Shanty Creek, Black Forest, or Heather

Timbo Slice · March 22, 2017

Taking family to Avalanche Bay at Boyne Mt.in June and want to golf one of these three with my 8 year old son early morning. I have heard last year BF had problems and Heather might not impress me as much as I hope. Any suggestions

cassel191919 · March 23, 2017

Taking family to Avalanche Bay at Boyne Mt.in June and want to golf one of these three with my 8 year old son early morning. I have heard last year BF had problems and Heather might not impress me as much as I hope. Any suggestions

Black Forest has had some major issues the last several years. The Heather is one of the best designs in the state in my opinion, shanty creek is fun but nothing compared to the Heather.

smith851 · March 23, 2017

The Heather is the best of those three you listed. closest drive too... not sure how your sons game is but The Heather does have some forced carries. but im pretty sure all the boyne courses have actually junior tee markers in fairways thou

i would play Alpine at Boyne Mt before considering driving to Shanty or BF, its not at the level of other Boyne courses but its a fun track that your son would prob enjoy too. It also 2 seconds away if you are staying in or near Boyne Mt.

avoid Black Forest, its in awful shape last year... needs some serious TLC before i would tell anyone to go there

Timbo Slice · March 23, 2017

Thanks, I always thought Shanty Creek and Treetops had the best golf. I never been up north to golf, and when I googled maps the courses around Boyne Mt. Shanty Creek was 5 minutes closer than The Heather. After looking at reviews for Boyne golf, it seemed like The Heather and Bay Harbor were the only ones worth while. BH too expensive.

smith851 · March 23, 2017

Thanks, I always thought Shanty Creek and Treetops had the best golf. I never been up north to golf, and when I googled maps the courses around Boyne Mt. Shanty Creek was 5 minutes closer than The Heather. After looking at reviews for Boyne golf, it seemed like The Heather and Bay Harbor were the only ones worth while. BH too expensive.

ive been going to boyne since i was a kid. i go to boyne at least 4 times a year... so i will admit i have a bias. but i think all their golf is solid... yes there are courses that are not "top 10 list" courses... but conditioning and variety is solid on all of the courses

FYI Bay Harbor is usually the same price as Heather if you just dont play the Links 9. Links 9 is obviously the breathtaking one but the Preserve/Quarry routing is class too. all 27 are top notch

Timbo Slice · March 23, 2017

Cool thanks, I'll probably do The Heather. I have played Tullymore, Eagle Eye, Hawkshead, Macatawa Legends, and many more great courses down here but never made it north of Stanwood. So far my top 5 are

1.Egypt Valley 2.Eagle Eye 3.Thornapple Pt.

4.Railside 5.Tullymore

Timbo Slice · March 27, 2017

Thanks, I always thought Shanty Creek and Treetops had the best golf. I never been up north to golf, and when I googled maps the courses around Boyne Mt. Shanty Creek was 5 minutes closer than The Heather. After looking at reviews for Boyne golf, it seemed like The Heather and Bay Harbor were the only ones worth while. BH too expensive.

ive been going to boyne since i was a kid. i go to boyne at least 4 times a year... so i will admit i have a bias. but i think all their golf is solid... yes there are courses that are not "top 10 list" courses... but conditioning and variety is solid on all of the courses

FYI Bay Harbor is usually the same price as Heather if you just dont play the Links 9. Links 9 is obviously the breathtaking one but the Preserve/Quarry routing is class too. all 27 are top notch

What makes The Heather better than the others? I haven't been on any Boyne course yet, but pictures alone make me want to do Arthur Hills course. Not counting Bay Harbor courses, what is the most scenic holy crap course?

smith851 · March 29, 2017

Arthur Hills is the more modern course and is def the more visually stunning on the Highlands property. if you want cooler pictures AH is prob the spot (Par 5 13th comes to mind, straight downhill tee shot to a massive turning fairway). But you cant really go wrong with either

Publications will tell you Heather is better, but thats all opinion. as is mine... both are great tracks.

BG5 · March 29, 2017

The Heather is a great course although it does not really have the "wow" factor. Its an older course and its still one of the best in Michigan but I think the Arthur Hills Course is on another level. If I had to pick between the Heather and the Art Hills Course for me it is an easy choice....Art Hills all the way. The 13th hole is one of the most scenic and beautiful holes in the U.S........that alone will make you feel like you got your monies worth.

BG5 · March 29, 2017

And if you play Bay harbor.....make sure you play the Links/Quarry......You cannot play Bay Harbor without playing the Links in my opinion as it might be the best 9 hole course in Michigan. The Preserve is still very nice but if you can only play it once then In my humble opinion you need to play the links or your really not experiencing Bay Harbor.

cwglum · March 29, 2017

Thanks, I always thought Shanty Creek and Treetops had the best golf. I never been up north to golf, and when I googled maps the courses around Boyne Mt. Shanty Creek was 5 minutes closer than The Heather. After looking at reviews for Boyne golf, it seemed like The Heather and Bay Harbor were the only ones worth while. BH too expensive.

ive been going to boyne since i was a kid. i go to boyne at least 4 times a year... so i will admit i have a bias. but i think all their golf is solid... yes there are courses that are not "top 10 list" courses... but conditioning and variety is solid on all of the courses

FYI Bay Harbor is usually the same price as Heather if you just dont play the Links 9. Links 9 is obviously the breathtaking one but the Preserve/Quarry routing is class too. all 27 are top notch

What makes The Heather better than the others? I haven't been on any Boyne course yet, but pictures alone make me want to do Arthur Hills course. Not counting Bay Harbor courses, what is the most scenic holy crap course?

The Heather is the most acclaimed course at Boyne. Has held the Michigan AM several times. Typically great conditions and a tough course. The most scenic course is probably The Hills, but 'scenery' is relegated to (3) elevated tee shots on the back 9. One very downhill par-5 which is hard to beat for scenery, another elevated tee shot on a par-4 and a tough par-3 with a 50yd deep false front if you miss the green. Outside of those 3 holes, fairly standard golf course really.

Openwater22 · March 29, 2017

You could also consider Cedar River at Shanty Creek. Really really good Tom Weiskoph design. Not certain how it price compares with Boyne. At Boyne, Heather over Hills all day long.