31 JUL 2019: Ancient glaciers carved the cobalt lakes and dramatic hills that blessed northern Michigan with an ideal topography for golf courses. Top designers, such as Robert Trent Jones, Senior, Arthur Hills and Donald Ross have left their mark. Accolades abound: The Heather at Boyne Highlands Resort joined the distinguished roster of Golf Digest’s 2019 – 2020 list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses; the 18-hole Links/Quarry duo at Bay Harbor Golf Club has remained on the list since 2003.
Before Boyne became a stellar golf destination, it was a popular ski area. The golf began in the mid-50s when ski industry pioneer, Everett Kircher, developed a nine-hole course to attract summer business and retain staff year-round at Boyne Mountain Resort. Kircher then hired the top course architect of the time, Robert Trent Jones Sr., to design The Heather that opened in 1966.
Boyne Golf consists of three resorts, a total of ten uniquely different golf courses, great restaurants and myriad other activities—all within a two-hour drive from the Traverse City Cherry Capital Airport.
Boyne Highlands
The ivy-clad, Tudor-style lodge at Boyne Highlands welcomes guests after a day on one of its four golf courses or perhaps some swing doctoring at the Golf Academy.
The Heather, the 2019 National Golf Course Owner’s Association Course of the Year, put northern Michigan on the map as an above par destination. This jewel in the Boyne crown is a splendid track that Jones wove through pine forests, blueberry bogs and natural wetlands. Both par-threes on the front nine require forced carries over ponds to sloping greens. The memorable 18th starts out with a tee shot down hill to a generous fairway that then narrows and circumvents a pond on the right. The approach is another carry to a large green framed by big bunker.
Playing the Donald Ross Memorial offers golfers the chance to experience the genius of his designs on courses that hosted three Ryder Cups, eight US Amateurs, eleven PGA Championships ad 14 US Opens. Donald Ross, known as “the father of golf course architecture in America,” emigrated from Scotland in 1899 and created about 600 courses, including the famous Pinehurst #2. Hole one is a replica of the sixth at Seminole in North Palm Beach. By the time you’ve played Ross’s “greatest hits” you will hopefully avoid most of the 100-plus bunkers be ready to toast Ross with a “wee dram” at the Seminole Pub at the Boyne Country Club.
The Arthur Hills course is arguably the drama queen of the Boyne Highlands collection. Number 13 is known as Boyne’s Everest! If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to hit a driver as hard as you can from the top of one of the ski slopes…here’s your chance! Arguably a signature hole for all of northern Michigan, the fairway is wide enough to let the next three groups play through, together. Further down the hill, some will go for the green in two, some will lay up short leaving a wedge shot approach. The green slopes inward from most of the edges, creating a bowl effect. This can filter balls closer to the hole, but make for trickier putting.
Last but not least and widely regarded as a members’ favourite, The Moor represents a fair but true test of game. Your score will greatly depend on how you handle the many doglegs.
The Golf Academy at Boyne Highlands boasts state-of-the-art GEARS (Golf Evaluation and Research System) technology. Strategically placed sensors on the body and club, plus eight cameras, provide detailed data on every centimetre of one’s swing. It’s like an “MRI” for your game. Dave McWhorter, teaching pro and master club fitter can translate this information into tips and clubs that can be game changers.
Inn at Bay Harbor
The grandiose white Inn at Bay Harbor looks like the kind of place where the Great Gatsby might have thrown some extravagant lawn parties. Just a few par-fives down the road, Bay Harbor’s three golf courses (Links, Preserve and Quarry), designed by Arthur Hills, flow seamlessly along shoreline bluffs, rugged rock formations, natural dunes and lush woodlands. When Bay Harbor opened in 1999, Golf Digest praised it as one of the “New Pebble Beaches” along with Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits.
It’s hard to imagine this area was once a toxic waste site and cement plant. The Irish-inspired Links has the requisite towering bluffs and windblown dunes. Arthur Hills routed The Quarry in and around the remains of a massive shale quarry and incorporated gorges, stone cliffs and ponds into his challenging design. It finishes with fanfare on a green near the lapping waves of Little Traverse Bay. The Preserve offers a romp through thick forests, wildflower meadows and wetlands.
Crooked Tree Golf Club is perched on bluffs high above Bay Harbor. The course was sculpted through century-old hardwoods and the back nine opens to breathtaking views of Little Traverse Bay.
At Bay Harbour’s Spa, I had my first “marijuana massage.” The CBD oil purportedly soothes aching golf joints, enhances circulation and promotes an overall calming feeling. And a couple of expertly crafted Manhattans garnished with cherries that have made this region the “cherry capital of the world” and a gourmet dinner, complete with oysters and sturgeon caviar on the Vintage Chophouse patio, life was about as good as it gets.
Boyne Mountain
Both the Alpine and Monument courses at Boyne Mountain resort require a mile-long cart ride to get to the first fairways on the summit. Alpine rewards with generous fairways and forgiving greens. Monument was crafted with nods to a list of legendary designers such as Donald Ross, Dr. Alister Mackenzie, Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio and Pete Dye. Cart gal Jerri Lee is part of the fun experience at Boyne Mountain. Try her signature Bloody Mary garnished with pepperoni, olives, pickles, peppers and a choice of hot sauces.
Pint, Cherry & Fudge Stops
Boyne Resorts are centered amid the scenic Lake Michigan beach towns of Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, and Petoskey.
Northern Michigan has become a stellar destination for craft brewpubs. At Petoskey Brewing Company we knocked back some flights of suds with beguiling names, such as Horny Monk and Cranium Crush.
Cherry lovers should make a “pit stop” at Charlevoix’s Cherry Republic, an homage to the fruity treats selling everything from salsa to pies to horseradish. This area around Traverse City produces 40 percent of the tart cherry crop in the US
You’ll want to leave Northern Michigan with a sweet taste in your mouth, so head to Doug Murdick’s Fudge where you’ll see the slabs cooling on marble tables. Try the black cherry.
visit www.boynegolf.com