3 Michigan Golf Courses Named Greatest In America

Though short golf seasons are a norm in Michigan due to its unpredictable weather, we do have some amazing options. Golf Digest dropped their annual list of America's greatest golf courses and three courses in the Mitten made the list.

According to the golf magazine, the three Michigan golf courses named among the best are in Frankfort, Bloomfield Hills, and Arcadia. Since 1966, they have published America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses. 1,800 panelists submitted more than 85,000 evaluations over their 10-year scoring criteria. Their experts evaluate candidate courses on six criteria on a scale of 1 to 10. These include shot options, challenge, layout variety, aesthetics, conditioning, and character.

The golf course that ranked the highest in the state at number 14 is Crystal Downs in Frankfort. In Northern Michigan, the private club was designed by Alister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell. In fact, Maxwell lived on site while constructing the course. "Whomever did it, Crystal Downs has fairways that zigzag and rumble over the glacial landscape and greens that have doglegs in them," wrote Golf Digest.

At number 20 is Oakland Hills' South Course in Bloomfield Hills. It jumped up by one spot from last year's ranking on the list. In Spring 2021, the course reopened after a major restoration from Gil Hanse that started in 2019. USA Today reported that the course is set to host the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur, the 2029 U.S. Women's Amateur, the 2031 U.S. Women's Open, the 2034 U.S. Open, the 2042 U.S. Women's Open, the 2047 U.S. Amateur and the 2051 U.S. Open.

The final Michigan course on the list is Arcadia Bluffs' Bluffs Course, along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Arcadia. Last year, the course was ranked at number 83. But this year it dropped to spot number 92. Unfortunately, its other course, the South Course did not make the list this year.

In 2021, Golf.com released its list of the top 100 public courses in America, with six courses making the list. The Loop at Forest Dunes, Arcadia Bluffs' Bluffs and South courses, Greywalls in Marquette, Forest Dunes, and Stoatin Brae.

See the full list of the best golf courses in America according to Golf Digest here.

One thing Michiganders love about spring is the return of baseball. There's something about the smell of fresh hot dogs and popcorn under the bright stadium lights. Maybe it's the sound of the crowd cheering or the crack of a bat that gets fans excited. Whether you’re a super fan of baseball or going for the food and cold beer, a baseball game in Michigan has something for everyone to enjoy.

Michigan has one professional major league baseball stadium, three Michigan minor league baseball parks, an independent league baseball park, three summer collegiate ballparks, and over twelve college baseball fields. These fields can be found spread across Michigan. So you can stay close to home and still catch a game, wherever you are in the state.

Here are 8 places to catch a baseball game in Michigan.

Make your way to downtown Detroit for a trip to Comerica Park. This stadium is home to the Detroit Tigers. Attendees can enjoy the baseball game or take a trip through the Big Cat Food Court with options ranging from elephant ears and Guernsey ice cream to gyros and hot dogs. The stadium is full of history with statues of Tigers legends. A walk through the main concourse has a Tigers Walk of Fame with even more moments of Tiger history. This park is very kid friendly, featuring the Comerica Bank Carousel and the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel. Before leaving the game, fans can catch a colorful firework display.

Jimmy John's Field is home to the United Shore Professional Baseball League. Here you can see four Metro Detroit teams play. This includes The Utica Unicorns, the Eastside Diamond Hoppers, the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, and the Westside Woolly Mammoths. Michigan's Lawrence Tech University plays home games here too. The league gives undrafted college players and those released from minor league contracts an opportunity to continue playing and improve their skills. The stadium has a capacity of 4,000 and offers a variety of food options from hot dogs to burritos. They occasionally feature guest food trucks. Jimmy John's Field is community-driven and often hosts special nights in partnership with local businesses and charities.

LMCU Ballpark is home to the West Michigan Whitecaps. This ballpark has over 200 events annually. Most take place during the baseball season. Some past events include Marvel's Defenders of the Diamond series of games where players wore superhero jerseys, Star Wars Night, and Made in Michigan Wednesdays with appearances by former Detroit players.

Located in Mayors' Riverfront Park is Homer Stryker Field. This ballpark is home to the Kalamazoo Growlers, a Northwoods League affiliate. The stadium features the Bell's Bear Cave which is an indoor space with an attached patio. They also offer unique food items including bacon-wrapped shrimp kebabs, beef sliders, brats, and brownies. Visitors can catch special events and promotional nights at the stadium as well. One night the stadium hosted a What Could Have Been Night where the team changed their name for a game.

The MCCU Field is located at C.O. Brown Stadium in Bailey Park. The stadium is home to the Battle Creek Battle Jacks. A Michigan Northwood League team and rival of the Kalamazoo Growlers. The two teams compete for the I-94 Rivalry Cup every year. The ballpark can host over 2,000 people. It has a large outdoor sports bar, multiple playgrounds, and several picnic areas.

This Lansing ballpark has had many name changes over the past several years. From the Oldsmobile Park to the Cooley Law School Stadium. Now, one can find the venue under the name Jackson Field. The home of the Lansing Lugnuts. Over 10,000 fans can gather at the ballpark and enjoy classic ballpark foods.

If you venture off to downtown Midland, you'll find Dow Diamond ballpark. Home to the Great Lakes Loons, a Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. There's a "Loontacular" fireworks display after every home game and food specials during Friday home games.

Located 3 miles south of Traverse City is the Turtle Creek Stadium. The 4,660-seat stadium was originally the home to the Traverse City Beach Bums and is now home to the Traverse City Pit Spitters. The Pit Spitters play in the Northwoods League which features some of the best college players in the nation.