Harbor Shores Resort, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf course that has been the core of a major economic transformation for the Benton Harbor, Michigan community since 2010, announced its newest amenity for golfers.
The Wee Course will provide a fun attraction at the popular resort where kids will play for free, and youth programming will be a priority.
Hall of Fame golfer and former KitchenAid Senior PGA Champion Colin Montgomerie will design the five-acre, nine-hole short course adjacent to the cottages along the first hole. All the holes on the course will measure under 60 yards.
“It’s a perfect use of the land,” says Jeff Fettig, former chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation, who is the visionary behind the Harbor Shores expansion and a leading contributor through the Fettig Family Foundation. “We’ve been talking over the last several years about what other amenities we could add. We percolated the idea, focusing on families, kids, non-golfers, and golfers – wondering what we could do to make this an even more successful magnet for people in our community. This project will fit that need. It will be a fun pitch-and-putt course that anybody can play.”
The Wee Course, which will also be supported through donations from Corewell Health, one of Michigan’s largest non-profit healthcare systems, will target kids, families, and non-golfers.
“We at Corewell Health are thrilled to partner with Harbor Shores, the Whirlpool Foundation, and the Fettig Foundation on this innovative project,” said Soroya Pierre-VanArtsen, President of Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan. “By improving the green space in our community and making golf more accessible to everyone, we are not only enhancing the beauty of our surroundings but also creating opportunities for individuals who may not typically have access to play. This initiative embodies our commitment to fostering a healthier, more inclusive community where everyone can enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation.”
Serious golfers will also enjoy the new course because it allows them to practice short shots in a unique setting.
“There will be two different sets of tees so that you can play 18 holes, added Fettig. “It will be lit, too, so guests can play at night. And it’s just something that we think will be attractive to the entire community, and that’s really what we’re trying to do. You can bring a wedge and a putter or just a putter to play a round with.”
Complementing the Wee Course will be an 18-hole putting course inspired by similar attractions at St. Andrews and Pinehurst – replete with lighting, music, and food and beverage to make it a great gathering space for the community.
The Wee Links development and putting green will break ground in early 2025 and could see preview play by Fall 2025, with a grand opening in the spring of 2026.
