A-Ga-Ming Golf Club, Sundance

$76 (cart included), played on Saturday, July 2020 at 7:30 AM

I know I've said that the Charlevoix CC was the best Jerry Matthew's designed course I have played.......I stand to be corrected. A-Ga-Ming's 2005 Sundance GC design is the center gem stone, in his crown of course design's.

The photo attached to this course is of #9 a 611yd Par 5 that is all uphill the last 250yds, with no lack of sand traps protecting its Hcp 2 rating. We all joking said afterwards, "Instead of Sundance, it should be Sand-Dance".

Starting from the hilltop view from the first tee, every hole offers good looks of what's in store for you. Conditions from tee box, fairways, rough,sand traps (fairway & greenside), smooth undulating greens were so consistence it was scary. With the five (5) tee boxes you can choose from Black 6,886yds / 73.6 / 140 down to Red 5,148yd / 69.9 / 123 on this very rolling, marsh and wooded mixed layout. The back three (3) tee boxes all have forced carries from 80 - 180yds so its not really too intimating other than which side of the fairway is more forgiving. Was surprised to find that there's no GPS on these carts so bring a range finder to find your target areas. We played a combination of Blue (3,172) on the Front 9 and White (3,164) on the Back 9 for 6,336yds on this Par 36/36 course.

The first two (2) holes, #1 a 388yd / #2 335yd straightaway Par 4's are great opening holes with generous landing areas to start with. The #3 is a 103-186yd Par 3 that has five (5) traps and a pond on the right to test your focus. The #4 385yd & #5 360yd Par 4's have slanted sand trap protected fairways with landing areas bigger than it looks from the tee box. The #6 Par 5 at 523yds guards it's Hcp 8 by having target landing areas with narrow necks connecting them. The #8 is a 135-200yd Par 3 that is all carry to a slightly downhill protected green that has steep side to reject non-green shots. (Our condo looks over this hole) The #9 at 408-611yds Par 5 is all uphill after your tee shot and sand everywhere on 2nd and 3rd shots. (See Photo) The Back 9 is seems to be longer forced carries to narrow fairways with the rough (10' - 20') being playable to mostly elevated (1-2 clubs)greens. The #12 at 369-442yds plays to its Hcp 4 very well for this Par 4 with trouble on RH side. The #15 is a 303-434yd Par 4 Hcp 3 that sweeps left with traps RH side and marsh LH side to mess with your head. The #16 is a 580yd Par 5 from the tips and requires a 210yd forced carry and not a very good view. The #18 is their Hcp 2 sweeping righthand hole that plays 408-611yds with every hazard lining the narrow fairway to the elevated green. (Bogey is OK)

A great layout with conditions to match anywhere I've played to date. Ended up shooting 40/40 w/36putts and REALLY want to play here again from the Blues 3,172/3,309yds and see what I really got.

Member (cart included), played on Tuesday, October 2018 at

Excellent conditioning, nice practice facility, friendly staff. Tee levels for all abilities. Fun to play!

$46 (cart included), played on Saturday, September 2013 at 8am

This is a must play in the Traverse City area. The condition of the course was excellent. The wind was blowing and made this a tough course. If off the fairway you are dealt an uneven stance and long grass. Pace of play was slow at start but staff stayed on the slower groups to speed up. This was an excellent course and a pleasure to play.