Golf Scrapbook Blog (The Other Ones)

Lochenheath Golf Club

I talk in my Trump National: Los Angeles review about the top underrated courses but I compiled that list before playing here. This was one of the nicest surprises ever. Came to the Traverse City area in 2020 for a guy’s golf trip to play the Grand Traverse and Arcadia courses. I talk about Arcadia and the area here. So didn’t see much posted about Lochenheath but since it was across the street from the Grand Traverse Resort where we stayed, I decided to take a flyer on it. It’s listed as private but I think I just made an inquiry online and was able to book golf and dinner here. I think, I may have had my pro call too but did see a couple of guys from the Grand Traverse here so it’s not tough to get on no matter how you do it.

With Lochenheath, you get private club conditioning, lake front (actually bay front) views, great elevation changes and an intriguing Steve Smyers layout. There really was nothing not to like about this course and if you’re going to the area I strongly recommend an 18 and dinner here as part of your rota. In fact, while I really like playing different courses, if I ever get back to the area to play Crystal Downs (a bucket list course), I might play here again. Two of the guys from our trip replayed this as well while the rest of us went axe throwing (so it wasn’t just me loving on this course).

So Crystal Downs is a bucket list course. As you’ll see throughout golfscrapbook.com, I’ve had the good fortune to play a few bucket list courses already but have put together the below list of those that still need to be crossed off the bucket list:

Augusta National: OK every clown with a golf blog site has this as their number one bucket list course. So does this clown. (Chances: Unicorn stampede down Broad Street more likely)
Cypress Point: Neck and neck with Augusta. Certainly the aesthetics are much more dramatic here. (Chances: Well at one time our host at Cal Club – “a” or “the” bigwig at some Bay Area media company my buddy was doing advertising on – was also a member here. Didn’t milk that connection and likely that ship has sailed)
Shinnecock: I have a couple Long Island courses on the bucket list. (Chances: Drove by it on way to National. Once our contact at a rep firm said he could get us on for $5,000 a man! Nope that’s Augusta money and maybe, maybe Cypress. Not Shinnecock.)
Royal County Down: Has been world number one a few times when the golf mag rankers get sick of putting PV there every year. (Chances: Getting ON is not the problem. Getting HERE is. A possible future trip to Northern Ireland – maybe.)
St. Andrews Old Course I’d put this ahead of Shinnecock but…(Chances: It’s happening! Going in May of 2022 and already booked. Have to pay the guaranteed rate but that is still 80% less than the Shinnecock price)
Barnbougle Dunes (and Lost Farms while I’m here): Played three bucket list courses during a 2017 trip to Australia and New Zealand. Said the only way I’d go back is to do an Outback trip and Tasmania thing. (Chances: Not sure I’d sit my ass in a plane that long again to play here)
Carnoustie: There are probably better courses in Scotland but as part of the Open Rota this one is high on the bucket list (Chances: May 2022)
LA Country Club: Pretty high up on the bucket list versus its world ranking and lack of tournament play but always wanted to play and could never arrange. (Chances: Have a lot of contacts in LA but heretofore haven’t been able to make it work so don’t see anything on the horizon changing that)
Sand Hills: The ultimate American Farmland, links course (Chances: Thought I had this checked off for our 2021 guys’ trip but a huge swing and miss from my pro. Talked to another buddy about going who is in Epic AND belongs to a Top 100 club)
Hirono: Super private. Super faraway. Japan is not a bucket list country. (Chances: This would be tough work even if I did want to go to Japan)
Crystal Downs: A lot of golf people give this a lot of love. I want to see why. (Chances: A friend has a connection)
Friar’s Head: Kind of flies under the radar but keeps popping up in the top 25 in world and US rankings (Chances: Don’t know anyone but have friends of friends connected out on the island so, you’re saying there’s a chance)
Golf de Morfontaine: Super private in France and supposedly the top ranked club in mainland Europe (Chances: May go back to France – went to Paris on my honeymoon – but told my daughter I may take her if my wife goes on a Ukraine trip with my other daughter. Even if I do go, this would be a tall order)
Royal St. George’s: The only English course on my list though would love to play others such as Swinley et al. (Chances: Going to London in 2022 but after six rounds in Scotland, this would probably get me divorced. Was also going to play when the Eagles played in London but had a work thing prevent that)
Tara Iti: Cape Kidnappers is my favorite course. And this is ranked higher. Wow. (Chances: Going back across the globe to play here. Ain’t gonna happen)
Prestwick: Love quirky and historic courses. This is the quirkiest and most historical. (Chances: On our Scottish rota for 2022)
Estancia: I also love desert courses and this is the highest ranked one of them all. (Chances: You’d think I’d have gotten on by now with my Scottsdale trips and connections but not even a whiff yet)
Mid Ocean Club: I like Bermuda. Friend ranks this as his favorite course he ever played. (Chances: I’ve discussed going back to Bermuda and Mid Ocean has non-member availabilities)
Maidstone: The ultimate snobby Long Island club. Great traditional course too. (Chances: An acquaintance of a buddy is/was a member. A stretch but there’s a connection)
Banff Springs: I also love mountain golf and this (versus Whistler, Jasper or some of the Colorado courses) is probably ahead by a nose as I had it on my old computer golf game. (Chances: Actually played Stewart Creek out this way which was beautiful. This was a further ride. Have a buddy in Calgary. May go back there someday)

But I really digress. To the course. Loved the opener at Lochenheath. Blind drive to a nice dogleg to the right. I parred it and wouldn’t sniff par again until the short par-four 12th. It’s not a pushover but isn’t a killer. Just the right starter for a great course. Six is a short par-four right along the bay that I really liked and the par three eighth was a beautiful hole as well. The back here is much more dramatic. Ten is a great par five with an elevated tee shot heading down into a valley and heading back up on your approach. Loved 12 as mentioned above. And fourteen was my favorite hole on the course. To the food. As surprising as the golf was here, we had dinner and the food was equally impressive. It’s a small dining area and the deck is great. The chef came out after dinner and we bought him a drink as we were all so impressed with the meal.