Most of Michigan’s major public golf courses remain unchanged from 2023 to 2024.
Golfweek, part of the KeynoteUSA Network, on Monday revealed its comprehensive state-by-state rankings for public access golf courses, and Michigan once again had its top 20 courses ranked.
The Bluffs Course at Arcadia Bluffs retains the honor of being the best public golf course in Michigan, with its refreshingly firm, fast grass accompanied by unparalleled views of Lake Michigan. The Bluffs is one of the top 50 public tracks in America and celebrates its 25th anniversary this season after opening in 1999, with a design by Warren Henderson and Rick Smith.
Its clubhouse is also famous: Arcadia Bluffs was ranked a few summers ago among the top 10 “19th holes” in the U.S. Its beautiful clubhouse, hotel and white Adirondack chairs, which sit above the 18th green, offer unlimited views. of 3,100 feet. of the shoreline of Lake Michigan and a perfect view of the day’s sunset.
The one-and-only Greywalls at Marquette once again took second place and is one of four Upper Peninsula tracks to rank in Golfweek’s Top 20.
Forest Dunes in Roscommon has both of its courses (The Loop and Forest Dunes) ranked consecutively once again, with Arcadia Bluffs South Course, the youngest course on the list, opened in 2018, rounding out the top 5, and Belvedere in Charlevoix, perhaps the most underrated field in the state, it is still No. 6.
Eagle Eye, which is outside Lansing and the closest course to Detroit on the list, about a 90-minute drive, is still No. 7.
A newcomer made it to Golfweek’s top 20 this year: Out is the Smith Signature course at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, replaced at No. 17 by Tullymore at Tullymore Golf Resort in Stanwood, 15 miles south of Big Rapids.
The biggest jump came from Sage Run on Bark River in the UP, which moved up seven spots to tie for 12th this year. It is operated by Island Resort and Casino in Harris, with its sister course, Sweetgrass, also in the top 10.
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Golfweek uses hundreds of vetted course raters to analyze 10 different criteria on a scale of 1 to 10 at each location to produce an average course rating. Those categories include routing, conditioning, greens and memorability and golf hole variety. Raters also submit a single, overall rating for each course, which is averaged to produce all of Golfweek’s Best Course rankings.
To qualify, a course must allow public play in some capacity. “If there’s a will, there’s a tee time, no membership required,” says Jason Lusk, Golfweek’s creative director and travel editor.
Here is Golfweek’s complete Top 20 rankings for Michigan in 2024:
(For the best courses in metro Detroit, the Free Press selected its top 10 public rankings.)
Golfweek’s Best Michigan Public Golf Courses for 2024
*Indicates location in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
1. Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs), Arcadia (last year’s ranking: 1)
2. *Marquette GC (Gray Walls), Marquette (2)
3. Forest Dunes (The Loop Red & Black), Roscommon (3)
4. Forest Dunes, Roscommon (4)
5. Arcadia Bluffs (South), Arcadia (5)
6. Belvedere, Charlevoix (6)
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7. Boyne’s Bay Harbor (Links/Quarry), Bay Harbor (7)
8. Eagle Eye, Bathroom (9)
T9. *Island Resort and Casino (Sweetgrass), Harris (t10)
T9. Gull Lake View Resort (Stoatin Brae), Augusta (8)
11. The Pilgrim’s Race, Pierson (s10)
T12. *Sage Run, Bark River (19)
T12. Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor (12)
14. American Dunes, Grand Haven (13)
15. University of Michigan GC, Ann Arbor (14)
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16.Boyne Highlands (Arthur Hills), Harbor Springs (16)
T17. Tullymore Golf Resort (Tullymore), Stanwood (unlisted)
T17. Hidden River Golf and Casting Club, Brutus (15)
19. Diamond Springs, Hamilton (18)
20. *Pine Mountain Resort (Timber Stone), Iron Mountain (20)
Find the rest of Golfweek’s state-by-state rankings and check back for more rankings in June.
Keynote USA
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