Escaping for a weekend getaway to play some golf was what was on our minds. What we encountered at the Double JJ was an extraordinary, women-friendly golf course beyond what we had imagined.

Lining up and hoping for a tremendous drive, Mary Alice keeps her eye on the ball at the tee at the Thoroughbred.
Located in Western Michigan 20 miles north of Muskegon in the town of Rothbury is a unique venue named the Double JJ Ranch & Resort. With a combination of ranch facilities and golf, it is a one-of-a-kind destination in the Midwest.

Last September four of us‹all women golfers‹traveled the easy three hours by car from the Chicago area to the Double JJ to enjoy the offerings at the Thoroughbred Golf Course. Even though I find the word "awesome" incredibly overused, that's what the Thoroughbred Golf Course is‹awesomely beautiful.

Driving our golf carts through tall pine forests from green to tee, we never knew what vista was awaiting us. We were mesmerized by the majesty of the towering pines lining the sloping fairways and surrounding some of the greens in a cathedral-like setting.

Created by golf course architect Arthur Hills, the Thoroughbred is only 11 years old. Hills' philosophy is to work with and keep the natural features of the landscape in his golf course designs.

Carved out of the beautiful Michigan countryside with its great elevation changes, cranberry bogs, wetlands and majestic pine forests, golf at the Thoroughbred is an amazing experience for anyone who enjoys the game.

With four sets of tees from championship to the ladies' tees, golfers have a choice to test their ability. The forward tees at 4,851 yards make this a women-friendly 18-holes. Though challenging from first drive to last putt, the Thoroughbred makes for a fun and very playable round.

The Double JJ started out as a dude ranch but has become much more. Owned by Joan and Bob Lipsitz, the Double JJ is a resort that is a combination dude ranch, Back Forty ranch and the Thoroughbred Golf Course. At certain times of the year the dude ranch is an "adults only" getaway from the kids, TV, phones‹all the things that sometimes you just need to get some space from. The dude ranch is an adventure vacation for adults. On the other hand, the Back Forty is for families with its water slide, log roll and 0-depth pool for the real little ones. The activities are endless with child care available and a 24-hour kids-exclusive program with counselors in which kids can sleep in cabins, teepees or Conestoga wagons.

Open year round, there are five different choices of lodging, one being the Thoroughbred Loft Hotel, which is where we stayed. A stop sign leading to a main road from our hotel in the complex doesn't say "STOP"; it says "WHOA".

Because it's also a dude ranch the Thoroughbred may be the only 18 holes in the Midwest, if not the entire country, where golfers are reminded that horses have the right of way on the course.

Stopping at the turn for breakfast, lunch or a snack was a pleasure. Located outside the Pro Shop one can enjoy a sandwich and a drink at the Thoroughbred Waterin' Hole Bar & Grill. At our request, Betsy, the cook and manager at the Waterin' Hole, made us some great egg and cheese muffins for breakfast (better than what we get at fast food places). Sitting on stools resembling the backsides of horses complete with tails, we enjoyed the camaraderie with others at the Waterin' Hole. That's where we learned from Ty Love, the golf pro, that Arthur Hills first drew his architectural design for the Thoroughbred on a napkin. For dinners and Sunday brunch, we savored the ambiance of the Sundance Saloon and Steakhouse. With its tall windows overlooking the 7th green, it's a terrific view while you're dining on a great meal. Over the weekend we feasted on "Steer" burgers, "Hook & Line" salmon and a wide variety of delicious choices at the Sundance Steakhouse Sunday brunch.

The Pro Shop is well stocked and we all left a few bucks there. They have a great selection of golf apparel and other golf paraphernalia. In one corner of the shop we found a very charming display of golf merchandise for children. The miniature golf shoes were precious‹expensive and frivolous we thought, but really adorable to look at. Double JJ Ranch & Resort has many, many package deals, whatever your interest. From golf packages to romantic getaways to deer widows weekend, the best way to see all they have to offer is to go to the website: www.doublejj.com.

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