Manistee National Golf Review, Canthooke Valley, Michigan

Before moving to Michigan, I considered Manistee National Golf and Resort my “home” course. In fact, I was a member when it was only 18 holes, and known as Cobi Pines. Now it’s flourished into a 36-hole facility with an Inn and a restaurant. The original 18 was later renamed Canthooke Valley, which is the subject of this review. Of all the golf courses I’ve reviewed, I’ve easily played this one the most (at least 60 times).

Manistee National (the Canthooke Valley) isn’t a monster, but it is 6,517 yards from the Blues, which I normally play. Honestly, that’s plenty long. The course starts out with a bang; a 439 yard par 4. Luckily, the tee shot is downhill, so you’ll gain some yardage. Try to be on the right-side of the fairway. It will help your approach, by missing a large tree in front of the left-side of the green.

1st hole, Canthooke Valley course, Manistee National Golf and Resort

The second is a short par 4. Keep it in the fairway, and you should have a potential birdie, easy par. The third is a 519 yard par 5 that is potentially reachable, but the tee shot has to be a boomer. From the tee, you want to brush the trees on the left-hand side. I’d suggest taking your cart past the tee before hitting so you can see the angle of the fairway.

3rd hole, Canthooke Valley course, Manistee National Golf and Resort

If it’s hit well you’ll be able to go for it in two, and miss out on the dip in the fairway from about 150 – 100 yards in. If you have to make it a three shot par 5, be prepared for an uphill third, and note where the pin is on the green.

Approach on the 3rd hole hole, Canthooke Valley course, Manistee National, Manistee Michigan

The fourth hole is an all-carry par 3. There is another well-placed tree on the left side of the green, so be careful. If the pin is behind it, don’t even think of going for the flag; play it safe, and hang it out to the right side of the green for a two-putt.

4th hole, Canthooke Valley course, Manistee National Golf and Resort

Also, try not to be long here. The day we played it, one of the members of our group (who will remain nameless; OK it was me), hit it past the green, and while looking for the ball, we found this.

Bees nest

The fifth is a 447 yard par 4, and the #1 handicap hole on the course. The tee shot needs to hug the left-hand side AND be very long. The fairway gets really thin near the landing area, so be sure to hit it up the left. Otherwise, you’re going to be in a hollow at best, or OB at worst. Being up the left also gives you a better approach, taking a row of pines out of play.

Tee shot on 5, Canthooke Valley golf course

The seventh epitomizes a feature that comes into play on multiple holes on this course; the importance of tee shot placement. On this hole, you HAVE to be on the right-hand side of the fairway to have any chance of going for the green in regulation. There’s lots of room, so feel free let it fly. Here’s a picture of the approach from the right side. If you were left, you can see that you’d have a collection of pines to deal with, potentially causing you to chip out.

Approach on the 7th hole, Canthooke Valley course, Manistee National Golf Resort

The eighth is what one would assume is a reachable par 5, at only 519 yards. The difficulty is that the green is severely uphill, and the green is two-tiered, making the approach distance very important. I’d suggest making it a three-shotter, only to ensure good placement of the shot to the green. If you’re on the wrong tier, this is an easy hole for a 3-jack.

8th hole, Canthooke Valley, Manistee National Golf and Resort

The tenth is also a par 5 that may be reachable, but if your tee shot stays on the high side of the fairway, and doesn’t trickle down to the lower-level, when you look around for a sprinkler head, you may find this one. One of my favorite sprinkler heads ever!

Just Hit It sprinkler head

Twelve is a “meaty” par 4, weighing in at 444 yards. The hole is relatively straight, but not from the direction of the tee. If you’re not playing the Blues, be sure to walk up to that tee to see the entire hole. This will help you direct your tee shot (which should brush the pines on the left.) No trouble on this hole; it’s just very long.

12th hole, Canthooke Valley golf course

The fourteenth is a favorite of the locals. If your driver is on, it is reachable, even though it weighs in at 340 yards. There is nothing wrong with playing this as a regular par 4, but if you’re feeling strong with the driver (and accurate), go for it. As long as you clear the bunker, and keep between the pines, you’ll have a chip for an approach and a potential birdie.

14th hole, Canthooke Valley course, Manistee National

The 16th is another hole where you have to be on the correct side of the fairway to have any chance of hitting the green in regulation. On this hole, aim for the right side. The fairway dips right about where you’re tee shot is going to land, but if it looks good from the tee, you’ll be fine. That should leave you about 160+ to the green. A par here is all good.

16th hole, Canthooke Valley golf course

The 17th is another all-carry par 3. It’s only 143 from the Blues, so distance isn’t the issue; control is. The green has a bunker in the front and left side, and a steep hill behind it, leaving the only bail short and right. The green isn’t too large, so anything that lands on it is a potential birdie. Easily one of the prettiest holes in Manistee County.

17th hole, Canthooke Valley golf course, Manistee National

Canthooke Valley finishes on a great risk-reward hole. This par 4 is only 324 from the tips, but you have to carry a lake, and there’s lots of trouble if you miss the fairway. For the best approach, you actually want to be on the left side of the fairway, which is hard to do. If you’re shooting a great round, use a 5 or 6-iron to the fat part of the fairway, but if you’re playing skins and it’s tied, or if there’s some money on the line, go for it. This is the perfect finishing hole, as far as I’m concerned.

Finishing hole, Canthooke Valley course, Manistee National Golf and Resort

The two courses at Manistee National are both challenging in their own ways. Cutters’ Ridge is more of a resort course, while Canthooke Valley is more of a course you could play every day (which I used to do). If you’re ever in Northwestern Michigan, I strongly suggest playing both courses at Manistee National. I have never been disappointed, and I’ll bet that you won’t be either.

Visit my Flickr page for more Canthooke Valley at Manistee National Golf and Resort pictures and photos.

Other Michigan Golf Course Reviews:

Heather Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor, Michigan
Threetops Par 3, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
Fazio Premier, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
Jones Masterpiece, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
Rick Smith Signature, Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan
The Heathlands, Onekama, Michigan
Hemlock Golf Club, Ludington, Michigan
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, Arcadia, Michigan
Arthur Hills Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
The Bear Golf Course, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, Michigan