Welcome to our October 2025 Newsletter!
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Gary G.
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Time to Semi-Retire!
September was… well, interesting. I’m officially focusing on my writing full-time now. Remains to be seen whether that’s genius or completely delusional. Time will tell. My other plan is to golf more often, which might be the better strategy—at least the bad days on the course still come with sunshine and fresh air.
A Semi-Retirement Kickoff (With Rainclouds)
I started September strong, teeing it up with Guy over Labor Day weekend. Feeling brave (or reckless), I booked not one but two more tee times for later that week. Mother Nature saw that and said, “Not so fast, rookie retiree.” Wednesday and Friday both brought cold, wet misery. So much for my glorious new lifestyle launch—it was more like soggy socks and hot tea on repeat.
Thankfully, the following week redeemed itself. I got out with Arianna (my daughter-in-law) and even squeezed in a few solo rounds. Shot a 96,thank you very much! Following week was mixed results but one of the days was a 97! Finally seeing under 100 more than once a season!😊
We also played in a fundraiser at Crystal Lake Golf Course to support the local food pantry. Best ball format, which mercifully hid my weaknesses, and we finished even. A respectable outing and a good cause.
The rest of the month was a mix of golf (over 100), writing, and my other side hustle: Grandma Taxi Service. If Uber paid in faces in phones, one-word answers, hungry teenagers, I’d be rich. But any time with the grandkids is time well spent. 😊
Gatlinburg Bound
For Christmas last year, the kids surprised me with an all expense paid family vacation. (Apparently, “family togetherness” fits under the category of gifts now—who knew?) In fairness, I have been bugging for a family vacation. So, this month we are all headed to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for five nights/six days. I’ll either come back glowing with gratitude or wondering what in the world I asked for.
Fortunately, our crew gets along pretty well—minus the occasional pettiness that’s basically part of the family contract. Last year’s Sarasota trip with some of the kids went smoothly, so I am not worried.
Guy and I decided to drive so we could sneak in a round or two on the way down and back. We’ve got a giant rental house (there will be 20+ of us) for the week, plus Dollywood is on the itinerary. Not sure how I feel about the crowds, but I’m banking on family and golf making it all worthwhile.
Several of the kids, spouses, grandkids golf so we are doing a scramble while we are down there. Finally getting my daughter to try golf (I am going to teach her before we leave for Gatlinburg) LOL. BUT, the goal is for at least Guy and me to get a couple more rounds in while there and maybe drag some of the sons with us.
Golfing with the Up Mid Kid
Last year we golfed a lot more with the Up Mid kid, but this summer life got in the way. We only managed one weekend at their Up Mid cabin. Still, we booked a round in Houghton Lake, and fingers crossed, fall will bless us with another chance. There’s something special about sneaking in that one last round before the snow hits.
He is coming Up Mid this weekend and we have a round booked.
Did You Know?
I spoiled you with two “Did You Knows” last month, so this time you’re getting three. Pop quiz: What is a bogey, double bogey and a triple bogey?
Bogey = one over par.
Double Bogey = two over par.
Triple Bogey = three over par.
In my world, a triple is also known as a “Marisa” 😊
⛳ Pine View Highlands Golf Course
When planning our Houghton Lake weekend, we considered the big-name courses: The Dream, Forest Dunes, The Quest. But instead of going obvious, I pulled up GolfUpNorth.com and searched around. That’s when Pine View Highlands caught my eye.
Pine View Highlands had good reviews, seemed very community-minded, and looked like the kind of course I love: small, local, and full of character. Tee time booked.
We arrived Friday night at the cabin with Alex and Danielle—and their dogs, Chloe and Ava. Chloe is a squat little potato-shaped rescue, while Ava is a sleek greyhound with a race tattoo in her ear. Let’s just say there’s a reason she’s retired. Chloe loves me, but Ava only has eyes for Guy. She stares at him like he hung the moon, which is only slightly awkward for the rest of us. I tried to find a picture of Ava looking at him. It is true love. 🙂
First Impressions
Pine View Highlands sits across from Houghton Lake, tucked in a park-like setting. The pro shop greeted us with warmth and friendliness. Inside, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a small-town course—but bonus points for having a full bar. Out back, they’ve been busy adding a beautiful patio and food truck called Albatross 19 Social House. By the time we finished, the patio was hopping, and it seemed like locals came just for the food. Always a good sign.
On the Course
At just over 6,100 yards from the blues, the course isn’t huge, but it’s packed with character. Holes loop close together around the patio, which means the social vibe is strong. Maintenance? Excellent. Greens? Smooth and well-kept.
My personal scorecard? Let’s just say I opened with a triple, followed by a par, and then doubled and tripled my way into oblivion. Guy and Alex fared slightly better, but nobody’s quitting their day job.
The front nine is mostly wide fairways with the back nine having tighter tree-lined stretches. In theory, it’s a course where you shouldn’t lose many balls. I did fine with the balls, but poor Alex, if there were woods he was hitting into them.
The parking lot filled steadily through the morning, but we never once had to wait on a tee. For a compact course, play moved beautifully.
I don’t know if it was the previous late night/early morning, the compactness of the course or the more likely reason (me) but I struggled. That does seem to be a theme this year for the most part. As I had been doing all summer, I would have an awesome drive, great fairway shot and then chip back and forth across the green. My putting has been strong for me, nailing some 50 footers with ease. Last week I was going with the Texas Wedge from the fringe and beyond and getting within a couple of inches of the hole.
If I could get my driver, irons, wedges, and putter all cooperating on the same hole on the same day, I might actually look like I know what I’m doing. My 104 didn’t sparkle, but I had a blast and would go back in a heartbeat.
👉 See all the pictures from our round at Pine View Highlands Golf Course here.
Why I Love Golfing in Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan’s resort courses are amazing. They provide a great experience and usually more amenities, especially if they have multiple courses on the property. I love spending a weekend at a golf resort and never leaving the grounds.
But there’s something about the mom-and-pop tracks that hits different. You can tell by the way it is kept and the general over all feeling that the owners have put their heart and soul into making the course a place you want to return to.
Pine View Highlands had memorial markers honoring golfers past, a carved eagle on a tree stump, and an overall vibe that said, “We care about this place.”
Those touches matter. They make you want to return, even if you left a few too many shots out there
That is what is so great about Northern Michigan Golfing, there are courses for everyone.
From the large corporate owned resorts that take care of your every need to the mom and pop single courses, there is no better place for golf than Northern Michigan!
Golf Quote of the Month
This one sums up my 2025 golf season perfectly.
Harry Vardon (1870–1937) was a professional golfer from Jersey who later moved to England. He won The Open Championship a record six times and the 1900 U.S. Open. Basically, the guy could back up his snark.
⛳️ Dreaming of Christmas Golf (Again)
I’ve said it before (probably 100 times), but I hate winter. Not just dislike—hate. The cold, the bad roads, the general frozen misery. Every fall, I start sending out “stay mild” vibes. A few years ago, we even managed to golf through Christmas, and I’m still clinging to that memory.
If I could order up one, maybe 2 months of snow, I would still complain but not so loudly. Just not a fan of what feels like nine months of winter up here.
🌀 Check Out Our Latest Blog
Sure, we send out a newsletter every month — but I’m also writing 1–2 blog posts each month. Check out Golf Up North to read all the blog posts and catch up on past newsletters.
Last month’s article was all about Essential Golf Terms Every Golfer Should Know. This month, we’re continuing with some more advanced (and fun) lingo to casually drop on your buddies next time you’re on the course.
📍 Advanced and Fun Golf Terms to Impress Your Golf Buddies
See you on the course!
Click here to see all the pictures we have taken of courses over the years.
Pine View Highlands Golf Course Hole by Hole
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