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Go back to formNorthern Michigan offers several distinct golf regions rather than one compact corridor. The right destination depends on whether you want multiple courses at one resort, a scenic signature round, convenient access to nearby towns or enough non-golf activities to satisfy the entire group. Because the resorts and courses can be separated by substantial driving distances, choosing the right base is one of the most important parts of planning the trip.
This guide compares 15 resorts and courses according to access, course variety, lodging, amenities, location and overall trip fit. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa provides an integrated Traverse City-area base with three championship courses, while its lodging, dining, spa and recreational amenities give couples, groups and mixed-interest travelers options beyond golf. Other destinations may better suit golfers seeking the greatest number of on-site holes, a remote golf-focused retreat or a marquee round along Lake Michigan.
Northern Michigan’s golf destinations are spread across several regions. Choose a base according to the courses you most want to play, your tolerance for driving and the activities your group wants beyond golf.
June through September generally offers the most favorable golf conditions, with July and August among the busiest months. Confirm seasonal opening dates, maintenance schedules and tee-time availability directly with each property before traveling.
Multi-course resorts can simplify group itineraries. Treetops Resort offers 81 holes, while Shanty Creek Resort offers five courses totaling 90 holes.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa combines 54 holes with accommodations, dining, spa services and other recreation in one Traverse City-area destination.
Access varies across the region. Some courses welcome public play, while others require a resort stay, package reservation, membership connection or advance arrangement.
No single property is the best fit for every golfer. Course difficulty, scenery, budget, group size, trip length and non-golf priorities should guide the final choice.
The right Northern Michigan golf destination depends on your preferred courses, driving tolerance and plans beyond golf. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa suits travelers seeking a full-service Traverse City-area base, while Treetops and Shanty Creek offer greater course volume. Arcadia Bluffs and Bay Harbor emphasize waterfront scenery, and Forest Dunes appeals to golfers interested in distinctive course design.
The numbering organizes the guide by overall trip fit and regional usefulness; it does not suggest that one destination is best for every golfer.
Best for: Couples, golf weekends, groups, mixed-interest travelers and visitors who want convenient access to Traverse City.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa offers three 18-hole courses designed by three notable architects: The Bear by Jack Nicklaus, The Wolverine by Gary Player and Spruce Run by William Newcomb. The Bear provides the greatest championship challenge, measuring 7,078 yards with a slope of 150 from the black tees. The Wolverine offers greater flexibility across different abilities, while Spruce Run brings a more traditional resort-course character.
All three courses share a centralized clubhouse, supported by a driving range, putting green and year-round Golf Academy. Guests can choose among Hotel, Tower and condominium accommodations, then build in resort dining, recreation or time at Spa Grand Traverse. This concentration of golf and amenities makes the resort especially practical for groups whose members do not want to follow the same itinerary.
Review current tee times and rates and packages before booking.
Best for: Golf-focused groups planning several rounds over a three- or four-night stay.
Treetops Resort offers 81 holes across four 18-hole courses and Threetops, its nine-hole par-3 course. The layouts bring together work by Robert Trent Jones Sr., Tom Fazio and Rick Smith, giving groups several course styles without requiring a change of lodging.
The Jones Masterpiece supplies some of the resort’s most dramatic elevation changes. Its signature sixth hole begins from a 120-foot perch overlooking the surrounding terrain. Long summer daylight and concentrated course access can also make 36-hole days easier to organize.
Treetops is more golf-focused than a Traverse City-area stay, making it a strong fit when playing multiple on-site rounds takes priority over wineries, beaches or downtown dining.
Best for: Groups seeking a secluded, self-contained golf trip with minimal driving between rounds.
Garland Lodge & Golf Resort offers 72 holes across four full-length courses: Fountains, Monarch, Reflections and Swampfire. The courses begin from one golf shop and wind through a 3,000-acre wooded property, allowing groups to settle into the resort rather than coordinate transportation throughout the day.
The resort has also added The Sawyer, a walking-only, 10-hole reversible par-3 course that takes approximately an hour to play. It provides a shorter, more social option between full rounds or on arrival day.
Lodge rooms, villas, cottages, condominiums and on-property dining support multiday stays. Garland is best approached as an immersive golf retreat; travelers prioritizing Traverse City restaurants, wineries or waterfront activities should expect a less destination-connected experience.
Best for: Groups seeking several course styles alongside broader resort recreation and access to the Bellaire area.
Shanty Creek Resort offers 90 holes across five 18-hole courses: Cedar River, The Legend, Hawk’s Eye, Schuss Mountain and Summit. The courses are distributed across the resort’s villages but remain within a relatively concentrated area, with resort transportation helping guests move among them.
Designed by Tom Weiskopf, Cedar River measures 7,001 yards and carries a 74.0 rating and 138 slope from the black tees. Seven tee options make the course adaptable to a wider range of players.
Hotels, condominiums and vacation homes support longer stays, while Bellaire, the Chain of Lakes and nearby outdoor recreation give non-golfers additional options. Check individual course schedules when arranging consecutive rounds.
Best for: Families, mixed-ability groups and travelers seeking championship courses alongside approachable short-form golf.
The Highlands offers four 18-hole courses: The Heather, The Moor, Arthur Hills and Donald Ross Memorial. Together, they provide varied terrain and design styles within one Harbor Springs resort, making it possible to plan several distinct rounds without changing accommodations.
Doon Brae broadens the experience with a nine-hole, walking-only par-3 course built along the resort’s lower ski slopes. Measuring from 678 to 1,050 yards and fully lit for evening play, it gives families, beginners and experienced golfers a more relaxed alternative to another full round. The adjacent Back Yaird adds a 27-hole putting course.
Resort lodging, dining and seasonal recreation support longer stays. Allow additional travel time before combining The Highlands with courses around Traverse City or farther south.
Best for: Families and mixed-interest groups that want golf, spa time and outdoor recreation in one resort stay.
Crystal Mountain has two public 18-hole courses. Mountain Ridge uses pronounced elevation changes and longer championship yardage, while the renovated Betsie Valley offers a more approachable complement with broad scenic views. A 10-acre Golf Learning Center adds a driving range, putting and chipping greens, bunkers and instruction for different ability levels.
Resort accommodations, Crystal Spa and seasonal recreation give non-golfers meaningful alternatives during a group trip. The Thompsonville location also works well for travelers exploring Benzie County or building an itinerary around Arcadia and the Lake Michigan shoreline. Crystal Mountain is approximately 28 miles southwest of Traverse City, so it should not be treated as a downtown-adjacent base.
Confirm current course conditions and maintenance schedules directly before booking.
Best for: Golfers interested in course architecture and a stay centered primarily on golf.
Forest Dunes pairs its Tom Weiskopf-designed public course with The Loop, Tom Doak’s reversible design. The Loop’s Red and Black routings use the same ground in opposite directions, with the direction changing on alternating days. Golfers who want to experience both should plan consecutive playing days rather than treating it as a single round.
The 10-hole Bootlegger pitch-and-putt course adds a shorter social option. Forest Dunes itself is ranked No. 37 on Golf Digest’s 2025–2026 list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses and No. 6 in Michigan.
Lodge rooms, cottages and villas sit close to the courses, making a two- or three-night golf-focused stay practical. The announced SkyFall course remains in development and is not part of Forest Dunes’ playable 2026 inventory. The current timeline indicates that limited preview play may begin in 2027, with a grand opening targeted for 2028.
Best for: Lake Michigan scenery, contrasting course architecture and a multiday destination-golf stay.
Arcadia Bluffs now offers three distinct public golf experiences. The Bluffs Course occupies an elevated setting with approximately 3,000 feet of Lake Michigan frontage. The inland South Course takes inspiration from early American golf architecture, using geometric bunkering and greens averaging more than 9,400 square feet. Golf Digest ranks the Bluffs No. 16 and the South Course No. 53 on its 2025–2026 list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.
The Dozen, opened in 2025, adds 12 holes arranged as two six-hole loops with equal numbers of par 3s and par 4s. Its shorter format can fit around travel, dining or another round.
On-site lodges and cottages, multiple dining options and transportation among the properties make a two- or three-night stay practical. Reserve signature tee times and lodging well ahead of peak travel dates.
Best for: Lake Michigan scenery, premium public-access golf and a Petoskey-area stay.
Bay Harbor Golf Club features three Arthur Hills-designed nines: The Links, The Quarry and The Preserve. They are paired in different combinations to create 18-hole rounds that move among shoreline, forest and the remains of a former shale quarry. Golf Digest identifies the Links/Quarry combination as one of Michigan’s notable public courses and highlights the property’s distinctive lakefront setting.
The club operates on a semi-private model, but public guests are welcome to reserve tee times, dine and attend public events. Access should still be confirmed in advance, particularly during the busiest part of the season.
Lodging is not directly attached to the golf clubhouse. The nearby Inn at Bay Harbor and cottages provide stay-and-play options, while Petoskey, Harbor Springs and surrounding waterfront communities can support a longer regional itinerary.
Best for: Members, invited guests and golfers who have confirmed private-club access near Traverse City.
LochenHeath Golf Club is a Steve Smyers design built across a former cherry orchard overlooking Grand Traverse Bay. The 7,280-yard layout combines rolling terrain, broad fairways and deep bunkering, creating a demanding course for experienced players.
LochenHeath is a private club, not a semi-private course. Membership is limited and available by invitation, while the PGA of America and Golf Digest also classify the facility as private.
Travelers should not assume that staying at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa or another nearby hotel provides playing privileges. Confirm member sponsorship or another authorized club arrangement before including LochenHeath in an itinerary.
Best for: Travelers who want a convenient public round near downtown Traverse City.
The Crown Golf Club sits among rolling hills southwest of the city, approximately 10 minutes from downtown. The 18-hole layout uses elevation changes and varied lies to create strategic choices, while four sets of tees allow golfers to select a comfortable distance. Unlike a full resort, The Crown works best as an additional round during a broader Traverse City stay.
A driving range and putting green support pre-round practice, while Mulligan’s Pub & Grill provides an on-site option afterward. Golf Digest identifies The Crown as a public course, and the club publishes current seasonal rates. Confirm pricing and tee-time availability directly before visiting.
Best for: Golfers seeking a secluded public course and travelers extending a Gaylord-area itinerary.
Black Lake Golf Club is a par-72 Rees Jones design routed through hardwood forest, marshland, ravines and a former sand quarry. Its current scorecard ranges from 5,049 to 7,035 yards across five sets of tees. A nine-hole par-3 course and extensive practice facilities provide additional options for shorter play and skill-building.
The adjoining Black Lake Conference Center offers lodge rooms, apartments, condominiums and camping. However, Onaway is approximately two hours from Traverse City and about one hour from Gaylord, making an overnight stop or Gaylord-based visit more practical than a casual Traverse City day trip. Review the club’s current rates before booking.
Best for: Golfers drawn to Golden Age architecture and walkable, historically significant courses.
Belvedere Golf Club was designed by Scottish architect William Watson in 1925 and opened in 1927. Its classic parkland routing remains close to Watson’s original vision, with strategic angles, varied holes and distinctive green complexes that reward thoughtful approach play. The course has also appeared in Golf Digest’s public-course rankings.
Belvedere is a private club that welcomes outside play on most days, although the noon-to-2 p.m. window is generally reserved for members. Caddies are available by request. Because the club does not include resort lodging, it works best as part of a Charlevoix or Petoskey itinerary. Review the club’s 2026 guest fees and policies before booking.
Best for: Budget-conscious golfers and mixed-ability groups seeking a relaxed public round.
Wolf River Golf Park is an 18-hole, par-70 public course measuring 6,540 yards from the back tees. A major renovation introduced wider playing corridors, rebuilt greens and bunkers, and a distinctive single cut from tee to green instead of conventional rough. An independent course profile notes that the resulting layout remains approachable for higher-handicap golfers while preserving strategic choices for experienced players.
The park also includes The Worm Holes, a 1.5-acre, 18-hole putting course available without tee times. Wolf River does not offer on-site lodging, so it fits naturally into a Bear Lake, Manistee or Arcadia-area itinerary. Check current rates before visiting.
Best for: Groups seeking multiple courses and spacious lodging near Torch Lake.
A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort offers 72 holes across four 18-hole courses: Sundance, Torch, Antrim Dells and Charlevoix Country Club. The courses occupy three Northern Michigan locations, giving golfers several distinct settings rather than four layouts on one compact property. Sundance, set between Torch Lake and Grand Traverse Bay, combines broad fairways, sculpted greens and expansive water views.
At the Kewadin resort, one- to four-bedroom accommodations include condominiums and townhomes suited to golf groups and longer stays. Stay-and-play packages can incorporate multiple courses, but travelers should account for driving time between locations when arranging rounds. Review current course rates and package terms before booking.
Choose a regional base before reserving individual rounds. Traverse City works well for Grand Traverse Resort, The Crown and other northwest courses. Gaylord provides easier access to Treetops, Garland and Black Lake, while Charlevoix or Petoskey suits trips featuring Bay Harbor, Belvedere and The Highlands. Arcadia Bluffs and Forest Dunes generally work better as dedicated stops than rushed day trips.
Once the route is set, reserve lodging and priority tee times, then verify drive times, access rules, maintenance schedules and cart or caddie policies. July and August dates warrant early planning, while shoulder-season conditions and operating schedules can change. Travelers flying into Cherry Capital Airport should plan on renting a car because the region’s golf destinations are widely dispersed.
Day 1: Arrive at Cherry Capital Airport, check in at Grand Traverse Resort and play an afternoon round on Spruce Run or The Wolverine.
Day 2: Play The Bear in the morning. Leave the afternoon open for the spa, resort recreation or downtown Traverse City.
Day 3: Add a round at The Crown if the departure schedule allows, or enjoy an unhurried resort morning before leaving.
Day 1: Arrive in Traverse City, check in at Grand Traverse Resort and play an afternoon course.
Day 2: Play The Bear and spend a second night at the resort.
Day 3: Transfer to Arcadia Bluffs for the Bluffs or South Course and stay overnight.
Day 4: Continue to Forest Dunes, play the namesake course and stay on-site.
Day 5: Play The Loop or the shorter Bootlegger before returning to Traverse City.
Limit transfer days to one principal round. Schedule 36 holes only when both courses are at the same destination.
For travelers who want lodging, dining, spa services and 54 holes in one place, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is a strong all-around choice. Its location also provides convenient access to Cherry Capital Airport and downtown Traverse City.
Three days works well for one resort or regional base. Plan on five days if you want to combine two or three destinations without rushing between rounds.
June through September generally provides the most dependable golf conditions, with July and August attracting the greatest demand. Spring and fall may offer more flexibility, but confirm course openings, maintenance schedules and weather-related policies.
Many are public or resort-accessible, but policies vary. LochenHeath is private, Belvedere welcomes outside play during designated periods, and Bay Harbor operates as a semi-private club with public tee times subject to availability.
Yes. Forward tees, instruction, short courses and non-golf amenities make several destinations approachable for mixed-ability groups. Families should compare course difficulty, lodging layout, pools, recreation and dining rather than choosing solely by the reputation of the golf.
The right Northern Michigan base depends on how much time your group wants to spend driving. For travelers seeking 54 holes, varied accommodations, dining and spa services in one place, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa keeps the core trip together while leaving room for selected regional day trips.
Explore the Resort’s golf courses, accommodations, restaurants and spa. The current 2026 golf brochure outlines available package formats. Confirm course availability, maintenance schedules and package terms before booking. Reserve online or call 800-236-1577 for lodging assistance.
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