Boyne Highlands Resort

I love this classic course. Great shape. Great design. So fun to play.

The Heather is not a bomb and gouge course, it's more of a classic shotmakers route. If I recall correctly there are only 3 (non-par 3) holes on the course that don't have some degree of dog-leg to them... and - while it is straight - 18 presents it's own set if shot making decisions. As an example, on the par 4 3rd and hit 7i off the tee and on the par 5 ninth, I led with a six... and parred both holes (it's worth noting that if I had played one tee box back, I probably could have hit a bigger club on #3, there is a corner to cut, but I couldn't reliably get my driver high enough fast enough, and it was short enough to par with the 7i anyway... but... there are a few holes that might actually be a little easier to play from the back tees, something to consider). To me, this never got boring and I enjoyed having to think as much about my first shot at my approach.

The course itself is beautiful, excellently maintained and framed with trees most of the way around.. There is plenty of water on the course, although not much of it really needs to come into play (you'll ned to carry it on a couple of the par threes, but it's all right in front of you and none of them are long enough to make you question if you can make the shot). What was particularly cool about the water (as you can see in a couple of my pics) is in the morning it can get very pretty with the "smoke on the water." Even the slightly smokey skys played into the scenery, and made the sunrise a bit more dramatic.

As mentioned, the courses primary defense is angles; however, there are some large and occasionally deep bunkers to contend with around the greens as well. Fortunately, the sand is terrific and plays exactly as it should, so these shouldn't be too big of a problem if you are comfortable from the sand (I was 1/2 on sand saves).

It's worth noting that the service we received was top notch all the way around... up to and including the grounds crew who we caught up to on (I think) the 12th hole (we play pretty quickly... the entire round took about 2:35). They were very accommodating and worked with use to make sure our experience wasn't compromised while we worked through the holes they were busy maintaining.

The 18th hole is an interesting example of having to make decisions even on a straight forward hole. The large pond that protects the green is certainly reachable to the right (and everywhere to a big hitter) so I elected to skirt the left edge and allow for a big hit to play through to a slivery of fairway that runs to the left of the pond. My ~250 yard drive (which probably would have been wet if it had been to the right) left me about 175/180 to the center of the green about 165 of which was carry. Fun hole, but I can see a lot of ways to have ti ruin a round if you don't carefully consider each shot.

#9 is an interesting hole as well, and might be my favorite on the course just because of the strategy options available.I opted for a pair of six irons which allowed me to navigate the somewhat narrow fairways (most of the Heather is wide in the landing areas, #9 was a little more challenging) and left me a pretty stock (145) pitching wedge into the green. There's certainly an option to try a bigger club off the tee and try to reach the relatively short par 5 in two, but this seemed like an "easy 5, or... a 7" type of hole to me and I opted for the 5.

I had a ton of courses to choose from on my vacation to Northern Michigan, I can say without any regret I'm glad I chose The Heather as one of them. I'd absolutely recommend it to a friend and will probably include it in future trips back to the area.

There are lots of great options in Harbor Springs and over the years I have played most of them, but not the Donald Ross Memorial. It just seemed less exciting than the others for some reason. This was a mistake waiting so long! I loved it! Donald Ross designs are obviously amazing examples of classic architecture golf and I was amazed at how well that translated to this piece of property. It doesn't have as dramatic elevation changes as the Hills course, but it still has great holes going both up and down. Conditioning was excellent as it always is at Boyne and I'm kicking myself for not having played the Ross sooner.

Green on steroids. Walking on the greens are like walking on super plush carpet. Greens are challenging but true. Follow your eye. Great friendly staff. Very attentive to your needs.

I've played this course twice during the June/July months which was an awesome experience. I truly have zero negative comments about this course and everything that comes with it. The Boyne staff and amenities has been perfect every time we have played here (service, food, drinks, etc). 7 of us just played this course on October 10th and it was by far the best fall golf experience any of us have ever had. Hole #13 has to be one of the coolest holes to play in America in the fall season. The colors were absolutely amazing and even though the greens were aerated about 2 weeks before, they still rolled very well. The even had a beverage cart out which was a huge plus for us. I would love to play this course at least once a year, preferably in the fall. One of our favorites in Michigan for sure.

After having been recommended by a friend, we looked forward to playing this course all summer. The course was in great shape. Donald Ross apparently loved sand with hole designs that included sand traps in the fairways as well as guarding most greens. Count on additional strokes.

Staff was friendly and attentive to keeping balls on the driving range. Our only complaint was pace of play. We had fairly long waits on most holes and starting at hole 10, groups were stacked 4 deep on some holes. We did not expect this on a course in the Boyne collection.

We play here as part of our Ryder Cup style outing every year, played the course twice, the 24th and the 27th.

Tough but fair. The fairways are wide enough but don't let your ball go too far astray as you will be in jail in the trees or high grass.

The Par 4 5th (#1 HDCP) is the 2nd most picturesque hole on the course, with the par 5 #13 taking the honors as the best looking hole around (as many have previously attested).

The Par 4 10th is tricky. AN iron is all you need off the tee with your second shot to an elevated green. Hit it too far and you roll off the back or left or right sides. and down the hill. Hit it short and your in the sand at the bottom of the hill.

Par 5 number 11 is the toughest hole for me on the course. Uphill tee shot with your second shot either going over the left side of the fairway or over a substantial fairway bunker center and right. Green is on the smallish side and mowed on the front back and right so a long shot will roll off into fairway.

There is a huge waste bunker on the left side of hole number 8 but part of the bunker has been submerged in water the last two seasons due to the abundance of rain received, that's the only negative I have about the course (blaming Mother Nature).

Arthur Hills is a must play course if you are visiting Petoskey / Bay Harbor to play.

We play here every year as part of our annual golf outing (32 players this year) and as always, it never disappoints.

The course remains in pristine condition. The rough is thick but not too long. The fairways are impeccable and the greens run true.

Plenty of dog legs (to the right and left) and keeping it in the fairway on your tee shots as opposed to having it run out into the rough is key.

9th hole is always the toughest hole for me, but I escaped with a bogie. The 18th is a classic finishing hole with the pond in front of the green.

Don't know the exact price we paid as it was part of an overall package with lodging and was handled by our commissioner.

The Heather is a must play course for those traveling to Petoskey / Bay Harbor!

Boyne practice area is great, but the courses are way overpriced for a round. The moor is a decent course, but $90-110? That’s borderline absurd.