Crystal Downs

What is Golf Digest’s top ranked golf course in the State of Michigan?? It is a question that most people I ask get wrong. The first guess is usually Oakland Hills South (#17).

The correct answer is Crystal Downs which is an extremely private golf course located in Frankfort, MI. The course was ranked #10 overall by Golf Digest in their 2007 rankings.

Designed in 1929 by Alister Mackenzie the course is a Par 70 measuring only 6,518 yards from the tips. The Greens all resemble the top shell of a turtle and must have slate below them as they hold the ball about as well as a pool table. There are prevailing winds on the course that make it play very much like Arcadia Bluffs (which is 20 minutes to the south).

10th Tee

The 10th hole is right beside the clubhouse and there is a large window so that everyone in the clubhouse can critique your swing. The day I got to play there, it was very cold and the clubhouse was empty. This was lucky for me as I could not have played a much worse round than the one I played that day.

Crystal Downs has some great elevation changes and it has stayed pretty true to its original design (thus only 6,518 yards). The Greens are a huge challenge and probably are a bit unfair. I am not quite sure it deserves as high a ranking as it gets (I personally preferred Arcadia Bluffs) but I would certainly welcome the opportunity to play it again.