Bay Harbor earns the Michigan bucket-list status it is given. The Links/Quarry combination is one of the most visually satisfying rounds in the Midwest, Belvedere gives the trip its architectural soul, and the Boyne resort courses provide the depth to keep a 3-4 day itinerary from feeling repetitive. This is the trip for golfers who want long summer days, Lake Michigan views, and a region deep enough to come back to every year.
Courses included
The trip experience
Bay Harbor is one of those trips that quietly checks every box: scenery, variety, and a true "vacation" feel without sacrificing the golf. Northern Michigan has a way of making rounds feel longer; in a good way; because the daylight stretches, the air stays cool, and the entire region is designed for that classic summer rhythm of golf, food, and another loop if you still have energy.
The marquee name is Bay Harbor Golf Club, and it's the reason most groups book the trip in the first place. The course's reputation is built on its Lake Michigan frontage, and that stretch delivers: dramatic water views, a sense of exposure, and holes that feel like they belong on a destination checklist. The golf itself is polished resort golf; strong visuals, memorable par 3s, and plenty of holes that reward confident swings. It's not a pure architectural puzzle box, but it doesn't need to be. Bay Harbor is the "signature round" of the trip, and it deserves the prime-time slot when the lake is bright and the group is still fresh enough to enjoy the moment rather than just survive it.
The trip gets more interesting when you add Belvedere Golf Club, one of the most charming and historically satisfying rounds in the region. Belvedere is the opposite of modern resort drama: understated, classic, and quietly strategic. The architecture doesn't yell at you; it nudges you into making good decisions, then punishes you gently when you don't. It's a course that feels rooted in place, and it provides exactly what a great trip needs: contrast. After the big Bay Harbor visuals, Belvedere reminds you how much fun golf can be when the test is subtle and the routing feels natural. It's also a perfect "pure golf" round for the morning, when you want to walk, compete, and keep the day moving.
"The architecture doesn't yell at you; it nudges you into making good decisions, then punishes you gently when you don't."
From there, the Boyne resort courses add the depth that turns a weekend into a full itinerary. Boyne Highlands (Arthur Hills) brings the classic resort-championship feel: stronger framing, a more traditional test, and enough challenge to keep good players engaged across multiple rounds. It's an excellent mid-trip course because it's serious without being exhausting, and it gives you that "big course" feeling when the group wants a true scorecard day.
Boyne Mountain (Monument) adds another layer of variety and energy. It's the kind of course that plays well for mixed handicaps; memorable holes, plenty of birdie chances if you're striking it well, and enough challenge to keep it honest. Monument is also a great afternoon pairing because it tends to move at a good pace and delivers that satisfying "resort round" finish when you're stacking golf days.
This is a destination where 36 a day is very feasible, and the region's long summer light almost dares you to do it. The best formula is to put the "must-play" round in the morning; Bay Harbor or Belvedere; then follow with one of the Boyne courses in the afternoon. The pace works, the drives are manageable, and the conditions are typically friendly enough that playing a lot of golf feels like a perk, not a punishment.
Seasonality is straightforward: Bay Harbor is at its best in late spring through early fall, with summer as the sweet spot for weather and daylight. Early fall can be spectacular too; cooler air, fewer crowds, and that northern Michigan glow; just with slightly shorter days if you're chasing 36-hole plans.
Off the course, the vibe is classic Great Lakes vacation: relaxed, scenic, and easy to enjoy as a group. The towns and waterfront settings make dinners feel like part of the trip, not an afterthought. And that's why Bay Harbor works so well: you're not just "going somewhere to golf." You're going somewhere that feels like summer.
"You're not just 'going somewhere to golf.' You're going somewhere that feels like summer."
Bay Harbor provides the signature views, Belvedere provides the architectural soul, and Boyne provides the depth and variety that make the itinerary easy to build. Put them together and you get a northern Michigan trip that's as much about the pace of the days as it is about the scorecards; a destination that makes you want to play more golf, not just check off one famous round and leave.
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) | $600–$1,050 | $425–$775 | Courses closed Oct–Apr |
| Lodging (3 nights) | $360–$630 | $240–$420 | Courses closed Oct–Apr |
| Food & drink on property | $180–$360 | $120–$240 | Courses closed Oct–Apr |
| Rental car | $95–$145 | $85–$120 | Courses closed Oct–Apr |
| Total (est.) | $1,235–$2,185 | $870–$1,555 |
| Item | Peak |
|---|---|
| Tee fees (4 rounds) | $600–$1,050 |
| Lodging (3 nights) | $360–$630 |
| Food & drink on property | $180–$360 |
| Rental car | $95–$145 |
| Total (est.) | $1,235–$2,185 |
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 + BelvedereFly into Traverse City or Pellston; settle into Bay Harbor and use Belvedere as a low-pressure warm-up before the main courses.
- Day 2Bay Harbor (Links/Quarry)Full Bay Harbor day: Links in the morning, Quarry nine after lunch. Book back-to-back on the same tee sheet to maximize the waterfront routing.
- Day 3Boyne Mountain (Monument) + Boyne Highlands (Arthur Hills)A 36-hole day for serious players. The Monument is the more demanding track; follow with Arthur Hills at Boyne Highlands for a different character of challenge in the afternoon.
- Day 4Crooked Tree or replay + DepartCrooked Tree is a compact, walkable option close to the highway south. Or replay whichever Bay Harbor nine earned a second look.
Where to stay & eat
Know before you book.
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