Arcadia Bluffs Course
Arcadia, MI, USA
Arcadia Bluffs, clinging to the Lake Michigan shoreline near the village of Arcadia, is a testament to audacious vision – a deliberate echo of classic links designs transposed onto the dramatic bluffs overlooking the water. The original course, designed by Warren Henderson and Rick Smith, opened in 1999 and immediately courted controversy for its unapologetic mimicry of celebrated Irish courses. Players will find themselves challenged by firm, fast fairways that bleed into fescue rough, demanding strategic positioning and a keen eye for the ever-present wind. Errant shots are penalized severely, often disappearing down the steep bluffs or into strategically placed pot bunkers. While Arcadia Bluffs hasn't hosted major championships, its dramatic setting and challenging layout have earned it a place in the conversation among golfers seeking a memorable and demanding experience. A second course, The South Course, was designed by Dana Fry and opened in 2018 as well, it offers an inland design with windswept dunes and unique challenges as well. Arcadia Bluffs benefits immensely from its location, perched high above Lake Michigan. The views are breathtaking, and the sunsets over the water are legendary. It is said that regulars often compete to predict the exact moment the sun dips below the horizon, a friendly ritual that adds to the club's unique character.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Public: #85
Best in USA
Public: #29
Best in MI
Public: #1
Golfers consistently praise the stunning Lake Michigan views and pristine conditioning, with many calling the property spectacular and unlike anything else in Michigan. Most reviewers highlight the challenging greens and recommend using a caddie or forecaddie to navigate the course's complexities, though a few find certain design elements gimmicky. The most common complaint centers on pace of play, with multiple golfers reporting rounds of five to six hours and noting the lack of marshals to keep things moving. Some wish the routing made more use of the lakefront or felt more authentically links-like, though others defend the layout and consider nearly every hole memorable, particularly the 11th.
8.7
323 players
Great course, wait and price not as thrilling. Greens were fantastic, 11 is stupid.
Awesome experience
Fantastic views. Course was pristine, but the greens are so extra it felt a little gimmicky. If I were to do it again I’d want a caddie to help with approach shots and around the green.
Get the forecaddie to help. Pace of play is brutal but the course has incredible views and was a ton of fun to play
If pace of play really grinds at you, beware. Beyond that though, you’ll find a challenging, pure, incredibly set golf course. 11 may be one of the best visuals in golf.
6 hour rounds
The Whistling straits of Michigan! Honestly an amazing property. Only thing that is a knock is the layout is not really walkable given its extremes and the pace of play is insanely slow. Loved the course though!
Beautiful scenery, just sometimes felt a bit hollow. Wish it played more linkslike
Gimmicky layout but unreal views. Definitely gets a lot of play which reflects in the pace of play.
Arcadia Bluffs is NOT what you would expect to see in Michigan, more so what you would expect in Ireland or Scotland. It is beautiful, no doubt, but I wish they would have used the prominence of Lake Michigan a little bit more. The course is still routed very good and the conditioning is great! As long as you can handle a 5 to 5.5 hour round, you'll love it!
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FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Arcadia Bluffs has a Course Vaults score of 8.7 out of 10 based on 163 explicit golfer ratings.
Arcadia Bluffs was designed by Rick Smith.
Yes. Arcadia Bluffs is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Arcadia Bluffs is 72.
Arcadia Bluffs plays 7,300 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Arcadia Bluffs is 120.
