Bay Harbor Golf Club

BOYNE Golf/Niles Young Photography

Friends often ask me what my favorite U.S. golf destination is. And I have several – each offering a unique experience. The Kohala Coast on Hawaii’s Big Island offers underrated golf in a magical Pacific atmosphere. Then there are the many desert-style courses in Scottsdale that are just plain fun – surrounded by mountains, the deep green fairways are often framed by the barren desert for a visually spectacular look. And the courses near Monterey, Calif. are collectively outstanding, and also often play under cloudy, cool conditions – which to me only enhances their atmosphere.

Yet one destination that’s been near the top of the list for years is the Northern Michigan stretch from Petoskey to Boyne City to Harbor Springs. Parts of the region visually resemble Lake Tahoe, thanks to gorgeous lakes, elevation changes, and a variety of excellent golf courses that are perpetually in outstanding condition. In the summer, the weather is typically golf-perfect with mild temperatures and chill breezes as the day moves on. The sun doesn’t set until late up here, so you can easily fit 36 holes in during vacation days. Course proximity lets you travel quickly from one to another. And the variety and abundance of lodging in the area is simply outstanding – provided you book well enough in advance. How in demand is this region? Our family recently tried securing a cottage through countless websites for a late summer trip, and the consensus was we should have started looking a year ago. Yeah, the location is that popular.

“Our population probably triples in the summertime,” says Jim Powell, executive director of the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau. “As we’re a four-season destination, we attract just south of 2 million visitors per year.” Depending on how the region emerges from winter, golf season usually runs from mid-May through the end of October. “Roughly 15-to-20 percent of people coming up here during that period are golfers, and will likely play golf,” says Powell. “It's more than just in-staters. More people are flying in from New Mexico, Texas and Florida where it’s just too hot to play golf in the summer. Other fly markets include New York, Georgia, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. This year, we're marketing in Dallas – it’s the first time we've ever done a fly market there for our region, knowing we've got a golf product that they're willing to travel for. Our primary market is always going to be Michigan, and then the drive states – Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and a little from Canada.” Summer weekends are perpetually sold out.

As for golf, there are plenty of options. Many are fantastic. And although I’ve played 15 of them – including every BOYNE Golf offering -- I have four favorites that will complete any golf getaway. In no particular order, the first is The Alpine at Boyne Mountain. Spanning 7,045 yards from the tips, this is a fun and fair thrill ride right from your opening downhill tee shot. With its spectacular mountainside setting and panoramic views of Deer Lake, it deservedly hosts Michigan’s Tournament of Champions every year. To me it’s a perfect mountain course that’s perpetually kept in ideal condition with blemish-free greens and fairways. The views from the peaks are wonderful and the finishing hole may be one of the region’s best. To boot, the staff is always super friendly.

The 6,845-yard (and always highly rated on a national level) Links/Quarry combination at Bay Harbor Golf Club in Petoskey combines sweeping views of Lake Michigan from the perch above, on the opening six holes. Fairways are generous, but the terrain winds and dips – lending to the challenge. Its back nine is carved into an old shale quarry – several of the holes are quirky but in a lovable way – and its final holes finish right on the edge of Little Traverse Bay. You will walk away from this exclusive course feeling it was a challenging great time with some of the very best vistas in the Mitten.

Then there’s Belvedere Golf Club, a 6,943-yard Charlevoix classic that’s been around since 1925. From the clubhouse through the entire property, history lies all about. It has hosted 40 Michigan Amateur Championships, which is more than any other course in the state. It’s fairly flat, always in great condition, and is a vintage layout that plays fair and memorable. Better players love and appreciate it for its elegant timelessness. This year, the course has upgraded tee decks and removed several trees to make it even more playable – among other modifications.

And The Heather at The Highlands may be my personal favorite. I got to play this Harbor Springs classic as a teen and remember it vividly, and have thankfully returned several times over the past decade. It’s a 7,143-yard Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design that opened in 1966, and it was the first BOYNE Golf course. Revered as one of America’s finest championship courses, it serves as home to the EPSON Tour’s Great Lakes Championship. It’s also immensely popular among golfers throughout the state.

Believe me, there are plenty of other solid courses in the northern part of the lower peninsula that collectively offer a variety of great golf experiences. But maybe the best part of a golf vacation here is all of the other things to do in the area that can complement your golf. You can participate in just about any water activity you can think of, go chocolate sampling, sit at Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bar stool in downtown Petoskey, walk or bike scenic trails, attend art fairs, go wine tasting, and plenty more. The scenery is everywhere, and gets mega-colorful as fall closes in. Yes, weather can get dicey sometimes. But it’s relatively more affordable than most traditional golf destinations, and every bit as fun. Provided you secure reservations way ahead of time.