Emerald Vale at Emerald Vale Golf Club

Emerald Vale Golf Club sits in Manton, a small community in northern Michigan's Wexford County, where the landscape transitions from farmland to the forested lake country characteristic of the region. Bruce Matthews designed the course, contributing to the area's collection of public and semi-private layouts that serve both local golfers and summer visitors drawn to the nearby Manistee National Forest and Cadillac lake district.

The routing likely takes advantage of the rolling terrain common to this part of Michigan, where glacial activity left behind gentle elevation changes and sandy soils that provide natural drainage. Courses in this region typically incorporate stands of hardwoods and pines, with fairways that move through corridors of mature trees. The design would reflect Matthews' approach to creating playable golf that accommodates a range of skill levels while presenting strategic interest through green complexes and hazard placement.

Manton's location places Emerald Vale within reasonable driving distance of Traverse City to the northwest and Cadillac to the northeast, positioning it as part of northern Michigan's golf tourism network. The club serves a community where golf operates on a seasonal basis, with the course closed during winter months and peak play occurring from late spring through early fall when the region's weather is most favorable.