If you take one golf vacation this year, northern Michigan is where it should be. And of all the northern Michigan golf courses to choose from, the ones that have created more memories and been at the heart of more golf stories are in and around Petoskey, MI.
Petoskey and the neighboring communities of Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor and Boyne Falls are where you’ll find the northern Michigan golf you’ve dreamed of. Imagine looking down emerald-green fairways that lead to the azure-blue of Lake Michigan. Imagine playing on courses designed or inspired by the likes of Robert Trent Jones, Arthur Hills and Donald Ross.
Those world-class course designers also had some world-class landscape to work with. The topography here was sculpted by the glaciers and defined by rolling hills up to 600 feet in elevation. Most area courses take full advantage with breathtaking terrain changes. Lake Michigan and numerous inland lakes add to the beauty of the courses. And virtually all the golf holes are separated from each other — no bowling alley back and forth golf.
Of course, since I live here, you may think my opinion is maybe a little slanted. So let’s get an outside opinion. How about Golf Magazine? It rated the Petoskey Area as #2 in the country for concentrated golf quality. Pretty impressive stuff.
Come to think of it, with 18 spectacular courses within a short drive of one another, “concentrated golf quality” may actually be an understatement. So, do you have to be a scratch golfer to enjoy these northern Michigan golf courses? Nope. From nationally rated, tournament-quality courses to more economical layouts, golfers of all abilities will love it here.
With so many great northern Michigan golf courses, you’ll definitely want to stay for at least a few days. Whether you stay in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor or Boyne Falls, you can count on getting a place that fits you to, well, a tee. You can choose from condos, modern hotels, historic inns, and full-service resorts. You can stay on a course, on the lake, or in town. Need help? The Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau will point you in the right direction.
Plan your Petoskey, MI golf trip soon. You’ll remember the beauty of where you played long after forgetting your score.
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About the author
Diane Dakins is passionate about all of the communities that comprise the Petoskey Area of Michigan: Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor and Boyne City. As assistant director of the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, she has “been there – seen that” when it comes to virtually every area attraction. She strives to create informative content that gives potential visitors the scoop on planning a northern Michigan vacation.