Stoatin Brae golf course at Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort in southwest Michigan will open May 15 with a focus on fun.
“We’re putting the final touches on Stoatin Brea, and we’re beyond excited for the start of our first official season,” said Bill Johnson, vice-president and PGA Professional at Gull Lake View. “We want to keep Stoatin Brea affordable and playable, so the pricing will be dynamic throughout the season.”
Renaissance Golf Design designed the 18-hole course, which sits on a former apple orchard. Eric Iverson, Brian Schneider, Don Placek and Brian Slawnik worked together to design and shape the Scottish themed course.
“I believe we’ve built something very different for the market, and different than anything we’ve done before,” Iverson said. “We were entrusted with a very good piece of land and really tried to leave it alone as much as possible. Putting a golf course on that site will draw golfers to a really cool part of Southwest Michigan.”
Perched atop a treeless bluff, Stoatin Brae’s design compliments and contrasts the five existing Gull Lake View parkland courses. The creative green sights, combined with firm and fast playing conditions, make the changing winds an integral part of the design.
The resort also opened a new restaurant, Blue Stem, with casual fine dining for residents of the area and golfers. It sits atop a 200-foot ridge at one of the highest points in Kalamazoo County and adjacent to the pro shop. It will include traditional Scottish ingredients in its menu, using caraway seeds and leeks and cabbage.