Northern Michigan
The Highlands - Donald Ross Memorial
Replica / tribute resort course
Donald Ross Memorial is a concept course, not a museum piece. It borrows from famous Ross ideas and turns them into an accessible resort round. That makes it fun and useful, especially for groups staying at The Highlands. Just do not sell it as a lost Ross masterpiece. It is not that, and it is better when it does not try to be.
Course gallery
3 photos
The take
Donald Ross Memorial is a concept course, not a museum piece. It borrows from famous Ross ideas and turns them into an accessible resort round. That makes it fun and useful, especially for groups staying at The Highlands. Just do not sell it as a lost Ross masterpiece. It is not that, and it is better when it does not try to be.
Best for
Boyne groups, history-minded golfers, and a lighter resort round
Watch out
Mistaking replica holes for a true Donald Ross original
How to play it
Strong play
Course intelligence
What you need to know
Strengths
- Fun concept
- Good variety
- Group-friendly
- Useful Boyne itinerary depth
Watch-outs
- Not an original Ross design
- Concept can feel uneven
- Less essential than the anchors
Signature holes
1, 10, 15, 18
Book it right
Cost, access, and timing
Green fees
Boyne resort/public seasonal rate; verify current pricing and package rules.
Best season
June through September is the main window.
Caddies / walking
Walking works best at Arcadia, Forest Dunes, and The Loop.
Replay priority
Medium
Booking move
Book the anchor tee times first: Arcadia Bluffs, Forest Dunes, both Loop directions, Bay Harbor Links/Quarry, Heather, Donald Ross Memorial, and Treetops Masterpiece. Then
Weather read
Pick the right window.
Jan
28F / 15F
Sun Low; rain Snow
Feb
31F / 16F
Sun Low; rain Snow
Mar
43F / 25F
Sun Mixed; rain Medium
Apr
57F / 36F
Sun Good; rain Medium
May
69F / 47F
Sun Best; rain Medium
Jun
78F / 57F
Sun Best; rain Medium
Google review
5/5 - 5 years ago
Beautiful course, especially in the fall. The fall foillage puts on a show! Shorter course, bunkers, but easily attainable if your a seasoned golfer. The course mimics other golf courses which were favorite holes of Donald Ross. Highly recommend if in the Harbor Springs area. The
Beautiful course, especially in the fall. The fall foillage puts on a show! Shorter course, bunkers, but easily attainable if your a seasoned golfer. The course mimics other golf courses which were favorite holes of Donald Ross. Highly recommend if in the Harbor Springs area. The
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Google review
4/5 - 3 years ago
Beautiful as expected! Course under construction plus the greens weren't in great shape after aeration. But you can't go wrong with Boyne
Beautiful as expected! Course under construction plus the greens weren't in great shape after aeration. But you can't go wrong with Boyne
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Google review
3/5 - a year ago
Nice course just a flawed design strategy. Copying Donald Ross seems like a neat idea but you can not copy the weather, soil, etc. Some holes are being redone. Many of the holes play longer than the yardage because Northern Michigan is a wet soft area not dry and hard where so
Nice course just a flawed design strategy. Copying Donald Ross seems like a neat idea but you can not copy the weather, soil, etc. Some holes are being redone. Many of the holes play longer than the yardage because Northern Michigan is a wet soft area not dry and hard where so
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Keep planning
What should you do next?
Use The Highlands - Donald Ross Memorial as one piece of the Northern Michigan trip. Build the routing, compare the destination, or ask how it fits your group.
Keep exploring Northern Michigan
Other courses in the same trip.
Must play
Arcadia Bluffs - The Bluffs Course
The Bluffs is the course that sells the trip before anyone reads the fine print.
Must play
Forest Dunes Golf Club
Forest Dunes is the inland heavyweight.
Must play
Arcadia Bluffs - South Course
The South Course is why Arcadia is more than a one-course postcard.
Must play
The Loop - Black Course
The Loop Black is half of the reversible argument.
Must play
The Loop - Red Course
The Loop Red completes the trick.
Must play
Bay Harbor - Links/Quarry
Bay Harbor Links/Quarry is the scenic resort flex.
Strong play
The Highlands - The Heather
The Heather is the old-school Boyne round and still useful.
Strong play
Treetops Resort - Masterpiece
Masterpiece is the Gaylord course that earns a spot in the curated Northern Michigan list.
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