Michigan has over 650 golf courses to play and many stay-and-play options are available.
With the volume of first-class golf facilities available throughout the state, selecting the 10 best golf courses in Michigan is a difficult task.
This task has been eased with a collaboration with TheGrint, our favorite mobile app that helps golfers track their handicap and stats. They have collected golf course reviews from millions of real golf rounds from real golfers.
Ranking in order 1 to 10
- Kingsley Club
- Oakland Hills Country Club | South
- Treetops Resort | Par 3 Course
- Plum Hollow Country Club
- Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club
- Lost Dunes Golf Club
- Forest Dunes Golf Club | Forest Dunes
- Oakland University | R & S Sharf
- Bay Harbor Golf Club | Links/Quarry
- West Branch Golf Club | The Nightmare
1. Kingsley Club
- Site Link
- Location: Kingsley, Michigan.
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,242 meters off the Tips and 5,185 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 151-meter par 3 9th hole is a unique hole in that it has 2 separate teeing grounds, from the west and the south. The large green is bisected by a ridge that feeds the ball into two collection areas. Putting from the wrong side will test the putting skills.
The natural contours are used perfectly as the layout meanders through elevated terrain, with the bunkers blending into the dunes.
Tree-lined fairways add to the accuracy required and the course is a shot-makers dream.
Some spectacular holes to enjoy by all skill levels.
2. Oakland Hills Country Club | South
- Site Link
- Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,258 meters off the Tips and 5,973 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 371-meter par 4 16th is the signature hole and features a hard dogleg right around a pond. The further left the tee shot the more carry over water required on the approach to the bunker protected green.
A classic parkland-style track that is heavily bunkered throughout and will test every aspect of the game.
It is highly rated and has hosted numerous top tour events and dubbed the “Monster” by Ben Hogan due to its non-stop test.
Play the course at any opportunity to experience an absolute gem.
3. Treetops Resort | Par 3 Course
- Site Link
- Location: Gaylord, Michigan.
- Par: 27
- Length: 1,312 meters off the Tips and 1,260 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – Of all the par 3 holes on this signature par 3 layout, the 15th is deemed to be the best.
The elevation change to a well-bunkered green will keep you holding your breath waiting for the ball to drop onto the green.
The course is a ton of fun and each hole is unique.
Carved out the side of a mountain, the elevation changes will keep you guessing on club selection.
Hazards are ever-present and will destroy the scorecard, if not navigated well.
Take the time to play this extraordinary track.
4. Plum Hollow Country Club | Plum Hollow
- Site Link
- Location: Southfield, Michigan.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,175 meters off the Tips and 5,198 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 203-meter par 3 12th is the signature hole and plays from an elevated tee.
The steep sloping green has a false front and is protected by bunkers.
The Rouge River runs through the property and is used extensively throughout the layout.
Sloping, fast greens require a deft touch and the par 3s are all very challenging, due to the elevation changes.
A beautiful setting for a golf course.
5. Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Arcadia Bluffs, Michigan.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,673 meters off the Tips and 5,840 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 579-meter par 5 11th is favored by many to be the signature hole.
It plays downhill all the way to the green where the fairway narrows the closer you get to it.
Keep the ball on the fairway to take the opportunity to score par or better.
This old-style links course set on the shores of Lake Michigan will test every club in the bag.
The ever-present wind, pot-bunkers, rolling terrain, and fescue grass require the full monty when it comes to the type of shots required to score well.
Knock-down, bump-and-run, and occasionally the Texas wedge, require precision.
If links golf is your calling, then don’t miss this track.
6. Lost Dunes Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Bridgeman, Michigan.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,312 meters off the Tips and 5,856 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 155-meter par 3 13th is my choice of signature hole.
A unique runoff area in the front of the green is not always visible depending on the tee option. The green is well protected by bunkers.
Take an extra club.
The layout is built on a reclaimed sand quarry with huge dunes surrounding the course.
Elevated tees play to rolling terrain fairways with strategic bunkers awaiting the less controlled shot.
The massive, undulating greens present their own problems and a continuous challenge to avoid 3 or 4 putts!
7. Forest Dunes Golf Club | Forest Dunes
- Site Link
- Location: Roscommon, Michigan.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,505 meters off the Tips and 5,767 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 340-meter par 4 12th is an impressive dogleg left and requires placement off the tee.
Play to the right side of the fairway to open up the 2nd into the green.
This gently undulating landscape offers a unique opportunity to play this course in 2 different directions. Called Black and Red.
The Black is the more difficult of the two but take the opportunity to play the course both ways on the same day.
The courses offer some really great risk and reward holes to test all skill levels.
8. Oakland University | R & S Sharf
- Site Link
- Location: Rochester, Michigan.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,493 meters off the Tips and 4,712 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The drivable 308-meter par 4 12th hole is my choice of signature hole.
The hole utilizes a huge valley to feed the ball down to the green.
A bailout fairway area is available for the less adventurous.
The R & S Sharf course is highly rated and the gentle terrain has allowed the designers to create some challenging holes throughout the layout.
It offers a testing sequence of holes on the front 9 from 3 to 7 and then again the finishing 2 finishing holes.
9. Bay Harbor Golf Club | Links/Quarry
- Site Link
- Location: Bay Harbor, Michigan.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,181 meters off the Tips and 4,652 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 457-meter par 5 7th is the signature hole and what a hole it is!
Plays uphill along the cliff-tops above Lake Michigan, and only the long, accurate hitter will get home in 2 here.
A genuine 3-shotter for most golfers, the tricky sloping green will keep the concentration level high.
The course brings the magnificent views of Lake Michigan into play from the beginning of the round, and the front 9 has some beautiful scenery and holes.
The back 9 shows its teeth with forced carries, deep gorges to negotiate, elevated tee shots, natural ponds, and two-tiered greens to make the golfer work hard to finish with a good score.
A must-play track!
10. West Branch Golf Club | The Nightmare
- Site Link
- Location: West Branch, Michigan.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,416 meters off the Tips and 5,495 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 422-meter par 4 3rd is my choice of signature hole and has a slight dogleg left.
The elevated green is protected by bunkers front, left, and at the rear.
Take an extra club.
The natural beauty of the terrain has been retained throughout the layout.
Strategic bunkers at the landing areas off the tee and greenside, make shot and club selection important.
Generous fairways can be attacked, and the shot-maker will score well here.
Other courses outside the top 10
1. Lochenheath | Lochenheath
- Site Link
- Location: Williamsburg, Michigan.
PLAYER RATING
Spectacular vistas and a variety of hole design, make this a challenging and worthwhile track to visit and play.
Don’t rush the round and give yourself the chance to take it all in!
2. Yarrow Golf and Conference Centre
- Site Link
- Location: Augusta, Michigan.
PLAYER RATING
A difficult, but friendly layout for all skill levels.
Not too many hazards on the course, which will please some golfers and an ideal course for that family outing.
3. Eagle Eye Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: East Lansing, Michigan.
PLAYER RATING
A course that offers many temptations during the round and the bold players could thrive here.
Beware should your game not be on song, as the mis-hits can be costly.
Final Thoughts
The USA has such an abundance of magnificent golf courses throughout all the states, and Michigan is by no means an exception.
Always a tough call to make where to play, but irrespective of the choice, enjoyment will be the winner.
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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
