By Mary Winowiecki
When summer rolls around, the price of a round of golf usually shoots up.
It’s understandable. Due to its relatively short nature, the “high” season often refers to more than just the peak for tourism, since most Michigan courses reserve their best deals for spring and fall golf exclusively.
This, however, is not the case at Lakewood Shores Resort in Oscoda, where value is an integral part of their mission all year long.
“We are a true golfers’ resort, with an emphasis on dollar value,” said Craig Peters, PGA and general manager at Lakewood Shores. “We attract golfers looking for a great value who want to play a great course.”
Proof positive for Peters’ statement are the resort’s July Savings Golf Packages. Starting at just $189 for weekdays and $219 on the weekends, these generous packages include two nights lodging and three rounds of golf for select dates. Lodging is directly on the course and includes both traditional hotel-style rooms and suites.
In order to make those prices possible, Lakewood Shores doesn’t focus on high-end spa treatments or haute cuisine dining options. What sets this popular resort apart are its three distinct golf courses, which are as different “as black and white,” according to Peters.
Take The Gailes: designed by Kevin Aldridge and named GolfWeek’s highest rated resort course. This course was also rated as the Best New Course in the United States by Golf Digest in 1991, and remains one of the few courses ever to receive this designation.
With its double greens, meandering berms and tall grasses, golfers have a tendency to feel as though they have been transported to Scotland; especially when adding in a few strong gusts of wind off Lake Huron.
Blackshire, on the other hand, offers the classic look and feel of a turn-of-the-century course; much like its eastern seaboard neighbor Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey. Aldridge also designed this course, which features short walks and towering hardwoods with numerous sand waste areas.
Perhaps the most picturesque of the three Lakewood Shores courses is the pretty Serradella. Designed by Bruce Matthews, this course will dazzle you with its 50,000 flowering annuals and perennials that create a breathtaking park-like setting.
Families on a budget will appreciate not only the summer specials, but also the kid-friendly atmosphere at Lakewood Shores. The resort’s pitch-and-putt area—aptly named Wee Links—is fun for the young and old alike. Junior golfers can start to learn the fundamentals, while more seasoned golfers can work on their short game.
For more information on Lakewood Short’s summer specials, including how to build a customized golf package, visit lakewoodshores.com or call 800-882-2493.
