LC Lambrecht
Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg
Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Courtesy of Jon Cavalier
Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg
Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg
Andy Johnson/The Fried Egg
Kingsley Club
Kingsley, MI • Private
Kingsley Club
600 Niblick Trl
Kingsley, MI 49649-9480
United States
Overview
Expertly routed across glacial domes and over kettle holes, Kingsley Club opens with a split fairway, a high-right avenue separated from a low-left one by a cluster of sod-face bunkers. It’s an attention grabber that is repeated in various fashions throughout the round. For instance, the hilltop green on the short par-3 second seems tiny in comparison to the deep, shaggy bunkers surrounding it. The long par-3 fifth plays over a valley with a tongue of fairway ready to repel any shot that comes up short. The par-4 sixth seems to slant in one direction, then can't in the other direction once past a lateral ridge that runs down the fairway. Every hole has its own character. With roughs of tall fescue and occasional white pines and hardwoods, Kingsley is all natural and all absorbing, a thoughtful design by Mike DeVries, who grew up in the area playing Crystal Downs.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2013.
Previous ranking: 110th.
2025-'26 ranking (highest): 109th.
Best in State: Ranked fourth, 2017-'26. Ranked fifth, 2013-'14. Ranked sixth, 2011-'12, 2015-'16. Ranked inside the top 15, 2007-'09. Ranked inside the top 20, 2005. Ranked inside the top 25, 2003.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 4th.
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
“Tucked away in a woods south of Traverse City, this is a wonderful course that sits on a great piece of land relatively untouched by the designer. It's all about the golf here, no distractions from the game. It's a course that will grow on you the more you play it and it will require strategy and proper positioning off the tee. 18 solid holes that feature hills, mounds, heather, and plenty of undulating green complexes. A blast to play if you're on your game, lights out if your not."
Read More2025
Review
“From the interesting first hole to the unique final green, KC offers an exciting route through Northern Michigan terrain. Several holes are great discussion holes that generate late/hate discussion. (like #7 and #9). The more times you play it, the better you understand the intriguing options."
Read More2025
Review
“Unreal shot options and firm turf and true greens. This course has so many options off the tee in taking on risk for a better angle/visualization of the pin etc. It will put your mind into a pretzel. Every hole could be a signature hole in that there are no similar green shapes or contours and each hole has characters where different pin positions could have the hole playing completely differently. Great blend of uphill/downhill/short/long holes"
Read More2025
Review
“Lots of hills. Played in difficult weather so I will rate again when I return. Has 16 good holes, a couple where they ran out of real estate but still a good golf course."
Read More2025
Review
“- Nutty greens - Rough areas are too scruffy. They look far too weedy and unsightly - I'll probably be an outlier, but I don't see Kingsley as a top 200 course"
Read More2025
Review
“In a secluded area south of Traverse City, Kingsley Club is a unique golf experience. Firm and fast conditions on a fun and strategic Mike Devries layout. Special to see once, and the type of course that gets even more interesting if you played 100 times."
Read More2025
Review
“Wonderful sandy soil site on rolling topography that was undoubtedly a challenge to clear during construction by DeVries. Green complexes border on unfair depending on the pin placements but also provide really good variety and challenge. Bunkering frames the holes beautifully while providing challenge throughout the round. All the par 5's play long and there is a lack of holes that play right to left so variety in the layout suffers a bit."
Read More2025
Review
“Wonderful sandy soil site on rolling topography that was undoubtedly a challenge to clear during construction by DeVries. Green complexes border on unfair depending on the pin placements but also provide really good variety and challenge. Bunkering frames the holes beautifully while providing challenge throughout the round. All the par 5's play long and there is a lack of holes that play right to left so variety in the layout suffers a bit."
Read More2025
Review
“A golf purist's delight. Stacks up with the highly acclaimed Crystal Downs, down the road."
Read More2025
Review
“Golf only here. Very enjoyable for the good player but sometimes a well struck drive down the middle will be in the rough due to excessive slope on some of the fairways. A lot of false fronts that can be frustrating unless you hit 1/2 to 1 more club. Must play if in the area."
Read More2024
