Text: Brenna Buckwald // Photography: Courtesy of RedWater

Macatawa Golf Club of Holland, Muskegon Country Club of Muskegon, StoneWater Country Club of Caledonia, Sunnybrook Country Club of Grandville, Thousand Oaks Golf Club of Grand Rapids, and Watermark Country Club of Grand Rapids: these West Michigan-based golf club are available to play at any time during the season with a private, six-club golf membership through RedWater Golf Clubs.

Creating an inclusive experience that invites all golfers to have a private membership that fits their lifestyle, the RedWater Golf Clubs offers a multitude of private membership deals at varying price points based on the current stage of life for each qualifying golfer. These membership options differ by age range, and whether it is for an individual member, or a golfer and their family. To Jeff Carlson, PGA, general manager of golf and sports at RedWater Golf Clubs, each new member chooses their home club where they can participate in golf leagues and other events, but also can play rounds and utilize the amenities at any of the six private golf clubs.

RedWater Golf Clubs also offers a slightly more affordable, three-club membership at Macatawa Golf Club, Stonewater Country Club, and Sunnybrook Country Club, for those looking to focus their practice on a smaller scale of courses, honing their game on each one.

“The food and beverage discounts that we offer at the 10 RedWater Restaurant Group locations are another added benefit to our membership; it is added value to what people are buying into, along with our five private pools that we have as well,” Carlson said. “We can offer basically whatever you are looking for with our unique membership setup.”

This golf season, RedWater has introduced fresh perks to membership with some of their recent club additions and updates. Acquired three years ago as a semi-private club, Macatawa Golf Club is now a fully private golf experience for the 2022 season. Rounding out the family and social experience at the club, Macatawa has recently added a new play area, a full regulation basketball court, and a water slide open for member use. They are also in the process of opening a new, larger pool.

Muskegon Country Club is RedWater’s newest addition, expanding the company’s portfolio of clubs that members can visit and play at. On June 15, 2022, Muskegon Country Club hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony with the local Chamber of Commerce, for a new onsite restaurant called Lake Bluff Grille. The eatery is now fully operational and open to both members and the public to enjoy a meal at.

Carlson also indicated that the golf course at Watermark Country Club is currently in the process of undergoing renovations that will modernize the course from its original ’50s design, with the help of Michigan Golf Course Architect Mike DeVries. New bunkers, added bentgrass areas, and expanded fairways will be some of the updated course design details that golfers can expect for a more enjoyable and challenging game at Watermark.

“We are in the midst of that project, and it will be fun to see some of the fruits of that labor that we have been doing since last fall come to fruition, and for the members and their guests to see some of the positive changes we are making there,” Carlson said.

For those who enjoy golfing but don’t have quite enough time on their hands to take advantage of a private membership, RedWater also has two public golf clubs in their collection: Ravines Golf Club in Saugatuck, Michigan and The Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“We’re also excited about continuing the coursework and clubhouse renovations at Thornapple Pointe and the Ravines. Both of those are public golf entities and those we are excited about as well to have in our group, just to give a real well-rounded golf experience for the West Michigan golf community,” Carlson said.

“We have all the bases covered to have options for every type of golfer, from the more serious to the recreational ones. We look forward to—between the dining, golf, and social sides of things—having a fun-filled 2022,” Carlson added.