Evan Schiller Photography
Brian Walters Photography
Evan Schiller
Evan Schiller
Overview
One of three grand "new Pebble Beaches" that debuted in the late 1990s, Bay Harbor was ranked third in Golf Digest's survey of Best New Upscale Public Courses of 1999, behind the twin juggernauts Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits. Bay Harbor consists of 27 holes, but we rank its Links 9, which plays mostly on a plateau overlooking Lake Michigan, and its Quarry 9, which dips in and out of a lakefront stone quarry.
Though there isn't lodging directly at Bay Harbor, the Inn at Bay Harbor is an upscale option part of the Autograph Collection right down the road. And eight-person cottages with stay-and-play deals are also available at nearby Crooked Tree.
About
Awards
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since the inaugural edition in 2003. Highest ranking: No. 23, 2007-'08. 2021-'22 ranking: No. 63. The Links/Quarry nines are used for this ranking.
Best in State: Ranked 11th, 2021-'22. Ranked 14th, 2013-'14. Ranked 15th, 2017-'18. Ranked 17th, 2011-'12, 2019-'20. Ranked 19th, 2015-'16. The Links/Quarry nines are used for this ranking.
Current ranking: 23rd.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“On the Preserve, the holes play through the trees. It doesn't get the recognition as the other 2 courses but still an enjoyable track!"
Read More2022
Review
“Distinctiveness is my highest rated category. Due to the uniqueness of the Links and Quarry nines, the holes tend to be very individual and unique. I can’t remember saying - haven’t I played this hole before. I rated challenge as the lowest rated category. From the tips it’s 6800 yds. I played on a calm day and felt like the fairways were wide and that there was plenty of room on the course."
Read More2021
Review
“Windswept and along Lake Michigan makes for an exciting day on the Links and Quarry nines, but a repetitive feature is sharply downhill approach and par 3 shots (3 of the par 3s do this). The links layout but an all-aerial golf course with forced carries required pretty much everywhere. The course is disappointingly saturated, with the quote from the shop being "We definitely over-water. Our members like it green". The longest 500 yard par 5 in golf as it played straight into the prevailing Lake Michigan wind. Josh Richter, the Director of Golf for the Boyne Group could not have been more accommodating. He was very gracious. I wish the ball could bounce out there as it would affect several categories. In its current state too hard for the average joe and not really a challenge for the skilled player outside of factoring wind and downhill shots. I imagine a resort golfer will play it once then look for someplace to lose fewer balls."
Read More2021
Review
“When you compare this course (Links and Quarry nines) to other great courses with either views of a lake or ocean and holes built in a quarry, this course has more of both! It has 14 holes where you can see Lake Michigan and 6 holes built in a quarry. It gets high marks in all categories. It has fabulous views and is in impeccable condition. It is a collection of outstanding golf holes on a beautiful site. Also an artist had painted scenes from the course on the walls of the on course bathrooms."
Read More2020
Review
“The back nine (Quarry) is different from the front nine (Links) in the fact a lot more precision or "target golf" is required. A very nice piece of property, which has a lot of really great holes."
Read More2020
Review
“The Links has magnificent views of Lake Michigan from almost every hole. Fun nine to play. Quarry is very unique with it design integrated into the top and the inside of an old quarry. Worth a visit if you are in the Petoskey area."
Read More2019
Review
“This site has so much potential, but the course isn't as good as it could be. There are several excellent holes (played the Links and Quarry nines), but several ordinary holes that could be found anywhere in America that gave me a feeling of "what could have been." Conditioning also took away from the experience. Fairways were extremely soft. The 5th green on the Links 9 was in awful condition and will likely need to be re-grassed-substantial square footage with no grass and poor bumpy conditions where there was grass. Not a criteria we judge on, but it be nice it Bay Harbor were more walkable. The figure-eight style routing on the links nine makes for some very long drives from hole to hole. With that said, the views through the course are tremendous and aestetics are a highlight."
Read More2019
Review
“The Preserve is one of the three nines at Bay Harbor. The Inn is quite impressive located on Lake Michigan. This is the weakest nine. It winds in and around Michigan hardwoods and is immaculately manicured. It just isn't great golf."
Read More2018
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