The best golf courses in Michigan, USA

Crystal Downs Country Club, designed by Alister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell in 1929, is a revered private club nestled between Lake Michigan and Crystal Lake. Renowned for its distinctive routing, strategic design, ever-present winds, and dramatic natural setting, Crystal Downs is perennially ranked among the top courses in the U.S. and worldwide. Access is strictly reserved for members and guests.

Oakland Hills Country Club (South) is a legendary championship venue in Michigan, originally designed by Donald Ross and later updated by Robert Trent Jones Sr. Known as 'The Monster,' the course has hosted six U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships, and the 2004 Ryder Cup. It features tree-lined fairways, challenging bunkering, and fast Bentgrass greens, delivering a world-class golf experience.

Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club (Bluffs) is a dramatic public coastal course designed by Warren Henderson and Rick Smith, set atop windswept bluffs above Lake Michigan. Open since 1999, the Bluffs Course is modeled after seaside Irish links, with wide fairways, natural fescue rough, and massive undulating greens, offering stunning vistas and a memorable challenge.

Kingsley Club is a private, links-influenced course designed by Mike DeVries, opened in 2001 near Kingsley, Michigan. Blending minimalist construction with natural dunes and firm, fescue playing surfaces, it is celebrated for its strategic variety, rugged beauty, challenging greens, and understated, unpretentious atmosphere. Acclaimed as one of the Midwest's very best modern courses, it offers a distinctly pure golf experience.

The Loop - Black at Forest Dunes Golf Club is a Tom Doak design and one of the world's only fully reversible 18-hole courses. Featuring a clockwise routing, it offers a walking-focused, links-inspired experience in northern Michigan. The course is renowned for strategic options, minimalist design, and fun, firm playing conditions, attracting aficionados seeking something truly unique.

Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club, designed by Mike DeVries, is acclaimed for its dramatic natural setting with exposed rock, bold elevation changes, and panoramic Lake Superior views. Opened in 2005, it quickly became one of Michigan's top golf destinations. Greywalls is both visually striking and strategically demanding, challenging players with unique shot values and a rugged, pristine Upper Peninsula feel.

The South Course at Arcadia Bluffs, opened in 2018 and designed by Dana Fry and Jason Straka, is a tribute to classic early American course architecture. Inspired by the works of Macdonald and Raynor, it features squared-off tees, massive greens, bold bunkers, and firm, fast ground. Its wide fairways and strategic design create a unique challenge for golfers.

Country Club of Detroit is a historic private club featuring an acclaimed parkland course designed by Harry S. Colt with later input from C.H. Alison, Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr., and Tom Doak. The course provides a challenging, classic layout with impeccably maintained greens and fairways, set in a prestigious setting with distinguished membership. The club spans 240 acres and maintains an exclusive, tradition-rich atmosphere.

Forest Dunes Golf Club’s Weiskopf course is a highly acclaimed parkland design set on 500 acres within Michigan’s Huron National Forest. Designed by Tom Weiskopf and opened in 2002, the course is renowned for its risk-reward architecture, strategic bunkering, meandering fairways through pines, and a stunning back nine that transitions into sandy duneland. Consistently ranked among America’s best public-access tracks.

Orchard Lake Country Club is a prestigious private course in Michigan, originally designed by C.H. Alison in 1926. Renowned for its classic Golden Age architecture and picturesque lakeside setting, the club offers 18 holes and a par 71 layout stretching over 7,100 yards. It is celebrated for its refined amenities and family-focused culture.

Belvedere Golf Club, established in 1925 and originally designed by William Watson, with significant restoration by Bruce Hepner, is a classic Northern Michigan parkland golf course. Belvedere is celebrated for its creative routing over ridge and valley terrain, quick fescue fairways, and lively, challenging greens. It is a historic venue known for hosting many Michigan Amateur Championships.

Bloomfield Hills Country Club, established in 1909 and reimagined by Harry S. Colt in 1915 after Tom Bendelow’s original design, offers traditional parkland golf near Detroit. Revered for its meticulously maintained bluegrass fairways and greens, the course provides a classic test for all skill levels. Private, exclusive, and rich in local history, the club is a regional benchmark for pure golf tradition.

TPC Michigan, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is an exclusive private club in Dearborn featuring a stadium-style 18-hole layout known for its meticulous conditioning and strategic challenge. Built on land donated by Ford Motor Company, the course has hosted numerous top-level tournaments, including the Ford Senior Players Championship, and has been recognized for its environmental stewardship.

Meadowbrook Country Club is a historic private club in Northville, Michigan, founded in 1916. Originally designed by Willie Park Jr. and fully renovated in 2017 by Andy Staples, the course blends Scottish-inspired features with modern playability. It has hosted several major tournaments, including the 1955 PGA Championship.

Franklin Hills Country Club features a nationally ranked, classic 18-hole Donald Ross design, stretching over 7,000 yards. Located in suburban Detroit, this prestigious private club blends tradition with modern amenities, including state-of-the-art practice facilities. The Tudor-style clubhouse, originally designed by Albert Kahn, adds historic charm and rounds out the elite member experience.

Barton Hills Country Club is a distinguished private course in Ann Arbor, Michigan, established in 1922 and originally designed by Donald Ross. After decades of changes, the course was restored in 2012 by Ron Prichard to return its classic strategic features and firm, fast-playing conditions. The course has a long-standing reputation and has hosted several USGA events.