Michigan’s top courses from GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 List
While golf may not be the first thing you think of when you think of Michigan, for many years it has actually been considered one of the top destinations for golf in the country.
And there have been many golf celebrities who have agreed – enough that Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Alister Mackenzie, Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Gary Player, Tom Fazio, Tom Doak, Rees Jones, Arthur Hills, and Rick Smith have all chosen to design courses in our beautiful state!
GOLF Magazine recently recognized five Michigan courses among its “Top 100 You Can Play”. The biennial list, put together by the magazine’s editors and its panel of golf industry insiders, highlights the top public courses across the United States, as well as the best in each state. Michigan ranked sixth among the states with courses on the list and was the leader among Midwestern states. (Source: www.michigan.org)
With the arrival of spring, many golfers are looking forward to trying out a new course. Explore these top courses below to find your next golf trip!
1. Forest Dunes was Michigan’s top-ranked course on the list, taking the 21st spot nationally. This nationally acclaimed course was designed by Tom Weiskopf and can be found in Northern Michigan. At 7,104 yards, this par 72 course features five sets of tees to challenge golfers of any level, and ‘The Loop’, a Tom Doak-designed reverse course, offers two different routings using the same 18 green complexes. You’ll also enjoy amazing buds & blooms throughout the course, as it is surrounded by 400,000 acres of the Huron National Forest!
2. Arcadia Bluffs is considered one of Michigan’s most iconic courses to play, as it sits at the top of a spectacular bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. You’ll enjoy lake views from all 18 holes of this course designed by Rick Smith/Warren Henderson, which took spot number 36 on the list nationally.
3. Greywalls, at Marquette Golf Club, took spot number 80 on the list, and has a long history in Michigan. The Marquette Golf Club has been around since 1926, and the golf course, designed by Mike Devries, was opened in 2005. Enjoy the amazing Upper Peninsula scenery at this course, which also recently received an award from Golfweek for having one of the best layouts in Michigan.
4. Tullymore, just an hour from Grand Rapids, features a variety of holes that flow through wetland and forested areas, showcasing the unique, scenic beauty of West Michigan. Designed by Jim Engh, Tullymore took the 83rd spot on the list, and offers opportunities for beginner to expert golfers.
5. Finishing up the list, the Art Hills-designed Bay Harbor Golf Club took spot number 87 for the unique views it offers. Holes alternate between scenic bluff-top views of Little Traverse Bay, and a course that winds its way in and out of a rock quarry.
