Bay Harbor Golf Club
Some of the most spectacular golf in Michigan runs along the bluffs of Little Traverse Bay. Arthur Hills built Bay Harbor's 27 holes in 1998 on a reclaimed shoreline of cliffs, dunes and an old cement quarry, and the result is a resort course that reads like the Pacific coast transplanted to Lake Michigan.
Photo: Bay Harbor Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Bay Harbor is the most dramatic resort golf in northern Michigan, a 27 hole Arthur Hills design that makes the most of an extraordinary stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline. Opened in 1998 on land that was once a shale and cement quarry, the course is split into three distinct nines, the Links along the water, the Quarry through the carved out rock and the Preserve in the wooded high ground, each with a character of its own. Played in pairs, they give three different 18 hole rounds, and the shoreline holes are among the best photographs in the state.
For the traveling golfer it is a spectacle as much as a test, with holes running right along the bluff edge high above the bay and a finish through the old quarry that feels genuinely cinematic. The yardage is moderate, so it rewards a player who can control ball flight in the lake wind rather than one who simply hits it far. Pair it with the wider Petoskey and Boyne golf country and you have one of the most scenic golf bases in the Midwest.
Bay Harbor at a glance
- Opened
- 1998
- Designer
- Arthur Hills
- Type
- Shoreline resort, 27 holes
- Par
- 72 per 18
- Yardage
- About 6,800 yds
- Green fee
- From around $250
Designer, opening year, configuration, par and length verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Bay Harbor is an Arthur Hills design of 27 holes opened in 1998, played as three 18 hole combinations of par 72 at about 6,800 yards across the Links, Quarry and Preserve nines. Indicative 2026 peak summer green fees can run from around 250 dollars up toward 440 dollars on the prime shoreline rounds, lower in shoulder season and for resort guests. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Links nine is the headline, running for long stretches right along the top of the bluff with Lake Michigan filling the view and the wind a constant companion. The holes here are exposed and exhilarating, asking for committed shots out toward the water, and they are the reason the Links and Quarry combination is the round most golfers want to play.
The Quarry nine is the other showpiece, threading through the steep walls of the old cement quarry to a finish framed by sheer rock faces, a closing stretch that feels unlike anywhere else in the Midwest. The Preserve nine climbs away from the water into woodland and offers a quieter, more sheltered counterpoint, useful on the windiest days. Across all three, the scale of the scenery never lets up.
The conditioning is excellent and the greens roll true, and while the course is not long, the combination of elevation, wind and dramatic hazards makes club selection a real puzzle. Bay Harbor is golf as spectacle, and it earns the billing.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public access resort golf; tee times are open to visitors, with priority and packages for guests staying at the Bay Harbor and Boyne resorts |
| Green fee | Around 250 dollars up toward 440 dollars at peak summer on the prime shoreline rounds, lower in shoulder season (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve online or by phone through the club; the Links and Quarry combination and summer weekends fill early |
| On the day | Cart golf with a collared shirt and the usual resort dress; pack a windproof layer for the exposed shoreline holes |
| Getting there | At Bay Harbor near Petoskey on Little Traverse Bay, about 15 minutes from Pellston's regional airport |
| Best months | June through September, when the lake country is warm and settled and the turf is at its firmest |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is the lodging at Bay Harbor and the nearby Boyne resorts, which keep you close to the first tee and bundle golf with lakeside rooms, dining and the marina village. Staying within the resort family earns the easiest access across the area's courses and the best tee times in high summer.
Beyond the resort, the historic town of Petoskey and the wider Little Traverse Bay shoreline offer boutique hotels, good restaurants and plenty for a non golfing group, from beaches to galleries. We can build the lodging and the routing around the rounds you want to play.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Petoskey and Bay Harbor.
Build a Bay Harbor golf trip
We build a trip around a round at Bay Harbor, add the best of the Petoskey and Boyne golf country within reach and sort lakeside lodging, transfers and tee times. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Bay Harbor questions
Who designed Bay Harbor Golf Club and when did it open?
Bay Harbor Golf Club was designed by Arthur Hills and opened in 1998 on the shore of Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay near Petoskey. It offers 27 holes across three distinct nines, the Links, the Quarry and the Preserve.
How are the three nines at Bay Harbor played?
The Links, Quarry and Preserve nines are combined in pairs to form three different 18 hole rounds. The Links and Quarry combination is the most celebrated, hugging the shoreline and finishing through the old quarry, while the Preserve climbs into wooded high ground.
What is the par and length at Bay Harbor?
Each 18 hole combination plays to a par of 72 at around 6,800 yards from the back tees. The yardage is moderate, but the wind off Lake Michigan and the dramatic clifftop and quarry holes make it a genuine test.
How much does it cost to play Bay Harbor in 2026?
Indicative 2026 peak summer green fees can run from around 250 dollars up toward 440 dollars on the prime shoreline rounds, with lower rates in the shoulder months and for resort guests. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, configuration, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.