Bay Harbor, Michigan
Bay Harbor Golf Club is Northern Michigan’s boldest stage—Arthur Hills sculpted 27 holes across bluffs, dunes, and rugged shore with postcard views on a few of the state’s most thrilling holes. Bring your camera, steady your nerves, and expect a premium resort experience with shotmaking variety to match the scenery.
As sunset approaches, pause on the Lakeside holes—locals say the golden hour over Lake Michigan is the course’s most magical moment.
Arthur Hills’ vision for Bay Harbor transformed a raw Lake Michigan shoreline and old quarry into a 27-hole modern epic, where each nine boasts a unique personality: windswept seaside vistas, ancient stone walls, and routed forestland. The Links delivers cliff-top drama and exposed wind, Quarry plunges through canyons and rocky ruins, and the Preserve dishes up wooded, quieter stretches. Conditioning matches the setting, with bold moves from tee to green and a rhythm that alternates breathtaking reveals, punishing hazards, and subtle shotmaking demands.
Arthur Hills fused natural drama with playable strategy, ensuring no two nines feel the same—his trademark is how the setting dictates the shot.
A memorable par 5 paralleling Lake Michigan, with dazzling water views and gusty wind shaping every decision. The fairway teases a risky play for eagle but punishes poor placement with tough recoveries from sandy bluffs and native grass.
Decide whether to challenge the lake with your second or lay up for a wedge—club selection must match wind and courage.
Wayward approaches flirt with severe slopes or sandy native areas edging the bluff.
Tournament-level greens, neat bunkering, and fairways maintained for high-end resort play. Expect firm surfaces and fast greens in peak season.
Premium-resort pace—expect 4.5-5 hours on busy days, quicker midweek or off-peak.
Destination golf—relaxed, scenic, and celebratory yet professional, not stuffy.
Standard resort attire—collared shirt and golf shorts/pants required.
Bring extra layers—the lake breeze can turn brisk, even in summer.
Late daylight means skies over Lake Michigan light up—the spectacle is worth a late finish.
Many holes, especially on the Links, are made for pauses and camera snaps—build time into your round.
Groundbreaking and initial construction begin on Bay Harbor’s three nines.
Bay Harbor Golf Club officially opens with all 27 holes playable.
Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf match—Phil Mickelson vs. Tom Lehman—contested on the course.
Links/Quarry routing debuts on Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.
Links/Quarry reaches #23 in Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public
Links/Quarry ranks #100 on Golf Digest’s national list; #19 in Michigan
Even before most golfers could play it, Bay Harbor was showcased to the world on Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf, with Tom Lehman outdueling Phil Mickelson in 1998. It remains a calling card for the course’s instant stage presence.
When Bay Harbor opened, Golf Digest hailed it as one of the 'new Pebble Beaches,' designed with coastline spectacle in mind. Bluff-top holes and Lake Michigan’s endless horizon deliver on that promise.
Bay Harbor’s reputation draws destination travelers seeking more than just good golf—they want a premium experience with postcard moments, especially when the wind stirs the waves beside the cliffside fairways.
Instead of a single 18, Bay Harbor’s three nines—Links, Quarry, Preserve—offer a choose-your-own adventure, with the Links/Quarry layout widely considered the showstopper.
Bay Harbor’s shoreline stretch claims the 'longest freshwater shoreline in U.S. golf.'
Its Links/Quarry loop debuted as high as #23 on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.
The 1998 Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf match aired before the general public ever teed off.
Each nine—Links, Quarry, Preserve—offers a distinct terrain and playing personality.
In high season, sunset rounds can last past 9:30pm thanks to Michigan’s long summer days.
Classic Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, highly ranked and accessible, just a short drive away.
Public access and broad blufftop lake views make for a relaxed round with a different vibe.
If you score an invite, this secluded Tom Doak design is a sought-after bucket-lister in the region.
Another dramatic Arthur Hills layout with elevated tees and bold green sites, easy to combine with your Bay Harbor round.
Petoskey/Bay Harbor—central for dining, lodging, and minimal drive times to all top courses.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club is a natural next stop after Bay Harbor Golf Club: it shares a memorable sense of place.
Why it matches: If Bay Harbor Golf Club is your kind of course, Wailea Golf Club (Gold Course) is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Why it matches: If Bay Harbor Golf Club is your kind of course, McLemore (The Highlands Course) is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
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