One destination, 10 golf courses. If that’s all you knew about BOYNE Golf then it should be enough to at least get you curious about this Michigan legend, but we’re happy to report that the more you get to know about this property, the better it gets.
BOYNE Golf is anchored by three major resort hubs with the Inn at Bay Harbor, Boyne Highlands Resort, and Boyne Mountain Resort. Each of these resorts has their own unique and distinctive style, but more importantly they are all conveniently located within a short drive of each other. You can easily play any combination of all 10 courses onsite during your visit regardless of which resort you use as the base camp of your stay.
The Golf
With 10 golf courses to choose from, you’ll have no shortage of new and unique experiences to enjoy during your visit to BOYNE. The great thing is that the furthest you’d ever have to drive from between courses is about 40 minutes, but the majority of the courses can be found in clusters adjacent to the main three resort properties. Golfers will have epic golf adjacent to their resort of choice, regardless of which property you choose. The great news here is that you really can’t go wrong at any of the courses, and most guests who visit once quickly plan a return trip to experience any courses they might have missed on their first vacation.
Boyne Highlands Resort: Four courses and an executive course
The Heather: This Robert Trent Jones, Sr., design has been highly recognized as one of the finest courses in the country, including being named the 2018 Michigan Golf Course Association Course of the Year and the 2019 National Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year. That’s some high praise from people who are in the know, and rightfully so as this intriguing design features tree-lined fairways with doglegs throughout placing a premium on strategy over power. The course is manicured to perfection, and the greens roll fast and true and vary in size depending on the length and challenge of the hole providing you with a great variety during an exceptionally enjoyable round of golf.
Arthur Hills: This course has it all from mountain views, tree-lined wall backdrops like you’ve never seen before, and elevation changes that will leave your jaw on the floor. No hole better highlights these elevation changes than the 13th hole, a 570-yard par-5 that feels like you are teeing off from the top of a Boyne ski slope down to an ample fairway, giving you a vista of thousands of acres of Michigan terrain that is second to none.
Donald Ross Memorial: In a unique design that pays homage to one of the game’s best architects, the Donald Ross Memorial course comprises 18 holes that are replicas from Ross’ top designs giving you the ultimate “greatest hits” of holes in one round of golf. Replica holes include designs from the likes of Seminole Golf Club, Oakland Hills Country Club, Pinehurst #2, Oak Hill, and Royal Dornoch, so needless to say this course is a cornucopia of design perfection.
The Moor: Known as a player’s golf course, The Moor is a favorite of the members at BOYNE Golf as this course features numerous twists and turns and favors those who like to move the ball from left to right. Our favorite hole here is the “S” shaped 18th hole that is a par-5 that features water, ample bunkering by the green, wetlands, and a double-dogleg design all in one hole to keep you on your toes as you end your round on this championship design.
Cuff Links Executive Par 3: Free… a word that any golfer loves to hear. The Cuff Links Executive Par 3 course is free to all guests and this fun design is located on the backside of the resort at the base of the North Camelot ski hill. The Cuff Links serves as a great place for families looking for a relaxed environment to enjoy a few holes of golf on the house.
Inn at Bay Harbor: Four courses
Bay Harbor Golf Club — The Quarry: Bay Harbor Golf Club is highlighted by three different 9-hole routings, and we’ll start with The Quarry nine as this unique routing combines having holes move through an abandoned quarry, creating an incredible location for a phenomenal design. The course features holes that play down into the natural land formations of the quarry providing you with epic backdrops of rock walls and dramatic elevation changes that will have you captivated throughout your round. As if that wasn’t enough, you emerge from the quarry and finish with the 8th hole that is a par-3 that is surrounded by Lake Michigan and then the signature par-4 9th hole that features a blind tee shot and a downhill approach to a skinny green that runs along the lake that will take your breath away.
Bay Harbor Golf Club — The Links: As the name denotes, The Links course at Bay Harbor Golf Club features a multitude of holes along the shores of Lake Michigan and the links-style design will give you the feels that you are thousands of miles “across the pond” in Scotland instead of the shores of northern Michigan. The course is highlighted by magnificent vistas from start to finish, but don’t let that distract you as you’ll need all of your mettle to make your way around this difficult design and the blustery winds coming off of Lake Michigan. We particularly love Nos. 3 and 4, where the 3rd is a short par-4 that requires a well-placed tee shot where an iron should suffice to a downhill green surrounded by the Lake, ample bunkering, and typically strong winds off the water. The 4th is a downhill par-3 to a wide, but thin, green that leaves no room for error as Lake Michigan looms to the left, a wall of trees that lead down to an unplayable area await you long, and a deep bunker sits to the right. So be sure to select the right club here and trust your number on this beautiful hole.
Bay Harbor Golf Club — The Preserve: Designed by Arthur Hills to highlight the nature of northern Michigan and create a natural feel, The Preserve course at Bay Harbor Golf Club is the most tranquil nine on property. Here the course blends perfectly into nature allowing you to enjoy the peaceful nature of the area as the trees play a much more active role in your round here as you enjoy a stroll around this wonderful routing.
Crooked Tree Golf Club: Located a short distance away from Bay Harbor Golf Club is another Arthur Hills-designed gem called Crooked Tree Golf Club. This course is located slightly off the coast, but it was planned this way to provide you with a classic design that still gives you panoramic views of Lake Michigan to give you the best of both worlds on this championship layout.
Boyne Mountain: Two courses
The Alpine: Not too many rounds start off with a mile drive to get you up to the first tee, but that drive is well worth it. Both courses at Boyne Mountain bring you to the top of the mountain and allow you to play your way down, giving you spectacular views of nearby Deer Lake to enjoy throughout your round. The Alpine course provides you with myriad challenges, including a multitude of water hazards, tree-lined fairways and backdrops that will require you to think your way around this fun design.
The Monument: The Monument at Boyne Mountain serves as an homage to a number of the best golf course architects as the holes were created with the influence of design philosophies from the likes of Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Pete Dye, George Fazio, and Dr. Alister Mackenzie. The result is a round that begins from the top of the mountain and makes its way to a finish on an island green giving you the perfect combination of design and décor that all golfers are sure to love.
The Resorts
With three main resort hubs at BOYNE Golf, golfers are provided with a multitude of options and price points that can cater to any group size and budget in order to create the ultimate Michigan golf getaway. The resorts are all about 20 minutes apart with Boyne Highlands Resort being the furthest to the north, Inn at Bay Harbor in the middle, and Boyne Mountain being the furthest south.
Boyne Highlands Resort
Boyne Highlands Resort serves as the main host location for many golf trips, and rightfully so as this ivy-covered property that is reminiscent of an English country estate features ski slopes in the background and provides you with that Michigan feel that you’ve been looking for during your golf getaway. The team at Boyne is committed to continuing to improve the experience for their guests, and they are currently in the process of updating the main lodge at Boyne Highlands into a high-end boutique hotel. Currently, there are about 75 rooms completed and the entire process should be completed around 2023. To learn more about this spectacular property, visit boynegolf.com/resorts today.
Inn at Bay Harbor
The definition of luxury in the BOYNE Golf portfolio, Inn at Bay Harbor gives golfers the perfect combination of views of Lake Michigan, upscale accommodations, exquisite dining, and an array of activities that range from hiking to waterfront amenities that even the most discerning guest is sure to love. Visit boynegolf.com/resorts to inquire about using the Inn at Bay Harbor as your BOYNE Golf vacation hub.
Boyne Mountain Resort
Boyne Mountain Resort provides golfers with the largest array of lodging options for your golf getaway that range in size and amenities to fit any golf group’s budget needs. This property features a variety of additional outdoor activities for guests including a Zipline Adventure Tour, horseback riding, kayaking, hiking trails, Avalanche Bay-Michigan’s largest Indoor Waterpark, and much more. Visit boynegolf.com/resorts to see all that Boyne Mountain Resort has to offer.
How to get there
BOYNE Golf’s location has always provided easy driving access to Midwest golfers. Fortunately golfers from all over the United States can enjoy these great courses since Delta, American Airlines, United Airlines, or Allegiant provide direct flight access into nearby Traverse City from 17 major U.S. destinations.
Recommendation
BOYNE Golf is the kind of resort that you visit year after year, bringing generation after generation to enjoy the best that northern Michigan has to offer. The golf here is all-world, and with 10 courses to choose from and three main resort hubs BOYNE Golf can create a golf trip for any and all budgets, as well as any group size, which makes it a must-play for any golfer who enjoys our great game. We also love the versatility of the property as it is perfect for buddies or girls’ trips, family trips, couples’ trips, and basically any combination of people who want to enjoy top-notch golf and first-class accommodations.
If you’re going for the first time, we suggest playing at least one round at Bay Harbor Golf Club, The Heather, Arthur Hills, and the Donald Ross Memorial. If you can’t fit all of these into one trip, then that will give you the perfect excuse to come back and visit again.
We believe in this property so much that we’ll provide a limited number of golfers with the opportunity for us to fund some, or possibly even all, for your trip here! Reach out to us at groups@golfstayandplays.com and mention BOYNE Golf in the comments to learn more.
BOYNE Golf is what golf in Michigan is all about, and we hope you take the time to explore their incredible resorts.