Coyote Preserve

Coyote Preserve Michigan – A Steal of a Deal!

By Dave Finn

It has been well documented that the economy in parts of Michigan has been weakened by the downturn in the North American auto industry. And Flint, home of the Buick, is no exception. But, for us out-of-state golfers, it means that great golf can be had at a fraction of the price of what we would pay back home.

One of them is Coyote Preserve. What a gem! It’s an Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course that has been rated one of the “top 10 public golf courses in Michigan” by a leading US golf magazine. And, it’s no wonder! My first thought was how pristine this course was and how scenic the holes were. The greens were large and undulating but rolled very true.

For only $30.00 USD including cart (because we are older and wiser, and played after 2:00 pm on a weekday), we were treated to one of the most scenic and picturesque “Up North Feel” (as they like to say) courses that we have ever played. This challenging layout offers plenty of elevation changes, with water on all but four holes and greens that roll beautifully. So bring out your “A” game because, from the blue tees, this course measures only 6,580 yards (black is 6,912) but has a slope of 132 and a course rating of 73.3.

Fortunately, Palmer was given an ideal 400-acre piece of property to work with, and he used it to his advantage and kept a lot of area untouched to retain its natural beauty. This course feels like you are playing in Northern Michigan or Northern Ontario, but you are just off US 23, only minutes south of Flint.

I’m not sure what impressed me the most—the scenery (including two herons), the challenge, the condition of the course or the price—but Coyote Preserve is definitely on my “have to play list.”

To read more about golf near Flint Michigan visit Dave’s Golf Travel and Leisure website.