. The only thing this place has going for it is location and ambiance. The fish is frozen, everything was over-salted and over-cooked, and the ingredients were not fresh as the menu had claimed. When we asked our server asked how everything was, and we informed her about the food (hoping it was simply not cooked correctly) she was rude and responded "everyone likes our food, but to each his own." The whole night, service was slow, even just to get our drinks ordered. To top it all off, our bill was over $200. read more

Didn't play golf but the course was gorgeous. The clubhouse was beautiful and the lodging upstairs was 5 star. Service was great and staff was extremely helpful and attentive. Very clean, fresh and beautiful. Loved it. read more

One of the worst times on a golf course. I'm 52 years old and I have played some of the best golf courses in Michigan, including Oakland Hills Country Club. We were told on the third hole by the starter that we were 6 min. behind our group was in front of us the group behind us was a hole behind us. The rest of the day the starter would follow us every hole in our view we came to the 9th hole. He was there behind the hole. We all parred the hole. We stopped at the clubhouse and they told us we needed to hurry up we are spending money in the clubhouse. The group behind us was just on the tee box when we came out of the clubhouse. We hit hole 13 and the assistant pro would follow us shot for shot. We asked did we do something wrong? He said just going to help you along. He followed us until hole 17. The group behind us was now 1.5 holes behind us. We said to him, 'The group behind us is 1.5 holes behind'. This was my 6th time playing there with a group of 7 or more. This will be my last time ever to play there. We are all low handicap golfers. To pay $190, We should enjoy playing the golf course. Its a joke don't take pictures. Would not recommend this course and I work with a lot of clients that golf way to go Arcadia Bluffs. Thanks Mike read more