What are the Best Public Courses I can play in Northern Michigan

[Brent4567]

Looking for places to play in Northern Michigan. Whats the best resort to stay at? We are going in June.

[dumbdog]

Not sure if it qualifies as Northern but Belvedere was really enjoyable.

[dozer996]

Probably Boyne Highlands, play Bay Harbor, The Hills, The Ross, The Heather, Belvedere

Really good golf up there.

Gaylord - Tree Tops from what I hear is getting run down.

[uofmrocky]

I have played boyne many many times. All the courses are great. Crooked tree in the boyne package is very underrated. Many great courses in Gaylord as well.

[HackerDave]

That's a pretty open ended question. "Up north" is a pretty big area. Is this a guys trip? Family? Kids? I will give you a list of great courses, but they are not all grouped together.

Arcadia Bluffs - Kind of out of the way but spectacular
Forest Dunes
Bay Harbor
The Tribute
Black Lake
Lockenheath
Kingsley Club (private)

There are many more. If you are looking for a home base, I would suggest Boyne Highlands, just as the others have. They have nice accommodations and excellent golf and you can usually get a pretty decent package. Make sure you play Bay Harbor.

[Openwater22]

Price range? If money's no object go with hackerdave's list.
If your looking for the best price/value relationship in a resort, Boyne is the ticket.
If your looking for cheapest price in a stay and play, Treetops.
If your heading up from Southern Ontario and want to save some windshield time, stay at the Dougherty in Clare and play The Quest, Eagle Glen, Bucks Run, Pohlcat.
If you want to party, stay at the Park Place in downtown Traverse City. Play, Lochenheath, Sundance, any of the courses at grand traverse resort.
If you're looking for under the radar, under $40.00 courses; Quest in houghton lake, Grandview in Kalkaska, Gaylord CC in Gaylord, Eagle Glen near Clare, Indian River golf Club in...you guessed it... Indian River. West Branch CC in West Branch.

[Schoolboy]

Make sure Arcadian Bluffs makes your itinerary...

[Openwater22]

[quote name='Schoolboy' timestamp='1432381627' post='11612730']
Make sure Arcadian Bluffs makes your itinerary...
[/quote]
Why?

[Chilidog]

[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432433405' post='11616260']
[quote name='Schoolboy' timestamp='1432381627' post='11612730']
Make sure Arcadian Bluffs makes your itinerary...
[/quote]
Why?
[/quote]

Maybe because it's one of the top ranked courses in the State.

[Openwater22]

[quote name='Chilidog' timestamp='1432571396' post='11623010']
[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432433405' post='11616260']
[quote name='Schoolboy' timestamp='1432381627' post='11612730']
Make sure Arcadian Bluffs makes your itinerary...
[/quote]
Why?
[/quote]

Maybe because it's one of the top ranked courses in the State.
[/quote]
Doesn't deserve the ranking. Take away the views and it's just another golf course with stoopid green complex's.

[Chilidog]

Disagree

[IrishGolfer14]

I was just in Northern Michigan this past weekend so I figured I would give my thoughts. We stayed at Boyne Highlands and over the course of the weekend we played Forest Dunes, Bay Harbor, the Heather, the Hills, and Arcadia Bluffs. I would definitely recommend both Forest Dunes and Arcadia Bluffs if you can, but they are both a good drive from Harbor Springs. I would definitely play 36 at Bay Harbor, that way you can play all 27 holes, but if you can only play 18 then I would play the Links/Quarry. I didn't think that the Heather was anything special, but I thought that the Hills was a really cool course and would recommend that you play it.

[nikegolfer1983]

Any reviews on Locenheath?


Going to Traverse city in a few weeks and playing Arcadia Bluffs, Locenheath, and Grand Traverse resort (bear course)

[Openwater22]

[quote name='Chilidog' timestamp='1432645380' post='11627626']
Disagree
[/quote]
Ok, that's what makes these discussions interesting.

[Bubb]

[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1432671267' post='11630574']
Any reviews on Locenheath?


Going to Traverse city in a few weeks and playing Arcadia Bluffs, Locenheath, and Grand Traverse resort (bear course)
[/quote]
Lochenheath is amazing. It's very difficult, but you'll love every minute. It's in the top five of all that I've played in Michigan and I've played most. The restaurant is great too.

[Bubb]

[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432637617' post='11627258']
[quote name='Chilidog' timestamp='1432571396' post='11623010']
[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432433405' post='11616260']
[quote name='Schoolboy' timestamp='1432381627' post='11612730']
Make sure Arcadian Bluffs makes your itinerary...
[/quote]
Why?
[/quote]

Maybe because it's one of the top ranked courses in the State.
[/quote]
Doesn't deserve the ranking. Take away the views and it's just another golf course with stoopid green complex's.
[/quote]
Take away the views? That's like saying "take away the history" of St. Andrews. You can't. Arcadia has some of the best views of any golf course ever built, and there's no taking them away.

[nikegolfer1983]

[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1432687408' post='11632176']
[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1432671267' post='11630574']
Any reviews on Locenheath?


Going to Traverse city in a few weeks and playing Arcadia Bluffs, Locenheath, and Grand Traverse resort (bear course)
[/quote]
Lochenheath is amazing. It's very difficult, but you'll love every minute. It's in the top five of all that I've played in Michigan and I've played most. The restaurant is great too.
[/quote]

I've also head that the Bear course at Traverse Resort is very difficult, any truth to this?

[Bubb]

[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1432688135' post='11632284']
[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1432687408' post='11632176']
[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1432671267' post='11630574']
Any reviews on Locenheath?


Going to Traverse city in a few weeks and playing Arcadia Bluffs, Locenheath, and Grand Traverse resort (bear course)
[/quote]
Lochenheath is amazing. It's very difficult, but you'll love every minute. It's in the top five of all that I've played in Michigan and I've played most. The restaurant is great too.
[/quote]

I've also head that the Bear course at Traverse Resort is very difficult, any truth to this?
[/quote]
Yes, it is. I played it a couple times and it beat me both times. I would play the Wolverine. But honestly, if you're in the area, play Kingsley Club. It's unforgettable.

[nikegolfer1983]

[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1432689373' post='11632454']
[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1432688135' post='11632284']
[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1432687408' post='11632176']
[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1432671267' post='11630574']
Any reviews on Locenheath?


Going to Traverse city in a few weeks and playing Arcadia Bluffs, Locenheath, and Grand Traverse resort (bear course)
[/quote]
Lochenheath is amazing. It's very difficult, but you'll love every minute. It's in the top five of all that I've played in Michigan and I've played most. The restaurant is great too.
[/quote]

I've also head that the Bear course at Traverse Resort is very difficult, any truth to this?
[/quote]
Yes, it is. I played it a couple times and it beat me both times. I would play the Wolverine. But honestly, if you're in the area, play Kingsley Club. It's unforgettable.
[/quote]

Isn't kingsley club a private club?

[Openwater22]

[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1432687531' post='11632192']
[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432637617' post='11627258']
[quote name='Chilidog' timestamp='1432571396' post='11623010']
[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432433405' post='11616260']
[quote name='Schoolboy' timestamp='1432381627' post='11612730']
Make sure Arcadian Bluffs makes your itinerary...
[/quote]
Why?
[/quote]

Maybe because it's one of the top ranked courses in the State.
[/quote]
Doesn't deserve the ranking. Take away the views and it's just another golf course with stoopid green complex's.
[/quote]
Take away the views? That's like saying "take away the history" of St. Andrews. You can't. Arcadia has some of the best views of any golf course ever built, and there's no taking them away.
[/quote]
I've played St.Andrews, and it's a fantastic golf course, with or without the history. Arcadia Bluffs is not a fantastic golf course, it's an average golf course with some dramatic views of Lake Michigan.

[TLfan]

[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432637617' post='11627258']
[quote name='Chilidog' timestamp='1432571396' post='11623010']
[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432433405' post='11616260']
[quote name='Schoolboy' timestamp='1432381627' post='11612730']
Make sure Arcadian Bluffs makes your itinerary...
[/quote]
Why?
[/quote]

Maybe because it's one of the top ranked courses in the State.
[/quote]
Doesn't deserve the ranking. Take away the views and it's just another golf course with stoopid green complex's.
[/quote]

Lol Arcadia and Kingsley Club are the top destinations in the area he is asking about, have a pro call and Kingsley is easy to get on, otherwise email them.

[Openwater22]

[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1432689373' post='11632454']
[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1432688135' post='11632284']
[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1432687408' post='11632176']
[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1432671267' post='11630574']
Any reviews on Locenheath?


Going to Traverse city in a few weeks and playing Arcadia Bluffs, Locenheath, and Grand Traverse resort (bear course)
[/quote]
Lochenheath is amazing. It's very difficult, but you'll love every minute. It's in the top five of all that I've played in Michigan and I've played most. The restaurant is great too.
[/quote]

I've also head that the Bear course at Traverse Resort is very difficult, any truth to this?
[/quote]
Yes, it is. I played it a couple times and it beat me both times. I would play the Wolverine. But honestly, if you're in the area, play Kingsley Club. It's unforgettable.
[/quote]
BTW, the Kingsley Club course designer, Superintendent, Membership Director, and Golf Professional all think Arcadia is waaaay overrated. just sayin'

[Openwater22]

[quote name='TLfan' timestamp='1432692456' post='11632864']
[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432637617' post='11627258']
[quote name='Chilidog' timestamp='1432571396' post='11623010']
[quote name='Openwater22' timestamp='1432433405' post='11616260']
[quote name='Schoolboy' timestamp='1432381627' post='11612730']
Make sure Arcadian Bluffs makes your itinerary...
[/quote]
Why?
[/quote]

Maybe because it's one of the top ranked courses in the State.
[/quote]
Doesn't deserve the ranking. Take away the views and it's just another golf course with stoopid green complex's.
[/quote]

Lol Arcadia and Kingsley Club are the top destinations in the area he is asking about, have a pro call and Kingsley is easy to get on, otherwise email them.
[/quote]
Really? I didn't know that. I've resided in the area for 36 years and somehow missed the fact KC and Arcadia are top destinations. Read post #6, trying to provide the OP some boots on the ground feedback.

[TLfan]

That's cheap alternatives to the top destinations, not gonna argue bc you think Arcadia and Kingsley are over rated. Arcadia is amazing IMO, Kingsley gets jealous, I understand that.