Top 25 Public Courses in Michigan
Ratings provided by GolfPass
What are the top public golf courses in Michigan? It depends on who you ask.
And according to NBC’s GolfPass' annual Golfers Choice ranking lists, who some would consider as the ‘average Joe’ golfer, becomes the expert along with thousands of their contemporaries across the country.
National golf publications typically enlist course raters who receive some training in evaluating course design, and have the connections and/or time to visit the largest and more well-known courses and resorts. Often they are also members of the golf media.
GolfPass compiled its annual Golfers' Choice lists by analyzing the ratings and reviews submitted by members of their GolfPass ‘community’ throughout the previous year. Utilized were GolfPass' Ratings Index logic that weights newer reviews and combine it with a course's subcategory averages. Courses are considered for this list if public tee times are available, even if the course is private or semi-private.
Based on the greens fees revealed in the GolfPass list, the reviews give a lot of kudos to courses on the more affordable side of the money scale (most are under $70). It doesn’t mean golfers who play more affordable or more expensive courses are right or wrong in their voting and opinions. The bottom line is we are so blessed with so many golf options in Michigan that raters can never play them all. The statistic below even reveals that less than half of the golf courses in Michigan were reviewed by GolfPass users – thus the favorite courses of you and your friends might not have even received votes.
This GolfPass list is a nice cross-section of Michigan’s well-known resorts and other high-end options, intermixed with more local community tracks and a few locations we’ve never even heard of – yet another indication that Michigan has so many options to choose from for Michigan’s golf-loving public.
If you want to get involved with determining the top public golf courses in Michigan or any other future Golfers' Choice lists, Click here to review a golf course, whether it’s your first or your 100th or more.
Michigan golf courses reviewed in 2023: 312
Reviews compiled of Michigan golf courses in 2023: 5,599
Here is the list from number 25 to No. 1.
One star indicates greens fees are a lower cost (under $70).
Two stars means mid-range ($70-130).
Three stars means more than $130 greens fee peak time.
But always check your own pricing options when making tee times.
No. 25
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, The Wolverine, Traverse City ***
No. 24
Timber Trace Golf Course, Pinckney *
No. 23
Bay Harbor Golf Club, Boyne, Petoskey ***
No. 22
St. Ives Golf Club, Stanwood ***
No. 21
Metamora Golf and Country Club, Metamora **
No. 20
Michaywee Pines, Gaylord *
No. 19
Fox Hills Golden Fox, Plymouth *
No. 18
Eldorado, Cadillac **
No. 17
Gull Lake View Resort, Stonehedge North, Gull Lake *
No. 16
Hunters Ridge, Howell *
No. 15
Gaylord Golf Club, Gaylord *
No. 14
Eagle Glen, Farwell *
No. 13
Woodland Hills, Sandusky *
No. 12
Hills of Lenawee Golf Club, Adrian *
No. 11
Tamaracks Golf Course, Harrison *
No. 10
Forest Akers West, East Lansing **
No. 9
Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor ***
No. 8
Shepherd’s Hollow, Clarkston **
No. 7
George Young Recreation Golf Course, Gaastra (near Iron River) *
No. 6
Indian River Golf Club, Indian River *
No. 5
Ravines Golf Club, Saugatuck **
No 4
Gull Lake View, Stonehedge South, Augusta *
No. 3
Gladstone Golf Course, Gladstone *
No. 2
Sugarbush Golf Club, Davison *
No. 1
The Fortress, Frankenmuth **
