Michigan can deliver a Lake Michigan bluff, a rocky Upper Peninsula landscape and a forested resort round in the same golf trip. The best itinerary starts with the course experience you want, then groups the rounds so you spend less time in the car.
This is Break 90 Golf’s research-based editorial shortlist, using course-operator and public-agency information. It is not an official statewide ranking or a firsthand review. We select for course character, destination appeal and public access. Separate layouts at the same property may appear individually.
Rates and booking information checked October 15, 2026. All prices are USD per player unless identified as per cart. They are published references, not guaranteed quotes. Taxes, booking fees, travel, lodging and gratuities are extra unless explicitly included. Seasonal rates apply only to the dates shown; availability is weather-dependent. Where a dependable adult price could not be confirmed, we link to a live quote instead of estimating.
Looking for a lower-cost trip? See our Michigan value-course guide.
1. Arcadia Bluffs — Bluffs Course
Arcadia · Best for Lake Michigan scenery
Open fairways, native grasses and sod-walled bunkers sit above Lake Michigan. The attraction is the combination of the shoreline setting and a layout that asks you to account for the wind. This is the place to build a trip around if dramatic views are part of the brief.
Price: The 2026 schedule lists $285 June 1–October 4, $175 October 5–19 and $135 October 22–31. Cart and practice range are included; taxes and fees are extra. Ask about dates absent from the table.
Break 90 approach: Use a smooth, balanced swing into the wind and give yourself a generous target away from the deepest bunkers.
Course overview · Official rates
2. Forest Dunes
Roscommon · Best for woodland and sandy terrain
Tom Weiskopf’s design brings two different nines into one round, moving between forest and more exposed sandy areas. The closing par 5 works around a lake and dunes. It is a strong choice for a northern Michigan itinerary that values variety within a single layout.
Price: Published 2026 prime green fees were $185 Monday–Wednesday / $215 Thursday–Sunday, May 28–September 28, plus $30 per player for a cart. The posted shoulder-season schedule ends October 12; confirm remaining-season availability and future rates.
Break 90 approach: Keep the lake out of your plan on the closing hole. A comfortable third shot can beat an ambitious attempt to get home in two.
Course overview · Official rate schedule
3. Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club
Marquette · Best for Upper Peninsula terrain
Mike DeVries shaped Greywalls around striking rock formations, sloping fairways and demanding greens. It offers a very different landscape from a typical Lower Peninsula resort round. Choose it for the terrain and the problem-solving, with realistic expectations about the difficulty.
Price: Published summer public rate: $235 with cart, May 22–September 13. $155 from September 14 to closing. The summer walking rate is $210.
Break 90 approach: Choose tees that leave carries you can make comfortably. When a recovery looks doubtful, return to a useful position rather than trying to win the hole back immediately.
Course overview · Official rates
4. Arcadia Bluffs — South Course
Arcadia · Best for a second Arcadia experience
The South Course gives a visit to Arcadia a separate architectural experience rather than another lap around the Bluffs. Pair the two when you want to compare different design ideas at the same destination. Its place on this list comes from that contrast and the opportunity for a two-course trip.
Price: 2026 rates list $185 June 1–October 4 and $90 October 15–31, with cart and practice range included, before taxes and fees.
Break 90 approach: Pay attention to where an approach can finish safely. A sensible target can matter more than making the shortest possible second shot.
South Course overview · Official rates
5. The Loop at Forest Dunes
Roscommon · Best for a reversible design
Tom Doak’s Loop uses the same land for two routings played in opposite directions on alternating days. Firm turf invites shots along the ground as well as through the air. We count the Loop once here; golfers interested in the design should consider playing both directions on separate days.
Price: The same published prime green fees as Forest Dunes: $185/$215, with an electric cart $30 extra. The resort lists Red on even dates and Black on odd dates; verify the routing and season dates before reserving.
Break 90 approach: Look for opportunities to land short and let the ball release. Reassess each shot when playing the opposite routing.
The Loop explained · Rates and routing schedule
6. Harbor Shores
Benton Harbor · Best for a Southwest Michigan destination round
The Jack Nicklaus Signature course moves through inland terrain and toward a Lake Michigan setting. It offers a championship-style alternative to a long drive north, particularly for golfers approaching from southern Michigan or the Chicago area.
Price: 2026 green fees list $245 June 26–September 7, $200 September 8–October 5 and $135 October 6 to closing. Cart, GPS and practice balls are included. Riding is required.
Break 90 approach: Take time on the practice green before starting. Aim for a putting surface section you can reach reliably instead of treating every flag as the target.
Course overview · Official rates and policies
7. Sweetgrass Golf Club
Harris · Best for an Upper Peninsula golf base
Paul Albanese’s Sweetgrass is one of the main courses at Island Resort & Casino, alongside Sage Run. It is an appealing anchor for a multi-round Upper Peninsula trip, with separate day-golf and stay-and-play options to compare.
Price: Published base rate: $90, including shared cart, GPS and warm-up balls. The September 14, 2026-to-closing fall rate is $80. Day-golf advance reservations are listed at one month.
Break 90 approach: Keep a destination round manageable by choosing tees for your everyday game. Save the aggressive line for shots where a miss still leaves a straightforward recovery.
Official course website · Rates and booking terms
8. Tullymore Golf Club
Stanwood · Best for woodlands and wetlands
Tullymore Resort sits among Michigan woodland and wetland terrain and offers two public-access courses. Choose Tullymore for a full resort-style round, with St. Ives available as another option if you want to extend the visit.
Price: For 2026, $165 weekday / $195 weekend June 5–September 27; $100/$110 after October 11. Range balls and a GPS cart are included. Public tee times can be booked up to 30 days ahead.
Break 90 approach: Check the safe side of each landing area before deciding how much club to hit. Keep penalty strokes out of the plan.
Resort golf overview · Official public rates
9. American Dunes Golf Club
Grand Haven · Best for golf with a charitable mission
The former Grand Haven Golf Club was transformed into American Dunes, with support for Folds of Honor central to the experience. It belongs on this shortlist for golfers who want their destination round to include that mission as well as the golf.
Price: The 2026 table lists the general Patriot 18 rate at $205 June 1–October 4 and $165 October 5–18, walking or riding with pre-round practice use. The page also contains older schedules: use the dated table and confirm your quote.
Break 90 approach: Give yourself time to experience the memorial and arrive ready to play. A special occasion is easier to enjoy without rushing to the first tee.
Club and mission · Official dated rates
10. Bay Harbor Golf Club — Links/Quarry
Bay Harbor · Best for a Little Traverse Bay itinerary
Bay Harbor offers three nines: Links, Quarry and Preserve. For this shortlist, request the Links/Quarry combination rather than assuming every booking delivers the same 18 holes. The variety of settings is a reason to make this part of a northern Michigan golf trip.
Price: Live quote required. The official site directs visitors to booking and packages rather than a single dependable public green fee. Confirm the nine-hole combination, cart, taxes and any package conditions.
Break 90 approach: Choose a tee that makes the required carries routine. A round with attractive scenery still rewards ordinary, conservative golf decisions.
Course combinations · Official booking website
Plan a Michigan golf trip that works
The Upper Peninsula, northern Lower Peninsula and Grand Rapids area are separate travel clusters. Avoid scheduling distant courses on the same day just because they appear together on a state list. In October, ask about frost delays, leaf conditions, aeration and the last practical starting time. A published fall fee does not guarantee the course remains open.
For 2027 planning, request a new quote when next season’s schedule is released. Our 2026 references are useful comparisons, not promises of future pricing.
Continue with our Michigan best-value guide, or compare our Florida public-course picks.
Our recommendations distinguish editorial research from firsthand testing. Check current course conditions, prices and product details with the operator or seller. Read our editorial approach.
