Northern Michigan: How to Book and What to Pay

Northern Michigan is a diffuse golf destination, spread across a region that stretches from Traverse City to the Straits of Mackinac and inland to Grayling. The courses are operated by independent resorts and standalone properties, each with its own booking system, pricing structure, and packaging approach. There is no single reservation portal for the region. What unifies the market is a compressed season, competitive resort pricing designed to fill rooms in a short window, and a collection of courses that includes several of the best public-access designs in the country.

Green Fee Ranges

Arcadia Bluffs, perched on a bluff above Lake Michigan, commands the highest green fees in the region at $175 to $300 per round depending on season and day of week. Arcadia Bluffs South, the companion course designed by Dana Fry and Jason Straka, prices slightly below the original at $125 to $225.

Forest Dunes, near Roscommon, offers two courses that together represent one of the strongest 36-hole destinations in America. The Tom Weiskopf-designed Forest Dunes course and The Loop, a reversible design by Tom Doak, are priced between $125 and $250 per round. The Loop alternates daily between its clockwise and counter-clockwise routings, effectively providing three distinct course experiences across two layouts.

Bay Harbor Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus design in Petoskey, ranges from $100 to $225. The Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain resorts offer multiple courses with green fees from $75 to $175, with the Heather course at Boyne Highlands and the Ross Memorial representing the strongest options. Shanty Creek's Legend course and Treetops Masterpiece fill out the accessible mid-tier at $60 to $140.

The Season

Northern Michigan golf runs from approximately mid-May through mid-October. This is the defining constraint of the destination. The season is shorter than Kohler and considerably shorter than any southern competitor. July and August are peak months, with warm temperatures, long daylight, and the highest prices. June and September offer excellent conditions at reduced rates and quieter tee sheets.

May and October are true shoulder months where playable days are possible but not guaranteed. Courses may operate on limited schedules, and morning temperatures can require cold-weather gear. The reward is significant price reduction and near-empty courses.

Resort Packages

Boyne Resorts operates both Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain, and its multi-resort packages allow players to mix courses across both properties with lodging at either location. A three-night, four-round Boyne package during peak season typically falls between $800 and $1,200 per person, inclusive of lodging and green fees.

Packages are the dominant booking model in Northern Michigan, and they represent the best value for multi-day trips.

Forest Dunes offers on-site lodging in cottages and a boutique lodge, with stay-and-play packages that include rounds on both the Weiskopf course and The Loop. Arcadia Bluffs expanded its lodging options to include on-site accommodations, and its packages bundle both courses with overnight stays.

A multi-round, multi-night package at either resort during shoulder season can bring the per-round cost below $60.

Shanty Creek and Treetops also offer stay-and-play structures, often at price points that represent the best budget value in the region.

Booking Windows and Advance Planning

Most courses accept online reservations through their websites. Boyne Resorts operates a centralized booking system for its two properties. Forest Dunes and Arcadia Bluffs each maintain independent reservation platforms. Third-party booking sites carry some Northern Michigan inventory, but the resort-direct packages almost always offer better per-round economics.

Walking and Carts

Walking is permitted and encouraged at several Northern Michigan courses. Forest Dunes and The Loop are designed for walking, with caddie services available. Arcadia Bluffs permits walking with a caddie, and the experience on the bluff-top routing is substantially enhanced on foot. Caddie fees at these venues run $50 to $70 per bag plus gratuity.

Boyne, Shanty Creek, and Treetops are cart-included courses where the routing and terrain make riding the standard mode. Cart fees are bundled into the green fee at these properties.

The Bottom Line