Michigan's golf scene hits different than your typical Florida or Arizona trip. With over 650 public courses scattered across two peninsulas, you'll find everything from windswept links perched above Lake Michigan to granite-lined fairways in the Upper Peninsula wilderness. Trust me, these courses justify burning those vacation days… and maybe calling in "sick" for that Monday round.
The showstoppers that'll ruin other courses for you
Let's start with the heavy hitters. These are the courses that make your regular Saturday morning track feel like a pitch-and-putt.
Arcadia Bluffs delivers Michigan's best Pebble Beach impression
Sitting 225 feet above Lake Michigan with 3,100 feet of shoreline, Arcadia Bluffs makes you question why you ever thought inland golf was acceptable. Warren Henderson and Rick Smith created this links masterpiece in 1999, and Golf Digest promptly ranked it 17th among America's 100 Greatest Public Courses.
The stretch from holes 10 through 13 will have you reaching for your camera more than your golf ball. The downhill par-5 11th literally plunges through a canyon toward a green that seems to hover above the lake. It's the kind of hole where you'll gladly pay the peak season fees of $195-220 just to stand on that tee box.
The Lodge at Arcadia Bluffs offers 15 luxury rooms overlooking the course, which means you can stumble directly from the 19th hole to your bed. Book through their official website and pray for good weather.
Crystal Downs makes grown golfers cry (in the best way)
Here's the thing about Crystal Downs Country Club near Frankfort: it's technically private, but it's so good I have to mention it. Alister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell teamed up in 1927 to create what Golf Digest calls Michigan's #1 course and America's 15th best overall.
The greens here are legitimately insane. They're so severe that the maintenance crew keeps them below 10.5 on the stimpmeter just so balls don't roll off into Lake Michigan. The 353-yard 5th hole, with its kidney-shaped green, ranks among MacKenzie's finest work anywhere in the world.
Since it's private, your best bet is networking with members or contacting the golf professional about guest opportunities. Yes, it's worth the effort. No, you won't regret it.
Forest Dunes changes how you think about golf course design
Forest Dunes in Roscommon offers two completely different golf experiences that'll mess with your head in the best possible way. Tom Weiskopf's original 2002 course transitions from dense forest to dramatic sand dunes, creating constant "how is this the same property?" moments.
But the real mind-bender is Tom Doak's 2016 creation, The Loop. It's North America's only truly reversible golf course. Here's how it works:
- Same 18 greens serve 36 different holes
- Plays clockwise (Black Course) one day
- Plays counterclockwise (Red Course) the next
- Completely different strategy each direction
- Your brain explodes trying to process it
All three layouts rank in Golf Digest's top 100 public courses. The Lake AuSable Lodge sits 35 yards from the first tee, with stay-and-play packages starting around $300 per night. Check their website for packages.
Upper Peninsula gems worth the extra miles
The UP requires commitment. We're talking serious windshield time or small airport connections. But these courses make the journey worthwhile.
Greywalls turns ancient rock into golf art
Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club consistently ranks as Michigan's top public course, and one look tells you why. Mike DeVries incorporated billion-year-old granite outcroppings from the Canadian Shield into his 2005 design, creating holes that look like they were carved by glaciers, not bulldozers.
The uphill par-3 6th hole will stop you in your tracks. Massive rock walls frame the green like a natural amphitheater. Add in 200 feet of elevation change and panoramic Lake Superior views, and your $220 peak season green fee starts feeling like a bargain.
The course plays firm and fast, rewarding creative shot-making over pure power. Stay at the historic Landmark Inn in downtown Marquette for the full UP experience.
Island Resort proves casinos and golf mix perfectly
Island Resort near Harris gives you a convenient UP base with both Sweetgrass and Sage Run on property. Sweetgrass earned 2022 National Golf Course of the Year honors, featuring template greens including Redan and Biarritz designs that'll test your short game creativity.
The newer Sage Run provides prairie links contrast and regularly hosts NCAA Division I tournaments. At $85 including cart for either course, it's arguably Michigan's best golf value. The resort's 454 rooms and casino mean you've got evening entertainment sorted after your round.
TimberStone brings mountain golf to the Midwest
TimberStone at Pine Mountain Resort in Iron Mountain holds Golf Digest's rare 5-star rating, and Jerry Matthews's 1997 design earns every star. Built on ski resort terrain, the elevation changes here are legit.
The downhill par-3 17th offers the kind of view that makes you forget you're in Michigan, not Colorado. The 625-yard finishing hole plays at least 50 yards shorter thanks to the elevation drop, turning a potential slog into a thrilling closer. Summer rates run $139, with lodging available at Pine Mountain Resort.
Championship venues and historic tracks
Some courses transcend typical golf categories. These are the venues where history happened and continues to happen.
Oakland Hills: Where champions are crowned
Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills has hosted more major championships than almost any American course. Donald Ross's 1918 South Course recently got the full Gil Hanse restoration treatment, preparing it for U.S. Opens in 2034 and 2051.
Ben Hogan famously called it "The Monster" after winning the 1951 U.S. Open here. The course has seen six U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships, with a trophy case that reads like a who's who of golf legends.
It's private, but the historical significance makes it worth pursuing guest opportunities through members. Check their club website for more information about the restoration and history.
Harbor Shores brings Nicklaus design to Lake Michigan
Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor stands as Jack Nicklaus's only signature course on Lake Michigan. Built on a former brownfield site, it's an environmental success story that also happens to be 2024 Michigan Golf Course of the Year.
The course has hosted the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship five times since 2012, proving it can handle the world's best players. The routing takes you through four distinct environments:
- Inland meadows
- Sand dunes
- Dense woodlands
- Paw Paw River corridor
The 10,000-square-foot green at the par-5 10th hole showcases Nicklaus's go-big-or-go-home design philosophy. Located just 90 minutes from Chicago, Harbor Shores Resort offers 92 rooms with green fees ranging $90-170. Book through their website.
Bay Harbor offers 27 holes of pure variety
Bay Harbor Golf Club near Petoskey ranks 77th among America's public courses, and Arthur Hills gave golfers 27 holes across three completely different terrains. Each nine has its own personality:
The Links nine runs along Lake Michigan bluffs with views that'll make you forget about your score. The Quarry nine plays through 40-foot shale walls that look like something from a video game. The Preserve nine winds through hardwood forest, offering a completely different challenge.
Green fees range from $99-199 depending on season and time. The Inn at Bay Harbor provides upscale lakeside accommodations just minutes from the first tee. Visit their website for package deals.
Hidden gems that locals don't want you to know about
Every golf destination has its secret spots. Here are Michigan's best-kept secrets that offer incredible golf without the crazy prices or crowds.
American Dunes turns golf into giving back
American Dunes in Grand Haven might be the most meaningful round you'll ever play. This Jack Nicklaus redesign donates 100% of profits to the Folds of Honor Foundation, supporting military families.
Memorial plaques on every tee honor fallen veterans, while daily reveille and retreat ceremonies remind you there's more to life than breaking 80. The course itself is no charity case either… Nicklaus created dramatic dune landscapes that challenge without overwhelming.
Peak season rounds cost $150, with discounts for military and first responders. Book through their website and feel good about every dollar spent.
Black Lake delivers Rees Jones excellence without the crowds
Black Lake Golf Club near Onaway ranks 69th among America's public courses, yet most Michigan golfers have never heard of it. Rees Jones utilized cranberry bogs and sand quarries throughout the design, creating constant risk-reward decisions.
At $110 midweek rates, it's also a Golf Digest "top value" pick. The UAW Black Lake Conference Center provides Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired lodging that feels more like an architecture tour than a golf hotel.
University of Michigan offers rare public MacKenzie access
The University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor gives weekend hackers a chance to play an authentic Alister MacKenzie design. It's one of only six MacKenzie courses in America where you don't need a member sponsor or trust fund.
MacKenzie's wild green contours remain intact, including the boomerang-shaped 6th green that made Sports Illustrated's "MacKenzie Dream 18." Limited public packages recently became available for $125-150, giving you bragging rights at a fraction of private club costs.
Shepherd's Hollow brings Up North vibes to Detroit
Shepherd's Hollow in Clarkston feels like someone transported a Northern Michigan course 30 miles from Detroit. Arthur Hills used dramatic elevation changes and 70-foot pines to create a layout that spent years on Golf Digest's top 100 public list.
The routing from holes 10-27 provides the preferred 18-hole experience (yes, it's one of those weird 27-hole facilities). At $75-85, it's the best "Pure Michigan" golf experience you'll find near the Motor City. Their website has online booking.
Resort golf for the ultimate buddy trip
Sometimes you want the full resort experience: multiple courses, on-site lodging, and a 19th hole that turns into the 25th hole.
Treetops Resort in Gaylord
Treetops Resort offers 81 holes across five courses designed by legends like Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Tom Fazio. The crown jewel is Threetops, America's top par-3 course where Lee Trevino once made a million-dollar ace during ESPN's Par-3 Shootout.
With 238 renovated rooms and stay-and-play packages, it's buddy trip central. The variety means your group's 20-handicapper and scratch player will both find appropriate challenges. Book packages through their website.
Planning your Michigan golf pilgrimage
Ready to book that trip? Here's everything you need to know to make it happen.
When to visit
Michigan's golf season runs May through October, but timing matters:
- June-August: Peak conditions, peak prices, peak crowds
- September: Fall colors, perfect weather, fewer people
- May & October: 40-50% savings, roll the dice on weather
Getting there
Your arrival airport depends on your golf goals:
- Southern Michigan: Detroit Metro (90 minutes to most courses)
- Northern Michigan: Traverse City or 4-5 hour drive
- Upper Peninsula: Marquette Airport or major road trip
Where to stay
Resort properties with golf packages make planning easy:
- Arcadia Bluffs Lodge
- Forest Dunes Lake AuSable Lodge
- Bay Harbor Inn
- Treetops Resort
- Island Resort & Casino
- Harbor Shores Resort
For daily-fee courses, nearby cities offer plenty of hotels. Traverse City and Petoskey serve Northern Michigan, Marquette covers the eastern UP, and metro Detroit handles southern courses.
Budget reality check
Let's talk money. Peak summer rates at premier courses run $150-250, but don't let that scare you off. Shoulder season and twilight rates can cut costs by 40-50%. Courses like Diamond Springs (around $50) provide excellent golf without the sticker shock.
The best deals come from multi-round packages at resorts like Treetops and Island Resort. Yes, you're committing to multiple rounds, but that's kind of the point of a golf trip, right?
Essential resources
Before you go, check these sites:
- Michigan golf tourism for trip planning
- Gaylord Golf Mecca for Northern Michigan packages
- Individual course websites for current rates and conditions
The bottom line on Michigan golf
Michigan delivers golf experiences that rival any destination while showcasing natural beauty that defines "Pure Michigan." You can play authentic links golf at Arcadia Bluffs in the morning, walk in Alister MacKenzie's footsteps at Crystal Downs in the afternoon, and still have 648 other public courses to explore.
Whether you're seeking major championship venues, hidden gems, or just a great excuse to escape for a long weekend, Michigan's two peninsulas offer more quality golf than you could play in a lifetime. Just don't blame me when you start planning your next trip before finishing the first one.
