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.

Crystal Downs Country Club
Frankfort, MI, USALayout 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

Franklin Hills Country Club
Franklin, MI, USALayout 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

The South
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course
Arcadia, MI, USALayout 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

South
Oakland Hills Country Club
Bloomfield Hills, MI, USALayout 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

The Kingsley Club
Kingsley, MI, USALayout 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

(Loop - Black) Forest Dunes Golf Club
Roscommon, MI, USA
Layout 4.4 out of 5 from 12 golfers

Pilgrims Run Golf Club
Pierson, MI, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 6 golfers

Lost Dunes Golf Club
Bridgman, MI, USA
Layout 4.3 out of 5 from 10 golfers

Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course
Arcadia, MI, USA
Layout 4.2 out of 5 from 31 golfers

Belvedere Golf Club
Charlevoix, MI, USA
Layout 4.2 out of 5 from 16 golfers

Forest Dunes Golf Club
Roscommon, MI, USA
Layout 4.2 out of 5 from 16 golfers

University of Michigan Golf Club
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 9 golfers

Coyote Preserve Golf Club
Fenton, MI, USA
Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 5 golfers

(The Links/The Quarry) Bay Harbor Golf Club
Bay Harbor, MI, USA
Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 7 golfers

(Loop - Red) Forest Dunes Golf Club
Roscommon, MI, USA
Layout 4.1 out of 5 from 9 golfers

Moose Ridge Golf Course
South Lyon, MI, USA
Layout 4.0 out of 5 from 6 golfers

(Greywalls) Marquette Golf & Country Club
Marquette, MI, USA
Layout 3.9 out of 5 from 7 golfers

Plum Hollow Country Club
Southfield, MI, USA
Layout 3.9 out of 5 from 6 golfers

Birmingham Country Club
Birmingham, MI, USA
Layout 3.9 out of 5 from 5 golfers

The Orchards Golf Club
Washington, MI, USA
Layout 3.8 out of 5 from 6 golfers

(The Bear) Grand Traverse Resort
Acme, MI, USA
Layout 3.7 out of 5 from 5 golfers

(Jack Nicklaus Signature) The Golf Club at Harbor Shores
Benton Harbor, MI, USA
Layout 3.6 out of 5 from 11 golfers
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.
