Drive the Mitten

Michigan’s golf scene is vast, but a handful of public tracks rise to true “you have to play this” status. Think clifftop shots above Lake Michigan, reversible fairways in the pines, and U.P. granite underfoot. Start here to plan a season’s worth of destination rounds.

1 – ARCADIA BLUFFS (BLUFFS, SOUTH COURSE, & THE DOZEN) – ARCADIA

The Bluffs Course is Michigan’s postcard: wind, tumbling fairways, and Lake Michigan filling your periphery from clifftop holes. The South Course trades seaside drama for Golden-Age restraint—wide corridors, ground game, and a classic feel. And be sure to check out Arcadia Bluffs newest edition the Dozen, with two six-hole loops.

2 – FOREST DUNES & THE LOOP – ROSCOMMON

At Forest Dunes you can play a modern north woods classic, then return the next two days for The Loop—Tom Doak’s reversible 18 that plays one direction one day and the opposite the next. It’s one of only a handful of reversible courses anywhere, and it’s reason alone to point the car toward Roscommon.

3 – BAY HARBOR (LINKS/QUARRY/PRESERVE) – PETOSKEY

Twenty-seven holes sweep along Little Traverse Bay and through a reclaimed limestone quarry. Mix and match the Links, Quarry, and Preserve for big-water views, coastal sandscapes, and a resort-polished experience right on the bay.

4 – GREYWALLS (MARQUETTE GOLF CLUB) – MARQUETTE

If you want the Upper Peninsula at full volume, Greywalls delivers: exposed rock faces, elevation changes, and cliff-edge greens with Lake Superior air in your lungs. It’s raw, beautiful, and unforgettable.

5 – AMERICAN DUNES – GRAND HAVEN

Built to honor and support Folds of Honor, this Jack Nicklaus design pairs sandy, windswept corridors with a powerful sense of place. The result is a stirring round on the lakeshore that plays with heart.

6 – HARBOR SHORES – BENTON HARBOR

Another Nicklaus signature, Harbor Shores winds through dunes, wetlands, and restored riverfront, and it’s a repeat host of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship—proof it tests the best while staying open to the public.

7 – STOATIN BRAE – AUGUSTA (GULL LAKE VIEW RESORT)

High-prairie, links-style golf with a minimalist touch—firm turf, open horizons, and plenty of breeze. The design team stripped away trees to let the land and wind do the talking, creating a walker’s-delight that feels worlds away.

8 – SWEETGRASS (ISLAND RESORT & CASINO) – HARRIS

Classic, welcoming lines in the eastern U.P.—and home to the Epson Tour’s Island Resort Championship—mean Sweetgrass plays both fair and championship-tough including the famous island green on number 15.

9 – EAGLE EYE – BATH

A sprawling, tournament-tested layout with one of Michigan’s most talked-about greens: the island-style 17th, a nerve- check homage made famous at Sawgrass. Bring a spare ball and your best wedge.

10 – BLACK LAKE – ONAWAY

Rees Jones carved this quiet northern track through pines, wetlands, and sandy cuts. It’s secluded, playable, and a cult favorite for a reason.

Treat this list like a map. Mix a showpiece with a hidden gem, pair a morning round with a lighthouse or brewery stop, and keep an eye on shoulder-season rates in the spring. However you play it, Michigan’s public golf will give you stories to bring home.

TOP PHOTO: Forest Dunes Golf Course, Roscommon (PATRICK KOENIG)

Putt, Sip, Repeat

Looking for a unique, smaller-scale golfing experience? River Club in Glen Arbor is an 18-hole, landscaped mini-golf course played on real turf and set right along the Crystal River. It’s equal parts putt and hangout: craft cocktails and craft beer are available (with cup holders at the start and finish of every hole), and there’s excellent food on site. Drinks are encouraged on the course; food is not allowed while you play, so plan to sip as you stroll, then eat before or after your round.

The vibe is pure Up North—no tee times, no reservations, just show up, grab a putter, and settle into the pace. A sky deck overlooks the river for sunset views (and heckling), and live music plays every evening. Families can take their time, golfers can keep their touch sharp, and friends can loop back for a rematch—because play is “stay all day.”

Leave for the beach or an ice cream run and come back later; your pass still works.