A misty morning greeted us as we rolled into the quiet, empty parking lot of BOYNE Golf’s Crooked Tree Golf Club in Petoskey, Michigan.
The serene hush enveloped the surrounding landscape, adding a sense of mystery and anticipation.
As the sun rose over Little Traverse Bay, the mist gradually lifted, revealing a vibrant landscape filled with lush greens and intricate terrain. Crooked Tree Golf Club, with its rolling fairways and iconic trees, felt like it was waking up with us, ready to unveil a golf experience as captivating as its natural surroundings.
Embracing its range of topography and dramatic elevation changes, we spread out across the course to capture the early morning light that added a magical touch to Jim Engh’s thoughtfully crafted design.
Course History
Perched on the cliffs overlooking Little Traverse Bay, Crooked Tree Golf Club was established in 1998 and emerged quickly as a significant addition to the golf scene in northern Michigan.
The course was designed by renowned golf course architect Jim Engh, known for his ability to blend natural landscapes with challenging and enjoyable golf designs.
The vision was to create a course that not only took advantage of the region’s picturesque scenery but also offered a unique golfing experience.
Course Design
Engh’s design for Crooked Tree Golf Club emphasized the natural topography of the area.
The course features rolling terrain, strategically placed bunkers and the “crooked trees” that lend the club its distinctive name.
The design integrates the natural landscape, providing both visual appeal and strategic challenges. The course layout was crafted to be enjoyable for players of all skill levels while preserving the area’s natural beauty.
Holes of Note
Hole 1
This blind dogleg par four to start your round may intimidate many and demands a precise tee shot.
A vast woodlands obscures the green and is a proverbial ball magnet for any slicer. A long-iron or hybrid off the tee is probably the smart play here, leaving you about 140-180 yards to the green.
For those who want to risk losing that freshly unpacked ball, the starter is happy to point out a tree top to aim at and hope you get lucky. I decided to take the risk off the first tee and it left me with about 60 yards in.
Take advantage of this green as it is one of the flattest on the course and gives you the best opportunity for a flat birdie putt.
Hole 3
As you emerge from the wooded first and second holes you are greeted with a magnificent view and perfect introduction to the types of holes you will see for the rest of the round.
A seemingly open fairway is guarded by a lengthy carry over marshland and trees that seem to sneak up rather quickly if you spray the ball. What further adds to the challenge of this hole and many like it throughout the course is that even if you hit the fairway your placement must be precise if you want a shot into the green. Anything left of center on this tee shot will leave you blocked on your approach.
Hole 5
The Par three fifth is everything you can want in a great golf hole.
The fifth is the perfect par three distance (in my opinion) of about 165 yards, made up of about 100 yards of marshland leading up to an elevated green flanked by two bunkers.
While this may seem intimidating from the tee, the green is large and receptive. I found out the hard way that it slopes hard back-to-front, so don’t be long.
This was definitely one of my favorite holes on the course.
Hole 7
The 7th at Crooked Tree Golf Club
If there was ever a hole that is the definition of a dogleg, this is it. a 90-degree fairway forces a shorter precise tee shot in order to have a look at the green. A large bunker guards against those trying to cut the corner, but the real danger is the sloped fairway that takes any balls hit left straight into the trees. If you do manage to hit a good tee shot, the green appears to be an easy target but this facade is quickly realized as soon as you approach. While large green complexes are common throughout the course, I found this one to be one of the trickiest yet most beautiful. The endless slopes and hidden hills on the green are accentuated by its infinity backdrop which makes you think your ball may run straight into the bay.
Hole 12
The heavily wooded front nine gives way to a completely different style hole on number 12.
A curved fairway and large pond presents a risk/reward scenario for long ball hitters looking to take some distance off.
This was one of the hardest par fours on the course as shorter hitters are forced into playing around the water and have 200+ yards in to a mounded green on their second shots.
Although there is plenty of green to target, the plateaued surface hides the numerous bowls and slopes that will quickly create three-putts.
Hole 13
There is always one hole on every course that you say to yourself “I would play that totally different if I come here again,” and the par five 13th is that one for me. A relatively open tee shot lulls you into a false sense of security as your second shot tightens very quickly, demanding a precise layup. A hidden drop-off protects from cutting off extra distance. For those thinking of going at this green in two, I would say seek your birdie with a well-placed wedge on your third shot. A deep ravine guards this green and while all bunker-free space seems friendly, this is a well-designed obstacle. I made the mistake of trying to take on this green in two and found myself with a tricky chip shot shrouded by trees and standing on an awkward slope. What further makes this hole challenging is its postage stamp profile, which has not been characteristic of the course thus far. Be happy with a par on 13 and re-think your strategy the next time you play it.
Hole 16
Don’t let the postcard beauty of this hole deceive you!
This tricky par four will quickly add strokes to your card if you are not careful. I learned that the hard way as pounding driver off the tee was not the right approach for me.
Fescue left or water right means a short tee shot is better, leaving a 130- to 150-yard approach. Another uncharacteristically small green is made even more difficult by the water that sneaks into your vision well downhill.
If you play this hole correctly and don’t get too aggressive off the tee, birdie is definitely a possibility.
Hole 18
Wrapping up the Crooked Tree experience is an 18th hole that blends many of the course’s design elements.
A shorter dogleg with a forced carry and large trees blocking the approach to an oversized green provides a perfect summarization of your round. The unique part of this hole, however, is the length of the putting surface. I would estimate it to be at least 40 yards long, allowing the final hole to play very different depending on the day’s pin location.
Final Thoughts
Crooked Tree was a great golf experience. The feeling of the course is definitely “new” but offset by the way it is carved through mature trees.
While the hole layouts favor accurate and long hitters, the approach shots are made less intimidating by its oversized greens complexes. This is a round where you may have multiple three-putts if not heeding pin locations.
The views of the bay at Crooked Tree are incredible, and although several holes are bordered by houses it felt very private and secluded.
Just down the road from Bay Harbor Golf Club and across the street from The Inn at Bay Harbor, this is an ideal complement to the Links/Quarry Course for a great 36- or 45-hole day while experiencing BOYNE Golf.
Looking to plan your own BOYNE Golf experience? Visit their website and see all that Boyne has to offer, from its magnificent resorts to 10 world-class golf courses in northern Michigan.
For more on BOYNE Golf, check out our previously published destination review:
BOYNE Golf: The Midwest’s Most Underrated Golf Destination
From the resorts to the dining, lodging and above all the golf, BOYNE Golf is a big-time golf trip that is not talked about nearly enough!
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