BOYNE Golf - A Couple’s Perfect Getaway - Written by Alice and Danny Scott
Written by Alice and Danny Scott
For decades BOYNE Golf has been a leader in the Midwest and nationally as a golf buddy trip destination for men. And for good reason, with its wide variety of courses and quality of conditions. We have enjoyed it several times, but on a recent trip we experienced upgrades to hotels Boyne Mountain and The Highlands that now enrich ideal couples and women’s buddy trip experiences with lodging that match the high standards of their courses.
Couples need time away together to maintain or fine tune their harmony and BOYNE Golf is the ideal spot for that. With the Magnificent Ten courses, bountiful activities on and off the courses, and numerous culinary venues, BOYNE Golf provides the ideal golf getaway. If only they can decide which course to play — any choice will elate both.
When staying at the newly branded The Highlands (formerly Boyne Highlands), we love to wake up and tee it up at BOYNE Golf’s first course, The Heather. Hole 18 is a thrilling hole to maneuver straight downhill with a large pond to cross before the green. It almost mirrors the ski slope behind the Lodge, where the chairlift is fun to swing up the mountain after swinging golf clubs.
The Highlands showcases 72 holes: The Heather is a classic course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr, the Arthur Hills course that offers some of the region’s most scenic views, the Donald Ross Memorial that pays homage to America’s greatest course designer, and The Moor that offers a fun and classic Northern Michigan experience. Both the Ross and Moor courses are also undergoing renovations to create an even more fun golfing experience.
The Highlands is currently undergoing a transformation. But 80 spacious hotel rooms are already renovated boasting refined details that may inspire you to remodel your home. We’re looking forward to the upcoming 19th Hole Steakhouse and European Spa that will compete with the nation’s best.
Meanwhile 30 minutes south, Boyne Mountain Resort is home to 36 holes (The Monument and The Alpine) to go with the beautiful Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa, Michigan’s largest spa facility. Following a fun and scenic round on The Alpine, a beautiful northern parkland that meanders down the mountainside offering scenic views of Deer Lake, we relaxed in robes at the spa and experienced a couples’ massage.
Celebrate your adult escape or empty-nesting at one of the many bars in the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa that was built during the Renaissance of Boyne Mountain Resort in the early 2000s. Now Renaissance 2.0 will take this entire alpine village resort to new heights. The former Edelweiss Lodge was reimagined top to bottom, for a contemporary alpine experience as Chalet Edelweiss. Through 2030, technology and sustainability initiatives will phase in. SkyBridge Michigan, a new national attraction, will be the world’s longest timber-towered structure at a 1,203-foot long. The 118-foot high pedestrian bridge will offer an exhilarating walk with extensive light displays and panoramic valley views.
Across from Boyne Mountain’s golf pro shop, the Beach House Restaurant is a romantic spot to sup while the sunset paints the sky following an afternoon of golf. Kayaks and pedal boats are also included with stays in the waterfront cottages here at Deer Lake, where you might wade far out and still be waist deep.
The ritzy Inn at Bay Harbor, a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel, stands guard on the northern shore of Lake Michigan. Though the water is clear and fresh, the waves resemble the Pacific surf. Lollipop lamb chops and meaty crab cakes are to die for at the Vintage Chophouse, where the lake’s sunset causes a rush of gleeful photographers in and out the patio door.
Bay Harbor Golf Club carries a premium price for three nines and is well worth it. The Links/Quarry combo is one of our favorite routings anywhere, beginning with four beautiful holes on what feels like the Irish seashore. The Quarry is a thrill ride of scenery, with bold rock walls and Lake Michigan views, concluding with a blind tee shot to a hilltop facing the lake. It crosses a ravine down to the green, where trees sway on the lake’s edge. We recommend lingering on the elegant clubhouse deck for lunch or libations, to absorb the bird’s eye view. After lunch, we had a tough decision: Play the third nine Preserve, or head across the street to the fun and scenic Crooked Tree Golf Club.
One of the things we love about this region is the abundance of fun activities we can do after golf. If your libation of choice is wine, visit some of the 14 wineries on Petoskey Wine Trail, including Boyne Valley Winery that offers a tree-house deck for sipping and tasting. Explore the charming lakeside town of Petoskey or ferry to Mackinac Island where no cars are allowed. This is a once-in-a-lifetime must-do for at least an afternoon. Imagining the horses and carriages cannot approach the fantastical reality of being there.
The resorts also offer horseback riding, Segway Tours, zip-lining and fly fishing. So much to do, so little time -- so a return trip next year is a must. Creative golf packages deliver extra value, such as the Michigan’s Magnificent Ten and Super Five with unlimited play. A Couples Golf School at BOYNE Golf Academy will be on our radar next visit. Receiving instruction together with TrackMan Range and GEARS technology, and before-and-after videos, will surely help us improve.
For 14 years, we’ve traveled around the world to hundreds of golf destinations, writing for magazines. And we tell everyone that BOYNE Golf stands out as one of our all-time favorites. Traverse City, the World’s Cherry Capital, has the simplest airport with direct flights from 17 U.S. cities. For those that drive, it’s very picturesque, passing through historic lakeside towns and a step back in Americana. Visit www.BOYNEGolf.com or call 877.269.8034.