Nestled atop the stunning shores of Lake Michigan, the Links/Quarry Course at Bay Harbor Golf Club in Petoskey, Michigan is a masterpiece of blended golf course design and one of the most memorable golf experiences of my entire 2024 season.

With dramatic Arthur Hills architecture that balances the natural beauty of Little Traverse Bay with the rugged terrain of an old inland quarry, this 18-hole combined layout merges all the best of classic coastal links with modern, upscale Northern Michigan golf.

Despite its world-class setting and design, the Links/Quarry remains an underrated gem, deserving far more recognition than it currently receives on major publications’ national ranking lists.

Six total holes (four on the Links and two on the Quarry) directly abut Lake Michigan, and views of the Great Lake are abundant across the property including from the Quarry Course’s conspicuous, primarily inshore terrain.

The course utilizes excellent land movement, smart architecture, impeccable conditioning and, especially at 6,850 yards, all the challenge players can ask for.

If you ask me – a hard-core golf enthusiast who’s been fortunate to play, photograph and review many top 100 properties – I would honestly say this is a top 40-60 public course in the country. I put it in the top 20 I’ve played (public or private), in fact.

History and setting

Bay Harbor Golf Club opened in 1999 as part of BOYNE Golf’s impressive portfolio of courses in Northern Michigan.

Along with Golf Digest’s fourth- and eighth-ranked public courses in the country, Whistling Straits and Bandon Dunes, it was one of the top three new properties debuted that season and the three are comparable in many ways.

These are true golf destinations, and are all three associated with some of America’s most expansive and prestigious golf resorts (Kohler, Bandon Dunes and BOYNE Golf).

While golfers in Wisconsin may not hear as much about Boyne as they do the others, we should.

Bay Harbor Golf Club, together with The Highlands Resort, Boyne Mountain Resort and nearby Crooked Tree Golf Club (which collectively make up the soon-to-be 11 courses in the BOYNE Golf destination portfolio), is that impressive.

Designed by the late Arthur Hills, the Links/Quarry 18 is one of three nine-hole layouts at Bay Harbor Golf Club, alongside the Preserve. Collectively, they amount to three 18-hole championship layouts.

The Links and Quarry nines team up to form the most celebrated pairing, offering a unique blend of lakeside vistas and quarry-carved landscapes that are spectacular to see and even more fun to play.

The Links nine is sculpted into and above the cliffs along Little Traverse Bay, delivering jaw-dropping views and a true sense of connection to Lake Michigan. The setting at Bay Harbor Golf Club is lifted straight from those “Pure Michigan” commercials on TV – no, it’s even better.

Meanwhile, the Quarry nine ventures inland, weaving through dramatic elevation changes, water hazards and the remnants of an old rock quarry that builds to a triumphant return to the bay for an all-world finish.

Together, the two nines create an unforgettable golf experience that feels both cohesive and diverse.

The BOYNE Golf Experience

As the crown jewel of the BOYNE Golf portfolio, Bay Harbor Golf Club exudes a high-end feel and environment.

From the moment you arrive, the experience is first-class with excellent facilities, a well-stocked pro shop replete with premium brands and a top-notch food and beverage offering.

If you’re like me and are addicted to buying gifts at the golf destinations you visit, rest assured you’ll find plenty of great options here for everyone on your list.

The course, like all the golf properties in the Boyne portfolio, is immaculately maintained, and the service provided by the staff was fantastic.

Bay Harbor is a bucket-list destination, offering not only world-class golf but also the opportunity to explore the charming town of Petoskey and its surrounding attractions. I dove into several of those in my destination overview, as well.

See more

A Hole-By-Hole Walk-Through of the Links/Quarry Course at Bay Harbor Golf Club

The Links Nine

Links Hole 1: Par 4 (hcp 5, 442/405/375)

The Links nine opens with a rousing tee shot from the tree line out toward Lake Michigan, setting the tone for an impressive round of golf that never lets up.

Perched on the cliffs above Little Traverse Bay, the fairway on one bends left-to-right and features the first of many breathtaking marine views players will become accustomed to as they traverse this wonderful property.

Links Hole 2: Par 4 (Hcp 9, 437/420/383)

A long par four that sets up from well over 400 yards from the back two tees, the second hole on the Links/Quarry Course has plenty of room to miss off the tee.

My favorite aspect of this hole is its green: the sizable putting surface is lowered from the majority of the fairway with a tough false front and fescue guarding the left side.

Links Hole 3: Par 4 (Hcp 7, 380/368/368)

After the second hole plays away from the coast, the third heads straight back to it with a fantastic risk/reward tee shot that dares players to take an aggressive line near the lake for the reward of a short approach that takes the greenside bunker on the right out of play.

Playing well downhill, the elevated tee shot suggests targeting the hill on the right, but if sniped over the native grasses or lower-left fairway can lead to a great birdie opportunity.

Links Hole 4: Par 3 (Hcp 17, 178/151/151)

Situated on a peninsular plat of land abutting the lake, the par three fourth offers one of the most picturesque settings on-property.

The mid-range downhill tee shot demands precision while the lake breeze adds an extra layer of challenge on this wide but short greens complex that runs toward the beach.

Links Hole 5: Par 4 (Hcp 11, 351/332/332)

The par four fifth was my favorite of the non-lake-adjacent holes on the Links nine. A short four played over a sprawling sand trap, this hole offers options for aggressive or conservative play off the tee with a challenging, raised green awaiting short irons or wedges.

Links Hole 6: Par 4 (Hcp 1, 418/388/352)

A tough par four, the sixth plays left of the Links Course’s internal dunes to a fairway that runs slightly left to right. A strategic bunker is situated on the right-side elbow and another is short-left in the approach zone prior to a very tricky greens complex.

Links Hole 7: Par 5 (Hcp 13, 500/490/490)

The uphill par five seventh climbs the cliffs, culminating in a stunning raised greens complex with infinity-like views of the bay from one of the property’s high points.

This is one of the most photogenic holes on the entire property, and turned out to be one of my favorites of the whole season (or ever) to photograph.

Links Hole 8: Par 3 (Hcp 15, 225/206/175)

A long par three, the eighth plays inland from raised tees to a large green placed among a grove of trees. Take enough club here as humps in the approach zone make the target appear nearer than it is.

Links Hole 9: Par 5 (Hcp 3, 518/490/490)

A strong finishing hole, the ninth on the Links/Quarry Course removes players from the coastal setting and brings them inland, more in line with the Quarry layout you’ll be looking forward to challenging next.

If playing driver, stay left off the tee to avoid the meandering water feature that dominates the right-hand side.

Large mounding dominates left of the approach zone with trees encroaching on the right and long – this is a tricky par five to navigate.

The Quarry Nine

With one of the first tee times of the morning and a sunrise that began at 6:30, we unfortunately did not have time to fully shoot the Quarry Course (and finished the Links nine just minutes before hitting the first tee).

In our defense, it’s hard not to get over-excited about shooting as spectacular of a setting as the Links with its proximity to the bay and open, expansive setting.

I wish our tee time would have been an hour later, though, because we were in for a huge treat on the Quarry Course. As I mentioned earlier, it was one of the top surprises of our BOYNE Golf adventure, and now I find myself pining to return to shoot the Quarry Course, as well.

While the Links gets most of the attention, the Quarry nine far exceeds expectations. Its design showcases Arthur Hills’ creativity and flexibility, blending wooded and open landscapes with beautiful quarry elements.

Quarry Hole 1: Par 4 (Hcp 13, 368/355/355)

The Quarry Course starts out with two holes in the woods, playing away from the clubhouse area toward the quarry.

The first is a visually intimidating opening hole with a narrow fairway dissected by a deep ravine. Precision is key here to first avoid the ravine and then find the putting surface in two. The greens complex is guarded by a gigantic sand complex to its left – trust me, you don’t want to spend any time in it.

Quarry Hole 2: Par 3 (Hcp 17, 202/173/146)

A mid-length par three, the star of the second hole on the Quarry Course is its highly contoured, elevated green.

Heavy slopes dominate the left side of the putting surface and a spine runs through and off of it short-left.

Just about everything else, other than short-center, can lead to trouble, especially on the right side where errant shots are easily lost to the trees.

Quarry Hole 3: Par 5 (Hcp 5, 561/523/523)

The third is a beast!

A challenging par five with an uphill tee shot and approach into a small, well-protected putting surface, the fairway’s separation from the greens complex makes for an engaging approach.

Avoid the massive bunker on the left side of the driving area (some of these bunker complexes are comparable to the ones found at Blackwolf Run, by the way) and keep your second shot down the middle of the fairway on two unless going for this wild green under regulation.

If going for it in two, good luck!

Quarry Hole 4: Par 4 (Hcp 9, 436/412/412)

Be sure to snap a shot of five while driving to four from the third on the Quarry Course – this is a breathtaking view looking out toward the lake and the Quarry’s central area of play.

The fourth is most safely attacked down the left-hand side, staying away from the pond that separates it from the fifth. Stay well away from the left-hand greenside bunker, though, as the downhill egress from it towards water will be touchy, at best.

Quarry Hole 5: Par 5 (Hcp 1, 495/468/468)

An elevated tee shot over water sets the stage for a short but demanding three-shot hole on five.

The green, set across the water and below a sheer rock cliff dominated by native vegetation, is both beautiful and intimidating.

Quarry Hole 6: Par 4 (Hcp 11, 332/312/312)

The sixth is a thrilling risk/reward design where players can attempt to drive the green from elevated tees or lay up for a short wedge in.

If playing smart – to the ample fairway on the left – the approach shot will still be blind to a hidden greens site surrounded by native grasses and wetlands.

When driving to Northern Michigan, though, it’s tough not to go for it here – especially with wind at the back, significantly elevated tees and under 300 yards to get home.

Quarry Hole 7: Par 4 (406/392/366)

Playing over a quarry to a fairway that funnels left, the par four seventh provides breathtaking views of the lake as players approach the green.

Aim well right off the tee, toward the tall pine trees at the shoulder of the fairway, to take advantage of the playing surface’s left-leaning slopes.

Quarry Hole 8: Par 3 (Hcp 15, 205/172/172)

Perhaps the most visually striking hole on the course, the downhill par three eighth is surrounded by water on three sides, including Little Traverse Bay beyond.

A strong, unimpeded wind added significant challenge to our tee shots – none of us even got near this green from under 175 yards.

Quarry Hole 9: Par 4 (Hcp 7, 391/370/358)

The ninth on the Quarry Course is a picturesque finishing hole with the lake to its left and clubhouse perched above.

With a waste area infringing on the fairway at around 275 yards from the tee, the best option for longer hitters is less than driver. The right side of the fairway is then preferred as the playing surface will roll out hard downhill and left.

The approach on nine, bordered by the lake to its left, demands precision and helps make this a fitting end to an incredible round of golf.

The Links/Quarry Course: A Must-Play in Northern Michigan

The Links/Quarry Course at Bay Harbor Golf Club is one of the most underrated golf properties in the Midwest, if not the entire country.

Its blend of stunning natural beauty, inspired Arthur Hills design and impeccable conditioning makes it a must-play for any serious golf enthusiast. That it’s not found on some national top 100 public courses lists is baffling, especially given its strong comparisons to other elite destinations like Whistling Straits and Bandon Dunes that show up in all rankings’ top tens.

Hills flexed beautifully on this original design, blending stunning links architecture seamlessly with an inland layout that holds up against any of the great courses in the BOYNE Golf portfolio. That’s saying a lot – this is a fabulous golf destination.

If planning a golf trip to Northern Michigan, Bay Harbor Golf Club should be at the top of your list. It will not be cheap, but it’s as memorable of a golf experience as almost any in the Midwest.

With its combination of lakeside and quarry golf, the Links/Quarry Course offers an experience that is as visually spectacular as it is challenging and rewarding.

I will always look back on my time at Bay Harbor Golf Club as one of the top highlights of my 2024 golf season, and I already cannot wait to return.

For more on the Links/Quarry Course, visit its landing page on BOYNE Golf’s website

All photography in this article by Paul Seifert, Brian Murphy and Troy Giljohann for WiscoGolfAddict.com