Walloon Lake CC
A golf course that you can get to by way of boat? Sign us up. Walloon Lake Country Club is about as idyllic as it gets on a nice summer day.
By: Matt Fernandez
The Loop at Walloon Lake
Located in Petoskey, Michigan, Walloon Lake CC first opened in 1904 as a 9-hole club before transitioning to 18-holes in the 1980’s. The loop is fantastic and plays as a fairly straightforward parkland country club, with most of the original 9-holes still in tack. A few of those original holes, located right on the lake, we’re sold sometime during the Great Depression to keep the club’s doors open. Even though there are no holes directly on the water, you can see the lake from a good portion of the course—and as you might imagine—all putts break towards the water. Small, fast greens and well-placed bunkers offer most of the loop’s protection, but well struct tee shots can really place you at an advantage out there. The entire course is playable for all skill levels.
By Land or By Lake
What really sets Walloon Lake CC apart is the simple fact that the clubhouse, and most of the amenities (tennis, dining, etc.), are located right on Walloon Lake. With a private dock, Members can roll up by boat, dock it, play 18, then drive the boat back home after. There were jet skis docked as well… Can you imagine? You could have the worst round of your life, but I guarantee you that jet ski ride afterwards would cure any bad round. It’s good for the soul.
Private with Great Vibes
Yes, it is private. No, it isn’t stuffy. The staff is terrific, the Members are friendly and inviting, the vibes are high. It’s refreshing. A place where you can learn to sail a boat and swing a club is definitely different from your standard country club. It’s like the best parts of your local yacht club and country club combined, with none of the stuffiness you’d find at either.
The Perfect Summer Day
Get up, jump on the boat and head to the course. Watch the sunrise while driving across the lake. Dock it. Hang out, warm up and play a quick 18. Few games of pickleball before grabbing lunch in the Clubhouse while bantering about those goods and bad shots that nobody cares that you hit. Get on the boat and head back to the cabin. Maybe take an early afternoon power nap before hitting the lake again with the family. Get the tunes rocking, drive the boat around, wakeboard a bit, play bags on the beach, enjoy good company. Wash up before heading back to the club for dinner—or fire up the grill yourself. Evening boat ride while watching the sunset . Have a bonfire while sharing stories. Hit the hay.
Now that’s a day that would never get old.
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