Michigan Golf Journal January 2018

B oyne’s 3-location portfolio provides expansive golf variety, inland or along the water, without having to travel far nor pack your luggage to change overnight lodging, unless you want to. Here is a summary of Boyne’s 10 course layouts, all within a 45-minute drive of each other but others within relative walking distance of the three central lodging locations. BOYNE MOUNTAIN: Sometimes forgotten in the bevy of great course selections is the Mountain’s original Alpine Golf Course. Try not to skip it; what a fun and playable treasure that is both challenging and attractive with views of Deer Lake, and is host site of the annual Michigan PGA Tournament of Champions. Alpine combines all the ideals of golf and spending time outdoors that golfers will want to try it again and again. The Monument is equal to the task while starting at the top of the mountain on the backside of the ski runs and ending with its signature 18th island green in the low lands. Accommodations and very family-friendly activities include condos, cabins, the Grand Lodge, Avalanche Bay indoor water park, beach and water sports galore at Deer Lake and a recently renovated spa where my wife kept using words like “awesome, best ever” on several occasions. BOYNE HIGHLANDS: The Heather, along with The Hills, the Donald Ross Memorial and The Moor – the only Boyne course I haven’t tried – make up a quad of courses that can be squeezed into a weekend if needed, or can fill an entire week of never-boring replays. The Heather has its great history for design, playability and challenge all rolled into one, but The Hills is my favorite. The layout, one of many in the country designed by Michigan State grad Arthur Hills, is wide open on most holes and dotted with attractive but sometimes treacherous bunkering. Other holes are lined with majestic northern pines and the course overall features a wide variety of greens shaping. The 10th green complex is super cool for a risk-reward short par 4, and the 13th tee is also one of the highest points in northern Michigan with an incredible inland view for miles. The Golf Channel’s Big Break X was filmed there. Golf Boarding is a unique treat at the Highlands. Resembling over-sized skate boards, GolfBoards are a stand-up, motorized board that golfers “ride and Cover Story