In South Michigan
The economics of golf have soared in recent years to heights never seen before. With green fees at some of the top golf courses now costing more than $400.00-$500.00 to as much as $900 for one round, along with golf packages at top resort destinations costing thousands of dollars, it’s unfortunate that most golfers will struggle to afford these high-end golf experiences. For golfers who can’t afford that but want to have a similar fun golfing experience on a buddy’s trip, where can they go? Imagine, for the price of one round at Pebble Beach or Bandon Dunes, golfers could experience a three-day, two-night golf package and play up to three or four rounds of golf. As one of the largest family-owned golf destinations in the country, Gull Lake View has been building a family golf legacy and value for golfers since the 1960s.
A wildly popular Southwestern Michigan golf destination came about because of one man’s vision. A superintendent at nearby Gull Lake Country Club in Richland, Michigan, for 25 years, Darl Scott decided to tap into his entrepreneurial spirit in the early 1960s. He and his wife, who already owned and operated a nearby motel, set out to build the Gull Lake View West golf course in 1962 on adjacent land. Little did the couple know that the small motel and golf course business would lead the couple to become pioneers in destination golf.
Today, this stay-and-play lake country golf destination is one of the largest family-owned golf resorts in the country. One that offers an affordable value proposition not commonly found with larger multi-course golf resorts. Gull Lake View’s six championship courses offer a special experience for golfers, all while not breaking the bank. Imagine, for the price of one round at Pebble Beach or Bandon Dunes, golfers could experience a three-day, two-night golf package and play up to three or four rounds of golf.
The original Gull Lake View West is depicted by fields, ravines, hills, woods, ponds, and domed greens. In the early 1970s, the couple sold the motel and built Gull Lake View East – which features hilly scenic terrain, lots of unique water hazards, and demands good shot placement. Alongside the East course, Darl built villa-style condos for golf groups to stay in, which was a new experience at the time.
During the late 1980s and 1990s golf course boom, the Scotts’ son Charlie, who had built golf courses for Wadsworth Construction for seven years before coming home to build the East course, designed and built Stonehedge South nearby in 1988. The golf course is set on dramatic, rolling wooded countryside reminiscent of the Carolinas. Then, in 1995, Charlie and his son Jon built Stonehedge North, which showcases dramatic elevation changes and plays roughly five shots easier than the South. At the same time, the family bought and refurbished nearby Bedford Valley Country Club, a local course that had hosted multiple Michigan Opens but fell into disrepair.
“Darl (who passed away in 1999) liked to buy land, and in that spirit, Jon and I looked at the land next to the South course, and it had an Irish-Scottish feel to it with a lot of movement,” recalls Bill Johnson, CEO of Gull Lake View who was the company’s vice president back then. “And that’s how Stoatin Brae came about, which opened in 2017. We were playing at Pacific Dunes at Bandon Dunes and talked about getting in touch with architect Tom Doak. Within a couple of days, he was here to look at the plans with us.”
Due to a project conflict, Doak handed the Stoatin Brae job to his Renaissance Golf A-Team of designers Eric Iverson, Brian Schneider, Don Placek, and Brian Slawnik. They were responsible for the layout and critical shaping, bringing the Scottish influences alive. They created a minimalist classic links style with architectural elements from golf’s golden design era of the 1920s and 1930s to create a stunning and memorable golf experience.
Stoatin Brae is only the second course of the six that is not designed by the talented family with landscape architecture backgrounds. And now, the course is ranked in the state’s top 5. Unlike anything else in Michigan, it’s located on one of the highest points in Kalamazoo County and commands sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. It’s a special course with a dramatic design that inspires golfers to play their best.
“Most of our guests will spend a whole day at Stonehedge during one of their days visiting, playing the North and South,” says Johnson. “They like to play the East and West together, as well. And then Stoatin Brae, which we’ve done a lot of work on to make it more playable. It’s mature now and it’s beautiful. The views are great, and it’s totally different than any of the other golf courses. And Bedford Valley gives you that old country club feel. And it’s a big golf course that we can stretch to way over 7,000 yards if need be. These six courses have withstood the test of time. They’re just good-quality golf courses. And everybody knows when they come here, they’re gonna get great conditions.”
“We pride ourselves on country club conditions,” continues Johnson. “We’re all about golf, and we have the amenities, restaurants, snack bars, and condos that people love. We’re located right in the middle of Detroit and Chicago, an easy drive from both or from up north and Wisconsin. It’s really grown in popularity.”
For people in the Detroit-to-Chicago corridor, it’s a much shorter drive than going to Northern Michigan, and the golf quality is equally good. What’s really special about all six courses is that they’re playable for all skill levels. Golf has become more about fun, relaxation, and hanging out with friends. That’s what Gull Lake View emanates. You don’t have to be a great player to enjoy your stay.
As popular as Gull Lake View has become—particularly since the pandemic—ownership is reinvesting roughly $2 million per year into improving the course conditions, irrigation, accommodations, and infrastructure in an effort to keep everything top-notch. They really care about the overall experience. Golfers will likely see that spill over into more rooms available in the near future, as well.
“We’re definitely at lodging capacity a lot,” says Johnson. “In fact, we work with a lot of host hotels, the biggest one being the Radisson in Kalamazoo, that we fill up for weekends because we’re just full. So, by having the six courses, we can spread guests around. As for more golf courses, you never know. I wouldn’t rule that out. We’re always looking at land and continuing Darl Scott’s spirit,” says Johnson.
Going on the fourth generation of ownership since the early 1960s, this simple yet charming golf resort is a fun and rewarding experience for everyday golfers. It is the ultimate destination where buddies can have the same experience and camaraderie without breaking the bank or traveling great distances to high-end or oceanfront destinations that often receive all the attention. Visit https://gulllakeview.com
