By Len Ziehm (pictures by Joy Sarver)
Boyne Mountain, the first of three Michigan destinations to open, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Highlands, a few miles down the road, is celebrating its 60th and long-time senior vice president of golf operations Bernie Friedrich has been named the winner of the prestigious PGA Golf Executive of the Year by the PGA of America.
Bernie Friedrich talked with Back 9 Report about the renovations and new short course at BOYNE Highlands. To view the interview click HERE.
All that is secondary to the recent ground-breaking for the new nine-hole short course and Himalayan-style Putting Course near the Lodge at The Highlands. Described as “fun’’ and “ultra-inclusive,’’ the still unnamed layout will be Boyne’s 11th course in Michigan.
“It’ll add an entirely new dimension to our portfolio,’’ said Josh Richter, senior vice president of golf operations for the three resorts. “We have plans to build short courses at our other facilities in coming years as well. Non-golfers and families can enjoy them as an activity while avid golfers can play a few more holes without playing another 18.’’
Back 9 Report talked with Josh Richter. To see the full interview click HERE.
Designed by Michigan architect Ray Hearn, the new short course is located on the site of the former Cuff Links nine-hole par-3 course and will be lit to allow for night-time play.
“My favorite part of the project are the famous approximate green complexes I was able to create, drawing inspiration from some of my favorite greens in Scotland, Ireland and America that I have played and studied over the years,’’ said Hearn. “I was able to create fun, scaled-down versions of the originals and route them along the ski slope with uphill, downhill and sidehill holes creating some thrilling golf shots.’’
Two to three fairway options are available for each hole. Construction began in mid-July and is expected to be completed by the fall of 2023, with the opening planned for the spring of 2024.
In reality, though, it’s just the latest in a ton of projects completed or planned around the resorts.
“In the 15 years I’ve been at Boyne I’ve never seen as much re-investing and as many golf course improvements as I’ve seen in the last year and a half,’’ said Ken Griffin, Director of Marketing and Sales.
To learn more about BOYNE Resort watch this recent interview with Ken Griffin, click HERE.
“Ray and Bernie (now focusing on renovation projects) put together a 10-year plan for enhancements and improvements on every hole on every course at our resorts,’’ said Griffin.
Hearn’s first project was to make the Highland’s Moor course more playable. He did that last year and also started upgrades to the Donald Ross Memorial course. One hole was completed last year. A total of five holes have undergone renovations.
Often overlooked, the Alpine and Monument courses at Boyne Mountain underwent major upgrades. All green-side bunkers on the Arthur Hills Course received new sand. Fourteen bunkers were removed at Crooked Tree, a course that offers fantastic views of Littler Traverse Bay sitting above Bay Harbor. Over eight miles of new cart paths were installed, plus in BOYNE’s quest to use water more efficiently, five new irrigation pumps were installed at the courses.
These renovations and additions are just the tip of the iceberg. Could a Pete Dye design become the 12 course at BOYNE?
Dye died in 2020, but before his death had designed a new layout, in 2002. Work on it was halted and the plans put on hold when funds were shifted to build the largest indoor water park in Michigan. Hearns and Friedrich’s 10-year Master Plan includes the funding necessary to complete the new course and it will lay alongside The Alpine and The Monument at BOYNE Mountain.
Not all of the recent upgrades been in the golf operation. SkyBridge Michigan, built at Boyne Mountain at a cost of over $10 million, opened last October as the world’s longest and tallest timber-towered suspension bridge. The bridge is 1,203 feet long with a five-foot wide walking surface that sits 118 feet above Boyne Valley. Resort guests can enjoy beautiful views by either hiking up a trail, or take a chairlift to the top. Visitors to the new Skybridge can also enjoy a meal at the small restaurant that sits atop the mountain.
Newly renovated lodging accommodations were added at The Highlands and Boyne Mountain got a 32-room boutique hotel, Chalet Edelweiss. Guests with access to private planes can fly directly into the newly renovated BOYNE Mountain airport.
All of these additions and renovations have drastically changed the perception of BOYNE as just a midwestern destination, the resort now appeals to the international traveler, as well.
The Boyne resorts have long been popular for golfers and skiers but now it’s beyond that. Boyne is approaching the same level as North Carolina’s Pinehurst Resort.
“We’re the two resorts with the most holes of golf under our control,’’ said Griffin. “It’s not just the holes. It’s the resort golf experience. We’re the two biggest in the U.S. We’ve gone from a national to an international destination.’’
Next June, the Boyne resorts will host 350 tour operators from around the world at the International Association of Golf Tour Operators convention. They’ll see what a great golf experience Northern Michigan offers.
I am sure they will be as impressed as we were.
To learn more and book your next golf adventure to BOYNE click HERE.
