Two Rounds - Northern Michigan

[Gdane]

Hi all, I'm taking the family wayyy up north (Bay Harbor) in Michigan this summer and will have time to sneak a couple rounds during the trip.  We're going further north than I've been in the past so will have a chance to hit a couple courses that I have not been to before and was looking for feedback from more seasoned travelers.

We've taken a couple trips to Traverse City so I've been lucky to play a few courses there, as well as Arcadia Bluffs and Forest Dunes on other trips.  Now that were venturing further north I have a list of courses in mind.  Wondering what peoples preferences are, or if I'm missing any from that part of the state? 

 

Bay Harbor

Belvedere

True North - worth a call?

Arthur Hills

 

Thanks!

[BG5]

Those are all really great courses and I would play all of them 🙂  But if you cannot get your wife on board with the idea the one course that has to be played in my opinion is Bay Harbor as the views on the links course are just that good.  They have great twighlight round prices on Bay Harbor and I would play the Links/Quarry option at Bay Harbor as my number 1.

 

Belvedere is a great track and has alot of history.....great layout and great vibe so you cannot go wrong there.....True North is a great track with perfect conditions so that is another amazing golf track.  The Art Hills course at Boyne is one of my all time favorite courses in Michigan.

 

Its really a coin flip but if it were up to me Id do a twighlight at Bay Harbor and Belvedere.....but realize that both True North and the Art Hills deserve a play as well and match up well with anything that Michigan has to offer

[BG5]

The only other course in that area that I really enjoy is Black Lake but its on Onaway Michigan so its out of the way a bit.....but at sometime in your life you have to play it as its been in the top 100 public courses quite a few times....its a tough track but its one of my all time favorites in Michigan

[kwainio]

Belvedere is your mandatory mandatory must play, one of my favourite courses in the world. I liked Bay Harbour (Links/Quarry) but the summer price is insane. Arthur Hills would be my other pick.

[PeteW]

Belvedere has some of the best greens I’ve played on. If you’re going to play Bay Harbor you need to play Links/Quarry imo. I’ve played one of the courses on Boyne property but can’t remember which one, only that they had golf boards. 

[Bsarosi]

Born and raised in Petoskey. Moved away but still visit family every summer. If I were in your shoes, I'd play 36 @ Bay Harbor/Belvedere one day followed by 36 @ Heather/Arthur Hills at Boyne Highlands another day. That way you've hit 4 of the top courses in northern Michigan. And the best thing, daylight can last till 9:30 during the summer months so it's not terribly difficult to get 36 in!

[Gabino]

The group I took out last year, was actually pretty let down by belvedere. I thought it was a good track, and had the best manicured and most interesting greens on the trip, but if you're looking to be blown away by the course I guess you might be a little let down. I think it gets a lot of its reputation from its history. I've heard some locals say great things about a ga ming sundance, that'll be on my list for the upcoming trip.

[cassel191919]

9 hours ago, Gabino said:

The group I took out last year, was actually pretty let down by belvedere. I thought it was a good track, and had the best manicured and most interesting greens on the trip, but if you're looking to be blown away by the course I guess you might be a little let down. I think it gets a lot of its reputation from its history. I've heard some locals say great things about a ga ming sundance, that'll be on my list for the upcoming trip.

To each their own, but this is for sure a very uncommon opinion. 

[BG5]

13 hours ago, Gabino said:

The group I took out last year, was actually pretty let down by belvedere. I thought it was a good track, and had the best manicured and most interesting greens on the trip, but if you're looking to be blown away by the course I guess you might be a little let down. I think it gets a lot of its reputation from its history. I've heard some locals say great things about a ga ming sundance, that'll be on my list for the upcoming trip.

 

A-Ga-Ming Sundance is an outstanding course and one of my favorites in N. Michigan.....def play there if you have a chance.  I am a big fan of Belvedere and understand where you are coming from.  In my opinion its a must play and def one of my favorites but I also have buddies who dont enjoy it that much

[Net_5]

Our group really enjoys Hidden River Golf and Casting Club.  Bay Harbor and Belvedere are must plays.

We had a bad experience on the Hill course last year and it will be a while before we go back.  It was a 4.5 hour back nine due to a group of drunks that management would do nothing about.  Multiple groups quit without finishing.  Most of the bunkers on the back nine had the sand blown out which was not replaced.

[MattSTL88]

I'm doing something similar this summer, getting in Bay Harbor and Belvedere this time, first time for each. Did you happen to try True North? I'm debating reaching out as well for 2024 when we will be staying in Indian River. 

[Mike_C]

On 2/7/2023 at 10:36 AM, Bsarosi said:

Born and raised in Petoskey. Moved away but still visit family every summer. If I were in your shoes, I'd play 36 @ Bay Harbor/Belvedere one day followed by 36 @ Heather/Arthur Hills at Boyne Highlands another day. That way you've hit 4 of the top courses in northern Michigan. And the best thing, daylight can last till 9:30 during the summer months so it's not terribly difficult to get 36 in!

Wasn't born there, but raised in Charlevoix, Belvedere was my home course for about 10 years. Not much like it around anymore.  Never got to play Bay Harbor but it looks fabulous. Used to play Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain before they expanded, the original Heather was an outstanding layout, have heard good things about the Arthur Hills course.

[Bsarosi]

23 hours ago, Mike_C said:

Wasn't born there, but raised in Charlevoix, Belvedere was my home course for about 10 years. Not much like it around anymore.  Never got to play Bay Harbor but it looks fabulous. Used to play Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain before they expanded, the original Heather was an outstanding layout, have heard good things about the Arthur Hills course.

If you can only play one course at Boyne, I'd recommend Heather (even over Arthur Hills). Heather is the best course of Boyne course except Bay Harbor imo. Lot of tournaments played on the Heather course over the years. And I'm with you on Belvedere...great track that has stood the test of time; always well-maintained; and a fair challenge for a range of golfers.

 

WRT True North, I believe it's fully private now but if you belong to a club, I'm sure your pro can call and get you on. I played it 1x when it was first built and trying to generate membership interest - it's a great track with lots of elevation changes and picturesque setting through the woods. Just probably more difficult to get on being private.