Travel – Boyne, Michigan
The largest and best golf resort in America is Pinehurst, right? After all, with 10 courses, plus The Cradle short course, and its history and tradition of championships, that’s going to be pretty hard to top.
But what’s second, behind Pinehurst in terms of size and tradition? A case can be made for a destination you might not have considered, but should, especially in the summer or early fall.
Consider Boyne Golf, which has 10 18-hole championship golf courses, a new short course and three properties (all within a relatively short distance of each other) in Northern Michigan, which has become one of the most golf-centric locations in North America.
Boyne’s roots are in skiing, but it could be argued that its golf additions are even more impressive. It all started back in 1947 when former Detroit Studebaker salesman Everett Kircher bought 40 acres to operate a ski hill and lift, which led to more land acquisition and the wherewithal to figure out golf would be a great addition in the summer. The links ventures started with the Robert Trent Jones-designed Heather Course at Boyne Highlands. The course opened in 1966, and was recently restored to its former glory and then some. And Boyne has been adding and renovating since.
Boyne’s massive portfolio includes The Inn at Bay Harbor and the 27-hole Bay Harbor Golf Club, often referred to as the “Pebble Beach of the Midwest” because of its breathtaking holes and views off the shores of Lake Michigan. And then there are the courses of The Highlands and Boyne Mountain resort properties. All them have their own flair, are incredibly conditioned and beautiful in their own right, with elevation change and panoramic views.
The latest is a cool little short course called Doon Brae, which was built on the site of the former Cuff Links nine-hole par-3 course set along a hillside of ski terrain behind the Main Lodge at Boyne Highlands. Doon means “going down into a valley,” and Brae translates into “steep bank” or “hillside” in Scottish.
Doon Brae coincides with a new putting course, also at the Main Lodge. Both are aimed at families and golfers just looking to get in some casual fun in a laid-back atmosphere. Of course, both are great for your short game.
The new short course and putting course came in on the heels of another addition, a huge Trackman driving range at The Highlands, which was added a couple of years ago.
“Doon Brae right outside of Slopeside (bar) is amazing,” said Bernie Friedrich, Boyne’s director of golf course renovation & development. “And that’s why we did the driving range with Trackman. Not to know that your club is 1-degree open, but for families and such to play closest to the pin and other games and just to have fun.”
Another enjoyable addition has been the recently opened SkyBridge Michigan. Located at Boyne Mountain and open year-round, it’s the world’s largest timber-towered suspension bridge for walkers, and it spans 1,200 feet between the peaks of McLouth to Disciples Ridge, 118 feet in the air. The views of the valley are impressive, and there’s even a glass floor portion of the bridge, which makes it even more breathtaking and unnerving for some. To get there, you ride the historic Hemlock Scenic Chairlift to the mountaintop. As a bonus, you can get some pretty good food and drink after you cross the bridge.
The Highlands has the goods
You can’t go wrong with a Boyne golf vacation, even if you just stayed at one property. For example, at The Highlands, there are 72 holes of championship golf, and all the courses are fun and pretty challenging.
Located just north of Petoskey near Harbor Springs, The Highlands’ Main Lodge was recently transformed to a high-end boutique hotel that includes a new spa and steakhouse. These upscale accommodations are reminiscent of an English country estate with Scottish Highlands charm.
One of the most coveted courses at The Highlands has been the Donald Ross Memorial, which is a composite re-creation of golf holes Ross designed in the early part of the century at some of his most renowned courses. This was the first resort destination to ever create a tribute course in honor of a legendary architect like Ross.
And it’s better than ever, having undergone a lengthy renovation by Michigan-based architect Ray Hearn, a Donald Ross expert who employed satellite technology and drawings to recreate these holes down to every detail.
“We can actually get these very, very close, like inches close,” Friedrich said.
All of the holes – which include replicas from famous Ross courses such as Oak Hill Country Club, Oakland Hills, Seminole and Aronimink and its diabolical green – have an “authentic” feel and look to them.
And Hearn is also behind the design of Doon Brae. Although the course is routed on a ski hill, Hearn made sure to focus on minimizing walking uphill. It measures 993 yards from the back tees, and you’ll have to play off a variety of lies, of course. The holes range from 57 yards to 134 yards, providing multiple angles and fairway options with shorter-length holes. Design features include a Scottish-style Biarritz green (a large two-tiered green with a valley in the middle).
The other courses at The Highlands include the aforementioned Heather as well as The Moor, and the popular Arthur Hills Course (designed by Michigan native Arthur Hills). The Moor is very player-friendly, and is widely regarded as one of the members’ favorite tracks. Recent renovations to the Moor have included widening fairways, expanding collection areas around the greens with tree removal, and new bunker sand. And the Hills Course takes golfers through the hills of Northern Michigan. Highlights include the 13th tee with a 50-mile view of the hills and mountains beyond.
Boyne Golf’s most spectacular setting?
Located across Little Traverse Bay and along the shores of Lake Michigan west of Petoskey is the elegant Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Golf Club.
The Hills-designed golf course is laid out on and along the site of an old limestone quarry and cement factory. It has three nines, all very different, but perhaps the one that’s talked about the most is the Links Nine, because of the Pebble Beach comparison. If you didn’t know any better, you might think those views of Lake Michigan are the Pacific Ocean minus the waves. Bottom line is that several of the holes are perched above the endless blue water. The Quarry nine really holds its own, too, with one imaginative hole after another and a couple more views of the lake. And The Preserve, which is more subtle than the other two layouts, is often cited as the members’ favorite. Nearby, there’s another golf option, c. Carved though stands of century-plus old hardwoods, this 1991 design by Harry Bowers was acquired a few years ago. Hills did a redesign and renovation in 2014.
Boyne Mountain holds its own
About 30 minutes south of The Highlands, the third property, Boyne Mountain offers a variety of lodging options, including the Mountain Grand Lodge, condos, and the cool new Chalet Edelweiss located right on the hillside. At Chalet, guests can indulge in a 24-hour self-serving spa with a steam room, sauna and cold plunge.
The two courses there are a treat, too. And as mentioned above, this is where you’ll find the SkyBridge.
The Monument and Alpine mountainside courses – which have also undergone restorations and renovations, including tree removal to open up playing corridors – offer incredible views with a wide variety of holes. While these courses might be considered some of the easier layouts offered by Boyne, they offer plenty of challenges, especially the Monument Course.
In addition to all the great golf, this part of the country is simply astonishing, especially during the warm seasons. When you’re off property, you’ll want to venture into the Norman Rockwell-like lakeside resort towns of Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, Boyne City and Traverse City. These summertime playgrounds continue to grow in popularity.
Another great reason to play golf in Northern Michigan is that during the summer, you can easily play until 10 p.m. if you want. Or go during autumn when the leaves change colors, creating perhaps an even more striking backdrop.
Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to get to Northern Michigan with more nonstop flights being added to Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport from DFW and other major airports in the United States. For more information or to check out golf packages, visit www.boynegolf.com.