Legend has it that The Heather at The Highlands, the first BOYNE Golf course, was the catalyst that started the golf boom in northern Michigan, labeling our region as America’s Summer Golf Capital. That title and its attached prestige have brought numerous championships to The Heather, including five Michigan Amateur Championships, and last year, its renown brought a new tour to our Lake Michigan shores—The Great Lakes Championship.
Part of the Epson Tour, the Great Lakes Championship is a professional women’s golf tournament that has been dubbed the “Road to the LPGA,” and last June, The Heather served as the championship’s debut location. And this spring, the Epson Tour is returning to The Highlands, offering female athletes another opportunity to gain experience, visibility, prize money, ranking points, and LPGA Tour status.
Lindsey McCurdy Peek at the Great Lakes Championship 2025. Photo credit: BOYNE Golf
Even though this is only the second year of the Great Lakes Championship, it is worth noting that the Epson Tour has existed for decades, and last year, as part of the tour’s schedule expansion, several new tournament stops were added.
“The creation of the Great Lakes Championship was driven by the Great Lakes Sports Commission’s strategic effort to bring a high-impact, high-profile women’s professional sporting event to Northern Michigan,” said Susie Fox, Great Lakes Sports Commission, Assistant Director. “The Commission saw an opportunity to leverage the Epson Tour as a platform to promote the development of sports, recreation, and tourism in the region, while showcasing Northern Michigan as a premier destination for championship-level events.”
By partnering with the Epson Tour, the Commission helped establish an event that elevates women’s professional golf and delivers meaningful economic and community benefits to the region. The partnership only needed one more thing—a course—and that’s where BOYNE Golf and The Heather came into play.
“After touring numerous facilities in Northern Michigan, The Heather course at The Highlands was chosen because of its reputation, history, and competitive challenge,” said Fox, who also cited the venue’s beauty, pristine course manicuring, and championship test as major positives for both players and spectators.
Ken Griffin, Director of Golf Sales and Marketing for BOYNE Golf, was heavily involved in last year’s well-received tournament, and he’s been gearing up for the 2026 event since last summer.
“We were honored to have The Heather course selected to be the venue for the Great Lakes Championship,” said Griffin. “There is an abundance of great golf courses available in Northern Michigan. To be selected to host the event reveals a great deal about the quality of the course, the service levels at the resort, and the support of the local communities and individuals supporting the event to ensure its success.”
The Heather hole 7. Photo credit: BOYNE Golf
The 2025 tournament drew a competitive field, with players from more than 20 countries, including Erika Hara from Japan and Isi Gabsa from Germany, and from across the U.S., proving the tour’s national and international interest.
The 2025 Great Lakes Championship winner, Riley Smyth, who secured LPGA status for 2026, shared with Griffin that “everybody is so nice up here; the golf course is great, and it seemed very organized. We stayed right at The Highlands, and it was great, too. I’m from Georgia, but I like it in Northern Michigan. I could live here nine months of the year.”
With such positive experiences and impressions from the first tour, this year’s players are excited and looking forward to the course’s challenges and setting, and the Great Lakes Sports Commission, along with the Epson Tour and BOYNE Golf, is seeking to add new partnerships and sponsorships.
“Looking ahead to 2026, the Great Lakes Championship is well-positioned to continue building momentum,” said Fox. “Building on the strong debut, we remain focused on enhancing the overall event experience for players, fans, and partners. We plan to further strengthen the tournament, expand fan engagement and opportunities, and continue growing the event’s impact in Northern Michigan in 2026 and beyond.”
Northern Michigan is a year-round seasonal getaway, with summer being a time of million-dollar sunsets, long days, and golf courses fit for beginners and pros alike. Spectators, locals, visitors, and participants rallied behind the new tournament with gusto, enjoying the healthy competition and stunning scenery, and they’re ready for the upcoming event, including Griffin and his team at The Highlands.
“Last year’s event was extremely successful, especially given that it was the inaugural,” added Griffin. “Beyond last year’s success, this was a tremendous opportunity to make this year’s and next year’s events even more successful!”
BOYNE Golf, the Epson Tour, and the Great Lakes Sports Commission are thrilled to bring the Great Lakes Championship back to The Heather and America’s Summer Golf Capital, June 19–21, 2026, and in June 2027.
About the Author: Alex Dailey is a long-time Northern Michigan resident who happily calls Petoskey home. When she isn’t at her computer writing and editing, you can find her taste-testing craft cocktails, patronizing downtown shops (especially bookstores), and participating in as many local literary events as possible. She looks forward to sharing her Petoskey Area favorites with you!