Cedar, Michigan · Traverse City & NW Michigan
Manitou Passage Golf Club
Arnold Palmer's layout around the old Sugarloaf ski hills, reworked with his blessing: steep drops, few flat lies and a glimpse of Lake Michigan.
- CedarLocation
- 1998 (as King's Challenge)Opened
About Manitou Passage Golf Club
Manitou Passage is an Arnold Palmer Signature course in Leelanau County that opened in 1998 as King's Challenge. It plays through hilly, undeveloped ground, and some holes wind around the closed Sugarloaf ski hills and their old chairlifts. GolfPass's 2010 look at the course said few holes are flat or straight: it's doglegs and sharply elevated tees, and the par-3 7th and 17th both drop steeply downhill. Club selection on those two is most of the battle.
The name comes from the view. Raising a tee opened a glimpse of Lake Michigan between Pyramid Point and South Manitou Island, the stretch of water called the Manitou Passage, and GolfPass picked the par-5 8th as the course's best view and its signature hole.
Later a group of Leelanau County golfers bought the course and set out to finish what Palmer had drawn. The owners went back to Arnold Palmer Design, which approved the changes, and the work with Peridian and Wadsworth rebuilt every tee (many farther back), widened some landing areas, redid the bunkers, cleared trees for views and planted native grasses. GolfPass put it at par 71 with five sets of tees and more than 6,700 yards from the blacks after the work.
It's one of 2 courses in Cedar on Yoink, and Sugar Loaf - The Old Course is practically next door — handy when your first choice is booked solid.
How to get a tee time at Manitou Passage Golf Club
Yoink
If Manitou Passage Golf Club looks full for the day you want, it usually isn't for long: groups drop, rounds get moved and times reopen at all hours.
Yoink checks the sheet for you. Set a watch for the date, window and group size you want, and you'll get a push notification as soon as a spot opens — then book it directly with Manitou Passage Golf Club.
- Pick Manitou Passage Golf Club in Yoink.
- Choose your day, time window and number of players.
- Get an alert when a matching tee time opens — then book it directly with the course.
Golf courses near Manitou Passage Golf Club
- Sugar Loaf - The Old Course · Cedar · 1 mi
- Bay Meadows Family Golf Course - Bay Meadows Blue Course (Executive) · Traverse City · 14 mi
- Bay Meadows Family Golf Course - Bay Meadows Green Course (Par-3) · Traverse City · 14 mi
- The Crown Golf Club · 15 mi
- Northport Creek Golf Course · Northport · 19 mi
- Interlochen Golf Course · Interlochen · 19 mi
- Elk Rapids Golf Club · Elk Rapids · 20 mi
- Crystal Lake Golf Club · Beulah · 21 mi
All 16 Traverse City & NW Michigan courses in Michigan · Michigan golf courses
Manitou Passage Golf Club FAQ
Where is Manitou Passage Golf Club?
Manitou Passage Golf Club is in Cedar, Michigan, in the Traverse City & NW Michigan area.
When did Manitou Passage Golf Club open?
Manitou Passage Golf Club opened in 1998 (as King's Challenge).
Is Manitou Passage Golf Club open to the public?
Manitou Passage Golf Club is run by Ownership group led by Bob Kuras (as of 2010).
How do I get a tee time at Manitou Passage Golf Club when it's booked up?
Set a watch for Manitou Passage Golf Club in Yoink with your date, time window and group size. Yoink monitors the course's tee sheet and alerts you the moment a matching time opens, including cancellations. You book directly with the course.
What golf courses are near Manitou Passage Golf Club?
Nearby options include Sugar Loaf - The Old Course, Bay Meadows Family Golf Course - Bay Meadows Blue Course (Executive) and Bay Meadows Family Golf Course - Bay Meadows Green Course (Par-3). Yoink watches 16 courses in the Traverse City & NW Michigan area.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these pages, checked 2026-09-28. Rates and booking rules change, so confirm with the course.
- manitoupassagegolfclub.com · official
- golfpass.com · media
Never miss a tee time at Manitou Passage Golf Club
Yoink watches the tee sheet so you don't have to. When a time you want opens up, your phone buzzes — you book direct.