Golf Guide: Petoskey/Boyne City - MI

Between the quaint resort town of Petoskey on the northern coast of Michigan's lower peninsula and the mountainous Boyne City region to the south, there is a lot of good golf to be played. Bordered by Lake Huron and Lake Michigan with two formidable mountains roughly in the middle you'll discover more than 25 courses by top golf architects like RT Jones, Arthur Hills and Donald Ross.

A popular four-seasons vacation destination - all about skiing in the winter, golf and water sports in the summer - early on this land was coveted by notables like Ernest Hemingway who set many of his Nick Adams stories here. So it's no surprise you find impressive resorts with excellent golf facilities like Boyne Highlands Resort with The Moor, The Heather, The Arthur Hills and The Donald Ross Memorial tracks; Bay Harbor's three nines, Links, Quarry and Preserve with views of Lake Michigan, tall tree-defined fairways and plenty of wildlife; and Boyne Mountain Resort and its Alpine and Monument golf courses.

Other excellent plays include Hidden River Golf & Casting Club a strong track featuring The Maple River, tall pines and sprawling bunkers; Crooked Tree Golf Club with five stunning bluff holes overlooking Lake Michigan; Harbor Point Golf Club, a good play for all levels; Little Traverse Bay Golf Club, a traditional-style course perched on high bluffs affording magnificent water views and many elevation changes; Chestnut Valley Golf Club carved out of a hardwood forest in a picturesque log community; and Springbrook Golf Club, a friendly family-owned course.

Notable is The Donald Ross Memorial where eighteen of the Ross's greatest holes have been recreated paying tribute to this accomplished designer.

Nine hole courses appeal to families like Ye Nyne Olde Holles Golf Course in East Jordan dating from 1923 with views of Lake Charlevoix and Beaver Island Golf Course while 18-hole Maple Ridge Golf Club in Brutus is designed for all levels of golfers.

Combine great golf and events like the Dirty Dog Dash where crazy people, often in zany costumes clamor over a 3-1/2 mile mountain track getting muddy and battered (all for charity of course) with outdoor fun like Boyne Highlands' Zipline Adventure, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, biking and water sports, and it's no wonder Petoskey/Boyne is such a popular place to live and play.