One of the Midwest's most revered and classic golf properties, Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix, MI is ranked (No. 89) for the first time ever on Golf Digest's biennial list of "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses."
The honor comes two years after the classic 1925 William Watson creation underwent a caring restoration by Belvedere staff and architect Bruce Hepner, using long-lost blueprints of Watson's original design, which were discovered, serendipitously, during the demolition of a building in downtown Charlevoix in 2016.
"Restoring this Watson gem was all done with in-house labor. We expanded the greens and fairways even farther out than my work 10 years ago. It's an amazing set of greens and surrounds. We moved bunkers around to match original locations. The style is simple and intentionally not stylized."
Belvedere was named 2016 Michigan Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association, and has been a respected tournament venue for nearly a century, having hosted the Michigan Amateur 40 times. Beginning in 1963, Belvedere hosted the event for 26 consecutive years. The 41st hosting of the Michigan Amateur at Belvedere will come in 2025, the club's centennial year. Belvedere has also hosted the Belvedere Hickory Open annually since 2006 and in 2019 will host the 2019 U.S. Hickory Open on June 20th-22nd.
Stretching to 6,906 yards, Belvedere isn't long by modern standards, but the challenge lies in the short game around the dynamic green complexes, which features subtle undulations, ridges and slopes that fall off to chipping areas.
The course has long been a favorite of many golf greats, including legend Walter Hagen, who won the first Great Lakes Open at Belvedere, and five-time British Open winner Tom Watson, who as a youngster honed his game playing summers at Belvedere. He remains a member today and calls the short par-four 16th hole one of the great par fours in America.
For information about Belvedere visit www.belvederegolfclub.com, and as always, if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email or DM on twitter or Instagram.
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