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A Course Born of Respect

arnold palmerHere, amid stunning scenery and hushed seclusion, is a course created by Palmer with his design tenants - beauty, strategy, risk-reward, fun - and full respect the area’s history of glacial formation. Moraines and outwash plains from melting glaciers characterized the lower elevations of the site. Long ridges or “drumlins” characterized the higher. Palmer's solution begins in a sprawling meadow at the lowest elevation, climbs and winds with the ridges and returns to finish by a sparkling pond beside the clubhouse terraces. Along the way, carefully framed views of fescue filled meadows, hardwood and Pine forests, expansive ridges, and Lake Michigan’s Manitou Passage await the golfer. So, too, does a respite far from concrete, crowds, and chaos. This is Manitou Passage. and it welcomes you.

“I am very pleased with the improvements being made to the Manitou Passage Golf Club as they will allow this course to reach its full potential. It offers a fantastic golf experience in a beautiful setting. Players of all skill levels will enjoy this scenic and challenging championship quality course.” - Arnold Palmer

  • 2010 Golfweeks Best New Courses
  • Gma Most Beautiful Place
  • Arnold Palmer Design Company

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    History

    A group of dedicated golfers who have permanent or seasonal homes in Leelanau County purchased this Arnold Palmer Signature Course with the stated intention of upgrading it dramatically and making it a destination course.

    The Arnold Palmer Design Company of Orlando, Florida and Peridian International of Newport Beach, California were retained to design the improvements to the course and parking, walks, bag drop, starter’s area, landscaping, and multi-level outdoor dining terraces at the clubhouse. Wadsworth Golf Construction Company of Plainfield, Illinois was chosen to make the improvements to the course. The depth of experience that team brings is impressive. Palmer had designed 300 courses. Peridian had done the land planning and landscape architecture with Pete Dye, Rees Jones, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Weiskopf. Wadsworth, perhaps the nation’s most respected golf course construction company, had worked on 800 courses including Augusta National; Forest Dunes; Kiawah’s Cougar Point, Osprey Point and Turtle Point; Sea Pine’s Harbor Town; and Torrey Pines.

    The redesign increased playability by adding a fifth tee box, enlarging many of the existing tee boxes, taking severity out of some doglegs, and widening selected landing areas. The excellent bunkering throughout the course was cleaned up and re-cut, and new bunkers were added to give the course the crisp look Palmer intended. The most dramatic change was on Hole 5 where a massive amount of earth was moved to raise the tee boxes and make the forced carry to the landing area manageable from all tees. That created a glimpse of Lake Michigan between Pyramid Point and South Manitou Island and lead to the name “Manitou Passage”. The work Palmer, Peridian, and Wadsworth did was recognized with Golfweek’s “Best New Courses” award.

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    You’ll stay at The Homestead America’s Freshwater Resort.

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    Manitou Passage Golf Club
    4600 Club Drive
    Cedar, MI 49621