Even though the 11 courses at BOYNE Golf Resort in Northern Michigan are currently covered in snow while skiers and snowmobilers race across the white stuff, the golf staff at BOYNE Golf are booking rounds and rooms for your next visit this year.
The golf boom has been very kind to the industry and BOYNE Golf is using the extra business to increase and improve their golf offerings.
Just last the year they opened the new Doon Brae, par 3, short course at the base of the Highlands Ski Hill. The Ray Hearn design has been met with rave reviews and offers resort guests one more opportunity to enjoy a quick round with friends. Plus, the ‘Back Yarid’ putting course allows golfers of all skill levels to play a leisurely round while sipping a favorite beverage. Kids love the putting course and a quick round is a fun family endeavor.
“Having experienced some of the top resorts in the country with their short courses and putting courses they have created for guests, it was the perfect add-on to create that type of golf entertainment for our BOYNE guests,” said Bernie Friedrich, Director of Golf Course Renovations and Development at Boyne Resorts. “Whether it’s before the round or after the round to extend games, Doon Brae will be a great golf experience. It will also be a fun option for kids and beginners to try golf for the first time.”
The name, Doon meaning going down into a valley, and Brae, meaning steep bank or hillside in Scottish, is fitting as the routing of the course is set along the hillside that doubles as a ski slope during the winter months.
The Back Yaird (Scottish word for yard) is a 65,000 square foot 27-hole putting course featuring three nine-hole combinations. Inspired by other great putting courses like the Himalayas at St. Andrews, or Thistle Du at Pinehurst, a variety of slopes and swales, provide a challenging, but fun outing for serious golfers, families and kids. It is strategically located just off the back patio of The Highlands Lodge making it convenient for guests to chase the little white ball, before, or after a delicious dinner.
“We are so excited about how this area has been reimagined and how the guests are already enjoying the uniqueness, character, and atmosphere around Doon Brae and the Back Yaird,” said Josh Richter, Senior Vice President of Golf Operations for Boyne Resorts. “Add in the lights, music, fire pits, and food service; it will be a wonderful gathering space for golfers and families to hang out well into the evenings, creating a new energy level at The Highlands and fond golfing memories. It will be a great golf entertainment venue.”
The architect, Ray Hearn said of Boyne’s latest golf attractions,
“I wanted to make sure we were creating something fun and unique without being a difficult walk,” explained Hearn. “We also considered all the families taking their kids out to play the short course and then the putting course. Every time I visited Scotland with friends, I was always inspired by The Himalayas at St. Andrews. We just kept playing it over and over and never got bored. The Back Yaird will provide that kind of experience.”
Hearn’s favorite part of the project was the creatively designed green complexes.
“Drawing on our inspiration from the British Isles allowed us to create scaled-down versions of famous template greens highlighted by The Short at National Golf Links, a favorite of Stephen’s,” he said. “Other green inspirations include Eden, Punch Bowl, Redan, Reverse Redan, Whinny Brae, Steep, Postage Stamp, and Biarritz.”
Doon Brae and the Back Yard putting course are only two of the improvements BOYNE has made at the Highlands. Guests staying at the Highlands will enjoy the recently upgraded lodging options, with new rooms and décor, plus additional amenities being planned for the future.
One of the treats at BOYNE Golf is not only the variety of golf available on their 11 courses, but the dining options at the three locations are always a highlight.
The Mountain, for example, offers a choice from fine dining to the more casual burgers and pizza.
The Trophy Room is a must for pizza, salads, and appetizers. The Trophy Room should be your go-to spot for dining around Boyne Mountain. Their to go menu is an excellent choice if you want to relax in your room.
Situated at the base of the mountain the Forty Acres offers a cozy pub-style atmosphere with a full bar and a delicious menu. Their white chicken chili is an après ski favorite, as is the decadent mac and cheese. If you love dessert, consider the Skillet S’mores Brownie for an over-the-top experience. Forty Acres is the quintessential ski hangout, but also a great choice after a day on the golf course.
The Beach House Restaurant at the back of the Mountain, is primarily only open in the summer months and offers indoor, or al fresco dining on the patio. Unwind with a delicious meal while indulging on the views and sounds of people enjoying a dip in Deer Lake.
Another relatively new attraction at BOYNE is the Michigan Skybridge, the longest timber-towered bridge in the world. The 1,200-foot bridge overlooks the valley between two ski hills and provides a panoramic view of the rolling Northern Michigan landscape. Guests ride a chair ski lift to the top and walk across the bridge to food trucks, a fire pit and food truck at the top.
This new attraction at BOYNE proves the fact that BOYNE is always looking for new ways to entertain and amaze their guests.
BOYNE Golf has something to please everyone. Three locations, the upscale Inn at Bay Harbor with the Bay Harbor Golf Club, two courses at the Mountain, plus the five courses at the Highlands are awaiting your next visit.
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