Golf Up North News July 1, 2025 Vol. 7-25 We made it simple! golfupnorth.com image shows The Chief Golf Course hole 15. Large fairway lined in trees with a sand bunker on the right.

Welcome to our July 2025 Newsletter!

Congratulations

Tony D.

You are the winner of the June Newsletter – You submitted the correct answer –

The day before Mothers Day golf was at Lakewood on the Green

I emailed you for your address. Once I have it, your Golf Up North Schwag will be on its 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.

 

Congratulations JJ & Adam!

JJ Spaun and Adam Schriber (JJ's coach) holding the U.S. Open trophy after JJ won it at OakmontJJ Spaun won The U.S. Open at Oakmont, and our friend Adam Schriber was right there with him! Adam is one of the top 100 golf.com golf instructors in America (I mentioned that last year), and he’s also JJ’s coach. Watching JJ’s win and knowing Adam helped get him there? Absolute goosebumps. Here’s a pic Adam sent over of them holding the trophy—safe to say I was cheering from my living room like I had a stake in the prize money.

JJ has came close to winning a few times, it was great to see him win on such a big stage.

⛳️ What’s Up with the Courses?

Four Northern Michigan courses are still MIA this season.

Here’s the scoop:

    • Country Meadows – Escanaba
      A reader said they have closed. I’ve emailed, I’ve called, I’ve tried carrier pigeons… nothing. Until I hear otherwise, I’ve pulled them from the site.
    • Les Cheneaux Golf Club – Cedarville
      They’re mid-upgrade. According to them, they’re reopening later this summer. We’re watching like hawks and will update the website the moment they do.
    • Loggers Trace & Springport Hills – Harrisville
      Still dealing with 2024 repairs + extra damage from an ice storm. They might reopen parts of the course bit by bit or may remain closed for 2025. —TBD.

    New Courses on the Block!

    We’re also getting three fresh additions to the golf scene this summer. All are open as of today, July 1st.

    • The Dozen – Arcadia Bluffs, Arcadia – A 12-hole course that there has been a lot of buzz about this abbreviated course. We will see what the folks have to say as they play it.

    • Doon Brae Short Course – Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs – Walking 9 hole par 3 course. The course is built on one of the winter ski hills and does have lighting. They plan to have it lit for nighttime rounds.

    • The Sawyer – Garland Resort, Lewiston – Par 3, 10-hole reversible short course that can be played in either direction. Takes about an hour to play.

You can check for courses that are open by visiting Golf Up North and scrolling down the home page to just below the search boxes. There you can click on the region you are interested in and if any courses are open they will be listed there. Remember it is early in the season and many of the open courses are on a day to day basis. If you see any missing or incorrect info, let us know at contact@golfupnorth.com.

Time for Golf Trip for the Guys

One of Guy’s brothers was in town and several of the group went to Drummond Island for a few days and golfed Bear on the Mountain (formerly Hessel Ridge) in Hessel and The Rock on Drummond Island. This was a rare trip where 3 of the 5 brothers went at the same time. It sounds like they had a blast and behaved (well, mostly behaved 😊). There were only a few pics taken and most NSFW, LOL!

“Fish Camp” is later this month and Guy is in charge of the Championship Dinner for 28 people this year. I am sending him with trays of my homemade lasagna because otherwise they all would be eating hamburger casserole or scrambled eggs. While he is gone, I plan on getting a few rounds in. 

Solo Golf = My Peaceful Place (Unless…)

Since I was on my own, I booked me a tee time during peak sun (my favorite) thinking I’d zip through 18 holes. Instead, I found myself behind a foursome of two adults and two teens clearly getting golf lessons on the fly. Took them four holes to let me play through, but at least they did. 🙃

Then came another group of four… all men… all my age…all determined to ignore me. No offer to play through. I got stuck behind them for THIRTEEN holes. THIRTEEN. I did something I never do—accidentally hit up on them. My drive on 17 was the stuff of legends (for me), sailed 180+ yards, and rolled near their cart. No danger, just a solid flex.

At the end, I (very politely) told them thanks for not letting me through. They claimed they signaled. Maybe they did. Maybe I need better mirrors on my cart. Or maybe they could’ve, I don’t know… used their voices?

Anyway, five and a half hours later, I had a long round but some great shots—and proof that irritation might add 50 yards to my drive. 😊

Did You Know?

Did you know that an albatross is when you are 3 under par?

That’s a 2 on a par 5 or (brace yourself) a hole-in-one on a par 4. I’m just aiming for not-double-bogey.

🏌️‍♀️ The Chief: “Too Hard for Marisa”? I Think Not.

The Chief Golf Course Hole 1

The Chief Golf Course Hole 1

Let’s set the scene. I’ve been told more than once that The Chief Golf Course in Bellaire was too hard for me. “It’s technical,” they said. “You won’t enjoy it.” “You’ll hold people up.” That I’d cry. (Okay, no one said I’d cry—but the vibe was there.) Honestly, you’d think they were talking about climbing Everest, not playing 18 holes.

Well, thanks to Golf Up North being a hole sponsor there (which comes with a few free rounds), I decided to prove everyone wrong. Guy and two of his brothers joined me the day before their U.P. golf trip. I did offer to be the designated driver and just enjoy Bellaire while they played. Guy wouldn’t hear of it—insisted I play. So I played!

The course has four tee options: Blue, White, Gold, and Red. Per the pro shop, I was hitting from the Reds. The guys were playing the Whites. I had my doubts at first, especially after seeing the first hole—a hard right dogleg with a flag marking the turning point. I landed the ball exactly where I was supposed to, only to find a ravine between me and the green. Cue the nerves.

Now, normally I can’t hit over scruff to save my life—but somehow, I did it. The ball landed close to the hole (or so I thought). Turns out it was a solid 20-30 feet away, but I drained the putt like I was JJ on the 18th green. Birdie, baby.

I was flying high… until I wasn’t. The next three holes handed me triple and quadruple bogeys like party favors—three 8s in a row. But then I pulled myself together, settled in, and started stringing together bogeys and a couple of doubles. The back nine started rocky, but by hole 14, I snagged a par, followed by two doubles, and then—get this—I parred the final two holes.

The Chief Golf Course Hole 6

The Chief Golf Course Hole 6

Final score: 97. Not bad for a course I was “too weak and slow” for and not only did I not cry—I beat Guy. BY ONE STROKE. And I didn’t even need a handicap to do it. Since I love them I’ll leave his brothers’ scores out of this… but let’s just say I had a good day. 😁

What made this course stand out—besides my personal triumph—is how thoughtfully it’s designed. Challenging, sure, but fair. The tee placements are strategic, which means scratch golfers and mid-handicappers can both find something to love. I’m not a power player, but I’m a straight shooter, and on this course, that was gold.

Not because I beat all of the guys, but because this course was fun. Genuinely fun. Every hole had a purpose. Every challenge felt playable. And yes, I will be back.

They’re building on-site lodging too. We plan to try and book a stay-and-play this year if our schedules will allow. I want another shot at that course—and another chance to keep the bragging rights.

You can visit The Chief Golf Course’s picture page on our website

Golf Quote of the Month

This seemed to fit this month based on my amazing 181 yard drive earlier in the month.

Monthly Quote: "Swing hard, in case you hit it" - Dan Marino. Image shows Hole 7 from the white tees at The Chief Golf Course - elevated tee box through the trees to the green below.

I would think that everyone knows who Marino is. But just in case, he is a hall of famer and played QB for the Miami Dolphins his entire career. He is considered one of the greatest players to have never won a Super Bowl. But, there is some question if this is truly his quote. Depending on who you listen to it is either attributed to Marino or to no one. Since Marino is more interesting to talk about then no one, I decided I would give him the credit. 😊

⛳️ No June Golf with the Up Mid Kid

Life got in the way in June. Alex and I had a plan. Then we didn’t. There was that sack dropping I mentioned earlier, grandkids grad parties. travel plans and work. But we’re on for July. I’m booking a weekend still close to him, but further than usual for us. Figure if we stay nearby we can sneak in earlier tee times. Stay tuned!

More Than Just Newsletters

Sure, we send out a newsletter every month — but I’m also writing 1–2 blog posts each month. Check out Golf Up North News to read all the blog posts and catch up on past newsletters. 

Why do golf balls have dimples? No, not just to look cute. Learn how those little craters actually help your game.

📍Dimples: The Secret Sauce of Your Golf Game

Spoiler: smooth balls = very bad idea.

Here’s to appreciating the dimples on our golf balls and the illusion that it makes a difference for some of us. 🙂

See you on the course!

Click here to see all the pictures we have taken of courses over the years.

The Chief Hole by Hole

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