Lac Vieux Desert at Lac Vieux Desert Golf Course

Lac Vieux Desert Golf Course sits in Watersmeet, Michigan, in the far northern reaches of the state near the Wisconsin border. The course occupies land within the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians reservation, positioned in a region characterized by dense forests, glacial lakes, and relatively remote terrain. Bob Lohmann collaborated with Mattingly Kuehn Golf Design on the layout, which works with the natural topography of the Upper Peninsula landscape.

The routing moves through stands of pine and hardwood, with elevation changes that are modest but present enough to create variety in lies and approaches. Water features appear on several holes, reflecting the abundance of lakes and wetlands in this part of Michigan. The course serves both resort visitors and local golfers, functioning as part of the tribe's economic development efforts in an area where recreation and tourism provide significant employment.

The setting offers a sense of seclusion common to northern Michigan golf, where courses often feel integrated into the surrounding wilderness rather than carved dramatically from it. Conditioning and playability reflect the shorter northern growing season, and the course accommodates a range of skill levels typical of daily-fee facilities in less densely populated regions. Lac Vieux Desert provides golf in a landscape defined more by natural beauty and quiet than by architectural ambition or competitive history.