Pondering the natural scenic splendor of northern Michigan, I’m reminded of a standout line from an early season of Mad Men: “You have everything…and so much of it.” From mile after mile of beautiful Lake Michigan coastline to towering sand dunes, from idyllic small towns to deep hardwood forests, from vast serene lakes and meandering rivers to breathtaking elevations and long summer days, northern Michigan is as uncannily pure as they say.
With 10 acclaimed golf courses sprawling across three separate and distinctive resort properties, the folks at BOYNE Golf have been curating their destination in northern Michigan for more than 50 years. You can’t go wrong putting your next golf trip in their hands and getting there has never been easier.
Inn at Bay Harbor
Once you lay eyes on the red-roofed Victorian-style Inn at Bay Harbor near Petoskey and the beaming shoreline it sits next to, you start to get what those who dubbed the property “The Pebble Beach of the Midwest” were fussing about. The Inn at Bay Harbor is a Marriot Autograph Resort and features 116 guest rooms and suites and 35 two- and three-bedroom cottages at the Lakeside Cottages and Cottages at Crooked Tree. All provide views of the area’s famous million-dollar sunsets.
Hole 3
Bay Harbor Golf Club
The club offers 27 dazzling holes designed by Arthur Hills that are played in three 18-hole combinations (Links/Quarry, Quarry/Preserve and Preserve/Links). Bay Harbor’s Links/Quarry routing has been a staple on Golf Digest’s biannual list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. The Preserve is the “sleeper.” It winds extensively through a hardwood forest, just a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan. Across the street, scenic 18-hole Crooked Tree Golf Club delivers great golf plus stellar panoramic views of Lake Michigan.
Hole 3
The Highlands
The Highlands sits just 15 miles north of Bay Harbor and resembles a Scottish country estate. It’s a multi-course template many resorts have replicated. With four courses, The Highlands is perfectly suited for golf buddies’ trips. The timeless parkland allure of The Heather (the original BOYNE Golf course by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1966) and the natural beauty of the Arthur Hills course, which features a 30 story drop from tee-to-green at the par-5 13th, stand tall as must-plays on a visit to northern Michigan. In 2019 The Heather was named the National Golf Course Owners Association’s Golf Course of the Year.
Arthur Hills Course
13th Hole
The Donald Ross Memorial is an extremely well-executed tribute course comprised of holes inspired by famous Ross designs that have hosted three Ryder Cups, eight U.S. Amateurs, 11 PGA Championships and 14 U.S. Opens. The Moor course has recently undergone subtle but significant updates to improve approach angles and allow for additional shot selection choices around the greens.
Boyne Mountain Resort
Just south of Petoskey, Boyne Mountain Resort’s 4,500+ acres offer a variety of accommodations and two outstanding courses that offer tremendous views of nearby Deer Lake. The Monument and The Alpine both zigzag through tree-lined hills before winding down to tamer, rolling terrain. Both courses begin with a scenic 10-minute cart ride up a ski hill to their respective first tees.
Alpine Course
15the Hole
BOYNE Golf
BOYNE Golf meets all the requirements for a great golf vacation and has been recognized by FORBES.com as one of the Best Golf Resorts in America, along with Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, Whistling Straights, Kapalua, and Pinehurst.
Getting There
Golfers looking to fly into northern Michigan can access Traverse City (TVC) via Delta, United, American, and Allegiant with direct service from 17 major U.S. cities. Private planes can also land directly at Boyne Mountain’s 5200’ private airstrip that has recently undergone a four million dollar upgrade.
For more information on BOYNE Golf and to plan your summer golf adventure, visit www.BOYNEgolf.com or call 855.428.7447.
