249 E Crystal Downs Dr,
Frankfort, Michigan 49635
Office
+1 (231) 352 9933Pro shop
+1 (231) 352 7979Fax
+1 (231) 352 5095Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Matthew Smith (PGA Golf Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Inland, links-style. Undulating terrain - several slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Woodland. Course is close to the shoreline of Lake Michigan, but without direct lakeside holes.
Designer:
Dr. Alister MacKenzie in collaboration with Perry Maxwell.
44.702521
-86.234543
4.5 mi N of Frankfort / 43 mi SW of Traverse City.
Crystal Downs
Crystal Downs Country Club is home to a championship golf course that ranks with the world's best. Here you will find one of the USA's most admired courses, laid out on rolling hills, some wooded, others more open and links-like. As the reputation of designer Dr Alister MacKenzie grew in the United States, so it seems did the regard for his courses. Crystal Downs is no exception.
Superb strategic bunkering, large severly sloping greens, thick rough beyond the good-width fairways, and a natural setting, all contribute to the immense appeal of a round here. From the 1st tee the whole of the front-nine is laid out before you. There's also occasional views out onto Lake Michigan and down to nearby Crystal Lake.
Pick of the holes: the par-4 5th, which plays across a bunkered ridge, and par-5 8th, one of MacKenzie's best, are frequently described as two of the world's greatest golf holes.
Limited access: this private course is generally playable only by members and their invited guests.
Private club; visitors/guests may only play if hosted by a member.
Walking permitted.
Excellent
Why the name Crystal Downs? Apparently when MacKenzie first saw the terrain upon which the course would be built, he said that in England they would call this type of land "downland" or "the downs". Since the course overlooked Crystal Lake, the course was named Crystal Downs.
Michigan's No.1 course (Golf Digest, 2023/24).
USA's 14th best course (Golf Digest, 2023).
World's 34th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2023/24).
The Sentry: known for many years as the Tournament of Champions, the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opener gets underway on Kapalua’s Plantation course (Jan 2-5). Chris Kirk defends.
Tournament of Champions: the LPGA Tour’s 2025 season is launched at Lake Nona with the their Tournament of Champions (Jan 30-Feb 2). The 2024 edition gave Lydia Ko her 20th LPGA Tour title.
Attahya Thitikul: also known as “Jeeno”, the Thai golfer won the LPGA Tour’s 2024 CME Group Tour Championship … and an eye-watering $4 million, the richest first-prize in women’s golf.
Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
