America's Summer Golf Capital in Northern Michigan - Where the Sun Never Sets on Your Golf Adventure
America's Summer Golf Capital in Northern Michigan - Where the Sun Never Sets on Your Golf Adventure
The Four Coursemen (Glen Turk, Paul Seifert, Brian Weis, and Todd Wolff)
By Glen Turk
The moniker America's Summer Golf Capital (ASGC) is pure genius, as the very name evokes sun-drenched rounds on golf courses that beg to be played all day. And since Michigan's ASGC resides on the western edge of the Eastern Time Zone, summer players can literally golf their ball from 6:30 am until 10:00 p.m. in The Wolverine State.
What began nearly 40 years ago under the premise of "a rising tide lifts all boats" has now escalated into one the most respected consortiums in the Midwest, let alone the nation. Now, in 2025, ASGC consists of eight powerhouse resorts that all have two major draws in common - they all offer on-site lodging and are multi-course facilities. Plus, whether your trip starts north at Boyne Highlands or south at Crystal Mountain, each succeeding property is only an hour apart, allowing for golf groups to make multiple stops in one day if needed.
Midwest Golfing Magazine had the honor of dominating ASGC this May during a four-day, all gas, no breaks adventure that left us wanting more. While we have played all 26 courses (432 holes) over the past 23 years of our existence, the ability to go from one to another over a short time gave us a truer appreciation of America's Summer Golf Capital and the ascendancy of resort golf in Northern Michigan.
Grand Traverse Resort - An Opening Test Fit for the Four Coursemen
We rolled into Traverse City as the Four Coursemen - four buddies, four days, eight tee times, and one goal during our first round - find out if The Bear, one of the courses that put Northern Michigan on the map as a golf destination when it opened in 1985, lives up to the legend. Spoiler alert - it does, and then some.
Jack Nicklaus didn't design this place to be kind. He designed it to bite. The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort is the kind of track that makes you double-check your carry distances and question your course management. Every hole has teeth, and if you let your guard down, you're getting bucked. (Yes, a horse pun.)
The Bear has that big-course presence thanks to inspiring long views, intimidating bunkers, and just enough water to keep your grip a little tighter. Fairways roll like Scottish links, but the Michigan woods and wetlands remind you you're not overseas - you're in the heart of the Great Lakes!
The finishing hole at The Bear is a split-fairway par-4 that rides in like the final charge of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - bold, dramatic, and unforgiving. Off the tee, left is the disciplined route, keeping water out of play but leaving a longer approach. Right tempts the bold; it's shorter but forces a full carry over water on the second shot. A towering tree guards the middle of the fairway, demanding a choice from the tee box. For the Four Coursemen, this hole was pure cinema - high risk, high reward, and no room for hesitation.
After the round, we didn't have to go far. The glass tower at Grand Traverse Resort has everything - elevated rooms, Aerie Restaurant on the 16th floor for post-round meals with a view, and a spa that we wish we had time to enjoy. There's something to be said for staying where you play, especially when it's this dialed in. You wake up, ride the elevator down, and you're five minutes from the first tee. No hassle, no wasted time - just pure golf and good living. Plus, the property is home to the stunning Gary Player-designed The Wolverine (the 9-time Major Champion's first Michigan Signature Course) and the underrated Bill Newcomb-designed Spruce Run course, which was renovated this past Spring and is ready for play.
All Aboard at A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort
If you enjoy playing golf courses that are approachable and beautiful then A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort is your go-to course in Northern Michigan. A-Ga-Ming means "on the shore" in Native American language so epic views of nearby Torch Lake abound. The Torch course is a great blend of approachable parkland holes that meander through woods and ponds. Memorable holes include the signature 208-yard, par-3 7th that overlooks Torch Lake providing that perfect group photo backdrop. Keep it short because any shot long and left will leave you in a deep gulley with gnarly wild rough. Holes 8, 9, 10 and 11 are beautifully undulating holes with forced carries over ponds and ravines that give great chances at par or birdie but will penalize any wayward shots.
The Bear has that big-course presence thanks to inspiring long views, intimidating bunkers, and just enough water to keep your grip a little tighter. Fairways roll like Scottish links, but the Michigan woods and wetlands remind you you're not overseas - you're in the heart of the Great Lakes!
The finishing hole at The Bear is a split-fairway par-4 that rides in like the final charge of The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - bold, dramatic, and unforgiving. Off the tee, left is the disciplined route, keeping water out of play but leaving a longer approach. Right tempts the bold; it's shorter but forces a full carry over water on the second shot. A towering tree guards the middle of the fairway, demanding a choice from the tee box. For the Four Coursemen, this hole was pure cinema - high risk, high reward, and no room for hesitation.
After the round, we didn't have to go far. The glass tower at Grand Traverse Resort has everything - elevated rooms, Aerie Restaurant on the 16th floor for post-round meals with a view, and a spa that we wish we had time to enjoy. There's something to be said for staying where you play, especially when it's this dialed in. You wake up, ride the elevator down, and you're five minutes from the first tee. No hassle, no wasted time - just pure golf and good living. Plus, the property is home to the stunning Gary Player-designed The Wolverine (the 9-time Major Champion's first Michigan Signature Course) and the underrated Bill Newcomb-designed Spruce Run course, which was renovated this past Spring and is ready for play.
All Aboard at A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort
If you enjoy playing golf courses that are approachable and beautiful then A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort is your go-to course in Northern Michigan. A-Ga-Ming means "on the shore" in Native American language so epic views of nearby Torch Lake abound. The Torch course is a great blend of approachable parkland holes that meander through woods and ponds. Memorable holes include the signature 208-yard, par-3 7th that overlooks Torch Lake providing that perfect group photo backdrop. Keep it short because any shot long and left will leave you in a deep gulley with gnarly wild rough. Holes 8, 9, 10 and 11 are beautifully undulating holes with forced carries over ponds and ravines that give great chances at par or birdie but will penalize any wayward shots.
MGM is thrilled to provide a standalone feature on A-Ga-Ming starting on page - which revels the property's phenomenal history. All the Four Coursemen can say is A-Ga-Ming's quality of four courses (Sundance, Torch, Antrim Dells, and Charlevoix CC) when combined with their three on-site lodging options create a foundation for a memorable buddies' adventure.
Into The Forest at Garland Lodge & Golf Resort
There is something to be said about playing golf amongst the trees with no other outside interference. That's what you get when playing any of the four courses at Garland Lodge & Golf Resort in Lewiston. Our group played The Fountains and were blown away by the tranquil nature of the layout and friendliness of the staff (so much we almost missed our tee time because they were so interested in our group). The par-4 14th was one of our favorite holes on the trip, as any course in Michigan would be proud to have it on its roster. Finally, we previewed The Sawyer, their highly anticipated reversible short course, which opened in June and is the perfect spot for families to enjoy the game together.
After our five-hour quick visit, the Four Coursemen's consensus was we would love to have stayed a few extra days and experienced their additional courses (The Monarch, Reflections, and Swampfire) within a 3,000-acre unspoiled paradise. Garland is the eastern most member of America's Summer Golf Capital, but it is only 40 minutes away from TreeTops, so don't feel it is too far out of the way to explore. We promise Garland is well worth the drive!
TreeTops Resort: Michigan Mountain Golf at Its Most Dramatic
There's golf, and then there's golf that makes your jaw drop. Known for its soaring elevations, rugged terrain and deep roots in Midwest golf lore, TreeTops Resort is the type of destination that catches you off guard - in the best possible way.
The Robert Trent Jones Masterpiece Course doesn't ease you into anything. It's a nonstop rollercoaster ride of blind shots, tiny greens, and dramatic carries that resembles holes on the RTJ Golf Trail in Alabama. The land pitches and tumbles like it's trying to shake you off, and it almost does. Fairways fall away into deep ravines. Greens perch like islands. The fourth hole alone asks you to send your tee shot just right of a gaping chasm - miss your line at all and you're gone. It's the kind of course that demands your full attention right from the opening tee.
The 15th, especially, will forever live in our minds. A short par-4 that drops from a cliff, this 330-yarder plays downhill to the left around a hilltop, daring long hitters to give it a go. Driving it over the trees greenside, I was thrilled to be in a deep bunker just short of the elevated putting surface - a rare moment of reward on a course that demands consistently high-level shot making.
The Rick Smith Signature Course was our favorite of the two we played - slightly more playable, more photogenic, and ever-packed with dramatic elevation shifts that make every swing feel cinematic. We had the honor of being the course's first foursome of the 2025 season, playing beneath towering blue skies, and golden morning light that revealed a purposeful tree removable project that was accelerated by a late March ice storm. Even as the forest continues to heal, the beauty of the land and the brilliance of Smith's design shone through - and I'd argue the course will ultimately be better for it with longer vistas and a more open, communal feel.
The Signature Course is also home to the best pro shop on property and shares a clubhouse with Threetops, a par-3 course once crowned the best short course in the world, and one we didn't get to play, but absolutely will next time. With five total courses (Fazio Premier and Smith Tradition complete the lineup), a rich design pedigree, and some of the most dramatic land we've experienced, this place deserves its own long weekend.
The Brilliance and Beauty of BOYNE Golf
If you are an avid reader of MGM, you know our affinity for BOYNE Golf and their 11 courses across three distinctive resorts. In fact, Boyne's first par-3 course, Doon Brae at The Highlands, graced our 2025 Show Issue cover. Believed to be the first course ever to be built on a ski hill, this project once again fortifies Boyne's place in the Midwest golf hierarchy.
BOYNE Golf has something for everyone as each resort plugs into a different vibe, a different calling card. For an upscale golf experience of the highest order, MGM recommends Bay Harbor Golf Club and the adjacent Inn at Bay Harbor. The 27 holes that comprise Bay Harbor GC has been named "The Pebble Beach of The Midwest" and for good reason. Epic views of Little Traverse Bay are omnipresent and create a sense you are overlooking the Pacific Ocean. High above Bay Harbor resides Crooked Tree Golf Club, a Harry Bowers gem that was masterfully redesigned by Arthur Hills in 2014 and has proven to be a local favorite.
Families will gravitate toward Boyne Mountain, which doubles as an acclaimed ski resort by winter and stunning golf resort by summer. Michigan's largest indoor waterpark and two audacious mountain courses, The Alpine and The Monument, grace a property that overlooks Deer Lake and make you wonder, "Why do summer days have to end?" The Alpine has the distinction of being the first course in the U.S. that made taking a golf cart mandatory based on the seven-minute drive it takes to make it up the mountain to start your round. As you can imagine, plunging tee shots and 360* wild vistas hallmark both courses and elicit a memorable experience.
If you are looking for something perfectly in the middle, The Highlands is your ideal destination. The Highlands consists of the Arthur Hills course, the Donald Ross Memorial, The Moor, and the Grand Dame of Northern Michigan, The Heather, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1966. June 9th-15th The Heather hosted the inaugural Great Lakes Championship on The Epson Tour to rave reviews. The Highlands is also home to the Doon Brae par-3 course and the Boyne Golf Academy, led by Director of Instruction Joe Charles.
Crystal Clear Focus at Crystal Mountain
The southern most property on America's Summer Golf Capital is Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville. The Mountain Ridge course, renowned for hosting the Michigan PGA Women's Open for over two decades, challenges golfers with over 200 feet of elevation changes, tree-lined fairways, and strategic water hazards on the opening holes. Its signature 17th hole - a 169-yard par-3 - descends dramatically, demanding precision and strategy. In contrast, the Betsie Valley course, renovated in 2021 and 2022, features rolling terrain, tight fairways flanked by mature forests, and water hazards on several holes. This course emphasizes shot-making skills, with small, sloped greens that test even seasoned players. Both courses share a clubhouse equipped with a well-stocked pro shop, The Thistle restaurant and bar, and an outdoor patio that often features live music.
Beyond the fairways, Crystal Mountain Resort boasts a range of top-tier amenities. Golfers can refine their skills at the 10-acre Golf Learning Center, which includes a driving range, putting green, and chipping areas with bunkers. The on-site golf school offers lessons enhanced with TrackMan 4 technology. Accommodations vary from hotel-style rooms to mountainside homes that can sleep up to 14 guests. For relaxation, the 18,500-square-foot Crystal Spa offers a LEED-certified space with private transition rooms, steam rooms, infrared saunas, and an outdoor Mosaic Garden with a hot tub. With its blend of challenging golf and luxurious amenities, Crystal Mountain is the epitome of America's Summer Golf Capital.
Gaylord Golf Mecca visionary Dick Weber said it best when he classified the properties of America's Summer Golf Capital as "Big Game Hunter Courses," which elicits a profound urge to try and take them down. For the Four Coursemen over four glorious mid-May days, the imperative word was "try." But that doesn't mean we won't be back to do it all over again! For more information on ASGC, visit their website at www.americassummergolfcapital.
Revised: 11/25/2025 - Article Viewed 3,108 Times
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