Warren Henderson and Rick Smith
Arcadia Bluffs - The Bluffs Course
The signature Michigan postcard round, with elevated Lake Michigan views and a big-event feel from the first tee through the final holes.
USA
Golf Trips in Michigan
Lake Michigan views, deep resort golf, and northern-woods routing built for a true summer golf trip.
Michigan — overview
Michigan is one of America’s best warm-weather golf trip states because the depth is real. Arcadia Bluffs brings Lake Michigan drama, BOYNE adds an 11-course resort network, Forest Dunes offers modern architecture in the pines, and Gaylord–Traverse City gives groups the space to build a full northern golf week.
- Destinations
- 5
- Courses
- 26+
- Best months
- June through September is the prime window for Michigan golf, with long daylight, full resort operations and the best chance at firm summer conditions. May and early October can be excellent value windows, but weather is less predictable.
- Typical length
- 4 nights / 5 rounds
- Trips from
- $735
What makes it special
Why play golf in Michigan.
Michigan belongs on any serious buddies-trip shortlist because it combines scale, scenery and summer weather better than most Midwest destinations. You can play lakefront golf at Arcadia Bluffs, a full resort rotation at BOYNE, modern destination golf at Forest Dunes, and elevation-heavy rounds near Gaylord or Traverse City. JEL Golf Travel can shape that depth into a clean itinerary instead of a long list of disconnected tee times.
The strongest Michigan golf trips usually run through the northern half of the state. Arcadia Bluffs gives the itinerary its postcard round with the Bluffs Course above Lake Michigan, while the South Course and The Dozen add strategy-first golf that keeps the stay from feeling like a one-round destination.
BOYNE Golf is the volume play. Its collection stretches across Bay Harbor, The Highlands, Boyne Mountain and Crooked Tree, giving groups enough courses to build a long trip without repeating the same style of golf twice. It works especially well for groups that want lodging, dining and tee times handled in one resort ecosystem.
Forest Dunes and Treetops give Michigan a different personality. Forest Dunes is quieter, more architecture-driven and centered around sand, pines and The Loop’s reversible routing. Treetops leans into elevation, resort energy and the famous Threetops par-3 course, making it a strong add-on for groups chasing variety.
Resorts & destinations
View all 5 destinationsWhere to play in Michigan.
The Michigan destinations we plan the most — each with the courses, lodging and seasonality our concierge knows by heart.
Signature courses
The courses that define Michigan.
These are the rounds we would build around first on a Michigan itinerary: one lakefront showpiece, one architecture stop, one deep resort rotation, and one short-course experience that keeps the trip fun.
- Tom Doak
Forest Dunes - The Loop
A reversible routing that gives architecture-focused groups two distinct ways to play the same ground.
- Arthur Hills
Bay Harbor Golf Club - Links / Quarry / Preserve
The most scenic BOYNE stop, pairing shoreline holes, quarry landforms and northern Michigan resort golf in one rotation.
Plan your trip
When to go, how to get there.
- Best time to visit
- June through September is the prime window for Michigan golf, with long daylight, full resort operations and the best chance at firm summer conditions. May and early October can be excellent value windows, but weather is less predictable.
- Weather & climate
- Michigan golf is seasonal, and northern destinations typically build their best trips around late spring through early fall. Summer days can be warm but rarely feel like the Southeast, while shoulder-season trips need flexibility for cool mornings, wind off Lake Michigan and occasional rain.
- Typical trip length
- 4 nights / 5 rounds
- Getting there
- Most Michigan golf trips use a rental car because the best destinations are spread across northern resort towns. Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City is the most convenient gateway for Arcadia Bluffs and Grand Traverse Resort, while Pellston and Detroit can work for BOYNE, Gaylord and broader road-trip itineraries.
- Nearest airports
- TVC (Traverse City) · PLN (Pellston) · DTW (Detroit) · GRR (Grand Rapids)
- Who it's best for
- Buddies trips that want summer golf, resort convenience and enough course variety to build a 4–7 day itinerary.
- Trip styles
- Buddies tripResortSummer golfLakefrontArchitectureValue
Off the course
Local culture in Michigan.
A Michigan golf trip has a relaxed northern rhythm: early tee times, long daylight, lake towns, breweries, supper-club-style dinners and easy drives between resort hubs. Traverse City gives groups wine country, restaurants and Grand Traverse Bay, while Petoskey, Harbor Springs and Gaylord add small-town post-round stops. The best trips leave room for a lakefront dinner, a casual replay, or a sunset drive after the final round.
Frequently asked
Michigan golf FAQs.
What are the best golf destinations in Michigan for a trip?
The strongest Michigan golf trip destinations are Arcadia Bluffs, BOYNE Golf Resort, Forest Dunes, Grand Traverse Resort and Treetops Resort. Together they cover lakefront golf, resort golf, modern architecture, northern-woods routing and short-course variety.
How many days do I need for a Michigan golf trip?
Most groups should plan 4 nights and 5 rounds for a strong Michigan trip. A longer 6- or 7-day itinerary makes sense if you want to combine Arcadia Bluffs, BOYNE, Forest Dunes, Grand Traverse and Treetops without rushing the drives.
What is the best time of year to play golf in Michigan?
June through September is the safest window for a Michigan golf trip because the resorts are fully open, daylight is long and conditions are usually at their best. May and early October can work well for value-focused groups, but the weather can be cooler and less predictable.
Do I need a rental car for a Michigan golf trip?
Yes, most Michigan golf trips need a rental car. The major destinations are spread across northern Michigan, and driving gives your group the flexibility to connect Arcadia Bluffs, Traverse City, BOYNE, Gaylord and Forest Dunes.
Is Michigan better for buddies trips or couples trips?
Michigan is especially strong for buddies trips because of the course depth, replay options and resort lodging. It can also work well for couples when the itinerary centers on Traverse City, Bay Harbor, Arcadia Bluffs or Grand Traverse Resort, where dining, lake towns and non-golf activities are easier to build in.
Can you combine Arcadia Bluffs and BOYNE in one trip?
Yes, Arcadia Bluffs and BOYNE can be combined in one Michigan itinerary, but the trip should be planned around drive time and tee-time spacing. Many groups use Traverse City or northern resort lodging as part of the route so the trip feels intentional rather than like a series of long transfers.
Ready when you are
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