After laying hidden for almost 100 Years, William Watson’s original drawings spurred a walk back in time for golf aficionados. After 95 years, with the genius of William Watson having resurfaced, the decision was quickly made to begin a restoration that would restore much of what had been lost over the decades.
Historic Belvedere Golf Club, which has hosted an annual Society of Hickory Golfers major championship since 2006, was selected to host the major among hickory majors – the U.S. Hickory Open in 2019. The U.S. Hickory Open annually attracts an international field of golfers who play with authentic pre-1935 hickory shafted golf clubs or can also play replica hickory clubs.
Members of the Belvedere Club, a summer home association of 91 cottages nestled between Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix, decided their existing social club needed a golf course. The group hired renowned Scottish architect William Watson to design a golf course “worthy of national reputation” and he delivered. Watson’s resume includes such great designs as The Interlachen in Minneapolis, Harding Park and Olympic Club in San Francisco, Olympia Fields in Chicago along with over 115 other courses.
Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix, MI, feels like a step back in time. The charming classic course plays host to No Laying Up and features the match-up of Tron (1-0) vs. Neil (2-0).