Top Michigan resorts and Courses

Looking to head to Northern Michigan in September of 2012 for our annual boys trip.  Which resort offers the best courses and accomodation on -site? We would prefer to stay at one place and play 5-6 rounds over 3 days. Any suggestions?

Boyne Mountain golf has many on-site housing arrangements - hotel rooms or houses with many bedrooms.

I've not played the courses sad to say, but I live in Mid-Michigan and enjoy some other courses that are excellent, but don't have on-site housing.

Lakewood Shores in Oscoda has 3 great courses (Blackshire, Gailes, Serradella) with accommodations on site. It is pretty much a golf only resort (no pool-though there is lake access). The newer hotel rooms are nice, the 4 person suites are kind of dated but definitely functional. As a bonus behind all the rooms there is an 18 hole par 3 course that is free to play as much as you like. My group is returning for the 3rd year this July-we love it. If you are looking to play a ton of golf for a great deal, you should check this place out.

Masterpiece Golf Course in Gaylord is great. You can check out some details of it here http://www.golfzoo.com/-dest-MIGA-vendor-MASTRE-_param-1-.htm

Your choices in Northern Michigan (Lakewood Shores is on the east coast) are Treetops in Gaylord, Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, Boyne Highlands near Harbor Springs, Shanty Creek near Bellaire and Bay Harbor north of Charlevoix if you you want to stay on-site. There is also Garland Resort which is nice as well. Of these I'd choose either Treetops or Boyne Highlands. Both have numerous great courses and nice accommodations. Bay Harbor has a more spectacular 27 hole course and access to other nearby courses but is the most expensive. There is also Grand Traverse Resort near Traverse City with a brutal Nicklaus course.

Treetops has courses by Robert Trent Jones, Tom Fazio and 2 by golf director and teacher extraordinaire Rick Smith as well as a cool 9 hole course. It's on a very hilly property. Boyne Highlands has a RTJ course, an Arthur Hills course and the Donald Ross Memorial, copies of 18 great holes by the master. Bay Harbor has 27 holes on or near Lake Michigan and access to a few other high quality nearby courses. Another option is to stay in Charlevoix and play Belvedere and Dunmaglas. It's an easy drive from there to the Boyne courses and many other great tracks.

If you're looking to play at least 6 rounds, and you don't want to play the same 1-3 courses over and over, you need to stay at either Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs, or Treetops in Gaylord.  Personally I'd go with Boyne Highlands.  You have access to up to 11 courses at both Boyne Highlands and Mountain, along with Bay Harbor, and Hidden River.  Plus the town of Harbor Springs and Petoskey are much better IMO than Gaylord.  You can also book unlimited golf packages at Boyne for like 80 bucks per day per person.  Not bad for your lodging and at least 36 holes of golf per day.

Take it from a guy who has played almost every course in Northern Michigan.  If you have never played Treetops then that is your best best bet.  They have 4 courses plus the worlds best par 3 course.  Treetops has some of the most scenic holes in the entire country and they currently have a special going for $109 a person for 1 nights stay and two days of UNLIMITED GOLF.  You wont be able to find a better deal than that.  IF you do choose treetops then I would recomend Playing the Premier, Signature, and MAsterpiece as well as "threetops" which is a crazy par 3 course.  The tradition is a nice course but is not as good as the other courses.  IF you are gonna golf treetops then I would also suggest playing the Otsego Club "Tribute" which is a 5 minute drive from Treetops.  Its ranked in the top 10 courses in the state and you can get a twighlight rate around $45.  Trust me....you wont regret this trip.

Shanty creek is probably your next best option.  Cedar River and the Legand are the two best courses at Shanty Creek.  HAwkseye and the Chief are also a must play and are a 5 minute drive from Shanty Creek.  I would also recomend 1 round at A-Ga-Ming Sundance (probably a 20 minute drive from Shanty Creek.  Go to www.golfthechief.com and look at the log cabin they have for rent.  It sleeps 8-12 and I have a group going up in June and they are only charging us $150 a man for 3 days and 5 rounds of golf.  Thats a crazy deal

Garland is a nice resort but the courses dont compare with Treetops or Shanty creek.  Stay away from Boyne as well.  The courses are ok but they dont rival the other resorts that I mentioned.  Hope this helps and hit em straight!!!!

A lesson for you kids out there....don't drink and post!!

Agree. I think that poster prefers hilly courses that are scenic and the Boyne Highlandsand Bay Harbor courses are not like that. But the Ross Memorial, Jones and Hills courses are among the best in the region along with Belvedere. The truth is there are a few dozen outstanding courses in the area but if you want to stay at a resort, Boyne Highlands would be my first choice.

Thanks for the info...have received pricing from Shanty Creek and Boyne. Just got back from a quick (6 1/2 Hour)  jaunt up to Treetops for a couple of rounds with the office.  Masterpiece and Premier are unbelievable- UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!  Hope the other places have courses that are as good or better.  Would have liked to go check one out but had no time. Popped into St.Ives / Tulleymore for a peek. Would be awesome but not sure if I want to play each course 3 times over 3 days..I like some different tracks but the other guys like to stay and play. Too many trips to Myrtle so we have to compromise. So its down to Shanty Creek or Boyne!!!!

I mentioned this previously in my post above, but if you guys are into doing more than hang out in your room or at your hotel after golf, I'd go with Boyne.  Petoskey and Harbor Springs are two very cool towns, with some good bars and restaurants.  There's also a casino in Petoskey if you're into that (in fact I believe that Boyne throws in some free play for you at the casino in their packages).  Also if you play Bay Harbor (part of Boyne's array of courses), it will be better than anything that Shanty Creek has to offer.

If you are driving 6.5 hours to check out treetops, then you can easily make the 2.5 hour drive from St. Ives/Tullymore for a round at Arcadia Bluffs

And you might be able to finagle a round on Kingsley Club south of Traverse City.

If your down to Boyne vs. Shanty then I would go with Shanty Creek.  The courses will be the closest thing you see compared to treetops.  Dont get me wrong Boyne has some okay courses....but they are resort courses and most golfers will tell you they are pretty boring.  I would go to Shanty and golf the following

1. Cedar River

2. Hawkseye

3. Legend

4. Chief

5. A-ga-Ming Sundance

Go to golfthechief.com and check out the cabin you can rent.  Its awesome.  Boyne is terrible....you will be dissapointed in the courses

I'd respectfully disagree.  Shanty is a very solid resort with some great courses, but you saying Boyne is terrible is laughable.  Unless of course you've only played Alpine and The Moors or something.  The Arthur Hills, Heather, and Donald Ross Memorial are as good or better than any course at Shanty.  Also don't forget that Hidden River is now a part of Boyne.  The deciding factor for me would be that Bay Harbor is head and shoulders above every other course at either resort.

Also, I like to do something other than sit in my room at night, and other than going to Short's, there's not much to do in Bellaire.  Petoskey and Harbor Springs on the other hand, there are tons of restaurants, a casino, bars, shopping, etc.

Honestly he can pick either resort and he will have a great time and play some great golf courses, but he should know that your "analysis" of Boyne is pretty far off base.

I disagree as well. The Boyne Mountain courses (which I have not played) seem to be from what I've read a typical Up North course with little architectural value but the Highlands courses are not "resort" courses which you imply are boring. To me, the Ross Memorial is the best course in the region. Maybe you value a hilly course with elevated tees over a flatter course. If so. hilly topography does not necessarily trump strategy.

I've played Cedar River and it's great and I've heard that Legend is beautiful but I'd still choose Highlands over Shanty Creek.

You are correct.  I was probablt a bit harsh on Boyne but I just feel most of the courses feel manufactured. Either way he will have a great time.

Boys voted for Shanty but mentioned all of your advice and we will be making a trip to Arcadia Bluffs on the way up to Shanty.