
The Venues · 2026
Cedar River GC
"...a pleasure to play and a beauty to experience."
Tom Weiskopf · Est. 1999
About the Course
Cedar River is Tom Weiskopf's Northern Michigan masterpiece — a routing carved through glacial terrain, hardwoods, and wetlands along the actual Cedar River, with every shot framed by the landscape rather than by manufactured features.
Opened in 1999, Cedar River was Weiskopf's first design at Shanty Creek and has consistently ranked among the country's best resort courses. The site is a former glacial valley, and Weiskopf used the natural movement of the land — sweeping fairways, perched greens, and quiet wetland transitions — instead of forcing big earth-moving features onto it.
Cedar River is a strategic course, not a target course. Fairways are generous, but the angles into the greens reward keeping the ball on the proper side of the hole. The greens themselves are large and rolling, with subtle internal tiers that can leave a 40-foot two-putt if you miss the section.
From the White tees the course measures approximately 6,229 yards to a par of 72. The closing stretch is among the strongest at Shanty Creek and includes the iconic 18th — a long par 5 with the green tucked behind a pond.
What to Expect
Strategic, Not Penal
Wide fairways and visible hazards reward thinking your way around. Hit it to the right side, leave the right angle, and the greens open up.
Big Rolling Greens
Putting surfaces are some of the largest at the resort. Hitting the green is half the battle — being on the correct tier is the other half.
Glacial Terrain
Sweeping elevation changes and natural movement of the land give nearly every hole its own personality and aim point.
Cedar River Itself
The river and its wetlands border several holes. Bail-outs exist on almost every shot, but bringing your A-game off the tee opens the course up.
Signature Hole
No. 18 — Par 5
A long, three-shot par 5 finishing into the prevailing wind with a pond fronting the green. Lay back, leave a comfortable wedge yardage, and let par or birdie come to you on the closing hole.
Accolades
- Among Golf Week's "America's Top 100 Resort Courses"
- Listed in Rolex's "Top 1,000 Courses in the World"
- Among Michigan's Top 20 Public Courses by Golf Magazine
| Tee | Rating (M / W) | Slope (M / W) |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 74.0 | 138 |
| Blue | 71.7 / 77.9 | 134 / 144 |
| Blue/White | 70.5 / 76.5 | 131 / 141 |
| WhiteIn play | 69.4 / 75.0 | 127 / 138 |
| White/Silver | 67.9 / 73.4 | 124 / 133 |
| Silver | 66.6 / 71.5 | 120 / 128 |
| Red | 66.0 / 70.7 | 117 / 126 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Tot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 458 | 396 | 582 | 190 | 451 | 357 | 425 | 202 | 559 | 3620 | 532 | 211 | 465 | 302 | 162 | 519 | 401 | 184 | 605 | 3381 | 7001 |
| Blue | 427 | 372 | 553 | 170 | 425 | 341 | 383 | 176 | 537 | 3384 | 510 | 189 | 421 | 290 | 157 | 490 | 375 | 164 | 581 | 3177 | 6561 |
| Blue/White | 388 | 372 | 553 | 148 | 397 | 341 | 363 | 149 | 537 | 3248 | 510 | 156 | 391 | 290 | 157 | 490 | 343 | 147 | 581 | 3065 | 6313 |
| White | 388 | 350 | 508 | 148 | 397 | 325 | 363 | 149 | 495 | 3123 | 474 | 156 | 391 | 278 | 142 | 455 | 343 | 147 | 518 | 2904 | 6027 |
| White/Silver | 338 | 333 | 508 | 125 | 355 | 325 | 363 | 126 | 495 | 2968 | 474 | 133 | 357 | 278 | 133 | 455 | 308 | 118 | 518 | 2774 | 5742 |
| Silver | 338 | 333 | 440 | 125 | 355 | 273 | 320 | 126 | 444 | 2754 | 441 | 133 | 357 | 266 | 133 | 396 | 308 | 118 | 495 | 2647 | 5401 |
| Red | 328 | 327 | 435 | 121 | 347 | 269 | 316 | 114 | 433 | 2690 | 432 | 127 | 350 | 254 | 128 | 391 | 303 | 114 | 479 | 2578 | 5268 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| HCP | 7 | 11 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 4 |
Course details courtesy of Shanty Creek Resort.

