Donald Ross Memorial at The Highlands (Boyne)

The story behind The Memorial is a fascinating one. Top Boyne brass - like resort founder Everett Kircher and his son, Stephen - scoured the country looking for holes on Donald Ross courses worthy of bringing back to northern Michigan. Playing the Memorial will introduce you to replica holes from Inverness, Oakland Hills, Royal Dornoch, Pinehurst No. 2 and more.

But the real story is simply this: The Memorial is a really strong golf course, even if you didn't know or care about its background. It's got a good collection of holes, especially a few short par 4s. One caveat: More than 120 bunkers and thick rough make scoring difficult. If you can solve the Memorial, your game can travel anywhere.

What an awesome course, loved that each hole was a duplicate of another course. Friendly and helpful staff. Course in excellent shape and greens were very fast.

The Donald Ross Memorial......wow...bring your A game and be ready for sand. Our groups third and final day at Boyne Highlands and what a way to finish. Every shot is a challenge, even if you look out and think the hole looks benign, don't be fooled. The Ross course is ready to grab you at any point and add strokes to your score quickly. The sand looks and is daunting. There is plenty of it on every hole and a lot of it is very deep. A game needed and that includes sand escapes. The greens are quick but fair and true. The problem is getting to them. Stay ouit of the sand and you will score well and have earned a good refreshment after the round.

Again the golf staff at the Ross was just as excellent and professional as we had seen our previous two days. I know I am repeating from other reviews but I can't say enough good things about the entire golf staff at Boyne Highlands. They were great to work with in advance of our outing and even more so with all of the people in our group upon arrival at each course.

This Ross design takes some of his leading holes from his other famous designs and puts them into one 18 hole challenge. It's a nice idea and you can read about the holes, where they are located course wise and realize the greats who have played them. Truly a gem of a course and a great afternoon playing it.

This course starts hard and finishes easier. You want to play Oakland Hills 16th hole, it's the finishing hole on this course. The first 8 holes will test you. Appears easy starting first hole until you get to the green. Surrounded by big traps and one of narrowest greens I have every played. It doesn't get much easier. Easy 2nd hole from the tee until you have to take that second shot. Dime green uphill that slopes away from you. 3rd hold uphill par 3 with elevated green surround in the front with big deep bunkers with lots of sand. The first Par 5 over 500 yards long from orange tees, plan on driver, fair wood and another long club if your not a big hitter. The 10th hole by far one of the hardest holes if your not a straight hitter. Long par 4 with elevated dime size green. Make it three good shot hole and you might have chance at par. Play its sister course The Arthur Hills and you have had one great day of golf.