The Highlands at Harbor Springs

The rough was thick and made balls hard to find which affected the pace of play!

I've been playing this course at Boyne Highlands Resort for over 40 years. It was the first course built there in the 60's I believe. (9 holes of the Heather + 9 holes of the Moor course).
This course is a challenging layout that will test your game in all facets. The greens will break according to the ski mountain that borders the the course to the west.
The 18th hole is one of the finest finishing holes I've played anywhere.

First time back since 2021 - it remains an awesome golf course with thick rough and slick bit true greens. It's always a pleasure to play.

Enjoyed the changes to 1,2,13, 15 & 16 BUT the staff neglected to tell us that we could only play 17 of 18 holes since the 10th (Royal Dornoch) was closed for renovations.It would have been nice to be told by the pro shop, those at the cart coral or the starter as opposed to a member group playing in front of us telling us about it at the first tee.

The course was in great shape, well maintained and fun to play. I would recommend it for all golf lovers for all handicaps. Overall I had a great time. Played 2 days in a row.

At 133 for a weekend round is just absurd for a course like the Moor. Not sure why Boyne thinks it makes sense to charge the same rates for all of there courses regardless of the quality of course or course designer.

Course itself has almost perfect conditions so if that is what you are looking for this may be the place for you. My problem with my round was the layout is bland, the greens are bland and the back 9 was a rampant bug fest!! After I finished my round I struggled to remember many of the holes and this rarely occurs for me.

Stick to the Hills course or goto other resorts for better quality of golf or reasonably priced rounds.

Very enjoyable up north parkland course. Course is an amalgamation of recreations of Donald Ross’ best golf holes. Not sure of how they decided to recreate them as many of the holes do not seem to have the same style of bunkering of a Ross Course or do not have similar elevation / land movement as the original. They may be changing this as it appears they are redoing the course (one of the homes was closed).

If you take the course as a solid parkland course with a good routing and great conditions, you will enjoy yourself.

The Donald Ross Memorial Golf Course is an absolute gem. The course is in impeccable condition, reflecting the meticulous care and attention it receives. Golfers will find themselves challenged at every turn, particularly due to the strategically placed sand traps that add an extra layer of difficulty to the game.

One of the standout features of this course is the greens. They roll true and are in superb condition, providing a smooth and consistent putting experience. Although Hole 10 is currently closed for renovation, the rest of the course more than makes up for this temporary inconvenience.

What truly sets the Donald Ross Memorial apart is the ambiance. The sound of your clubs reverberating through the dense tree line is nothing short of magical. With no homes around to disrupt the natural beauty, it feels like a golfer's paradise, offering a serene and immersive experience.

Adding to the allure, playing the Pinehurst holes after watching the US Open is an exhilarating experience. It’s incredibly fun to test your skills on these iconic holes, feeling a connection to the professional golfers who have navigated the same challenges. The recreation of Pinehurst provides a thrilling opportunity to immerse yourself in the history and strategy of championship golf.

Whether you're a seasoned golfer or a novice, the Donald Ross Memorial Golf Course promises an unforgettable round of golf. It's a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy the game in a pristine and tranquil setting, with the added excitement of playing Pinehurst-inspired holes.

Improvement opportunity: More water stations. Only one station at the turn.

Beautiful course, friendly staff great food! We would definitely play again!

No golf trip to Northern Michigan is complete without a visit to Boyne Resorts near Petoskey, MI. In my mind, no other Michigan golf resort offers the variety of golf courses that Boyne has. Golfers have the opportunity to play ten uniquely different golf courses; stay in a variety of accommodations designed to meet anyone’s needs and dine at some incredible restaurants.

Recently, I was able to play several courses in the Boyne Resorts lineup including two of my favorite Highlands courses, the Arthur Hills Course and the Robert Trent Jones-designed Heather Course. The Hills Course is one of Hill’s best efforts and showcases the beauty of the Northern Michigan terrain. Strategically placed bunkers dot the landscape in many of the landing areas and narrow approach passages lead to surprising yet subtle greens. Miss the fairway and you’ll find a lot of mounding on the peripheries of each hole. The 13th hole is considered by many to be one of the most spectacular holes in Northern Michigan. It measures 516 yards from the Blue tees and plays downhill. It begins with a tee shot from the top of a ski slope down to a landing area that is wide enough to land an aircraft. A good drive will leave an option to go for the green in two. There are no bunkers in the landing area on this hole, however, the four traps around the green complex more than make up for it. The green slopes in from all sides creating a bowl effect. While this may make for a shorter putt, rest assured it will have plenty of break!

Boyne continues to reinvest in the infrastructure of their golf courses which will pay huge dividends down the road and have an immediate impact on their golf courses. For example, work was recently completed on the Central Irrigation installation on Donald Ross Memorial and Arthur Hills courses. This new system can be controlled remotely and is significantly more efficient. There were also upgrades to the pump houses and irrigation systems on several other courses and a brand new system that services The Heather and The Moor courses.

Other improvements include over five miles of new cart path on The Heather, Arthur Hills, and Donald Ross Memorial golf courses, and taking measures to speed up play on a couple of courses.

Perhaps the biggest news at Boyne this year is that during the summer of 2023, construction began on the Ray Hearn completely redesigned nine-hole short course which will be routed across a sloping site set among fescue grasses. Hole length will range from 8 to 120 yards. “Hearn will be recreating nine of his favorite greens from Scotland, Ireland, and England. With no formal tees golfers will have the opportunity to put tees anywhere they want so they can play shots from different lies and angles.

No golf trip to Northern Michigan is complete without a visit to Boyne Resorts near Petoskey, MI. In my mind, no other Michigan golf resort offers the variety of golf courses that Boyne has. Golfers have the opportunity to play ten uniquely different golf courses; stay in a variety of accommodations designed to meet anyone’s needs and dine at some incredible restaurants.

Recently, I was able to play several courses in the Boyne Resorts lineup including two of my favorite Highlands courses, the Arthur Hills Course and the Robert Trent Jones-designed Heather Course. The Heather Course was Boyne’s first golf course and is as challenging today as it was then. Having hosted numerous state and national championships, the Heather has earned its reputation as one of the finest championship courses in the entire United States. In 2019 it was named “National Golf Course of the Year” by the National Golf Course Owners Association). Number 18 is my favorite hole on the Heather Course; I can remember the first time I played it. It’s a long par 4 that requires a well-struck drive followed by a long approach shot over a lake into a green that slopes back to front. It may not be the toughest hole on the golf course but it sure is memorable!

Boyne continues to reinvest in the infrastructure of their golf courses which will pay huge dividends down the road and have an immediate impact on their golf courses. For example, work was recently completed on the Central Irrigation installation on Donald Ross Memorial and Arthur Hills courses. This new system can be controlled remotely and is significantly more efficient. There were also upgrades to the pump houses and irrigation systems on several other courses and a brand new system that services The Heather and The Moor courses.

Other improvements include over five miles of new cart path on The Heather, Arthur Hills, and Donald Ross Memorial golf courses, and taking measures to speed up play on a couple of courses.

Perhaps the biggest news at Boyne this year is that during the summer of 2023, construction began on the Ray Hearn completely redesigned nine-hole short course which will be routed across a sloping site set among fescue grasses. Hole length will range from 8 to 120 yards. “Hearn will be recreating nine of his favorite greens from Scotland, Ireland, and England. With no formal tees golfers will have the opportunity to put tees anywhere they want so they can play shots from different lies and angles.

Perfect August day, course was great and greens were perfect.

This course is strikingly beautiful and very well maintained. It also has a huge grass driving range. I will definitely come back next Summer.

This is how golf was meant to be played.... in the woods, secluded, with a great variety of holes. Bravo Mr Hills, bravo.