Michigan continues to stand out as a destination for public golf, and Golfweek’s 2026 rankings highlight just how much variety the state offers.
Arcadia Bluffs’ original Bluffs Course ranks No. 1 among Michigan’s public-access courses, followed by Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club and The Loop at Forest Dunes.
The rankings, released in June 2026, feature 20 courses across the state. They include dramatic lakeside layouts, challenging forest courses and distinctive architectural designs that golfers can experience without holding a traditional private-club membership.
For anyone planning a Michigan golf trip, here is a closer look at five of the highest-ranked courses and what makes them worth considering.
1. Arcadia Bluffs — Bluffs Course, Arcadia
Golfweek Michigan ranking: No. 1
The Bluffs Course at Arcadia Bluffs retains the top spot in Golfweek’s 2026 Michigan public-access rankings.
Overlooking Lake Michigan, this links-style layout combines broad fairways, native grasses, challenging bunkers and sweeping views of the shoreline.
Designed by Warren Henderson, the course opened in 1999 and has become one of the state’s best-known golf destinations.
Wind is a major consideration here. Golfers must think carefully about trajectory, club selection and positioning, particularly when approaching the course’s large greens.
Despite its reputation as a challenging layout, the resort provides multiple tee options.
Arcadia Bluffs is open to the public, with its 2026 Bluffs Course season scheduled from April 1 through November 30.
Published 2026 green fees reached $285 during the peak summer period, with lower prices offered in spring and autumn.
For visitors seeking dramatic Lake Michigan scenery, the Bluffs Course is one of the most recognizable options in the state.
2. Marquette Golf Club — Greywalls, Marquette
Golfweek Michigan ranking: No. 2
Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Greywalls offers a completely different experience from the coastal appearance of Arcadia Bluffs.
Designed by Mike DeVries and opened in 2005, the course is known for its rugged terrain, exposed granite formations, significant elevation changes and views toward Lake Superior.
Its layout demands thoughtful shot placement. Sloping fairways and strongly contoured greens can punish approaches that finish on the wrong side of a target.
Greywalls is part of Marquette Golf Club, a membership-based facility that also permits outside play at designated times.
The club lists a regular-season 2026 public rate of $235, including a cart, and a fall rate of $155.
Golfers should confirm guest access and tee-time availability directly with the club before making travel plans.
Greywalls is particularly appealing to players who value challenging course architecture and a natural northern landscape.
3. Forest Dunes — The Loop, Roscommon
Golfweek Michigan ranking: No. 3
The Loop at Forest Dunes is among the most unusual golf-course designs in the United States.
Created by architect Tom Doak, it features a reversible layout using the same property in two directions.
The Red routing plays counterclockwise, while the Black routing moves clockwise.
Although both versions share the same greens and fairways, reversing the direction changes approach angles, tee-shot decisions and the overall playing experience.
According to the resort, the Red routing is played on even-numbered calendar days and the Black routing on odd-numbered days.
The design places a premium on strategy and controlling the golf ball along firm turf.
Golfers hoping to experience both versions should plan their stay around the rotating schedule.
The resort’s published 2026 summer green fees for The Loop ranged from $185 to $215, excluding its additional cart fee.
4. Arcadia Bluffs — South Course, Arcadia
Golfweek Michigan ranking: Tied fourth
The South Course gives Arcadia Bluffs another position near the top of Michigan’s public golf rankings.
Unlike the Bluffs Course, which emphasizes its dramatic coastal setting, the South Course focuses on classical design principles.
Wide playing corridors, large greens, geometric bunkering and firm conditions provide players with several strategic options.
Its relatively open landscape places particular importance on wind direction.
The layout was designed by Dana Fry and Jason Straka, drawing inspiration from early American golf-course architecture.
For golfers who enjoy making tactical decisions rather than simply aiming at narrow targets, the South Course provides an appealing contrast to its neighboring Bluffs layout.
It is open to public play, with 2026 operations scheduled through October 31.
The course’s published peak-season fee was $185, making it less expensive than the Bluffs Course during the same period.
5. Forest Dunes — Original Course, Roscommon
Golfweek Michigan ranking: Tied fourth
Forest Dunes’ original course shares fourth place with the South Course at Arcadia Bluffs.
Designed by Tom Weiskopf, the layout provides a more conventional golf experience than the resort’s reversible Loop.
Set among northern Michigan’s wooded landscape, the course combines tree-lined holes with sandy terrain and carefully positioned hazards.
Its appeal comes from the balance between natural surroundings and strategic variety.
For visitors already planning to play The Loop, adding Forest Dunes creates an opportunity to experience two very different architectural approaches at one resort.
The two courses also make Roscommon a worthwhile stop on a longer northern Michigan golf trip.
What Should Golfers Know Before Booking?
Golfweek’s public-access designation does not mean every course operates like a municipal golf facility.
Some accept daily-fee reservations directly, while others provide limited outside access or operate through resort arrangements.
Visitors should confirm availability before traveling, particularly at Greywalls, where outside tee times may be restricted.
Seasonal pricing also makes a difference.
Peak summer rounds at leading Michigan destinations can be expensive, while spring and autumn can offer reduced rates.
Golfers should also check closing dates, particularly in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, where the playing season is shorter.
For travelers building a larger itinerary, our MadKnows guide to the best golf trips includes additional Michigan destinations, while our summer golf trips guide explores northern Michigan as a seasonal destination.
Why Michigan Remains a Leading Public Golf Destination
Michigan’s strongest advantage is the variety of golf experiences available to visiting players.
Arcadia Bluffs provides a lakeside links-style challenge. Greywalls offers granite outcroppings and rugged elevation changes. Forest Dunes presents both traditional woodland golf and the architectural novelty of a reversible layout.
The 2026 Golfweek rankings reinforce the strength of these options.
For golfers who want highly regarded courses without depending on a traditional private-club invitation, Michigan offers an extensive collection of destinations worth exploring.
Rankings attributed to Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play 2026 list, published June 15, 2026. Course characteristics, seasonal operations and prices were checked against the respective course operators. Fees and availability are subject to change.