Welcome to the August 2026
Golf Up North Newsletter
Your name was drawn from our poll responders.
We offered 3 options of what sounds most like you when you hit into the sand. These are the results of the poll.
- I absolutely hate bunkers – 33%
- I am a total beach wizard – 17 %
- I just throw the ball out when no one is looking – 50%
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Golf, Golf and More Golf!
Some months seem to revolve around golf, and I am perfectly okay with that. Between regular rounds alone, with friends/family and with Guy, a family wedding in Marquette, introducing our German family to Northern Michigan golf, and making a few sightseeing stops with the grandkids along the way, July was packed. Grab your favorite beverage and let’s head to the first tee.
Chasing That Sub 100 Round
I have been golfing at least twice a week lately, with one of those rounds usually being with Guy. Most of those rounds have been at Elmbrook Golf Course in Traverse City simply because it fit our schedule.
The good news is I have finally started breaking 100 consistently. Usually when I am golfing by myself or with a friend, I have been finishing in the mid to upper 90s.
Naturally, I couldn’t wait to show Guy how much I had improved.
We planned a round during my favorite time of day, around noon. I love golfing in the heat. Supposedly the warm, humid air helps the ball travel farther, but honestly, I just love hot weather. I am happier when it is warm, and I think my golf game benefits from that.
The first tee was encouraging. I hit a nice solid drive and may have been feeling just a little too confident. As every golfer knows, golf has a funny way of humbling you the minute your confidence gets ahead of your swing.
The fairway shots that had been working so well suddenly disappeared. Frustration started creeping in, and I was disappointed that Guy wasn’t getting to see the progress I had been making. I finished with a 104. Not terrible, but not the score I had hoped for.
Thankfully, golf always gives you another chance.
A few rounds later, with Guy watching again, I finally posted a 97. I still didn’t beat him, but I was thrilled to finally show him that all the practice was paying off.
I figure I won’t consider myself a true golfer until I beat my husband without using handicaps. One of these days I am going to make him earn it.
Heading to Marquette
Our Virginia crew arrived a couple of days before we headed north for the wedding. Their vacation home here in Traverse City had already been booked before we knew their travel plans, so they stayed with us before and staying at their place after the wedding. That worked out just fine because I never complain about having grandkids around.
The original plan had everyone leaving Wednesday, so I booked our hotel from Wednesday through Sunday. Then plans changed. Everyone else decided to leave Thursday morning, but Guy and I stuck with our original plans and headed north Wednesday with Anna and Bray.
Visiting Kitch-iti-Kipi
That turned out to be a blessing because we made our first visit to Kitch-iti-Kipi, also known as The Big Spring. It had been on my bucket list for a long time, and it definitely lived up to the hype.
You can read all about our visit on our sister site, Adventures in Northern Michigan.
After exploring Kitch-iti-Kipi, we continued toward Marquette with two very hungry grandkids in the back seat. We figured finding lunch would be easy, but it turned into a bit of an adventure. It seemed like few places we saw were either closed or not quite what we were looking for. About an hour later we finally pulled into the Rapid River Pub, and I don’t think anyone had ever been happier to see a menu.
After exploring Kitch-iti-Kipi, we continued toward Marquette with two very hungry grandkids in the back seat. We figured finding lunch would be easy, but it turned into a bit of an adventure. It seemed like few places we saw were either closed or not quite what we were looking for. About an hour later we finally pulled into the Rapid River Pub, and I don’t think anyone had ever been happier to see a menu. The food was well worth the wait, and by the time we finished everyone was smiling again. Looking back, it was one of those simple moments that made the trip special. Good food, good company, and another memory made on the road to a wonderful family weekend.
Wedding Golf
Of course, no family gathering is complete without golf. We already had Thursday noon tee time before everyone ditched coming up on Wednesday. Just meant they had to leave Traverse City very early to make the tee time.
Red Fox Run Golf Course Hole 1
We had enough golfers for two tee times, and we wisely decided not to turn it into one giant group. The four guys played together since they rarely get the chance. Alex, my youngest son, Dom, my brand-new son-in-law, Patrick my son from Virginia, and Johnny from Scotland made up the first foursome.
Guy and I played with Anna and Bray. We watched the guys tee off at the first hole and then patiently waited our turn. We had more fun watching the grandkids play than we did playing.
Anna has been taking golf lessons, and I was impressed with how much she has improved. Bray starts lessons this fall, and even without formal instruction he played surprisingly well.
Red Fox Run Golf Course
We played Red Fox Run Golf Course in Gwinn, about fifteen minutes south of Marquette on the former K I Sawyer Air Force Base.
Red Fox Run was a pleasant surprise. It has plenty of room off the tee, although there are a few holes that make you pay attention. One thing I really appreciated was something most golfers probably never notice until it isn’t there. Nearly every hole had a trash can and most had ball washers. Those little touches make a course feel well cared for.
Even the tee signs included each hole’s handicap along with the usual yardage and par information.
Red Fox Run Golf Course Hole 4
The course was in great condition, the greens rolled nicely, and everyone in our group agreed it was a fun place to play.
I managed another 97, which made me happy considering it was my first time on the course and I spent the first nine holes golfing with a seven-year-old and a nine-year-old.
Meanwhile, the boys were doing what boys do.
They were moving right along until about the seventeenth hole, when the celebration apparently started catching up with them. Fortunately, we were playing behind them, so the delay wasn’t a problem. The gentleman behind us was out playing with his grandson and couldn’t have been nicer about it.
To the Clubhouse
After the round came another family tradition.
Red Fox Run Golf Course Hole 18
The guys headed into the clubhouse for a celebratory tequila shot, something I happily leave to them. That’s where they met Jolene, the bartender.
According to the crew, Jolene was fantastic. She suggested a top shelf tequila along with a pickle juice chaser, which everyone agreed was the perfect combination. They tipped her generously, and she kept trying to give part of it back. They refused, of course.
As we left, I was instructed to make sure Jolene received a shout out in this month’s newsletter.
Mission accomplished.
👉 See all the pictures from our round at Red Fox Run Golf Course here.
Did You Know?
A Nassau is actually three separate bets.
One bet covers the front nine.
One covers the back nine.
One covers the overall eighteen hole match.
That means you can win one, two, or all three bets.
Guy and his friends play Nassau bets all the time. It is amazing how competitive everyone becomes when fifteen dollars is on the line.
Friday Golf in Marquette
Apparently, I was one of the few people who thought another round of golf sounded like the perfect Friday.
Most of the family headed off to enjoy a boat tour of Pictured Rocks, while Guy, Casey, and I played the course at Northern Michigan University.
Back in 2021 I interviewed the course superintendent about how his crew prepares the golf course for the long Upper Peninsula winters. It was fascinating to learn everything they do to protect the course before the snow flies.
You can find that interview in our October 2021 newsletter, and I will be writing much more about the NMU course in an upcoming issue.
Congratulations, Dom and Ronessa! ❤️
The reason our entire family gathered in Marquette this month.
We couldn’t be happier for the two of you.
Welcome to the family, Dom!
Back Home and Golfing with Family
Once everyone made it back to Traverse City, it was time to introduce our international guests to Northern Michigan golf.
Dom’s parents, Wolfgang and Gail, flew in from Germany for the wedding. Since they are both avid golfers, we couldn’t let them leave without experiencing Elmbrook.
Nine Golfers – Three Groups
Dom, Wolfgang, and Patrick teed off first.
Guy and Jaison
Guy and Jaison, Dom’s brother-in-law from England, played as a twosome since Jaison was fairly new to the game and Guy has the patience of a saint when it comes to teaching.
My group included Gail, Arianna, Ryker, and me.
Gail and I are both on the shorter side, so we shared my petite clubs while Elmbrook found a set of left-handed clubs for Wolfgang.
Talking with Gail during the round was fascinating.
She and Wolfgang were both musicians in the Berlin Symphony Orchestra for more than forty years before recently retiring. After retirement they sold their home in Berlin and moved to Freiburg, where they now live only about a ten-minute walk from their golf club.
She told me most golfers there walk the course instead of using carts, although carts are available.
Golfing License Required in Germany
The part that really caught my attention was how golfers qualify to play. To play golf in Germany, most golfers must possess a license called a “Platzreife” before they can get on the green.
When Gail decided to take golf back up after retirement, she had to attend lessons, play several holes as part of an evaluation, and then take a written test.
Yes, a written test. The written test checks your proficiency on the rules of golf and etiquette on the course.
I must admit, I kind of love that idea. Golf etiquette is every bit as important as learning how to hit the ball, and it sounds like Germany agrees.
Tourists who want to golf in Germany usually bypass the rigorous Platzreife exam by proving their established handicap from their home country.
As my group finished the eighteenth hole, the other two groups were waiting above the green cheering us on. It was a pretty special way to end the day.
Is Europe in Our Golf Future?
I sure hope so.
Between Johnny constantly reminding me that I need to come golf Scotland someday, Gail describing life at her German golf club, and hearing stories about the incredible courses in Ireland from Dom’s bachelor trip, Europe is sounding more tempting all the time.
If we ever make that trip, don’t worry.
There will be plenty of stories and lots of pictures.
Quote of the Month
This quote seems especially fitting after hearing how seriously Germany takes golf etiquette.
Golfing with the Up Mid Kid
Not much to report this month.
The closest we came to golfing together was having the tee time directly behind him at Red Fox Run.
Hopefully we will get back on track in August.
Latest Blogs
Struggling with long irons? Hybrids can become your best friend.
Our latest Golf Up North Fundamentals guide walks through setup, ball position, and making smooth sweeping swings that lead to more consistent long shots.
Next month we move closer to the green with our Fundamentals article on chipping. Few parts of the game can turn a good hole into a frustrating one faster than a chunked chip or a bladed shot across the green.
Summer has been treating Northern Michigan golfers well
I have been soaking up every warm day
We all know how quickly the seasons change around here.
Until next month, may you hit them long, straight, and most importantly, findable.
Click here to see all the pictures we have taken of courses over the years.
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