Politically Incorrect : Northern Michigan's public Pine Valley

Golf Digest, June, 2002 by Mike Stachura, Ron Whitten

Bethpage's Black Course was the first public Pine Valley, but nowadays, many odes to New Jersey's secluded golf Everest often are too commercial, offering the illusion of penal design while still letting grandma dribble the ball from tee to fairway to green. The new Blackshire Course at Lakewood Shores Resort in northeastern Michigan thankfully defies that political correctness. Forced carries are the rule, across acres of unmaintained sand as well as creeks, cross bunkers, pot bunkers and even bands of deep rough in front of some greens. Most holes are tight and tree-lined, some greens are big and rolling, while others are tiny targets. In short, this is hardball, though five sets of tees offer some relief.

Designer Kevin Aldridge is no masochist, however. He simply wanted to emulate the relentless, daunting nature of the 200-acre unraked bunker that is Pine Valley. Aldridge, who builds his own designs, treated Blackshire's flat sandy forest (less than a mile inland from Lake Huron) as his personal sandbox. When his bulldozer got stuck, he knew he'd shaped a decent bunker.

Although wonderfully walkable, Blackshire probably isn't for everyone. But Lakewood Shores has three other alternatives. The vintage Serradella is a pleasant, undemanding Bruce Matthews design. You can also bounce the ball every which way on the Wee Links, one of the finest pitch-and-putts this side of Ireland. There's also the Gailes, which perfectly captures quirky, linksy Scotland and earned Best New honors from Golf Digest in 1993. Blackshire is just as authentic, just as challenging and a stellar addition to this charming golf outpost.

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Lakewood Shores Resort (Blackshire)

7751 Cedar Lake Rd., Oscoda, MI 48750 Par 72; 6,898 yards (Black).

Location: On the east side of Northern Michigan, take I-75 North to exit 188 at Standish. Turn north on U.S. 23 to Oscoda. Turn left on Highway F-41, then right on Cedar Lake Road.

Other tees: Gold: 6,749 yards; Blue: 6,334; White: 5,740; Red: 4,936.

Fees: $55-$62. Cart fee: $13. Walking allowed anytime. Stay-and-play specials start at $274 for three rounds, two nights, continental breakfast and dinner included.

Contact: 800-882-2493, www.lakewoodshores.com.