
The Summit Course
Shanty Creek Golf Club

About this course
The Summit at Shanty Creek Golf Club opened in 1968 and was designed by Bill Diddel, a Michigan-based architect who created several courses across the Great Lakes region during the mid-twentieth century. Located in Bellaire in the northern Lower Peninsula, the course sits within a resort property that has evolved to include multiple layouts over the decades. The Summit was the first course built at Shanty Creek and established the property as a northern Michigan golf destination. The routing takes advantage of rolling terrain characteristic of this part of Michigan, with elevation changes that provide variety throughout the round. The course moves through a mix of wooded areas and more open sections, with hardwoods framing many holes. Several holes feature downhill tee shots that showcase views of the surrounding landscape, while others require uphill approaches that test club selection and course management. The design reflects the strategic sensibilities of its era, with fairway bunkering and green complexes that reward accurate play. Shanty Creek operates as a resort facility, and The Summit serves as one component of a larger golf offering that attracts visitors to the region during the northern Michigan golf season. The course provides a traditional parkland experience in an area known for its concentration of golf properties and seasonal tourism. The layout remains largely true to Diddel's original design, offering a straightforward test that emphasizes shot placement over length.
Quick facts
- Location
- Bellaire, MI, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1968
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Bill Diddel
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,276 yards
- Difficulty
- 70.4/131
- Course Vaults score
- 5.8
Getting there
The journey to Shanty Creek Golf Club begins at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, a compact regional hub roughly thirty minutes northwest by car. The drive traces M-88 and Shanty Creek Road through rolling northern Michigan terrain, where hardwood forests give way to glimpses of glacial lakes and the gentle ridgelines that define this corner of the Lower Peninsula. As the road climbs toward Bellaire, the landscape opens into the kind of quiet, elevated country that feels purposefully removed from the everyday - a fitting prelude to a resort carved into the high ground above Torch Lake and the Grass River valley.

FAQ
Common questions about The Summit at Shanty Creek Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
The Summit at Shanty Creek Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 10 logged golfers.
The Summit was designed by Bill Diddel.
Yes. The Summit at Shanty Creek Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at The Summit is 71.
The Summit plays 6,276 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at The Summit is 131.

