The hardest golf courses in Michigan
The hardest 18-hole golf courses in Michigan, ranked by USGA slope rating from each course's longest men's tees, with course rating as the tiebreaker. 98 courses have complete, verified tee data.
The Club at Lochenheath
Williamsburg, MI, USASlope rating 148, 77.2 course rating, Black tees, 7,280 yds
PublicSteve Smyers
- 4.0Conditions
- 3.8Layout
- 4.5Value
- 4.0Scenery
- 4.0Facilities
Lots of challenging shots and fun undulating greens makes for a fun day. You can play away from a few pins and still end up by the hole. Lots of elevation changes as well as some beautiful views of Traverse Bay.
Written by
@willtheo
- Challenging
- Fast greens
- Restaurant
The Bear
Grand Traverse Resort
Acme, MI, USASlope rating 148, 76.3 course rating, Black tees, 7,078 yds
PublicJack Nicklaus
- 3.8Conditions
- 3.7Layout
- 3.0Value
- 3.8Scenery
- 3.3Facilities
- Challenging
- Driving range
- Putting area
Tullymore Golf Resort
Stanwood, MI, USASlope rating 148, 74.9 course rating, Silver tees, 7,181 yds
PublicJim Engh
- 4.0Conditions
- 4.3Layout
- 3.5Value
- 4.3Scenery
- 4.2Facilities
this course is great but do not understand their price point whatsoever. charging $150-200 is genuinely absurd. really enjoyed the course, it’s an enjoyable layout that challenges you to hit the right shot
Written by
@sonk
- Challenging
- Driving range
- Grass range
The Heather
Boyne Highlands Resort
Harbor Springs, MI, USASlope rating 147, 75.4 course rating, Brown tees, 7,143 yds
PublicRobert Trent Jones Sr.
- 4.0Conditions
- 4.3Layout
- 3.7Value
- 4.0Scenery
- 4.2Facilities
Certainly the best Boyne course in my opinion with the best layout. Conditions are usually solid.
Written by
@BirdiesAvenue
Jones Masterpiece
Treetops Resort
Gaylord, MI, USASlope rating 147, 74.8 course rating, Black tees, 7,028 yds
PublicRobert Trent Jones Sr.
- 3.5Conditions
- 4.5Layout
- 3.5Value
- 5.0Scenery
- 3.8Facilities
TPC of Michigan
Dearborn, MI, USA
Slope rating 147, 74.7 course rating, TPC tees, 7,057 yds
Fieldstone Golf Club of Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills, MI, USA
Slope rating 147, 74.6 course rating, Black tees, 7,184 yds
(1~18) Shepherds Hollow Golf Club
Clarkston, MI, USA
Slope rating 146, 76.0 course rating, Black tees, 7,236 yds
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course
Arcadia, MI, USA
Slope rating 146, 75.7 course rating, Championship tees, 7,300 yds
Forest Dunes Golf Club
Roscommon, MI, USA
Slope rating 146, 75.2 course rating, Tee I, 7,116 yds
(The Links/The Quarry) Bay Harbor Golf Club
Bay Harbor, MI, USA
Slope rating 146, 74.3 course rating, Brown tees, 6,845 yds
True North Golf Club
Harbor Springs, MI, USA
Slope rating 146, 73.2 course rating, Silver tees, 7,040 yds
(St. Ives) Tullymore Golf Resort
Stanwood, MI, USA
Slope rating 146, 73.1 course rating, Black tees, 6,702 yds
(South) Oakland Hills Country Club
Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA
Slope rating 145, 79.9 course rating, Black tees, 7,400 yds
(19~9) Shepherds Hollow Golf Club
Clarkston, MI, USA
Slope rating 144, 75.4 course rating, Black tees, 7,169 yds
(Arthur Hills) Boyne Highlands Resort
Harbor Springs, MI, USA
Slope rating 144, 75.4 course rating, Brown tees, 7,312 yds
Egypt Valley Country Club
Ada, MI, USA
Slope rating 144, 74.1 course rating, Championship tees, 6,948 yds
(Cedar River) Shanty Creek Golf Club
Bellaire, MI, USA
Slope rating 144, 73.6 course rating, Championship tees, 6,980 yds
(The Moor) Boyne Highlands Resort
Harbor Springs, MI, USA
Slope rating 144, 73.5 course rating, Brown tees, 6,850 yds
(Greywalls) Marquette Golf & Country Club
Marquette, MI, USA
Slope rating 144, 73.0 course rating, Black tees, 6,828 yds
Timber Ridge Golf Club
East Lansing, MI, USA
Slope rating 144, 73.0 course rating, Black tees, 6,620 yds
Sweetgrass Golf Club
Harris, MI, USA
Slope rating 143, 75.2 course rating, White tees, 7,275 yds
(Jack Nicklaus Signature) The Golf Club at Harbor Shores
Benton Harbor, MI, USA
Slope rating 143, 74.7 course rating, Black tees, 6,852 yds
Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Slope rating 143, 74.5 course rating, Black tees, 7,040 yds
Pilgrims Run Golf Club
Pierson, MI, USA
Slope rating 143, 74.4 course rating, Gold tees, 7,093 yds
How we rank
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then 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
The Club at Lochenheath is #1 on Course Vaults in Michigan at Slope 148 (77.2 course rating · Black tees · 7,280 yds). 98 courses qualify for this list.
This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then 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.
Slope rating is the USGA measure of how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer, from 55 to 155 (113 is average). Course rating is the expected score for a scratch golfer from the same tees.
This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 3:41 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.
