From the moment you drive up to Hidden River Golf and Casting Club you realize you have encountered a special place. The accolades hanging on the wall confirm the feeling. Opened in 1998, the W. Bruce Matthews designed course has been awarded a 4 /12 star rating by Golf Digest, along with a Top 100 ranking in the United States. In addition, the course is touted as one of the top manicured courses in the Midwest.
The starter warned us that the first three holes trick you into thinking that Hidden River is a lazy woodland course. Then suddenly the layout shifts from majestic northern pines to a long links style course with mounding and natural dunes. It was not the scenery change that had me in awe, it was the length. The three middle par 4's (4, 6, 8) averaged 460 yards from the tips. The signature 7th is a three shot par 5 with water lining both sides from the dog leg to the green. For the record, no one has hit the 636 yard hole in two. W. Bruce Matthews recommends hitting driver, middle iron then short iron and keep your fairway woods in the bag.
The back nine returns you to Northwoods golf, featuring significant elevated changes thru mature forest and wetlands. While the remaining stanza is 300 yards shorter, but shot making is at a premium. One of the biggest challenges is long par three 15th. A five or three wood is not out of the question when trying to tackle the 243 yard hole into the prevailing wind.
The Skinny
5 Tees: 4,787 to 7,101 yards Slope/Rating: 140/74.3 Designer: W. Bruce Matthews 18 Hole Rate: $89 weekend in seasonRestaurant
Your experience is not complete without dining at the award winning Rainbow Room Restaurant. The menu features an abundance of Fresh Great Lakes fish, prime cut aged steaks, creative pasta dishes, unbelievable salads, and the best ribs in Northern Michigan. Dine on the patio forviews of the Maple River and the ninth green. PGA Travel named the Rainbow Room a "Top 4 Golf Course Restaurant in the Midwest."Awards
Golf Digest - Best Places to Play 2007 "Top 4 Golf Course Restaurants in the Midwest" PGA Travel 2008 Best of the North West - Best golf Course 2008Getting There
By Car: From I-75, take Indian River exit 310, west on M-68 to Alanson and north 4 miles on US-31; From US-31, 13 miles north of Petoskey on US-31.By Air: Located within 5 miles of Pellston Regional Airport. Daily flights by Delta Airlink. (231) 539-8423
Hidden River Golf and Casting Club 7688 Maple River Road Brutus. MI 49716 800 325-GOLF (4653) www.hiddenriver.com
For more information about great Michigan golf, visit Michigan.org.
