$3,000

A rare opportunity to play this highly rated gem. You and two friends will join a member for the perfect day at Crystal Downs. Until the mid-1980s, Crystal Downs often was referred to as Michigan’s “hidden gem.” Its somewhat remote location and rather small membership kept the course out of the limelight of some of MacKenzie’s more notable designs at Augusta National, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne in Australia. That lack of notoriety changed in 1986, though, when a young Ben Crenshaw took a day off from the Buick Open to fly on a private jet to Frankfort and experience Crystal Downs with a local acquaintance. Ben went on to win that year’s Buick Open, and he followed his victory with public comments and articles about his great time at Crystal Downs and his admiration for the course design. The club’s history since that time has been followed by golf enthusiasts around the globe, and the course has been privileged to be ranked highly in numerous top 100 lists of several respected publications. In 1997, Crystal Downs became a founding club member of the Alister MacKenzie Society, an international organization purpose of which is the preservation of Dr. MacKenzie’s writings, course designs and related historical material. “Few golf experiences can compare. That low-key charm is retained by the club as they continue to make upgrades to the golf house, clubhouse and the golf course. Tom Doak is overseeing changes being made to bring the course back to its original design. Tree removal, green expansion and collar cuts have all been smartly done.” This package can be booked based on the availability of the generous Crystal Downs member. He will work with the winning bidder to find a suitable play date before the close of the 2022 golf season.