The best golf course layouts in Michigan

The golf courses in Michigan that Course Vaults golfers rate highest for layout: routing, hole variety, and design. Each course needs layout ratings from at least 5 different golfers who played it; 22 courses qualify.

  1. Crystal Downs

    Crystal Downs Country Club

    Frankfort, MI, USA
    9.6

    Layout 5.0 out of 5 from 7 golfers

    PrivateAlister Mackenzie & Perry Maxwell

    • 5.0Conditions
    • 5.0Layout
    • 5.0Scenery
    • 4.1Facilities

    It’s a time capsule. Mackenzie and Maxwell took a tilted piece of land and created 3 courses in 1. The start is down to low land, my favorite sections are 5-6-7 and 12 to 15. Very different from each other. I could study the 5th hole all day.

    Written by

    @Gdub201

    • Pristine
    • Must play
    • Fast greens
  2. Franklin Hills

    Franklin Hills Country Club

    Franklin, MI, USA
    8.9

    Layout 4.8 out of 5 from 5 golfers

    PrivateAlbert Kahn

    • 5.0Conditions
    • 4.8Layout
    • 3.8Scenery
    • 4.2Facilities

    Very fun / strategic layout. Lots of strategically placed bunkers and exceptional set of greens. Good hole variety and some of the best conditions I have played on. Super playable and courses uses the gently rolling property nicely - a lot of slightly elevated tee shots.

    Written by

    @mikeybenzinger

    • Must play
    • Driving range
    • Pristine
  3. The South

    The South

    Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course

    Arcadia, MI, USA
    8.7

    Layout 4.8 out of 5 from 30 golfers

    Public

    • 4.8Conditions
    • 4.8Layout
    • 4.4Value
    • 3.6Scenery
    • 4.3Facilities

    The South Course at Arcadia Bluffs is the perfect compliment to the Bluffs course, offering a completely different style of golf and experience. Golden age architecture, especially MacDonald and Raynor style of golf architecture is my favorite and The South course is inspired by both…

    Written by

    @golfingwxman

    • Must play
    • Fast greens
    • Pristine
  4. South

    South

    Oakland Hills Country Club

    Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA
    9.2

    Layout 4.7 out of 5 from 17 golfers

    PrivateDonald Ross & Rees Jones

    • 4.9Conditions
    • 4.7Layout
    • 4.3Scenery
    • 4.7Facilities

    The Ross design / Hanse renovation is quite a 1-2 punch. I played right after the US Junior Am, boy was that course playing tough! Rough was beyond intense, and there was no easing into the rough… no first cut green-side, just a change from wicked quick greens to a disheartening rough.

    Written by

    @notaburner105

    • Must play
    • Pristine
    • Challenging
  5. Kingsley

    The Kingsley Club

    Kingsley, MI, USA
    9.1

    Layout 4.5 out of 5 from 21 golfers

    PrivateMichael DeVries

    • 4.3Conditions
    • 4.5Layout
    • 4.5Scenery
    • 4.3Facilities

    I like me some quirk and Kingsley has it in spades. You'll make birdies and doubles for sure. Fun fun fun. Also love me a good redan and #16 is a great one.

    Written by

    @Urannimal

    • Must play
    • Pristine
    • Walkable
  6. (Loop - Black) Forest Dunes Golf Club

    Roscommon, MI, USA

    Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 12 golfers

    8.3
  7. Pilgrims Run Golf Club

    Pierson, MI, USA

    Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 6 golfers

    7.8
  8. Lost Dunes Golf Club

    Bridgman, MI, USA

    Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 10 golfers

    8.7
  9. Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course

    Arcadia, MI, USA

    Layout 4.2 out of 5 from 31 golfers

    8.8
  10. Belvedere Golf Club

    Charlevoix, MI, USA

    Layout 4.2 out of 5 from 16 golfers

    8.6
  11. Forest Dunes Golf Club

    Roscommon, MI, USA

    Layout 4.2 out of 5 from 16 golfers

    8.3
  12. University of Michigan Golf Club

    Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 9 golfers

    8.2
  13. Coyote Preserve Golf Club

    Fenton, MI, USA

    Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 5 golfers

    7.2
  14. (The Links/The Quarry) Bay Harbor Golf Club

    Bay Harbor, MI, USA

    Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 7 golfers

    8.5
  15. (Loop - Red) Forest Dunes Golf Club

    Roscommon, MI, USA

    Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 9 golfers

    8.2

How we rank

This ranking uses each golfer’s layout rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Layout is the layout score golfers give when they log a round. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs layout ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across Michigan. Rankings refresh about hourly.

FAQ

Crystal Downs Country Club is #1 on Course Vaults in Michigan at Layout 5.0/5 (7 golfers). 22 courses qualify for this list.

This ranking uses each golfer’s layout rating, on a 0.5–5 scale. Layout is the layout score golfers give when they log a round. Every golfer counts once per course: repeat rounds are averaged first, then the course score is the average across golfers. A course needs layout ratings from at least 5 different golfers. Ties go to the course with more golfers, then the higher Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across Michigan. Rankings refresh about hourly.

A course appears once at least 5 different golfers have rated its layout on Course Vaults. Log your round and rate it in the app to help it qualify.

This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 3:42 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.

Explore more Michigan rankings

Best layouts by city in Michigan

  • INSIDE Sports Network
  • Skratch
  • MyGolfSpy
  • Vanity Index Podcast
  • Zire
250,000+
Course Reviews
+ 4.8
App Store

How many courses have you played?

Download Course Vaults on iOS and begin your golf legacy.

Course Vaults on three iPhones: player passport, map discovery, and course detail