Arcadia Bluffs is Michigan's most complete northern golf trip. The Bluffs Course delivers the state's most dramatic lakefront round, and the South Course adds a different but equally compelling style. Grand Traverse Resort's Bear and Wolverine courses extend the stay with real architectural variety. Come in the summer window, plan to play more than you initially book, and stay at least three nights.
Courses included
The trip experience
Play the Bluffs Course late in the day if the group can swing it. Morning is calmer, sure, but the wind coming up off Lake Michigan in the afternoon is half the reason people fly into Michigan for this round, and the sunset finish on the back nine is worth losing a little consistency off the tee. Get the caddie for the first go-round -- the wind makes club selection a moving target all day, and somebody in the group always trusts their normal number on 13 and ends up in the bunker below the green for it.
Stormcloud Brewing in Frankfort is where that round gets replayed over beer, ten minutes from the course. Good food, better beer, the kind of easy-going lakeside-town bar that makes the drive back to the cottage feel optional for another hour.
"Somebody in the group always trusts their normal number on 13 and ends up in the bunker below the green for it."
South gets treated like the undercard, and that's a mistake worth correcting before you even book. It's calmer than Bluffs, strategic rather than dramatic, and it's actually the better scoring round of the two -- ask anyone who's played both more than once. Schedule it for the afternoon of a 36-hole day, after Bluffs has taken the edge off everyone's focus. Don't leave it for a rushed last morning before checkout; it deserves better than that.
Give the 90-minute drive north to Grand Traverse its own block of time instead of squeezing it between tee times. It's real travel, not a quick hop, and groups who try to rush it end up arriving frazzled for a round that deserves a clear head.
The Bear is Jack Nicklaus in full tournament-venue mode -- tight, demanding, the kind of course that turns even a relaxed group a little competitive by the back nine. Play it when everyone's rested. The Wolverine is the friendlier release valve the next day: Gary Player's first Michigan design, wide enough that nobody's grinding, and it's the right choice when the group wants a good score more than another exam. Play The Bear first at Grand Traverse and save The Wolverine for whichever morning the group wants a win instead of a fight.
"South is actually the better scoring round of the two -- ask anyone who's played both more than once."
Dinner in Traverse City deserves better than a drive-through decision. Trattoria Stella is the one worth reserving ahead -- Italian, one of the best rooms in northern Michigan, and walk-ins for a group your size won't happen in summer. The Franklin handles the nights when nobody wants to dress up or wait; solid tavern food, a patio, and a format built for golf groups who just want to eat and argue about the day's rounds.
Stay on-property at Arcadia if early tee times matter more than anything else -- the cottages are limited and book out well before summer arrives. Off-property rentals around Empire and Frankfort often cost less and come with a kitchen and fire pit, which some groups actually prefer once the trip settles into its rhythm. At Grand Traverse, the resort itself is the easy call for a group this size; downtown Traverse City hotels are the fallback once the resort sells out, and you'll trade some convenience for a much better restaurant scene right outside the door.
Summer is when this trip actually works -- long daylight for 36-hole days, firm turf that lets South play the way it's meant to. Fall brings real color to the Bluffs and a much quieter tee sheet, but the days get short fast, so don't plan a 36-hole finish for late October and expect to finish in daylight.
Side trips & bonus golf
Forest Dunes and The Loop add the most architecturally distinct extension in the region, 90 minutes southeast near Roscommon. Forest Dunes is Tom Weiskopf's championship base; The Loop is Tom Doak's reversible 18, where Red and Black routings use the same land but create two entirely different sets of strategic asks. For groups who want northern Michigan's architectural depth alongside its lakefront drama, combining Arcadia with a Forest Dunes day is the strongest extension on the map.
Bay Harbor near Petoskey adds polished resort golf with Lake Michigan frontage, a natural travel-day round on the drive between Arcadia and Grand Traverse Resort. It delivers a scenic change of pace that fits a split schedule without requiring any extra planning. Threetops at Treetops in Gaylord is 9 par-3 holes under $50: the low-commitment competitive add-on for a travel day when the group wants one more without another 18-hole scorecard.
Sleeping Bear Dunes is 15 minutes from Arcadia and worth a morning excursion: massive sand dunes rising directly from Lake Michigan with sweeping views of the Manitou Islands. The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive takes under an hour. It's the one natural landmark in northern Michigan that earns the same "worth it" conversation as the golf courses, and fits cleanly as a morning stop before an afternoon South Course tee time.
Is this trip right for your group?
- ✓Book this trip if the Bluffs Course -- Michigan's most dramatic lake views -- has been on your list
- ✓Book this trip if your group wants lakefront golf that feels like Great Lakes links, not just pretty scenery
- ✓Book this trip if the South Course's strategic, replayable rhythm sounds like the ideal counterweight to Bluffs' heroics
- ✓Book this trip if you want a multi-hub Michigan trip combining two distinctly different resort experiences
- ✓Book this trip if walking windswept blufftop holes with changing conditions sounds like the ideal golf challenge
- ✓Book this trip if summer (July-August) is your travel window: long days, firm conditions, and Michigan at its best
- ✓Book this trip if you want 4-5 days where each round feels genuinely different from the last
- ✗Skip this trip if a single-resort, fully self-contained trip is what you want -- Arcadia + Grand Traverse is a two-hub experience with a 90-minute drive between them
- ✗Skip this trip if weather guarantees matter: northern Michigan is beautiful but wind and variable conditions are part of the deal
- ✗Skip this trip if green fees matter significantly: Bluffs Course peak pricing is $250-315 per round
- ✗Skip this trip if your group wants more non-golf activity options -- both hubs are golf-first destinations
- ✗Skip this trip if you're not prepared to walk: Arcadia Bluffs strongly encourages walking and the experience suffers in a cart
When to go
- Michigan's longest days make 36-hole days feasible without rushing
- Green fees are at their highest: Bluffs Course at $290-315, South Course at $155-175
- Book 6-12 months out for July and August dates at both Arcadia and Grand Traverse
- Firm, fast conditions make the South Course play its best and allow ground-game approaches
- Wind is the wildcard on the Bluffs Course — afternoon rounds can turn breezy into serious
- Green fees drop meaningfully: Bluffs Course in the $165-200 range, South Course at $100-130
- Fall color on the Bluffs Course in late September is among the best golf scenery in the Midwest
- Cooler mornings keep energy high through 36-hole days; pack layers for early tee times
- Mid-week tee sheets at both hubs are much easier to secure than summer
- October is possible but days shorten quickly — plan tee times with sunset in mind
- Arcadia Bluffs typically closes for the winter; the season runs May through October
- Northern Michigan sees snow and freezing temperatures from November through April
- Grand Traverse Resort may operate a limited winter program but golf is not available
What a Arcadia Bluffs trip costs
| Item | Peak | Shoulder | Off-Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee fees (5 rounds | |||
| 2 hubs) | |||
| Lodging (3 nights, 2 properties) | $450–$800 | $300–$525 | |
| Food & drink | $350-$500 | $300-$450 | $250-$400 |
| Rental car | $100-$200 | $100-$200 | $300-$500 |
| Total (est.) | $900–$1,500 | $700–$1,175 | $550–$900 |
| Item | Peak |
|---|---|
| Tee fees (5 rounds | |
| 2 hubs) | |
| Lodging (3 nights, 2 properties) | $450–$800 |
| Food & drink | $350-$500 |
| Rental car | $100-$200 |
| Total (est.) | $900–$1,500 |
Per-person estimates for a 4-night trip split between Arcadia Bluffs and Grand Traverse Resort with 5 rounds total; group of 4 sharing rooms. Excludes flights. All-in: $2,100-$2,950 peak, $1,500-$2,200 shoulder.
How tee times and lodging actually work
- 1Arcadia Bluffs Bluffs Course fills fastPeak summer dates book 6-12 months out. Call the pro shop directly after confirming trip dates -- don't wait for an online slot to open.
- 2Walking is the standard at ArcadiaCaddies can be arranged through the pro shop and add genuine value on the Bluffs Course. Carts are limited or unavailable; Plan to walk.
- 3Grand Traverse books 60-90 days outThe Bear and Wolverine have more availability than Arcadia but still require advance booking for peak summer weekends.
- 4Coordinating two hubs takes planningBook Arcadia and Grand Traverse separately and confirm tee times at both before finalizing your drive-day logistics between them.
Common mistakes
- !Playing the Bluffs Course for the first time in heavy wind without a strategyThe lakefront holes are exposed and the wind is real. Know your wind-adjusted yardages before the round or you'll spend 18 holes guessing.
- !Not building in a Bluffs Course replayOne round leaves the trip incomplete -- the second loop almost always produces a better score and deeper appreciation of the routing.
- !Treating the South Course as a consolation prizeSouth is strategically richer than Bluffs, rewards better decisions, and often produces more satisfying golf. It's the sleeper of the trip.
- !Underestimating the drive between Arcadia and Grand Traverse90 minutes between hubs is real travel time. Build it into your schedule and don't book back-to-back tee times that require you to rush.
- !Scheduling the Bluffs Course for an afternoon slot if wind is forecastMorning rounds are calmer. If the forecast shows wind, protect your Bluffs tee time early in the day.
- !Leaving the Arcadia patio before sunsetThe lake-facing view after a round is one of northern Michigan's best experiences. Don't rush off property the moment the round ends.
- !Assuming 36-hole days at the Bluffs Course are normalBluffs is physically and mentally demanding. 36-hole days work better with South as the second round -- not back-to-back Bluffs.
What to pack
Sample itinerary
- Day 1Arrive + Pacific DunesFly into North Bend (OTH), 30 minutes from the resort. One course on arrival day — save your legs for tomorrow. Play Bandon Preserve if you get in early enough.
- Day 2Bandon Dunes + Old MacdonaldThe two boldest courses back to back. Bandon Dunes first while you are sharp; Old Mac in the afternoon when you are loose enough to enjoy the creative chaos.
- Day 3Bandon Trails + DepartBandon Trails is the easiest keep on this itinerary. Sheep Ranch is the easiest cut — add it with an early tee time if you want all five and can handle a late departure.
Where to stay & eat
Know before you book.
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