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Keith N. from Clarkston, Michigan
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Went to Florida without our clubs. ☹
When the grandkids call, even the most seasoned golfer might dare to leave their clubs behind. 😱 Yep, we flew to Florida for a long weekend with the Virginia crew, choosing family time over tee time. But don’t worry, there’s a mini golf twist coming that might make you rethink your next trip!
The Mustang Debacle
It all began with a flight from Traverse City. Small-town perks meant our son and his wife were booked on the same plane as us. Nothing says family bonding like an early-morning airport rendezvous!
After landing, the real adventure began: rental cars. Jeff, always one for flair, snagged a Mustang convertible. Cool factor? Off the charts. Practicality? Less so. Its “trunk” could barely accommodate a shoebox, let alone our luggage
Jeff’s solution? Stuffing a neon green suitcase onto Guy and Arianna’s laps in the backseat. As the group elder, I got the front passenger seat—a decision I regretted every time I tried to roll out of that low-riding sports car. 🤦♀️
But there is a Jeep too!
Meanwhile, the Virginia crew had opted for a hybrid Jeep. Problem solved, right? Wrong. This Jeep was a skyscraper on wheels. Watching me climb in and out (more accurately, clamber and flop) was like a blooper reel in the making. One wrong move, and I was practically base-jumping.
But hey, it’s not about the cars—it’s about the memories. And the memories started piling up fast. Well, maybe a little bit about the cars. The kids were thrilled to ride in a sports car with Uncle Jeff and Aunt Arianna every chance they got!
PopStroke Magic 🏌️♀️
Despite the club-less trip, we couldn’t resist visiting PopStroke—an upscale putt-putt that’s part mini-golf, part TopGolf. Think real putters, TaylorMade balls, fake turf, and not-so-fake challenges. Tiger Wood partnered with PopStroke and his TGR Design team design the course that features synthetic turf, fairways, bunkers and rough.
My putting was tragic (no sugarcoating it), but Jeff and Patrick nailed hole-in-ones. Even the grandkids got birdies. Poor Guy and us girls just kept the masses entertained.
There were TVs everywhere, adult beverage stations (thank goodness). The grandkids had a blast, the food was surprisingly good, and the vibe? Pure fun. Sure, it wasn’t the same as a full 18 holes, but it scratched the itch.
For anyone who thinks they’ve outgrown mini-golf, I say: try PopStroke. You’ll be surprised how easily it captures the essence of the game we love.
Headed to the Beach
We visited Siesta Key and Siesta Beach supposedly the most beautiful beach in the world (questionable), although pretty sure it had the biggest parking lot in the world.
I figured out streaming, watched my teams play and spent a lot of time in the pool with the kids.
Heading back to Michigan
The flight home was… well, let’s call it “character-building.” I usually stick with Delta because they know how to adult in the airline world, but to make Sarasota an easier destination, we rolled the dice with American Airlines. Spoiler alert: never again.
First, they rebooked our flight without asking. Their brilliant plan? Leave us stranded overnight in Charlotte and then reward us with a 9-hour hangout session at Chicago O’Hare. Fancy, right? But wait, there’s more! We arrived in Charlotte only to discover that our original flight to Traverse City had been delayed. Translation: we totally could have made it—if American Airlines hadn’t done their flight switcheroo magic.
Somehow, we pulled off a travel miracle. We found a flight from Charlotte to Grand Rapids that night (hallelujah!) and Jeff’s friends who live in Grand Rapids saved the day. They left one of their cars in the parking lot for us to drive north and picked it up the following weekend when they came to their vacation home. Andy and Barb are heroes! 😊
We got home about five hours later than planned, which in airline math is basically “on time.” But hey, at least I didn’t have to camp out in the Charlotte airport or become an O’Hare resident. Small victories!
Caberfae Peaks Golf Course Hole 1
Hidden Gem in Cadillac
Back to Northern Michigan golfing and Caberfae Peaks Golf Course—a place I hadn’t visited in 20+ years. But, that was for skiing and drinks. Caberfae Peaks is the 4th oldest ski resort in Michigan opening in 1938 and has a very interesting history.
Anyways, we met up with Alex in September while he was at his up-mid cabin for 18 holes. The course is a 9 hole so you have to play it twice to get in 18. Alex had invited one of his buddies to round out our foursome.
My expectations were low: small-town ski lodge, decent greens at best. WRONG. The place had undergone a glow-up! From the updated clubhouse to the manicured grounds, it was a whole new vibe.
Heading for the First Hole
We went ahead and checked in and grabbed a cart and then drove around trying to find the first hole. The score card did not provide any help and there were not any signs.
I went in and asked where the first hole was and was directed through a gate. We went through the double gate expecting either to easily see the first tee box or signage directing us where to go. After a few wrong turns, back tracking, etc., we did find the first tee box. The problem I think was that the signage was geared for the cross country skiers and there hadn’t been any thought into helping golfers find their way. Because how new everything looked, golf specific signage may be on the list of things needing completion.
Even though it was a little frustrating trying to figure out where to go, ultimately we found the way and started our round.
Into the Woods 🌲
Caberfae’s layout is a delightful blend of challenge and charm. Towering pines line the fairways, and wildlife sightings are almost guaranteed. Every hole feels like a hidden sanctuary.
It’s peaceful, challenging, and utterly scenic. We were in the middle of nowhere!
Caberfae Peaks Golf Course
Cell service was spotty—perfect for disconnecting, but annoying when trying to share photos.
Wedding Party Excitement
Of course, there had to be a little drama and that would come in the form of a wedding party. Looked like they were setting up for a wedding when we arrived. They were loud, they were everywhere, and they had zero golf etiquette.
After one of their drives landed next to the cart I was sitting in, I had a polite but firm chat with their leader. Thankfully, they backed off, and we finished our first nine in peace.
Time to Restock
After the first 9, we went in the clubhouse to restock, grab a sandwich and headed back out, not sure what we would encounter because obviously there were people just starting their first or only nine and the aforementioned wedding party.
Everything was fine. The wedding party was nowhere to be found. There was a foursome that asked us what our tee time was. We told them this was our hole 10 so we were not sure and to go ahead and start their round.
They played quickly like us. Pictured is hole 1/10, a 307/251 yard par 4 that I doubled both times through.
We truly enjoyed the course. Most of the holes were pretty straight with some having a slight dog leg.
Caberfae Peaks Golf Course Hole 7
That Darn Hole 7
But let’s talk about Hole 7. Oh, Hole 7. A par-5 with a deceptively easy start, it lulls you into a false sense of security before unleashing chaos. The fairway narrows, the trees close in, and suddenly
there is a hard left and you have a creek and thick scrub guarding the green. You needed to hit every stroke just right to end up in just the right spot to stand a chance of getting on the green. Needless to say, I did not do well. Got a 7 the first time through and then an 8 the second time. The hole was the longest hole at 513 yards for the guys and 426 yards for me. It is considered the 3rd hardest hole on the course, I think it was the hardest. But overall, I did okay, ended with a 109, very happy considering the number of snowmen I got.
As we were packing up we all agreed we would definitely be back and golf there again. We all had a lot of fun (well other than that darn hole 7!) Guy and I plan to do a weekend there next summer and golf it a couple of times plus explore the area around the resort. They are west of Cadillac about halfway to Wellston. There are a lot of trails in the area because they are in the middle of the Manistee National Forest.
Trust Google Maps
As Google is giving you directions, you may question if you are on the right track, don’t worry you are. You will go through some pretty small towns and back roads. The drive in just adds to the charm.
The staff was very friendly and even though there may have initially been a few blips, we had a wonderful time. If you go, make sure to try the Pulled Beef Brisket Sandwich, it was so very good. That sandwich alone was worth the drive!
I did take pictures, but as previously mentioned with cell service spotty I didn’t end up with many. Unfortunately I take the picture in my email app and email it to myself with the hole number and I didn’t realize that without cell service, it would not keep it in the sent or outbox with the image. Lesson learned. To see the pictures I was able to salvage, you can visit their picture page.
Did You Know?
Longest recorded drive was 515 yards?
For years Mike Hoke Austin was well known by professional golfers for his length off the tee. But it was one drive in 1974 that secured his name in history. While playing in the U.S. National Seniors Tournament, at the Winterwood Golf Course (now the Desert Rose) Austin played alongside PGA Champion Chandler Harper. After hitting several 400-yard drives, Harper said, “Mike, let’s see you really let one go.” Austin drove the green on the 450-yard par 4. It carried to the edge of the green, bounced over and rolled past the pin and off the back edge. He used a steel-shafted persimmon wood driver, a balata-covered ball and had a 27-mph tail wind. Austin was 64 years old at the time. He died in 2005 at the age of 95.
In a 2003 interview, Harper said he found a ball on the next tee box and called to Austin, “This is impossible, but there is a ball over here.” They identified the ball as Austin’s and stepped off the distance back to the center of the green. The drive was 515 yards.
Hoping for a White Christmas and a Green New Year
This Christmas, the VA kids are visiting again, and I’m dreaming of a repeat from last year: golfing with all three of my boys. It’s rare to have everyone in one place, but when it happens, it’s magic—on and off the course. There’s something about combining the holidays with a shared love of golf that makes the season extra special.
Until then, I’ll be dreaming of hole-in-ones, brisket sandwiches, and maybe investing in a step stool for tall Jeeps. 😉
Golf Quote of the Month
Based on our round at Caberfae Peaks you could also add, try hitting up on folks. Easy to meet folks that way too! 😊
For those that missed some of the best movies and television shows of the 60s, 70s, 80s, you may not know this name. Jack Lemmon was an actor that did movies, Broadway and television. He was best known for his comedies with Walter Matthau such as Odd Couple and Grumpy Old Men and others. One of his biggest movies was with Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis in Some like it Hot.
He attended Harvard and was soon drafted for WWII serving on the USS Lake Champlain as a communications officer. He returned to Harvard after the war graduating with a bachelors in War Service Sciences.
Reflections on the Journey
This summer has taught me a valuable lesson: golf is about more than clubs or scores. It’s about the people you share it with, the places it takes you, and the memories you create along the way. Golf has a way of creating stories we will tell for years to come.
From the whimsical fun of PopStroke to the rugged beauty of Caberfae, each experience added a new chapter to our golfing story. And if I’ve learned anything, it’s that sometimes, leaving the clubs behind can lead to the most unforgettable adventures.
Plus, being able to see and golf with my youngest as often as I did this past season was truly a blessing. Biggest takeaway from this summer and the Florida trip? When your loved ones want to spend time with you, grab it, make it work, don’t let it slip away, they may stop asking. I have truly been blessed this year and I wish the same for all of you.
All of us wish everyone a
very happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year!
We will see you in 2025!
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