Crystal Downs Country Club

Frankfort, MI Private

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

Holes 18
Length 6560
Slope 143
Facility Type Private
Year Opened 1931
Designer Alister MacKenzie/Perry Maxwell, ASGCA

Awards

100 Greatest
Best Courses in Every State

Ranking history:

100 Greatest: Ranked since 1989.
2023-'24 ranking (and previous): 14th
Highest ranking: No. 10, 2007-'08.

Best in State: Ranked first, 1989-'93, 2005-'22. Ranked inside the top 5 since 1977. Ranked 1st in state 1989-'93 & 2005-'24.

Current ranking: First.

Panelists

Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists

4.7

100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES

Shot Options
8.1312
Character
8.2891
Challenge
8.0413
Layout Variety
8.2606
Fun
7.7869
Aesthetics
8.123
Conditioning
8.0001

Reviews

Readers

Collection of reviews from our readers

0
There are no reader ratings yet

Reviews

There are no readers reviews yet. Be the first to write a review.