Travel Michigan Golf

Cutters' Ridge - By Dean Holzwarth

The golf boom in Manistee is about to reach new heights and the word is spreading about this growing Northern Michigan golf destination. Advertisements throughout the state will soon appear inviting everyone to "Golf Manistee" and experience the finest the city has to offer.

In addition to golf, a new casino in Manistee was built last year, and a lively downtown atmosphere prevails on the water. While Arcadia Bluffs is only a short drive from Manistee, Cutters' Ridge is the newest golf course to grace the area and it is targeted for a Memorial Day weekend opening, or perhaps even earlier.

Club professional Doug Bell is hoping to turn golfers on to the new Jerry Matthews-designed course as well as to Cantooke Valley Golf Course, located adjacent to Cutters' Ridge, which opened in 1994. "Nobody even knew about the other course," Bell said. "But it will be really hard to find two really good golf course like the two we have here."

Matthews, along with Carter Construction (the same company that built St. Ives), helped to provide the background for a spectacular golfing experience. It will have the same feel as St. Ives with narrow fairways and good bunkers.

The course is all bent grass, with 60 bunkers strategically placed around the greens. A few spotted fairway bunkers will disrupt less-than-perfect tee shots. There are many wetlands for golfers to venture over and around, as well as elevation changes.

Cutters' Ridge will also attract the average golfer who is becoming frustrated with the longer courses which lead to higher scores. The back tees measure 6,707 yards and the front only 5,037 yards, but most golfers will play from the middle tees which are measured at 6,114 yards.

"It's not a long course, but it will be a fun golf course to play," Bell said. "It's not going to beat you up with length. We made several interesting short holes and we have a really good mix. It's the first in a new wave of shorter course."

The 18-hole, par-72 course features only three par-3s and three par-5s with an array of unique par-4s. The par-4s provide the challenging signature holes. No. 11 is a straight par-4, measuring 420 yards. A long carry is needed for an uphill shot toward a visible green. No. 5 is another par-4 measuring 393 yards with a true dogleg right. A slight ridge is cut into the fairway with a tributary hazard stretching across the fairway. A well-placed second shot could be swallowed by a well-bunkered green. The final hole on the course, the par-4, 429-yard, 18th hole has a wicked, intimidating look to it.

"It's a very deceiving hole," Bell said. "A lot of bets will change hands on this hole." The tee shot will need to carry over the back edge of a large elevated landing area with a marsh on the right side. If you can avoid trouble off the tee, a second-shot to the green could provide birdies on the finishing hole.

Prices range from $50 during the week to $60 on the weekends and golf packages will be available for the two-year-old, 42-room, The Inn at Manistee National Forest.

Cutters' Ridge is located five miles south of Manistee, off US-31.

Call 231-723-8874.