Courtesy of Gary Kellner, Dimpled Rock
L.C. Lambrecht
Crystal Downs Country Club
Frankfort, MI • Private
Crystal Downs Country Club
249 E Crystal Downs Dr
Frankfort, MI 49635-9528
United States
Overview
Perry Maxwell, the Midwest associate of architect Alister MacKenzie, lived on site while constructing the course to MacKenzie’s plans, but there’s evidence Maxwell exercised considerable artistic license on some holes. Whomever did it, Crystal Downs has fairways that zigzag and rumble over the glacial landscape and greens that have doglegs in them. One drawback is that the putting surfaces are so old-fashioned that they’re too steep for today’s green speeds. But that’s part of Crystal Downs' appeal. It’s short but has considerable bite.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1989.
Highest ranking: 10th, 2007-'08.
Previous ranking: 14th.
2025-'26 ranking: 15th.
Best in State: Ranked first, 1989-'93, 2005-'26. Ranked inside the top 5 since 1977.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 1st.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Mackenzie & Maxwell design with a great routing and challenging green complexes. The front 9 has open sightlines while the back 9 plays much different mostly a loop through the trees. Par 4 holes #5 and #17 are unique and full of shot options. Par 4 hole #7 had an incredible green complex (almost every hole does) and par 3 hole #11 had us aiming 20 feet sideways away from the pin while putting back to front. Par 70 and 6509yds from the back tees plays challenging but fair. Our feeling of a "3 club wind" was considered a mild day and seemed to always be a factor."
Read More2025
Review
“+ Great set of short par 4s. + Expansive beauty, especially the front nine. - Greens speeds vs slopes a bit too challenging. - Bunkers need some work."
Read More2025
Review
“This 6500 yard course from the tips packs all the challenge that a much longer course due to the diabolical green complexes created by Maxwell. Stunning piece of hilltop land the course was routed on between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan. The player will seemingly use every club in the bag multiple times throughout the round, again a surprise for a shorter course."
Read More2025
Review
“This 6500 yard course from the tips packs all the challenge that a much longer course due to the diabolical green complexes created by Maxwell. Stunning piece of hilltop land the course was routed on between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan. The player will seemingly use every club in the bag multiple times throughout the round, again a surprise for a shorter course."
Read More2025
Review
“Certainly a special golf experience and worthy of the ranking. I do wonder aloud if the best way to honor the MacKenzie/Perry layout would be to flatten the green slopes slightly to better fit current green speeds. OR just enjoy the timelessness and enjoy the ride!"
Read More2025
Review
“Crystal Downs is an elite golf experience and among the top courses in the world. The course is located between Lake Michigan and Crystal Lake offering significant elevation changes on the majority of holes and some beautiful vistas. The holes are distinctive and offer excellent variety. The most challenging part of the course starts with approach shots into exceptional green complexes. The green complexes are among the best and will challenge all parts of the short game. The collection of high quality short 4s is unique. These holes offer a wide variety of shots options off the tee."
Read More2024
Review
“This Allister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell masterpiece is an outstanding and memorable golf experience! If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to play Crystal Downs, definitely do it! Strong elevation changes and very interesting hole designs make this such a unique layout."
Read More2023
Review
“Hard to add more to what has already been said. The land on which this course is laid out is so much fun. I wish I could go around it 100 more times."
Read More2023
Review
“Crystal Downs is an American classic, perhaps the best course in the Midwest US. This Alister Mackenzie/Perry Maxwell design plays back and forth over a huge meadow, the charges uphill to a back nine on a plateau before descending on the 18th hole. The course rivals the very top courses in the country for interest, pedigree, and design variety, and turning down a round here would be criminal. CD's effect on the architecture profession has extended into the 21st century, as local natives Tom Doak and Mike DeVries have taken inspiration from spending time at "The Downs" as young people into great design careers. When evaluating one of the best, we sometimes have to judge harshly. CD's greens were certainly built for the lower green speeds of 50+ years ago, so at today's speeds, playability is at odds with design intent. One of these years, the club needs to decide once and for all to keep the greens at a maximum speed, as nobody wants to cut into any more Mackenzie greens like they had to do at #11."
Read More2023
Review
“Very Uniqued with fast fairways and greens that are difficult to hold. Play it if you get a chance."
Read More2023
