Outdoors

Explore Michigan’s Golf Courses This Summer

April 10, 2013

Michigan offers a wide variety of golf courses with something for everyone. Offering over 800 public golf courses (plus the natural beauty of the state and the Great Lakes), Michigan is the perfect summer golf destination. With golf being one of the activities featured in the Pure Michigan summer video series, we spoke with Janina Parrott Jacobs to learn more about the sport.

See her in the video below and read more from Janina in the questions that follow. For more information on golfing in Michigan or to plan your summer vacation, visit michigan.org.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

A: I’m a lucky girl whose parents exposed me to everything, including golf. My amateur competitive ‘career’ began at age 9 and has taken me all over the world. In addition to my work as an international golf/travel/health writer, I own Capers Steakhouse in Detroit, am a professional musician, performer, and motivational speaker. I hosted ‘Michigan Golf Weekly’ TV show on CBS-Detroit, ‘GolfWrap’ on WJR, wrote golf columns for the Detroit Free Press, and have been a course ratings panelist for Golf Digest for 30 years. I’m an advocate for many organizations involved with mentoring youth, women’s golf, the U.S. Navy and other military, Sea Cadets, veterans’ affairs, and health and nutrition.

Q: What makes Michigan an ideal destination for golfing?

A: Michigan’s climate is perfect for growing golf courses so conditioning on almost anywhere is superb…..and great conditions are one of the main ‘must-haves’ when selecting places to play. With over 850 public and resort courses available, there is no state with a greater inventory to choose from, no matter what price point you seek. Due to Michigan’s varied topography, you can play links-style clubs, courses with major elevation changes, and layouts with lakeside vistas, even some with mountainous granite outcroppings. The golf season usually runs from March until November, but hardy souls play year-round – which some courses allow.

Q: What are some of your favorite courses around the state?

A: That’s a loaded question….there are so many! Here’s a partial list: Elk Ridge in Atlanta, Greywalls in Marquette, Forest Dunes in Roscommon, True North in Harbor Springs, The Bear near Traverse City, Tullymore and Bucks Run in Mt. Pleasant, Pilgrim’s Run in Pierson, Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, The Grande Golf Club in Jackson, Island Hills in Centerville, Shepherd’s Hollow in Clarkston, Pine Trace in Rochester Hills, and any course at Treetops (Gaylord), Shanty Creek (Mancelona), Gull Lake View (Augusta), Fox Hills (Plymouth), Lakewood Shores (Oscoda) or Boyne.

Q: Are there courses in Michigan that appeal to people of different ages and skill levels?

A: The Huron-Clinton Metroparks and most municipal and county courses are very family friendly, affordable, and welcoming for any age and skill level.

Q: When would you say is the best time of year to golf?

A: Fall golf in Michigan is unsurpassed. After Labor Day, the courses are in the best condition, the crowds have lessened and if you wait until October, the leaves are exploding with color. That, coupled with emerald green fairways, bright blue skies and bluer water on many courses along Great Lakes shores, makes for an artist’s palette sure to delight the eyes. I don’t know why play drops off so significantly at that time, though ‘back-to-school’ applies to parents as well as kids; still, golfers are missing the absolute best playing conditions and weather.

Q: The Masters is happening this month in Augusta, GA. Which golfers are you cheering for?

A: Defending champion Bubba Watson is a feel-good choice but probably won’t repeat. I’d love if he did because he’s simply an all-around nice guy with that go-for-broke style of Arnold Palmer and the late Seve Ballesteros. Rory McIlroy is due for a green jacket, but Tiger Woods has had an early taste of victory at Bay Hill so he’ll be hungering for another major after a ‘Major’ drought. Brandt ‘Sneds’ Snedeker, as winner of both the Tour Championship and Fed Ex Cup, is primed for a stellar 2013. Acclaimed as the best putter on tour, Augusta’s greens may prove to separate him from the pack. Nostalgic favorite Ernie Els, who has never won a Masters, and Phil Mickelson are popular with the patrons.

Q: Are there any tournaments coming up this year in Michigan?

A: Here’s where great golf can be seen around the state this year: the SYMETRA (LPGA preparatory Tour) 2013 Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass, June 28-30; Sweetgrass is both a Golf Digest and Golfweek top-rated course in the UP; the Michigan PGA Championship is at Katke-Cousins/R&S Sharf Courses at Oakland University August 19-21; the Michigan Amateur will be contested at Muskegon CC June 18-21; The Legends Tour (LPGA Senior Tour) ‘Wendy’s Charity Challenge’ on August 11-12 at CC of Jackson; the Women’s Amateur is at Walnut Hills CC in Lansing August 12-16; all are free to watch except at Sweetgrass, where affordable packages can be purchased at sweetgrassgolfclub.com.

Q: Where can people go to learn more about golf in Michigan?

A: Consider joining the Golf Association of Michigan at gam.org. Besides conducting amateur tournaments and events for both adults and juniors, GAM provides handicapping services, Swing-n-Save discounts, a ‘clearinghouse’ listing for charity golf events and associations, golf days with affordable access to private clubs, and much more.

Which Michigan golf course is your favorite? Share with us below!

Janina Parrott Jacobs is a lifelong Michigan resident but her passion as a multi-media golf and business specialist and international golf and travel writer takes her all over the world. Her website, www.janinajacobs.com, features many other entrepreneurial adventures as a motivational speaker, professional musician and performer, owning Capers Steakhouse in Detroit, and volunteer efforts with the U.S. Navy where she advocates for and mentors young people concerning health, nutrition, and fitness issues. Contact Janina at Jjacobs2456@gmail.com.

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Stocking Steelhead in the Red Cedar River

April 8, 2013

in Fishing,Outdoors

Get your fishing lines ready, Michigan anglers! On Monday, April 15^th, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will be stocking the Red Cedar River in East Lansing with 3,000 steelhead. Elyse Walter of the DNR fills us in on this new development.

This past December the Michigan State University Board of Trustees approved an ordinance change that would allow an activity to occur on campus that had been previously banned since the 1960s. The activity? Fishing from the shore of the Red Cedar River.

Banned more than 50 years ago, the river was previously off limits to shore fishing because the entire campus of MSU is considered a preserve and therefore, hunting, fishing and gathering were off limits. Additionally, there were safety concerns with fishing along the river bank and bridges due to the amount of pedestrian traffic.

But all that changed just a few months ago when the trustees approved an ordinance modification that permits hook-and-line fishing on campus grounds on the north bank of the river between the western edge of Brody Complex and the Sparty bridge.

To enhance future angling opportunities on campus – already plentiful with steelhead and suckers available in the spring, smallmouth bass available in the summer, salmon available in the fall, and a variety of other native species abundant – the DNR’s Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit worked on a management prescription to stock 3,000 steelhead in the river this spring.

On Monday, April 15 at approximately 11:30 a.m. the DNR will pay a visit to the Red Cedar River to do just that! The stocking will occur at the bridge located off the southeast corner of the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center’s parking ramp. A variety of DNR and MSU officials will be participating in the stocking, as well as representatives from numerous constituent groups. Sparty will even mark the occasion with his fishing rod in hand!

Following this ordinance change, fishing the Red Cedar River’s designated area will be allowed during a three-year test period. A fishing license is required to fish the Red Cedar River. If anglers plan to target trout and/or salmon they will need to purchase an All-Species license.

Do you bleed green? Consider paying a visit to MSU’s Red Cedar River and partaking in a little fishing to show your Spartan pride!

Learn more about fishing opportunities around the state at michigan.org.

Elyse Walter is a communication specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. She specifically works with the DNR’s Fisheries Division to help educate and promote the state’s fishing opportunities and aquatic resources.

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Hit the Michigan Slopes this Spring Break

March 27, 2013

in Guest Blogger,Outdoors,Snowsports

Photo courtesy of Crystal Mountain Resort

With most school spring breaks coming early this year, the recent cool temperatures and lake-effect snowfall, it turns out that Michigan is the ideal place for a spring break ski vacation.

Mickey MacWillliams, executive director of the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association, fills us in on spring skiing in Pure Michigan.

Mother Nature was a little late this winter, but once she provided us with cold weather and snow, she just didn’t stop! What makes this ideal is that spring break for most schools is early this year and that means families can take advantage of unprecedented snow conditions right now, right here in Michigan.

Plus, to entice folks to ski instead of fleeing to warmer climates, our ski areas are offering great discounts and special events. I encourage skiers to check MSIA’s website at goskimichigan.com and click on the “News, Events, Specials & Discounts” button, which is updated almost daily. Here is a link to that page.

Many Michigan ski areas are still open, but it’s always best to check before heading out to be sure. The following ski areas are either open now, or will be open on the weekends:

Upper Peninsula

Big Powderhorn, Bessemer
Blackjack, Bessemer
Indianhead Mountain, Wakefield
Marquette Mountain, Marquette
Mont Ripley, Houghton
Mt. Bohemia, Lac La Belle
Pine Mountain, Iron Mountain
Porcupine Mountain, Ontonagon
Ski Brule, Iron River

Lower Peninsula

Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs (possibly April 6-7)
Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls
Caberfae Peaks, Cadillac
Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville
Cross-Country Ski Headquarters, Roscommon
Nubs Nob, Harbor Springs
Pando Winter Sports Park, Rockford
Pine Knob, Clarkston
Shanty Creek, Bellaire

Will you be hitting the slopes this spring?

Mickey MacWillliams is the executive director of the Michigan Snowsports Industries Association. To learn more about skiing in Michigan, visit goskimichigan.com or michigan.org.

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Hiking 924 Miles of Michigan

March 25, 2013

in Guest Blogger,Hiking,Outdoors

Christopher Hillier loves spending time outdoors, and a lot of that time is spent on Michigan’s hiking trails. Since April 2011 alone, Chris has hiked nearly 6,000 miles. To continue his adventures, he’ll take on the newly proposed trail that runs 924 miles from Belle Isle all the way to the border with Wisconsin in the western Upper Peninsula. Read about it below and follow his journey at WolverineHikesMichigan.blogspot.com or on Facebook as Hiker Resupply.

I like to be out-of-doors. A lot. I spent 7 months and 9 days hiking the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. It took me 5 months and 25 days to hike the 2,600 mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. More recently, I’ve been hiking all the best trails in Michigan: the Shore-To-Shore Trail, the Kal-Haven Trail, the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, etc… My next big hike is a trail that was just proposed by Governor Snyder in November of 2012 that runs 924 miles from Belle Isle all the way to the border with Wisconsin in the western Upper Peninsula. I intend to be the first person to thru-hike this trail. That is, to hike the entire distance over about 10 weeks this spring. I want to use this hike to bring attention to all the great trails we have to offer here in Michigan, as well as for the health benefits of hiking. I want people to know that they don’t have to hike thousands of miles like I do, but they need to get out and walk more often.

People sometimes ask me if my six years in the US Army started my passion for long distance hiking. I explain to them that marching with a rucksack is a world away from hiking with a backpack. But the Army did prepare me for an 18 year career in cardiovascular technology and during that time I saw lots of vascular disease caused by inactivity. If I can encourage people to walk more, I will be doing a good thing.

So far, I’ve been working with the good folks at the Polly Ann Trail, the Detroit Free Press, the City of Warren, the Caroline Kennedy Library, Moosejaw gear stores and the Downriver YMCA. I receive incredible support from my family and friends. I am very proud to have been born and raised in Michigan and I am honored to have been selected as a finalist for the 2013 Governor’s Council Veteran of the Year Award as part of the Governor’s Fitness Awards. The award will be presented April 25^th at Ford Field. Wish me luck and follow me at WolverineHikesMichigan.blogspot.com.

Chris has hiked almost 6,000 miles since April of 2011. You can read about his adventures at WolverineHikesMichigan.blogspot.com or learn more in this story from the Detroit Free Press.

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An Introduction to Indianhead Mountain

March 12, 2013

in GeoCoded,Guest Blogger,Outdoors,Snowsports

Jesse Land of the travel site “Things to do in the U.P.” is a native Yooper who’s always willing to jump at the chance to explore Michigan’s great outdoors. Today, he fills us in on a recent ski trip he took to Indianhead Mountain Resort.

No, it’s Not Powderhorn

As a good friend of mine observed last year before our annual western U.P. ski trip, when you mention you’re going skiing in the Western U.P., most people assume you’re heading to Big Powderhorn.

While Big Powderhorn may be the most well-known ski resort of the area, there are two others right nearby that deserve much more than an honorable mention. Namely, Indianhead and Blackjack. For this post we’ll take a look at Indianhead.

You Start Out On Top

One cool thing about Indianhead is that the lodge and parking area are at the top of the mountain, so your first trip of the day is down the mountain, not uphill on a ski lift. It’s a nice way to start things off!

As you might expect, the lodge at Indianhead is equipped with plenty of space for those who want to pack their own lunch, but it’s also got a pretty sweet restaurant / bar called “The Sky Bar Mountaintop Grill.” And the name is well deserved. The view from most tables in the place is fantastic. (They also make a great Bloody Mary.)

And it’s a Long Way Down

Indianhead’s 638 foot vertical drop is one of the largest in the Midwest, and whoever planned the hill did a great job carving out some nice long runs. My wife and I actually stuck to the same two runs all day long.

She’s a beginning skier and I’m an intermediate, but we both had a blast skiing Voyager’s Highway (a beginner run) and Chippewa (an intermediate run) repeatedly. Each run was easy enough for her to practice her skiing, but long enough (and with enough ups and downs) for me to really enjoy them too.

As a side note, I have skied every run at Indianhead and while these two are a couple of my favorites, every run is well worth exploring.

Then There’s the Tough Stuff

Of course, if double black diamonds and moguls are your thing, check out “Hiawatha” and “Crazy Horse” on the east side of the mountain. These steep runs are a challenge for even experienced skiers and snowboarders.

“Some Folks Just Make One Run Each Day… to the Red Dog”

And then, there’s “The Red Dog.”

My first time at Indianhead, I was talking to the elderly lady at the ticket counter as she chuckled “some people only make one run of the day… to the Red Dog.”

You see, in addition to the Sky Bar at the top of the hill, there’s a pretty substantial outpost called “The Red Dog Saloon” at the bottom of the mountain. Apparently some people like to ski, and then some people just like to ski their way to the bar.

My wife and stopped in the Red Dog for a Bloody Mary and a coffee late the first morning of our trip, and by Noon we were heading back to the hill and the place was packed, much more so than the Sky Bar. And it didn’t seem like any of the patrons planned to leave anytime soon.

In Closing…

All in all, everyone in our group of around fifteen people was pleasantly surprised by how much we all enjoyed Indianhead.

There were definitely plenty of families on the hill, but I got the impression that this hill tends to cater toward a slightly more adult crowd (compared to Powderhorn). That could also be because I wasn’t there on a family excursion, but suffice to say if you head to Indianhead with a group of friends you’re bound to have a great time, both on and off the hill.

A native Yooper, Jesse Land lives in Iron Mountain and enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and camping with his family. He runs the U.P. travel site “Things to do in the U.P.” (www.thingstodointheup.com).