There are few summer golf destinations on par with a trip to Northern Michigan. The mild weather, the quality and number of courses, the accommodations, and the waterside towns are all sensational. And while it’s hard to go wrong playing golf anywhere in Northern Michigan, you can actually do pretty well with some one-stop shopping. And that one-stop could provide you with a bucket list trip, all under one brand — BOYNE Golf.
That’s right; book a BOYNE Golf trip and you can live your golf dreams. From the Pebble Beach of the Midwest, aka Bay Harbor Golf Club, to the Donald Ross Memorial, to the Arthur Hills Course and seven more courses, you could spend a week at Boyne and never play the same one twice — unless you wanted to. In all, there are the “Magnificent Ten” golf courses and three great resorts, any one of which makes for a great base. If you’ve never been, this can be a trip of a lifetime, perfect for a group of buddies or even couples, especially if you can stay at the Inn at Bay Harbor (it doesn’t get much more romantic than that.)
We should mention here that Boyne is also one of the region’s top ski destinations in the winter. In fact, it’s the dramatic landscape of Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands that gives many of these courses much of their character. One of the resort’s original courses, the Alpine Course, starts out at one of the highest points in the region. It’s a 10-minute cart ride to the first tee — sort of like taking a ski lift to the top. Then you ride the course all the way to the bottom. It’s quite the adventure and good reminder that all the golf at Boyne is special. So if you have the time, try to play them all, or at least most of them. But where to start? That’s a difficult, but great dilemma. Let’s run through the golf options.
(Top and above) Donald Ross Memorial at BOYNE Golf
The Highlands’ great options
If you just played The Highlands courses, you’d have a sensational golf vacation unto itself. Picking a favorite is a personal choice, but we’ll go with the Donald Ross Memorial Course to start. The course is essentially a collection of Ross’ greatest hits, and in 2022, Boyne did some more exacting renovation work on it. Specifically, they went in and changed the first and 15th holes, which are tributes to the sixth hole at Seminole in Florida and 11th hole at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania. When the course was built in 1989, the technology to get exact pictures and specifications of those holes wasn’t nearly as good as it is today with Google Earth and other methods. Plus, many of these courses have been restored since, back to their original looks a century ago. BOYNE’s Ross Course is reflecting those changes and technology. Most of us, of course, will never play the originals, so this is a pretty great substitute. Other classic courses represented include Pinehurst, Oakland Hills, Inverness and Royal Dornach.
The Arthur Hills Course at The Highlands is another spectacular choice. In fact, it’s one of the legendary Michigan architects’ best works. At 7,312 yards from the back tees, it can be a beast, too, but the fairways are generous, and there are six sets of tees, starting at just over 4,800 yards. It’s a course with a lot of elevation change, none greater than the par-5 13th hole, which is more than a 30-story drop off the tee. The rest of the course is pretty picturesque as well. It’s also kept in impeccable condition, as are all the regulation courses at BOYNE Golf.
The Moor Course at The Highlands is (not a Hills design) is another gem. It’s a great test as well, playing 6,850 yards from the tips, but again, there are multiple sets of tees for every level. It features numerous doglegs, marshes and water features, and has played host to many championship events, including the American Junior Golf Association’s Coca-Cola Championship.
The Heather is another course you shouldn’t miss. Opened in 1966 and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., this was the first 18-hole golf course at BOYNE, and it has withstood the test of time. As the name would imply, there’s plenty of heather lining these plush fairways, and lots of great elevation changes, views, and terrific holes. It’s played host to great tournaments, including the Michigan state amateur (4 times), celebrity events and Michigan State Pro-Am annually. And it was named the 2019 Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association.
And if you’re looking for a quick round, especially if you want to knock it around with the kids, there’s the Cuff Links Executive Par-3 Course, located at the base of the North Camelot ski hill at The Highlands Day Lodge.
The Heather
Bay Harbor Golf Club: bucket list good
Bay Harbor Golf Club has been called the “Pebble Beach of the Midwest,” and if you play it, you’ll see why, especially on the Links nine, which is perched above Lake Michigan and Little Traverse Bay. The lake is so big, of course, that it almost looks like you’ve got Pacific Ocean views on several holes on the Links layout, one of three nines that also include the Quarry and the Preserve, all designed by Hills. Opened in 1997, the course, which is located on the edge of Petoskey, was built on a reclaimed cement plant and quarry, the latter of which becomes very evident on the Quarry Nine.
The most common combination is Links/Quarry, which was introduced to a nationwide audience in 1998 when Phil Mickelson and Tom Lehman dueled on Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf. The Links features incredible views, plus the winds that normally come off the lake make it seem like you’re playing seaside golf. Some of the holes can be visually deceptive as well, like the tee shot on the par-5 seventh, which seems to drop off into infinity into the water. Or the downhill, par-3 second, which plays shorter than its yardage, but figuring in the elevation change and wind to this sloping, shallow green, as well as the visuals of the lake and magnificent homes in the background, makes this a very memorable hole.
The Quarry nine has plenty of great sightlines as well, with several holes carved out of the rocks. The par-5s are spectacular, and the par-3 eighth is particularly stunning, with Lake Michigan as the backdrop for a green also fronted by water. And the Preserve, which is the least played of the three for resort guests, has plenty of highlights as well. The bottom line is that if you can get Bay Harbor in your package, you should do it.
Just across the street from Bay Harbor is Crooked Tree Golf Club, a roller coaster of a golf course with more Great Lake views on several holes. This former private club was originally designed by Harry Bowers in 1991, then later redesigned by Hills in 2014 after Boyne acquired the property, with additional Ray Hearn updates in 2021. Playing nearly 6,700 yards from the tips, it’s a great test of golf with some very memorable holes.
The Quarry
More great golf at BOYNE
Finally, two more courses that are certainly worth checking out are the aforementioned Alpine Course and The Monument at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls. The Alpine is a Bill Newcomb design that opened in 1972. While it may not receive as many awards as its sister courses, this is a course that shouldn’t be overlooked (no pun intended). After that long ride to the first tee, it’s just one great hole after another, many with great views off the tee, intriguing water features and lots of fun. And at more than 7,000 yards off the back tees, it can be plenty challenging as well.
The Monument, much like the Ross, is a tribute course. Except this one is dedicated to many of golf’s greatest players (and instructors). For example, the first, a 553-yard par 5, is dubbed “The Byron Nelson Hole.” Others honorees include Peggy Kirk, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones and even Jim Flick, one of the most famous instructors in golf, who spent years at Boyne.
The course, which was also designed by Newcomb, a former coach of the University of Michigan golf team, is somewhat tight with towering pines, marshes, lakes, streams and difficult greens.
The Alpine
Accommodations at BOYNE Golf
Another plus to planning a Boyne golf vacation is that there are choices for every budget and taste. You can stay at three very different resorts — The Highlands, Boyne Mountain and the Inn at Bay Harbor. Each has its own restaurants, activities and vibe.
The Highlands at Harbor Springs Resort has been undergoing recent remodeling that has brought it well into the 21st century. Summer activities there include zip lining, a pool, and hiking and biking. Boyne Mountain definitely has that ski village vibe, which is pretty cool in the summer, too. There’s a spa, great dining and a new lodge called Chalet Edelweiss, which has beautifully appointed rooms with the latest in technology and ergonomics.
And finally, it doesn’t get any better than the Inn at Bay Harbor. Located right on the water, this boutique hotel has the finest spa, restaurants and views. It harkens back to a time when life was a little slower perhaps. It embodies luxurious relaxation, which isn’t a bad way to finish your day after a round at Bay Harbor Golf Club.
Recommendation
If you’ve never played golf in Northern Michigan, you need to get there. It’s a popular driving destination for those who live in the Midwest, especially Detroit, Chicago or Milwaukee. Or you can fly into Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), which serves 17 cities with direct flights.
There are many golf options besides BOYNE Golf in Northern Michigan, but BOYNE would be a great introduction if you’ve never been. You can book a package that includes some of, if not most of the courses at Boyne, and you can’t go wrong. And, of course, you can always take in another course outside of Boyne, like the layouts at Treetops Resort, Grand Traverse or Belvedere in Charlevoix. You’ll also want to experience some of the great dining and other activities in the local towns like Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Boyne City, for example. There you will find micro-breweries, unique shops, beautiful parks and plenty of great scenery. It all makes for an unforgettable golf vacation.
Bay Harbor