Welcome to our March 2025 Newsletter!
Congratulations
Because I am feeling blessed that my son is doing
so well I decided to draw FIVE names!
Anita K. | Timothy F. | Gene S. | Jim K. | Glenn F.
You five are the winners of the February Newsletter – You submitted the correct answer –
Ben Hogan was the man who said our February quote.
Thank you for including your address. Your Golf Up North Schwag is on the way!
If you would like a chance to win some Golf Up North schwag, you have to subscribe to our newsletter. Subscribe at Golf Up North Newsletter and be on the mailing list for our next issue.
Patrick Update
Thank you to so many of you that reached with prayers, good wishes after our last newsletter. It was truly appreciated.
Although he’s not quite at 100%, Patrick is doing really well! Everything is pretty much back to normal, except he’s still working on regaining the weight he lost. His energy levels are lower than usual, but that will improve with time. After all, his body took one heck of a beating.
Dreaming of Golf
Like many of you, I’m suffering from severe golf withdrawals. No warm-weather trips for me this winter, so I’m surviving on televised tournaments and daydreams of the courses I’ve played.
I’ve been spoiled the past couple of years with mild weather that let me sneak in rounds well into November, December, and even March. This year? Not so much.
Played on of my Dream Courses and won! ⛳️😏
Last fall, I finally got to cross a course off my bucket list. It’s not Up North, but it’s a special one. Ann Arbor Golf & Outing Club (AAGO)—a private course in Southeast Michigan—has been on my radar for years. Thanks to Taylor (a fraternity brother of my sons Patrick & Alex), I got my chance to play.
You might already know this course, even if you’ve never swung a club there. If you’ve ever tailgated at a Michigan football game, you may have parked on it! Yes, AAGO turns into a prime game-day parking lot right across from The Big House. I have been there several times; these folks take their tailgating seriously! Big tents, large screen TVs, catered food, you name it. Hard pulling yourself away to go into the game. LOL
How It Happened
Taylor and his now-wife Allison were at my wedding, he’s a solid golfer and Alex wanted a ringer for his team for our pre wedding golf scramble (they did not win 😊). A few years ago, I found out he was a member at AAGO. My wheels started turning. Fast forward to last June when Alex promised to set up a round. Weather foiled our plans, but we finally made it happen on a drizzly, chilly Sunday in October. Sure, I got wet, but I was playing a dream course!
AAGO is a walking-only course unless you have a medical exception. My back, which has been complaining for 40 years, earned me a doctor’s note for a cart. No way was I missing out on this experience!
A Course with History
AAGO has been around since at least 1897 (possibly earlier—historians debate it). There is some question as to the actual year it started. According to “The Little Club,” A history of the Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club second edition. There is indication it could have been as early as 1890, but there is stronger evidence that it was established in 1897. There is a notation in a membership meeting in 1903 that a corporation would be established as Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club and that this would be the end of the Ann Arbor Club.
It’s one of the oldest courses in Michigan, and despite decades of football tailgating, it remains in fantastic shape. They’ve been allowing paid parking since 1930, fitting up to 3,000 cars on a good day. I expected the fairways to be torn up from football season, but surprisingly, they were pristine—even in the October rain.
The Round at Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club
The course is a 9-hole par 35, with an 18-hole option by playing different tees on the “back” 9. It’s quirky but fun. The first hole is in front of the clubhouse, the second behind it, and the third (the only par 3) sits right next to the fourth tee box. With few other golfers out that day, we had the freedom to tee off on both holes before moving down the fairways.
Hole 5 was tricky. Instead of traditional forward tees, the ladies’ tees were off at an angle. At first, I grumbled about the odd placement, but surprise—I parred it! Whoever designed that knew what they were doing.
Hole 6 had great views of the stadium, but Hole 7 stole the show. A dogleg left with a drop in elevation, it gave me a perfect shot of the Block M on the stadium. Maybe that inspired me—or maybe it was the guys getting a little too confident—but I parred it!
By the time we reached the ninth hole, I was soaked but feeling pretty good. The elevated tee gave a view of downtown Ann Arbor (at least, according to Taylor—hard to see through the drizzle). Final score for 9? A 43. And let me tell you, I beat every single one of the guys—including the “good” golfers. Yes, I was feeling smug.
Back at the clubhouse, I treated myself to a Ann Arbor Golf and Outing sweatshirt (because, again, I was wet) and checked another course off my list. If you would like to see the few pics I took that day, click here.
Not Up North, But Worth It
I know this isn’t an Up North course, and I’ll always champion the amazing courses in our region. But this one was special, and I had to share it.
Did You Know?
Did you know there’s a par 7 hole in South Korea?
Gunsan Country Club, built on an abandoned salt field, boasts 81 holes—including a monstrous par 7 measuring just under 1,100 yards! And if that’s not enough, the course also features a par 6 stretching 723 yards, which almost seems short in comparison. Now that’s a long walk to the green! ⛳️
Golf Simulators: Love ’Em or Leave ’Em?
It seems like everyone and their caddie is jumping on the golf simulator trend. Another one is opening in Traverse City soon, and the same people are already planning a second location later this year. That brings the grand total to five in the TC area! Interlochen Golf Course and Black Bear Golf Course have announced joining the virtual golf revolution. I am sure there are other Up North golf courses with simulators as well.
As I’ve said before, I’m not a huge fan of simulators (I prefer my golf balls to get lost in real woods, not pixelated ones), but clearly, I’m in the minority. So, what do you think? Should we start listing golf simulators as an amenity for courses? What about standalone simulator spots—should they get a listing too?
Let us know at contact@golfupnorth.com or include your thoughts in your schwag contest response!
Golf Quote of the Month
Since it’s been over four months since I last swung a club, this quote feels especially fitting.
Jennifer Noel Wyatt (born December 10, 1965) is a Canadian professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. From 1985 to 1987, she was the top-ranked player in Canada. She qualified for the LPGA Tour on her first attempt in 1989 and competed until 1998.
Curious about the story behind this quote, I scoured the internet but couldn’t find a reason why Wyatt said it. I wondered if an injury or a long break from the game was involved, but from what I found, she’s been consistently playing. If anyone knows the backstory, I’d love to hear it! Email me at marisa@golfupnorth.com.
Back on Track
Next month, I’ll tell you about a true Up North round—our last golf day of the 2024 season, played on another rainy October day. We closed out a course, had a blast, and ate some great food. Stay tuned, and hopefully, by April, we’ll be talking about course openings!
Until then, keep your swings sharp (even if it’s just in your living room). Spring will be here soon!
Click here to see all the pictures we have taken of courses over the years.
Follow us on Social Media
Join the discussion on Golf Up North Facebook Group
Let us know your favorite course, tips or anything golf related! We encourage golf courses to share their news and specials with our group.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X(formerly Twitter), Pinterest, and/or Tumbler. We share information on golf courses Up North and what we think are funny or interesting tidbits about golf.
Share Your Favorite Course With Us
We would love to hear about your favorite Course in the Upper Peninsula or Northern Lower Michigan. Send pictures of golfing your favorite course and a couple of sentences about why you love the course. We will share your pictures and recommendations with our readers and on our social media accounts. If you include a mailing address, we will send you some Golf Up North schwag as a thank you!! Send your pictures and comments to marisa@golfupnorth.com
Find your Up North Golf Course
If you would like to find your perfect Up North golf course visit Golf Up North.
Disclosure: We never tell a course who we are when we book and play a course. We do not ask, nor will we accept free rounds to write about a course. We pay full price for our rounds for everyone in our group.
Golf Up North is part of the Up North Entertainment Group.
Our family of sites also includes Up North Entertainment, Up North Wineries, Up North Breweries, Up North Distilleries, Adventures in Northern Michigan, and Northern Michigan History
