5. Signature hole: No. Get used to bunkers guarding the greens. Signature hole: No. Fortress No. All in all, it provides a wide variety of challenges. Contact: Website | 231-898-2450Signature hole: No. 10 (Photo courtesy of Katke-Cousins), Location: 492 Golf View Ln, Rochester Hills, MI 48309, Par: 72 l Longest hole - 625-yard No. There are 4,200 feet of wooden bridges to clear the numerous lakes and march areas. What makes this a challenge: The front nine is the less difficult of the two sides while the back is more of a links style that winds through wooded areas, resembling something you might find in northern Michigan. 12; Shortest hole - 156-yard No. 10 (Photo courtesy of The Gailes). Michigan's top four remains unchanged from last year, but Arcadia Bluffs' South Course crept up one spot to No. ), Hole No. Built in the early 1920s on rolling farmland by golden-age golf architect William Watson, Belvedere opened in 1925 and quickly rose to prominence hosting the Michigan Amateur, with Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen among its early fairway strollers. The greens are fast and undulated, making many putts of 15 feet or longer break twice. Golfweek's vetted course-ratings panel of hundreds nationwide "continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. 16. A few courses in the Upper Peninsula made the cut. (MLive file pgoto), Course name: Meadows Golf Club at Grand Valley State, Location: 4645 West Campus, Allendale MI, 49401, Par: 72 | Longest hole - 601-yard No 14; Shortest hole - 192-yard No. One of two courses at Tullymore Golf Resort, St. Ives is a challenging layout with many forced carries into the greens. 9 at Hidden River. The Pohlcat (Photo courtesy of The Pohlcat), Location: 6595 Airport Road, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, Par: 72 l Longest hole - 579-yard No. This 535-yard par 5 requires about 285 off the tee over the water and a bunker to set to a decision. The swans are waiting. Pierce Lake Golf Course (Photo courtesy of Pierce Lake GC), Location: 1175 S. Main Street, Chelsea, MI 48118, Par: 72 l Longest hole - 577-yard No. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. design sits at the base of the resorts ski slopes and offers a stern ball-striking test, with tree-lined doglegs and water hazards demanding accuracy. And eight-person cottages with stay-and-play deals are also available at nearby Crooked Tree. White Oaks Golf Club (Photo courtesy of White Oaks), Location: 2171 Bankers Road, Hillsdale, MI 49242, Par: 71 l Longest hole - 533-yard No. 1. 18 is exhilarating. 17 (Photo courtesy of Eagle Eye), Signature hole: No. The course has many signature Dye elements, including steep greenside drop-offs, tiny pot bunkers and an island-green 17th, which closely mimics the famed original at TPC Sawgrass. 11; Shortest hole - 175-yard No. 6; Shortest hole - 155-yard No. The vistas out over Lake Superior are fantastic, beginning with the opening tee shot. Raisin Valley Golf Club (Photo courtesy of Raisin Valley), Location: 4057 Comfort Road, Tecumseh, MI 49286, Par: 72 l Longest hole - 590-yard No. Signature hole: No. The course winds through 800 acres of woods and wetlands and features many unique bunkers and greens, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. 14; Shortest hole - 165-yard No. All rights reserved. 18 at Pilgrim's Run. 7, Total yardage: Longest - 7,005 from Black; Shortest - 4,674 from Red, Signature hole: No. , Frankfort (2) Oakland Hills C.C . 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass. Huntmore Golf Club (Photo courtesy of Huntmore GC), Location: 9595 Estancia Dr Brighton MI, 48114, Par: 72 l Longest hole - 598-yard No. 11; Shortest hole - 159-yard No. Miss the fairway or fail to hit the green in two and you'll likely be hitting out of deep heather. 17 at Manitou Passage. 14 (382 yards) has a great view and is a par 4 that requires a tee-box decision to go driver or iron. 01 Crystal Downs Frankfort, Michigan 24 10 10 1 5.5 02 Oakland Hills (South) Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 54 38 34 2 5 03 Kingsley Club Kingsley, Michigan 99 85 3 5 04 Dunes Club New Buffalo, Michigan 4 5 05 Meadowbrook Country Club Northville, Michigan 5 4.5 06 Accuracy is a key both off the tee and into the green, which is surrounded almost entirely by water. (Photo courtesy of Stone Hedge). Michigan | Top 100 Golf Courses 5 (Photo courtesy of Rogers City CC). The hole's length makes it even more of a test. 18; Shortest hole - 205-yard No. Correct shot placement and club selection is a must. Grande Golf Club No. 1. Signature hole: No. 3 Michigan golf courses crack Top 200 residential layouts in U.S. Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club. 17, Total yardage: Longest - 6,668 from Palmer; Shortest - 5,214 from Red, Hole No. In fact, the club boast its provides "country club conditions at public course prices" and promises the greens will be as good as you'll find at most private courses once the weather finally warms up. The tree-lined fairways also demand accuracy. 18 (Photo courtesy of Eagle Eye), Location: 15500 Chandler Rd, Bath Twp, MI 48808, Par: 72 l Longest hole - 598-yard No. A decade before architect Mike DeVries created the world-class Cape Wickham Golf Club in Australia, he produced an equally compelling design in Michigans Upper Peninsula, a second 18 for Marquette. The topography, bunkering and green entrances are all so compelling that its barely noticeable that each serves two purposes. What makes this a challenge: Living up to its name, Bird Creek comes into play on 10 holes. If you are on a stay and play package or just hanging out on a lake for the weekend, here are five cant miss golf courses that golfers will certainly appreciate. 9, 18 (Photo courtesy of Red Hawk GC), Location: 350 W. Davison Road, East Tawas, MI 48730, Par: 71 l Longest hole - 575-yard No. The 38-foot long green is well protected by two bunker in front. Black Lake is a scenic Rees Jones-designed northern Michigan layout that was previously ranked for 12 years on our 100 Greatest Public list. 12, Total yardage: Longest - 7,074 Black; Shortest - 3,136 White, Hole No. No. The Loop is part of the Forest Dunes resort, which also contains Forest Dunes (No. What makes this a challenge: There are five ponds and a small creek on a rather wide-open course. (Photo courtesy of Arcadia Bluffs GC). The back also features lots of wetlands so keeping the ball in the fairway is crucial. Kingsley Club. What makes this a challenge: Not surprisingly, the course has been ranked No. (Photo courtesy of Missaukee GC). Pine Mountain Resort (Timber Stone), Iron Mountain. The Belvedere came in No. One new course entered this year's top 20: Out goes last year's No. 9; Shortest hole - 173-yard No. 6 (Photo courtesy of Glenbrier GC). There are several ways to attack the 18th, which has an elevated tee and downhill fairway. River's Edge doesn't have what is considered a signature hole but one of the most popular is the 18th, which features a shot over water on the approach to the green. Just don't miss left. 1 public golf course in metro Detroit brings some of The Masters to Michigan, Ranking metro Detroit's Top 10 Public Golf Courses: Here's who made the list and why, Where to play incredible golf in Michigan, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Saginaw Valley Golf Course (Photo courtesy of Saginaw Valley GC), Location: 7255 3 Mile Road, Bay City, MI 48706, Par: 72 l Longest hole - 555-yard No. Michigan, famed more for its Great Lakes and long winters, is an excellent golf state which may surprise players from around the world who havent sampled its diverse offeringsof elite public and private golf courses. It's long, there are mounds, bunkers, thick rough and water hazards strategically placed to give players fits. 14 (136 yards, par 3). What makes this a challenge: Most of the holes are tree lined and some against narrow fairways. What makes this a challenge: The course's website touts the 469-yard par 4 No. There are plenty of elevation changes, including some dramatic downhill tee shots which offer beautiful vistas of the northern Michigan landscape. 17, Total yardage: Longest - 7,300 from Championship; Shortest - 5,024 from Red, Hole No. Signature hole: No. 2 California and a lineup of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Illinois. Ok, define a "challenging" course? Hole No. 8 (380 yards, par 4) - Great dogleg right that temps with a nice risk-reward over a corner of the trees. The ultimate list of best public golf courses in Michigan has been released for 2023. Total yardage: Longest - 6,096 from Blue; Shortest - 4,776 from Red. 2 at Centennial Acres. 16 is 405 yards with a left bend about 200 yards out. No. 8; Shortest hole - 165-yard No. 2 at Dunmaglas (Photo courtesy of Dunmaglas GC). 2023 Michigan Economic Development Corporation. One of three grand "new Pebble Beaches" that debuted in the late 1990s, Bay Harbor was ranked third in Golf Digest's survey of Best New Upscale Public Courses of 1999, behind the twin juggernauts Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits. There are 39 sand bunkers and no water hazards. (Photo courtesy of Missaukee GC), Location: 5300 S Morey Rd, Lake City, MI 49651, Par: 71 | Longest hole - 469-yard No. What makes this a challenge: The layout has a number of elevated tees that look out over rolling terrain. Signature hole: No. Country Club of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Farms, 14. What makes this a challenge: One of the premier courses nationally as well as in the state, Arcadia Bluffs has 3,000 feet of shoreline on Lake Michigan. 18 (230 yards, par 3). Hole No. 18; Shortest hole - 181-yard No. Eagle Glen Golf Course (Photo courtesy of Eagle Glen), Location: 1251 Clubhouse Dr Farwell MI, 48622, Par: 72 l Longest hole - 552-yard No. 9; Shortest hole - 159-yard No. What makes this a challenge: Although its sister course is called The Nightmare, The Dream is the more difficult of the two because of the hardwoods that surround the layout as well as the undulating hills. William Watson, whose career began in Minnesota building courses such as Minikahda and Interlachen before moving on to work in California, designed Belvedere in the mid 1920s. (Photo courtesy of Stonehedge), Par: 72 | Longest - 6,628 yards Black; Shortest - 5,370 yards Gold, Yardage: Longest hole - 555-yard No. What makes this a challenge: Nice mix of meadowland, trees, hills and valleys with distant views of the lake. 18; Shortest hole - 150-yard No. The course is especially scenic in the fall, when the colorful foliage creates a stunning backdrop. Oakland Hills (North), Bloomfield Hills, AFTER THE FIRE:USGA announces 8 future events to be held at Oakland Hills, including 4 majors, INSIDE THE DEAL:How Oakland Hillsconvinced USGA to bring US Open back to Michigan. 1 public golf course in metro Detroit brings some of The Masters to Michigan, 15. 14; Shortest hole - 178-yard No. (Photo courtesy of Thoroughbred GC). 8 is the longest hole on the course and is surrounded by trees with a slight dogleg to the right. In the summer, you can tee off at 6 a.m. and play until 10 at night if you wish, or combine 18 or 36 another summer activity like hiking, fly-fishing or brewery-hopping. Here are the top-ranked courses for 2021-2022, as scored in our seven scoring criteria by Golf Digest's course-ranking panelists.