A Variety of Golf at Its Finest: BOYNE Golf

Whether it’s words from a pastor, a friend, or even my wife, I’m reminded now and then that some of the best things in life are right in front of us—we just don’t always notice.

That got me thinking about what the golfing equivalent might be, and the answer came quickly: BOYNE Golf.

Northern Michigan has long been a destination, but the scope of BOYNE Golf continues to surprise people. Each of the past three years, Boyne Resorts has welcomed golfers from all 48 contiguous states. “People from all over the nation come here to golf, by flying in or making day-long drives because it’s so good,” said Ken Griffin, Boyne’s Director of Golf Marketing. In part, this expansion has been fueled by the addition of direct flights into nearby Traverse City from 22 airports across the U.S.

That statement is backed up by more than just word of mouth. Months ago, BOYNE Golf was named the No. 1 Golf Destination in the U.S. by USA Today readers as part of its 10BEST Golf Getaway rankings. The Highlands also finished No. 2 among Golf Resorts. Then in 2025, the International Association of Golf Tourism Operators named BOYNE Golf the Resort Destination of the Year for North America.

At the heart of that recognition is Bay Harbor Golf Club, home to 27 holes across the Links, Quarry, and Preserve courses, all designed by Arthur Hills. Opened between 1996 and 1997, Bay Harbor delivers variety few places can match—open links golf along Lake Michigan bluffs, holes routed through a former rock quarry, and others winding through northern hardwoods. Nearby Crooked Tree Golf Club, perched above Little Traverse Bay, completes an experience many have nicknamed the “Pebble Beach of the Midwest.”

Two holes on the Links course stand out immediately. The par-4 third offers the first wide-open look at Lake Michigan and Bay Harbor Village. Playing right adds distance to the approach, while going left leaves a shot slightly uphill—either way, the massive front bunker is always waiting. Then there’s the iconic seventh, a par-5 that stretches along a cliff high above the lake. It seems to go on forever, but it’s a beautiful journey.

I’ve known Griffin for nearly a decade, and he’s not one to overreact to a single ranking. “But when you keep showing up in the top three, it’s not just one opinion,” he said. “More than one person thinks it’s okay.”

Michigan native and PGA TOUR winner Ryan Brehm agrees. A Korn Ferry Tour multi-time winner, Brehm has spent years playing and vacationing at Boyne.

“I’m reminded of some of my favorite memories with family and friends during the numerous events and vacations that brought me to Boyne,” Brehm shared. “Too many to share—and some I shouldn’t share publicly! As I travel playing tour golf, Boyne is always at the top of my recommendations. It’s truly God’s country.”

The Best Golf Variety in America

When golfers question rankings or ask why Boyne belongs in the same conversation as Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst, or Whistling Straits, the answer goes beyond course quality—it’s variety.

Long daylight hours and mild summer temperatures help, but no destination in the country matches Boyne’s diversity of terrain. Pinehurst is iconic, but its courses share a similar landscape of pine forests and sand. Bandon Dunes is spectacular, but the terrain and views are the same. Boyne offers something different on nearly every course.

That includes lakeshore holes along Lake Michigan at Bay Harbor, mountain golf with dramatic elevation changes at Boyne Mountain, and The Heather at The Highlands—routed through a former blueberry bog and now celebrating its 60th season as the course that launched championship golf in Northern Michigan. There’s also the Quarry Course, carved into a 150-year-old shale and limestone quarry, and the Arthur Hills Course, featuring a nine-mile cart path, massive elevation drops, and views of 4,000 acres of untouched forest without a building in sight.

“I love the variety Boyne provides,” Brehm said. “You have shoreline holes along Lake Michigan and tree-lined holes where wildlife and nature are front and center. It’s a testament to the different architects who brought their own vision to the property.”

Brehm’s connection to Boyne runs deep. “I remember playing AJGA events as a junior, the Michigan Amateur, the Tournament of Champions—along with countless rounds with family and friends,” he said.

BOYNE Golf regularly hosts elite competitions on the same courses available to the public, including the Michigan Amateur, State Pro-Am, and AJGA events. In 2026, the Great Lakes Championship for the LPGA Epson Tour returns for the second time. With 11 courses, the resort can host these events while keeping public play uninterrupted.

“We get more social media engagement during AJGA events than anything else all year,” Griffin said. “It exposes us nationally and connects with golf families.”

Consistency across courses is another advantage. One agronomy team oversees all properties, with green speeds measured weekly and adjusted to ensure a consistent putting experience—even when slopes vary.

What’s New

The Donald Ross Memorial Course at The Highlands has undergone updates over the past several years, with six holes completed and all 18 reopening fully in 2026. Improved technology allowed Boyne to more accurately recreate Ross’s classic designs, replacing older methods that relied on limited blueprints and Polaroid photos.

This also marks the first full season of Doon Brae, a new short course built along the ski hill at The Highlands. And at Bay Harbor, the Inn at Bay Harbor is now fully under the Boyne Resorts umbrella, rather than a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel, allowing for expanded golf packages.

Going Off Course

Boyne encourages guests to explore beyond the resort. Mackinac Island is less than an hour away, Lake Michigan towns are even closer, and the region features 14 wineries, three distilleries, a thriving craft beer scene, and hundreds of restaurants in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and Boyne City.

As a media member, I’ve visited many golf resorts that offer great golf and little else. “Here, you’re never more than seven miles from a lakeshore town,” Griffin said. “We think the local hospitality of Northern Michigan is second to none. We want people to experience it.”

He’s right. The warmth of the local communities is part of the experience. “You can return to Boyne time after time,” Griffin said, “and have whatever experience you want. Golf is the consistent—but everything else can be different every time.”

www.Boyne.com | 844-884-4374