The Loon Golf Course Evaluation

The Loon Golf Course Evaluation

The Loon
Grade: B-
Instructor’s Feedback: Nice, probably difficult from the again tees, however not notably memorable.

The Loon is the eponymous course within the Loon Resort’s assortment of three golf programs (Loon, Lakes and Ridge).

A park-and-woodlands course, The Loon was in-built 1994 from a design by famend teacher Butch Harmon. The Loon is designated as a “Butch Harmon Signature Course,” however so far as my analysis goes, I can discover just one different course Harmon has designed – a 9 gap par three in Florida. Maybe my Google-Fu has failed me on this occasion.

The Loon is positioned on the east facet of I-75 North simply south of Gaylord; the second gap could be seen from the freeway. The eighth could be seen from the MDOT relaxation space throughout Loon Lake.

Each side of the course are comparatively flat, with the entrance 9 showing extra park-like and the again 9 extra wooded. The wooded elements of the again 9 have fairly a number of homes off to the facet, however they shouldn’t come into play.

Particular person holes at The Loon are fulfilling, however other than the par three second, none are notably memorable. There additionally aren’t any dangerous holes. Workmanlike might be the very best description.

Workmanlike is an efficient factor, really. Harmon didn’t attempt to drive something. There aren’t any tricked-up stretches and it doesn’t appear as if he moved quite a lot of pointless dust.

Certainly, from a sure viewpoint, workmanlike is strictly what one desires from a resort course. An exaggerated or troublesome course design could be good for one spherical, however to maintain folks coming again to the resort yr after yr, gamers must stroll off saying “I had enjoyable.”

Workmanlike is also to not say that it lacks curiosity. Six doglegs of various levels add selection. Water lurks on eleven of the holes, though it actually solely comes into play on the par three second, the third and the ending gap. There are also some fairway bunkers in stunning locations.

My favourite gap was the par 5 fifth.

Beginning on a slight rise, the outlet wraps round a marsh /pond on the proper facet. The protected play right here is to the left facet of the green, however that essentially makes the outlet longer.

The golf green dips a bit from the tee, then rises to a excessive level on the apex of the curve.

From the apex, The Loon’s fifth flows downward barely, then sharply downward at a few hundred yards in. Lastly, rises once more to the inexperienced, which is perched on slight hill.

Two issues I appreciated about gap: One is the choice off the tee. I all the time get pleasure from holes that make me take into consideration how a lot of a hazard I can problem.

The opposite is the choice about how far to hit the second shot. Discovering a flat spot will imply leaving an extended shot into the inexperienced. Flying it additional might end in an ungainly downslope lie.

One other notable gap was the (very) brief par 4 seventeenth. At 241 yards from the ideas, it’s drivable by quite a lot of gamers. Nevertheless, it additionally could be very tight, with branches ready to clip a ball (don’t ask how I do know). A shot that’s lengthy is also dangerous, because the again of the inexperienced rolls down and into woods and a cartpath.

Lastly, I additionally loved the “signature gap,” a 398 yard par 4. It’s a gap the place a participant can both go for the heroic second over the water, or play it protected proper to the green that wraps across the pond.

From the again tees, the Loon stretches to six, 677 yards and performs at a 72.0/140.

Situations on the day I performed have been combined. A number of the holes have been in actually fine condition from tee to inexperienced. Different had sparse fairways and greens with significant harm. Averaging it out, I’d say it was simply okay.

I performed the course utilizing the Northern Michigan First Tee gamers’ card, and paid simply $39 for the spherical with cart. It’s a really walkable course, however for some motive they don’t need anybody to stroll.

I had an attention-grabbing alternate with the man behind the counter about carts and strolling.

Me: Can I stroll?
Man: The cart is included within the value
Me: That’s high quality. I’ll pay the price and skip the cart
Man: Nevertheless it’s a part of the package deal
Me: I get that. However I’m more than pleased to skip the cart.
Man: The package deal says it features a cart.
Me: A resort package deal features a pool, however I don’t should swim.
Man: You don’t pay further for the cart.
Me: Okay. I quit.

I took the cart, however the course would have been rather more fulfilling on foot.

The Loon golf course assessment was first printed March 4, 2025 from notes and images taken on a spherical performed through the 2024 season. For a listing of all of GolfBlogger’s Michigan golf course evaluations, comply with the hyperlink.

A course tour of The Loon follows: