Bay Harbor earns the Michigan bucket-list status it is given. The Links/Quarry combination is one of the most visually striking resort rounds in the Midwest, with Lake Michigan as the constant backdrop on the western holes. Belvedere adds architectural variety that the Resort course does not replicate. Late summer is the window -- July and August are as good as northern Michigan gets.
Courses included
The trip experience
Bay Harbor is the trip where nobody's in a hurry, and that's the whole point. You could stack 36 holes a day here, the daylight in July practically begs you to, but the groups who have the best time are the ones who leave room for a slow dinner and a second drink on the patio. This is a summer trip first and a golf trip second, even though the golf holds up completely on its own.
Bay Harbor Golf Club is why everyone books the trip in the first place, and it earns that slot. The Links nine runs the bluff above Lake Michigan, the Quarry nine drops into an old shale pit with forty-foot walls, and together they're the kind of round where you catch yourself stopping mid-fairway just to look at the water. Play it in the morning, while the lake is calm and the light's doing its best work, then walk straight into Chandler's that night. Get the table by the window if you can. Somebody in your group will still be talking about the Quarry's finishing hole over the first course.
"You catch yourself stopping mid-fairway just to look at the water."
Belvedere is the one that sneaks up on people. It doesn't have Bay Harbor's views and it doesn't need them; William Watson routed this course in 1925 and it still plays like it knows something modern architecture forgot. No forced drama, just good ground doing what good ground does. Walk it if your legs are willing, it's built for that, and go in the morning before the members show up at noon and claim the course for two hours. We got paired with a Belvedere member on the back nine once who'd played the course every summer since he was a kid, and by seventeen he'd talked our whole group into a skins game none of us remember the final tally of.
Petoskey is where the evenings actually happen. City Park Grill for the group that wants a real steak-and-cocktails night, Pond Hill Farm if everyone just wants to sit outside with a beer and not think about tee times, Roast & Toast the next morning when somebody in your group inevitably needs coffee before they need words. None of it requires reservations made months out. It just requires leaving the resort bubble for one night, which most groups forget to plan for and then wish they had.
The Boyne courses round out the trip without ever feeling like filler. Arthur Hills at Highlands is the one that plays like a proper championship test, elevation and strong holes that hold up across multiple rounds. Monument at Boyne Mountain is looser and more fun, the kind of round where mixed handicaps all walk off happy. Slot either one in the afternoon after a Bay Harbor or Belvedere morning and the day still has plenty left in it.
"It still plays like it knows something modern architecture forgot."
Book Bay Harbor's Links/Quarry early; July and August tee times go two to three months out and the good morning windows disappear first. Everything else on this trip is more forgiving. Belvedere books direct with the pro shop, and the Boyne courses run through one central portal that's about as painless as golf booking gets.
Bay Harbor isn't the trip you take to chase a single bucket-list round and leave. It's the one where the golf, the water, and the town all work together, and where the best story from the weekend might come from a stranger you met on the back nine as easily as from the golf itself.
Side trips & bonus golf
Arcadia Bluffs is the one golf add-on that materially elevates the entire trip. The Bluffs Course puts you on the Lake Michigan blufftop with wind, scale, and a coastal exposure that Bay Harbor hints at but Arcadia fully delivers. Arcadia South is the stronger companion round for groups who want to stay: modern, strategic, and built around shot variety rather than scenery alone. Neither is a casual detour, but if you're already in northern Michigan, Arcadia is the add-on worth the drive.
Forest Dunes and The Loop (Red and Black) are the architecture extension for groups that want the most replay value in the region. Forest Dunes is premium and strategic; The Loop is the standout: two completely different experiences on the same routing, the kind of round that generates instant debate and invites a return visit. Grand Traverse Resort (The Bear) is the more straightforward option for groups who want a structured championship day without the full Forest Dunes commitment.
Sleeping Bear Dunes is the non-golf day that actually competes with the golf. The 400-foot sand dunes above Lake Michigan, 45 minutes south of Bay Harbor, are one of the most genuinely spectacular natural settings in the Midwest. The dune climb is the signature experience; the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is the easier version. Best scheduled on a rest day between rounds or as a post-golf afternoon when the group has energy left but no one wants another 18.
Is this trip right for your group?
- ✓You want Lake Michigan scenery on par with anything in American resort golf without traveling to the coasts
- ✓Your group values variety: a scenic headline course, a classic local track, and resort depth all in one trip
- ✓You want to play 36 a day with northern Michigan's long summer daylight without feeling rushed
- ✓You're driving from the Midwest (Detroit, Chicago, Grand Rapids) and want an easy-access destination
- ✓Your group wants a relaxed, vacation-feeling trip where the golf is the anchor but the days feel unhurried
- ✓You want to come back again; northern Michigan rewards repeat trips because the rotation is deep enough to stay fresh
- ✗You need a single marquee course to justify a trip; Bay Harbor's appeal depends on the full northern Michigan context
- ✗You're coming from the East or West Coast and need a destination that clears a high travel bar on its own
- ✗You want cutting-edge modern architecture; the Boyne portfolio is polished resort golf, not design pilgrimage material
- ✗You prefer warm weather golf; northern Michigan seasons are short and mornings can be cool even in summer
When to go
- Michigan summer days stretch past 9pm in July, making 36 holes very feasible without rushing
- Bay Harbor's lakefront holes play best in calm morning conditions before the lake breeze picks up
- July and August are peak demand; Boyne resort properties fill up and green fees hit their seasonal high
- Thunderstorms can roll in fast off Lake Michigan; morning tee times and a rain jacket are non-negotiable
- Petoskey and Harbor Springs are at their most vibrant in summer, making evenings as good as the golf
- June offers comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds; courses are in good shape coming out of spring
- September and October bring cooler air and fall foliage that makes the lakeside scenery more dramatic
- Green fees drop in June and post-Labor Day; lodging is easier to book at reduced rates
- Early October can be spectacular but some courses begin to close by mid-month depending on weather
- Bay Harbor's season runs roughly May through mid-October; confirm current dates before booking late-fall trips
- Courses close by mid-October and reopen in May; no golf during winter months
- Boyne properties operate as ski resorts in winter; a different trip entirely but same properties
- The off-season is the best time to book next summer's tee times before prime windows fill
What a Bay Harbor trip costs
| Item | Peak | Shoulder | Off-Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee fees (4 rounds) | $850-$1,100 | $550-$750 | $350-$500 |
| Lodging (3 nights) | $1,200–$3,000 | $1,000–$2,500 | $800–$2,000 |
| Food & drink on property | $650-$850 | $550-$650 | $400-$500 |
| Rental car | $100-$200 | $100-$200 | $300-$500 |
| Total (est.) | $2,800–$5,150 | $2,200–$4,100 | $1,850–$3,500 |
| Item | Peak |
|---|---|
| Tee fees (4 rounds) | $850-$1,100 |
| Lodging (3 nights) | $1,200–$3,000 |
| Food & drink on property | $650-$850 |
| Rental car | $100-$200 |
| Total (est.) | $2,800–$5,150 |
Per-person estimates for a 3-round, 3-night trip with a group of 4. Excludes flights. All-in: $1,080–$1,915 peak, $755–$1,355 shoulder.
How tee times and lodging actually work
- 1Book Bay Harbor earlyLinks/Quarry tee times in July and August sell out 2-3 months in advance; Morning windows go first.
- 2Boyne online bookingAll Boyne resort courses book through the centralized Boyne reservations portal; Stay-and-play packages include preferred access.
- 3Belvedere books directBelvedere is semi-private with public access; Call the pro shop directly and book 60-90 days out in peak season.
- 4Advanced rates available onlineBay Harbor rack rates can run $300-$400, but online advance bookings often come in at $140-$250; Check the Boyne website for pricing.
- 5Season runs May through mid-OctoberConfirm course availability before booking trips before Memorial Day or after Labor Day.
Common mistakes
- !Not booking Bay Harbor earlySummer Links/Quarry tee times fill 2-3 months out; Last-minute availability is rare in July and August.
- !Skipping BelvedereGroups focused on the Boyne portfolio miss the most architecturally interesting round in the region; It's the trip's hidden best round.
- !Playing Preserve over Links/QuarryBay Harbor's premier 18 is the Links/Quarry combination; The Preserve nine is a fine add-on but not a substitute.
- !Ignoring the lake breezeMichigan afternoons regularly bring 15-20 mph winds off Lake Michigan; Adjust club selection or book morning rounds for calmer conditions.
- !Overstacking the schedule36 a day is possible but the best northern Michigan trips have breathing room; Stacking five rounds in three days leaves most groups exhausted by day 2.
- !Staying resort-contained the whole tripPetoskey and Harbor Springs have the best local dining in the region; At least one dinner in town is worth the 15-minute drive.
- !Arriving without rain gearGreat Lakes weather can shift from sunny to storming in under an hour; A packable rain jacket is essential for every round.
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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