The Clubhouse

July 2026: Northern Michigan Golf Trip

July 2026

Hello to all of the forgettable golfers out there! So glad you're here and thanks for reading.

My goal with this monthly newsletter is simple: to make golf trip planning easier, better, and maybe a little more entertaining — and to give you something that's useful, occasionally funny, and actually worth your time.

When you're not planning your next trip or daydreaming about a new destination, here's what you can expect each month:

  1. Featured Destinations: deep dives into a golf destination, trip recaps from Past the Pin users, and specific tips worth knowing before you go.
  2. What's New on the Site: new destinations, new features, and updates as the site keeps growing.
  3. Golf Trip Planning Tips: the little things that can make or break a golf trip.
  4. General Golf Yapping: because sometimes it's necessary.

Featured Destination: Northern Michigan

They call it the "Golf Coast" for a reason. Northern Michigan is one of the Midwest's best-kept secrets, packed with world-class public golf and a prime season that stretches from June into early fall. Some golfers even argue it's one of the best value golf destinations in the world. It may not be the absolute cheapest spot, but in terms of what you can get for your dollar, it's top tier.

Arcadia Bluffs is the headliner, with its dramatic clifftop links overlooking Lake Michigan and a course consistently ranked among the best public layouts in America. It should be priority #1 on any Northern Michigan itinerary. Forest Dunes pairs Tom Weiskopf's top-40-ranked masterpiece with Tom Doak's The Loop — a one-of-a-kind reversible course that plays the same fairways in opposite directions, giving you two completely different rounds. Throw in Pete Dye's Bay Harbor along Little Traverse Bay and Jack Nicklaus's The Bear, plus outstanding golf resorts like Treetops, Shanty Creek, Boyne Highlands, and Grand Traverse Resort, and you'll have no shortage of memorable tee times.

The golf is only part of the experience. Nestled between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, Northern Michigan delivers long summer evenings, incredible scenery, and plenty to do once the round is over. Spend a day exploring Traverse City's wineries and breweries, get out on the water for some fishing, relax by the lake, or simply enjoy one of the most scenic regions in the country.

Serious golf with something for everyone. The only real downside is the obvious climate limitation that shortens the golf season. But for the months it's playable, Northern Michigan is nearly impossible to beat.

Who It's For… and Who It's Not FORE

Perfect for:

  • Couples and any size golf group
  • Bucket-list golf trips
  • Mid-range budgets and above

Consider an alternative if:

  • You're looking for a winter or spring golf trip
  • You want extensive nightlife options packed into a small area
  • You want short drive times between courses. To hit all the options in one trip, some driving is required — and possibly multiple hotels or Airbnbs. That said, there are resorts where you can stay put and play a handful of courses.

Cost Ballpark (USD)

Assuming peak-season rates — 5 days, 4 nights, 6 rounds of golf, dinners, drinks, and potentially a rental car. Flights not included. These estimates assume a mix of premium and mid-tier courses and don't factor in the most budget-friendly options.

  • ~$1,500 per person: A realistic budget for golfers looking to keep costs down. Think shared accommodations, splitting rooms, and splurging on only one premium course while mixing in more affordable rounds.
  • ~$3,000+ per person: A more premium experience with a larger group Airbnb, multiple top-tier rounds at courses like Arcadia Bluffs, Bay Harbor, and Forest Dunes, plus more flexibility for dining and experiences.

This destination is great for so many groups because you can craft both a premium trip and a more realistic budgeted trip at the same time. Whether you're checking off bucket-list courses or simply putting together an unforgettable getaway with friends, Northern Michigan has options for everyone.

Must-Play Courses

Off the Course

  • Traverse City wineries and brewery trails
  • Vintage Chophouse — near Petoskey and the Bay Harbor area, a great wine-and-steak spot for the nice dinner after a round.
  • StormCloud Brewing — if you're near Arcadia, stop in for great beers, pub food, and live music.

Golfers keep adding more — browse the full Off the Course list on the Northern Michigan page, and add your own favorites while you're there.

Insider Tips

  • If you're flying in, plan to arrive in Traverse City the afternoon before your first golf day. From there it's about a 1–2 hour drive to most of the top golf destinations, giving you time to settle in before teeing it up.
  • Make Arcadia Bluffs your first stop. It's roughly an hour from Traverse City, and tackling 36 holes there on day one is one of the best ways to kick off a Northern Michigan trip.
  • Northern Michigan's best courses are spread across several regions. Arcadia in particular isn't close to many of the other must-plays, so expect a few 90–120 minute drives if you want to check off all the highlights.
  • You can put together an incredible long-weekend itinerary, but with 5–7 days you'll have the flexibility to experience even more — on and off the course.

What's New on the Site — July 2026

  1. 9 new destinations live — 59 total. New additions: Big Island (Hawaii), Mont-Tremblant (Québec), Kelowna, Vancouver Island, Kingston (Ontario), Cancún, San Diego, Hot Springs (Arkansas), and Tasmania.
  2. New Trip Finder quiz. Take the quiz — tell us your timeline, budget, preferred type of golf, and more, and you'll get a shortlist of destinations for your next trip.
  3. My Passport and Stamps. Create an account to mark the destinations you've visited and the courses you've played — and now you can earn stamps and achievements too. Play three mountain destinations, for example, and you'll unlock the Mountain Goat stamp. Try to collect them all!
  4. Individual course pages. Every course now has its own page, not just every destination — which, per some Past the Pin user feedback, makes reading reviews a lot easier. We appreciate the feedback — keep it coming!

Golf Trip Planning Tip #2: Don't Overcomplicate a Travel Day

Unless you're within easy driving distance, don't try to be a hero by booking a big round on the same day you fly in.

Travel has a way of going sideways. Flights get delayed, bags get lost, rental-car lines run long — and suddenly you're racing to make a tee time instead of enjoying the start of your trip.

Instead, use your arrival day to get everyone together, pick up the rental cars, check into your accommodations, and make sure all the clubs made it. Then grab dinner, find a good local bar, and enjoy the first night with your group.

If you absolutely can't resist squeezing in a round, make it a lower-stakes course — not the one you've been looking forward to for months.

Past the Pin Is a Community Site — Here's How You Can Help

  • Review courses & destinations. Share your honest thoughts on the courses and destinations you've played to help other golfers plan better trips with real feedback.
  • Add off-the-course gems. Golf trips aren't just about the rounds. If you've been to one of the listed destinations, share your favorite bars, restaurants, live-music spots, or local hidden gems for others to check out.
  • Submit a destination. Know a golf destination I missed? Send it over — just give me the destination and maybe a course or two, and I'll handle the rest.

Thanks for reading, and see you on the next tee.

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