Northern Michigan Golf Courses
Northern Michigan offers a distinctly scenic and adventurous golf scene, perfect for players of all skill levels. With a mix of public, resort, and private courses, the region blends towering pines, crystal‑clear lakes, and dramatic elevation changes into a memorable Up North golf experience.
Indian River
Indian River Golf Club embodies everything golfers love about Northern Michigan — towering pines, crisp Up North air, and peaceful fairways that feel far removed from everyday life. The course features a classic, wooded layout with tight driving corridors, smooth greens, and a serene atmosphere that encourages golfers to slow down and savor the round.
For traveling golfers exploring the northern part of the state, Indian River is a standout destination. Its blend of tradition, natural beauty, and playability makes it a perfect complement to the region’s resort courses. Whether you’re building a multi‑day itinerary or passing through on a Northern Michigan golf road trip, Indian River offers a memorable, authentic Up North experience.
Black Bear
Black Bear Golf Club is one of Northern Michigan’s most distinctive and adventurous golf destinations — a course with rugged character, natural beauty, and a layout that keeps golfers engaged from start to finish. Routed through rolling terrain, hardwood forests, and natural wetlands, Black Bear offers a memorable mix of wide‑open driving holes, tight wooded corridors, and dramatic elevation changes. It’s a course that asks for creativity, confidence, and a willingness to embrace the Up North landscape.
What sets Black Bear apart for traveling golfers is its authentic Northern Michigan feel. Wildlife sightings, quiet fairways, and a peaceful wooded backdrop create a round that feels immersive and refreshing. As part of a multi‑course Northern Michigan golf trip, Black Bear adds variety, personality, and a sense of adventure — making it a must‑play stop for groups exploring the region.
Fountains
Garland Fountains delivers a polished Northern Michigan golf experience built around strategy, precision, and classic resort atmosphere. The course is known for its challenging approach shots and undulating green complexes, so it rewards players who think their way around the layout instead of simply overpowering it. It has that refined, championship feel that makes every hole feel intentional and memorable.
What stands out most about Fountains is how beautifully it fits the Garland setting. Surrounded by the resort’s expansive natural landscape, it offers the kind of scenic, peaceful round that feels distinctly Up North while still giving serious golfers a strong test from start to finish. This is the kind of course that appeals to players who appreciate both shot value and atmosphere in equal measure.
Reflections
Garland Reflections may be the shortest of Garland’s four courses, but it is far from the easiest. Set among pine forests, lakes, streams, and wildflowers, it demands accuracy off the tee and places a premium on control and positioning. Instead of relying on raw yardage, Reflections challenges golfers with precision and thoughtful execution.
That combination of beauty and finesse is what gives Reflections its identity. The course offers a more intimate style of golf than some of Garland’s bigger layouts, but that only makes strong shot placement more important. For players who enjoy scenic holes and a round that rewards discipline, Reflections is one of the most charming and satisfying courses in the Garland collection.
Monarch
Garland Monarch is the heavyweight test among Garland’s courses. Often described as Garland’s longest course, it is a true championship layout and widely regarded as the hardest of the four courses on property to score on. Long, demanding, and unapologetically strong, it is built for players who enjoy a stern challenge.
Even with that difficulty, Monarch still delivers the signature Garland experience of immersive Northern Michigan scenery and resort-caliber conditioning. It is the kind of course that competitive players and lower handicaps will especially appreciate, but it also leaves an impression on any golfer who enjoys the feeling of taking on a course with real size, substance, and presence.
Black Bear
Black Bear Golf Club is one of Northern Michigan’s most distinctive and adventurous golf destinations — a course with rugged character, natural beauty, and a layout that keeps golfers engaged from start to finish. Routed through rolling terrain, hardwood forests, and natural wetlands, Black Bear offers a memorable mix of wide‑open driving holes, tight wooded corridors, and dramatic elevation changes. It’s a course that asks for creativity, confidence, and a willingness to embrace the Up North landscape.
What sets Black Bear apart for traveling golfers is its authentic Northern Michigan feel. Wildlife sightings, quiet fairways, and a peaceful wooded backdrop create a round that feels immersive and refreshing. As part of a multi‑course Northern Michigan golf trip, Black Bear adds variety, personality, and a sense of adventure — making it a must‑play stop for groups exploring the region.
Swampfire
Garland Swampfire is a true shot-maker’s course, blending trees, bunkers, natural terrain, and water in a way that keeps golfers engaged on nearly every swing. Water comes into play on 16 of the 18 holes, giving the course a bold, memorable personality and a layout that demands focus from start to finish.
Swampfire feels like a course for players who enjoy variety and visual intimidation without losing the fun of the round. The hazards and natural features shape strategy on nearly every hole, but the course’s real strength is how immersive it feels in the landscape. It is one of those rounds that keeps you locked in the whole day and leaves you talking about specific holes afterward.
Charlevoix
Charlevoix Country Club brings a more classic country-club style to the A-Ga-Ming lineup. This public Jerry Matthews design features beautifully manicured bent-grass fairways, large undulating greens, and a landscape that supports a refined, upscale golf experience. It has the feel of a course that values conditioning, smooth presentation, and traditional shot-making.
That polished character makes Charlevoix Country Club especially attractive for golfers who enjoy a clean, well-kept layout without excess clutter. It is the kind of course where the quality of the turf, the movement in the greens, and the overall elegance of the property become a big part of the experience. For players seeking a classic Northern Michigan round with a country-club touch, Charlevoix fits beautifully.
Sundance
A-Ga-Ming’s Sundance Course offers one of the most striking settings in Northern Michigan. Opened in 2005 and set on glacier-carved bluffs between Torch Lake and Grand Traverse Bay, it features views east toward Torch Lake and west toward Lake Michigan. Wide fairways, sculpted greens, heather-clad mounding, and large bunkers give it a modern resort feel with plenty of visual drama.
Sundance is appealing because it combines beauty with broad playability. Strong golfers can enjoy the scale and design details, while newer players can still find the course welcoming thanks to its width and forgiving presentation. It feels elevated in every sense of the word, making it an excellent choice for golfers who want a memorable round with standout views and a polished resort atmosphere.
Torch
Torch is a scenic, shot-maker’s course perched on ridges with spectacular views of Torch Lake and the surrounding countryside. Playing to nearly 6,700 yards from the tips, it emphasizes accuracy over sheer distance, with water in play on 11 holes and mature woods influencing strategy throughout the round.
The course offers a great blend of beauty and decision-making. Golfers are treated to standout lake views, but the round still asks for discipline and thoughtful club selection. Torch is the kind of layout that feels distinctly Northern Michigan, combining rolling terrain, natural water, and forested corridors into a course that is both visually rewarding and competitively engaging.
Antrim Dells
Antrim Dells is a longtime Northern Michigan favorite with a classic Jerry Matthews design and a setting that shifts beautifully over the course of the round. The front nine moves through a parkland-style landscape with broad mowed areas, while the back nine transitions into woods and creeks, giving the course a more secluded and textured finish.
That contrast is a big part of Antrim Dells’ charm. It offers a fair and fun test of golf, one that has enough challenge to hold the attention of serious players while still remaining enjoyable for a broader audience. With its mix of natural beauty, history, and balanced design, Antrim Dells feels like a complete golf experience and a strong anchor for any Northern Michigan golf trip.
Michaywe
Michaywe offers a classic, playable round in the heart of Northern Michigan, with secluded, tree-lined fairways winding through a beautiful park-like setting near the AuSable River. It is known for impeccable conditions, a clean traditional layout, and a style of golf that is approachable for a wide range of players without ever feeling bland.
The appeal of Michaywe is its balance. Better players can appreciate the shot-making and conditioning, while casual players can still relax and enjoy a comfortable, scenic day on the course. It feels like one of those places where the setting, service, and overall pace of the round all come together to create an easy course to recommend for any Northern Michigan itinerary.
The Revenge
The Revenge is the championship-style test at Manistee National, offering a bold and memorable layout surrounded by the natural beauty of northern Michigan. With dramatic elevation changes, strategic hazards, and demanding shot values, this course gives golfers a true challenge from start to finish.
Designed for players who enjoy a more competitive round, The Revenge still provides multiple tee options to make the experience enjoyable for a wide range of skill levels. It is a perfect fit for groups looking to add a high-quality, challenging course to their Michigan golf getaway.
The Retreat
The Retreat is the original course at Manistee National and delivers a more traditional, welcoming golf experience. Its scenic fairways, natural setting, and enjoyable routing make it a great option for golfers who want a relaxed but still rewarding round.
This course is ideal for groups of mixed skill levels, offering a playable layout without sacrificing the beauty and quality golfers expect from northern Michigan golf. The Retreat makes a strong addition to any Manistee golf trip, especially for players looking for a classic resort-style round.
The Short Course
The Short Course at Manistee National is a fun and relaxed nine-hole experience that adds something different to a golf getaway. It is a great option for a warm-up round, a quick replay, or a casual evening loop with the group.
With its shorter layout and approachable design, The Short Course is perfect for golfers of all ages and skill levels. It gives groups another way to enjoy the resort, keep the competition light, and add extra golf to their trip without committing to a full 18-hole round.
