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Golf Trips / Bay Harbor, MI / Planning Guide

Bay Harbor Golf Trip Planning Guide

Bay Harbor Golf Club is northern Michigan's most scenic 27 holes — Arthur Hills routed The Links, Quarry, and Preserve nines along towering bluffs and a shale quarry on Little Traverse Bay. It anchors the BOYNE golf empire (Bay Harbor, The Highlands, Crooked Tree), making this a luxe Lake Michigan golf base.

The Breakdown

Quick Facts

Best Time to Visit

Summer, Fall

Nearest Airport

PLN (25 min drive)

Green Fees

$60–$295

Lodging From

$350/night

Walkable Courses

0 of 5

Budget Est. (8 guys, 3 nights)

~$371/person

The Game Plan

Sample 3-Day Itinerary

Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Bay Harbor. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.

Day 1

Morning — Golf

Bay Harbor Golf Club — Links/Quarry coastal, $150–$295

Cliff-edge holes over Little Traverse Bay plus a dramatic shale-quarry nine — 'Pebble Beach of the Midwest'

Dinner

Sagamore Room (Inn at Bay Harbor)upscale, $$$$

Bay Harbor's signature fine-dining room overlooking the marina and bay

After Dark

Knot Just a Barpatio · Open late

Marina deck bar in Bay Harbor village — the natural 19th hole

Day 2

Morning — Golf

Bay Harbor Golf Club — Preserve parkland, $120–$250

The wooded, hillside Preserve nine — combine with Links or Quarry for a fresh 18 each day

Afternoon — Activity

Little Traverse Bay charter & boat rentalhalf day, $60–$150/pp

Rent a boat or charter on Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay for a rest-day cruise

Dinner

Knot Just a Barcasual, $$

Marina-side burgers, beers, and a deck — the easy group post-round spot in Bay Harbor village

After Dark

City Park Grill (Petoskey)cocktail · Open late

Long mahogany bar in a Hemingway haunt — strong pours and history

Day 3

Morning — Golf

The Highlands — The Heather (RTJ Sr.) parkland, $90–$175

Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s northern-Michigan classic at BOYNE's Highlands resort

Afternoon — Activity

Lake Michigan / Bear River fishing charterhalf day, $125–$275/pp

Salmon and trout charters out of Petoskey — big-water fishing for the crew

Dinner

City Park Grill (Petoskey)upscale, $$$

Historic Petoskey restaurant and bar where Hemingway drank — steaks, seafood, and character

After Dark

Beards Brewery (Petoskey)brewpub

Petoskey craft brewery with a big taproom for a group beer night

The Rota

Course-by-Course Guide

Bay Harbor has 5 courses worth playing, including 1 bucket-list tier layout.

Bay Harbor Golf Club — Links/QuarryBucket List

Cliff-edge holes over Little Traverse Bay plus a dramatic shale-quarry nine — 'Pebble Beach of the Midwest'

$150–$295
Par 72 · 6,845 yds
coastal
Bay Harbor Golf Club — PreservePremium

The wooded, hillside Preserve nine — combine with Links or Quarry for a fresh 18 each day

$120–$250
Par 35 · 3,268 yds
parkland
The Highlands — The Heather (RTJ Sr.)Premium

Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s northern-Michigan classic at BOYNE's Highlands resort

$90–$175
Par 72 · 7,210 yds
parkland
Crooked Tree Golf ClubSolid

Hillside Harry Bowers design with Lake Michigan views from nearly every hole — strong value round

$60–$120
Par 71 · 6,608 yds
parkland
The Highlands — Donald Ross MemorialPremium

Eighteen recreated holes from Donald Ross's most famous courses — a greatest-hits design tour

$90–$175
Par 72 · 6,814 yds
parkland
Base Camp

Where to Stay

Bay Harbor has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $350/night for the whole house.

resort houseSleeps 820

$350–$1200 /night

Bay Harbor village condos and the Inn at Bay Harbor — upscale Lake Michigan resort base

on-site golfmarina accessmultiple restaurantsspalake views
lakehouseSleeps 816

$400–$1100 /night

Little Traverse Bay and Walloon Lake homes around Petoskey/Harbor Springs

private docklake accessdeckgrillfire pit
The Table

Group Dining Guide

4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.

Sagamore Room (Inn at Bay Harbor)

$$$$
upscale

Bay Harbor's signature fine-dining room overlooking the marina and bay

$60+/personReservation needed

Knot Just a Bar

$$
casual

Marina-side burgers, beers, and a deck — the easy group post-round spot in Bay Harbor village

$15-30/person

City Park Grill (Petoskey)

$$$
upscale

Historic Petoskey restaurant and bar where Hemingway drank — steaks, seafood, and character

$30-60/personReservation needed

Palette Bistro (Petoskey)

$$$
farm to-table

Bayfront farm-to-table with sunset views over Little Traverse Bay

$30-60/personReservation needed
After the Round

Nightlife

3 bars curated for groups. 2 stay open past midnight.

Knot Just a Bar

Late night
patio

Marina deck bar in Bay Harbor village — the natural 19th hole

City Park Grill (Petoskey)

Late night
cocktail

Long mahogany bar in a Hemingway haunt — strong pours and history

Beards Brewery (Petoskey)

brewpub

Petoskey craft brewery with a big taproom for a group beer night

Off Days

Activities Beyond Golf

3 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.

Little Traverse Bay charter & boat rental

boat rentalhalf day$60–$150/pp

Rent a boat or charter on Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay for a rest-day cruise

Lake Michigan / Bear River fishing charter

fishinghalf day$125–$275/pp

Salmon and trout charters out of Petoskey — big-water fishing for the crew

Petoskey breweries & downtown crawl

brewery2-3 hours$25–$60/pp

Beards, Petoskey Brewing, and the Gaslight District for an evening off the course

Logistics

Getting There

Fly into Pellston Regional Airport (PLN) — it's a 25-minute drive to Bay Harbor. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include BOYNE resort shuttles and Northern Michigan charter operators). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.

Ready when you are

Build the Bay Harbor trip.

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