High Pointe’s rebirth is Michigan’s marquee architectural comeback—a bold Tom Doak original, dramatically revived. It’s the essential detour for students of minimalist design, with a course DNA that’s now truer to Doak than ever, anchored by dazzling greens and smart angles.
You’re literally playing Tom Doak’s first golf course twice in one lifetime — six holes from his original 1989 design survived, and Doak returned more than 30 years later to restore them and build 12 new holes around his younger self’s work.
High Pointe is a pure expression of the Tom Doak minimalist ethos—bold, fast, and endlessly strategic. The course carves through rolling, sandy inland terrain, with broad landing zones and an architectural focus on creating angles, movement, and decisions on every shot. Doak’s personal shaping on all 18 greens—now reborn and expanded through restoration—gives the course its instantly recognizable DNA: wild contours, putts that can be attacked from different positions, and a knack for rewarding the clever over the powerful. The new holes mesh seamlessly with revived originals, blending modern minimalist design with reverence for architectural history.
High Pointe is Tom Doak’s opening statement, blending the spirit of classic British links with Michigan sand ridges for creative inland, strategic golf.
A gettable par 5 to start, where width invites aggression but the angle into a lively, undulating green rewards careful positioning. First-time visitors are instantly confronted with decisions off the tee and into the green.
Play for the best angle on your layup to open up the right approach—corner cutters can go for the green but must judge run-outs and contours.
Miss left and you contend with a blind approach; approach from the wrong side faces tough slopes.
Firm, fast, and meticulously maintained surfaces; expect balls to bounce and run in true Doak fashion.
Efficient rounds typical of private club standards and a walkable routing.
Exclusive, clubby, and proud of its architectural rebirth, with a hush of reverence for the Doak pedigree.
Work on bump-and-runs, knockdowns, and creative chips—firm turf and bold greens demand them.
While walkable, the rolling terrain means a moderate fitness level makes the round more enjoyable.
Read up on Doak’s course commentary or listen to a few podcasts—appreciating the intentionality behind every contour gives the round more flavor.
Tom Doak starts work on his first solo course project.
High Pointe Golf Club opens for play.
High Pointe closes amid economic downturn; property reverts to nature.
Doak leads restoration—6 original holes restored, 12 new built.
High Pointe officially reopens to members and guests.
Named Golf Digest’s #1 Best Transformation.
High Pointe was the launchpad for Tom Doak’s career, built before Pacific Dunes or Ballyneal and shaped by Doak’s own hands. Many of the game’s top modernists consider this the place where a generation-defining design philosophy was born.
After closing in 2008, High Pointe’s fairways grew wild and its greens disappeared beneath meadows—a true ghost story of golf. Its return in 2024 is seen as an almost mythic resurrection, and the new holes pay homage to the spirit and topography of northern Michigan.
Every green, then and now, bears Tom Doak’s personal touch—no templates, just creative, strategic shaping. The course’s reputation for unconventional, movement-heavy putting surfaces remains its most praised hallmark.
Doak has called High Pointe a Pacific Dunes for the inland crowd, harnessing inland sand ridges and broad openings to create shot options and wind strategy much like a coastal masterpiece. It’s strategic golf—holding nothing back.
Tom Doak shaped every original green by hand—no templates, just vision.
High Pointe closed for 15 years before its architectural rebirth.
The course’s greens are so bold, even skilled putters second-guess their reads.
It’s Doak’s only Michigan course fully under his own name—his first and now his latest.
Nicklaus-designed brute with water, risk/reward, and pro tournament heritage—minutes from High Pointe.
Traverse City’s favorite public option with fun elevation.
Spectacular lake views, cliff-lining holes, and luxury resort atmosphere.
Classic routing and major Michigan golf history.
Gaylord destination offering elevation, drama, and a big-match feel.
Stay in Traverse City for broader dining, nightlife, and central access to all the best northern Michigan golf.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: If High Pointe Golf Club is your kind of course, Cedar Rapids Country Club is worth a look because it demands the same precision once you reach the putting surface.
Why it matches: Capital City Club, Brookhaven Course is a natural next stop after High Pointe Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Hope Valley Country Club makes the greens a central strategic puzzle, making it a compelling counterpart to High Pointe Golf Club.
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