That was the thinking at Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs, Michigan. The first golf course was built here in 1966. Designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, The Heather (4,485-7,143 yards) opened in 1966, presaging the "golf boom" by some three decades and establishing Boyne as a central player in Michigan golf. The Heather Course has played host over the decades to nearly every major Michigan amateur championship and remains the top draw at the Highlands Resort.

Next came The Moor Course (5,099-6,850 yards), by Bill Newcombe and John Robinson, in 1974, which many locals and regulars will tell you is their favorite (perhaps partially because it tends to be less expensive and less crowded than the other three courses on the resort grounds).

In 1989, the Donald Ross Memorial Course (4,935-6,814 yards) ushered in the "golf boom" years. Also designed largely by Michigan course architect Bill Newcombe, the Ross is an 18-hole homage to legendary Donald Ross. Each hole is modeled after Ross's most famous holes around the world. The greens, especially, are every bit as diabolical as any authentic Ross design you may encounter.

The final course added to the Boyne Highlands property was the eponymous Arthur Hills Course (4,811-7,312 yards, par 73), which, along with the spectacular Bay Harbor Golf Club a few miles away, cemented Hills's reputation as a master of dramatic, and dramatically difficult, golf course design. The Hills Course opened in 1995 (with a redesign in 1999) and has the highest slope rating (144) and course rating (75.4) on the property. It also has the most memorable and visually striking holes at the resort.

Players' notes

The Heather Course

Robert Trent Jones, Sr. innovated a number of golf course design features: long, narrow teeing grounds allowing for extremely variable hole lengths; deep, narrow greens; drifting, meandering doglegged fairways that encourage shots to find preferred angles and require players to move the ball in all directions. All of these RTJ hallmarks are in full display at The Heather Course. Most of all, the layout epitomizes the legendary course architect's mantra of "Easy bogey, difficult par."

The main advice from John Myers, Head PGA Professional at Boyne Highlands, for first-time visitors to The Heather is that "par 3s play longer than the yardage on the scorecard." Also, says Myers, "If the green read is not obvious, the ball will break away from the mountain."

As my son and I worked our way around The Heather, we found quickly that yes, indeed, the par 3s all play longer than they say on the card. We played the conservative orange tees (6,207 yards), but even so, the 162-yard 4th hole, which plays completely over water, felt 20 yards longer. I can only imagine how daunting it would be from the 202-yard back tees.

Our favorite holes were the closing holes on each side. The par-5 9th stretches to a brawny 617 yards from the tips. The fairway snakes left-to-right and then back right-to-left, terminating at a heavily bunkered green whose surface is occluded from view down on the fairway.

The 482-yard, par-4 18th plays downhill to a large pond that starts 275-230 yards off the tees (depending on the tee box). Although there's a narrow crescent of fairway off to the left of the water, chances are, your second shot will be a 170-200 yard carry over the water to a kidney-shaped green with two gaping bunkers looming behind it. One of my best shots all season was a 4i-hybrid over said pond to about 10 feet from the front-left pin. (I two-putted for par.)

The Donald Ross Memorial Course

Donald Ross is an almost mythical character in the history of golf course design, a fact that was totally lost on my 15-year-old son. As we drove to the first tee, I tried to explain how Ross's green complexes were his hallmark: generously bunkered, devilishly contoured, turtle-backed and multi-tiered.

My son said something like, "That sounds awful." And, well, I suppose that's sort of true. But it also makes it fun to play any Ross course, or this exquisitely executed Ross tribute course.

The greens on the Ross Memorial Course mimic the iconic course architect's iconic greens. But let me disabuse you of any thought of shooting a career best your first time out. Those greens, which so spooked my son, are brutal and unforgiving. I think I 3-putted nine greens here, one of which was from just six feet away...then from 9 feet...then from 3 feet. Sigh.

The holes that Bill Newcombe and colleagues chose for homage include are #14 at Royal Dornoch, #6 and #15 at Seminole, #16 and #17 at Oakland Hills, #14 and #16 at Pinehurst 2 - and so many more classic holes.

One of our favorite holes was the bucolic 181-yard par-3 8th (#11 at the Charlotte Country Club), which plays over water, with a willow tree to the right and a saddleback green.

A second favorite was the gorgeous, brilliant split fairway of the 510-yard 13th (Seminole #15). Pines and bunkers litter the area between fairway branches. From the proper tees, this par 5 is reachable in two, and it has the flattest, kindest green on the entire course. But don't get me wrong: it is still lightning-fast, but at least there is a chance of holing a birdie (or better) here.

After our round, my son, to whom I had been rhapsodizing about Ross throughout the round, said simply: "I don't think I like this Ross guy." So, again, be forewarned: The Ross Memorial is a memorable experience, but be kind to yourself and modest in your expectations for your score.

The Arthur Hills Course

Art Hills is one of the more polarizing golf course architects you might never have heard of. It has been reported that his philosophy is that golf is a hard game, and his courses are not intended to make it ay easier. On the other hand, his use of topography, contour, and strategic features conspire to make his designs eminently memorable and visually inspiring.

The Arthur Hills Course is both of these things. It was our favorite course at Boyne Highlands Resort and was, generally, not nearly as unforgiving as Hills's reputation might lead one to expect. The entire course is situated on arguably the best tract of land on the sprawling resort. There are picturesque backdrops of trees and sloping valleys, and the greens are much easier to read and putt than on the Ross Course. In my son's words, it is far less "Rossy."

The layout eases players into their rounds, with four straight holes that, from the proper tees, do not pose many penalties. The 481-yard par-4 5th is a brute, to be sure, but the entire hole is gloriously framed by lodge-pole pines. It is one of the few times I've heard my son actually utter the word "Wow!" when looking at a green. (The other times were on Hills's masterful Bay Harbor Golf Club the previous day.)

One of the most memorable holes is the par-4 10th. At just 354 yards from the tips, it might be drivable from the proper tees. When stepping on the tee, my son said, "This doesn't feel real." The entire hole is encircled by towering pines, and the elevated green is fronted by a cavernous bunker.

As much as you feel that the front 9 of The Hills Course is playable and scoreable, the back 9 slaps you in the face. Misses are penalized much more harshly, and the greens are considerably more severe. Nevertheless, the experience is fantastic, and the golf is fun, even if you shoot 11 strokes worse on the back than you did on the front (like I did).

If You Go

Boyne Highlands Resort offers year-round activities and amenities centered around skiing in the winter and golf in the summer. Peak season greens fees at all four courses range from $56 (twilight) to $191 (peak times/days), and there are copious stay-and-play packages.

There are numerous dining options in the Bavarian-inspired main lodge and hotel, but the Slopeside Cafe was my son's and my favorite. Outside the back windows, there were dozens of kids and families cavorting on the expansive green lawn at the base of the ski slope. Free cornhole (bags) games, putting greens, Frisbee, basketball, tennis, etc., etc. are available. Don't miss the free ski-lift rides up to the top of the "mountain," or the new zip-line. There's even a small fishing pond stocked with trout that my son and I spent a fun hour catching and releasing. Oh, and the food's excellent, too, especially the pizzas and burgers.

In the early 1990s, the Boyne Resorts - Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain, and The Inn at Bay Harbor - were also booming, and building courses at all their properties. The crown jewel of this collection, Bay Harbor Golf Club, opened in 1996 with the goal of becoming the Pebble Beach of the Midwest. Golf Course architect Arthur Hills crafted 27 holes through the woods and along the shores of Lake Michigan, creating arguably the first true "golf destination" in the Midwest.

Vista from the 3rd tee box at Bay Harbor, Links Course The "top of the mitten" - i.e., the northern tip of Michigan's lower peninsula - is stunningly beautiful: breathtaking views of Lake Michigan, deep harbors and tranquil bays, soaring forests, a patchwork of inland lakes and rivers. Although summers, and golf seasons, are relatively short, the summer days are temperate and long, allowing golfers to play 14 hours a day during the height of the summer.

What better setting, then, for Arthur Hills to carve 27 unique holes into the bluffs overlooking the lake, centerpiece to the tawny enclave of Bay Harbor? This is the layout that would cement his reputation for scenic yet difficult courses, replete with forced carries and heroic shot opportunities. The location is so picturesque, in fact, that an episode of "Shell's Wide World of Golf" was filmed here shortly after the course opened.

Bay Harbor Golf Club consists of three 9-hole courses: The Preserve, The Links, and The Quarry. All three are immaculately groomed and exquisitely challenging, but The Links and The Quarry comprise the "premier" 18-hole experience. All three 9s have seven(!) tee boxes, allowing players to calibrate the yardage to their skill level. From the back tees, the Links/Quarry combination stretches to over 6,800 yards. From the most forward tees, players are looking at just over 4,100 yards.

No matter the tees you choose, you'll be treated to spectacular vistas and holes routed brilliantly through woods and grasslands, and across ravines and a massive old shale quarry, all skirting the shore of Lake Michigan.

Assistant Golf Professional Scott Puschi offers a few valuable tidbits of advice for first-time visitors. "First, download the free GPS app onto your phone," he says. "It's a 3D yardage book with tons of helpful tips and flyovers of every hole."

"Second," he continues, "Play the Links and Quarry combination, unless you don't enjoy forced carries. The Quarry has a forced carry on every hole, and we don't want people to have a bad day."

The Links

My 15-year-old son and I played the Links/Quarry combination in "Chamber of Commerce" weather. We chose to play at about 6,300 yards, as our games were undergoing various changes after some recent lessons. As we approached the tee box on the ~400yd 1st hole of The Links, my son started to realize why I was so excited to finally play Bay Harbor - and to understand why I am such a huge fan of Michigan golf. The panoramic view from the saddleback fairway down to the first green was just a taste of what was to come.

By the time we got to the 3rd hole, possibly the hardest short(ish) par-4 you've ever seen, he just kept saying, "Wow." That's about as much outward awe you can coax out of a teenager. Nearly every green on The Links seems to be framed or back-dropped by the lake. The short (depending on the tees you play, 178-80 yards) par-3 4th is one of the best one-shotters I've seen in a long time, with certain death left and long, and a bailout area to the right that leaves a nearly unstoppable downhill chip toward the lake.

There's only one forced carry on The Links at the par-4 6th hole, which is to a split fairway (take the right side-it's much shorter!). The Bay Harbor app comes in very handy over the last few holes of The Links, especially for the blind landing area on the short par-5 7th hole and the serpentine par-5 9th, which snakes through wetlands from tee to green (stay left!).

The Quarry

As it turns out, The Links, for all its challenges-and there are many-serves as but a warm-up for The Quarry, which requires precision and power on basically very shot. Looking through my notes, I find multiple uses of the words "insane" and "crazy," but in good ways. For example, the brawny par-5 3rd hole first requires a long carry off the tee to a fairway bordered by a marsh to the right and an enormous waste area to the left. Your second shot will likely be a lay-up to a blind landing area, followed by an approach over a sizeable portion of the old quarry.

At this point, my son decided he was fonder of The Links. "This side is WAY harder," he noted rather glumly as we counted up his strokes on the 3rd and penciled in a "10."

The shorter but no less crazy par-5 5th hole was equally daunting, with a forced carry from the tee of about 220 yards over water, even from the middle tees, followed by another blind lay-up (aim toward the tall birdhouse). Heed the app and choose your club wisely, as the fairway ends at the water's edge, water which surrounds the quarry-framed green.

More challenging carries follow on the brutish par-4 7th (stay right off the tee for a shorter carry), and the gorgeous yet beastly par-3 8th, whose wide, shallow green felt nearly impossible to hit (utilize the drop areas rather than pumping ball after ball into the abyss).

The app is also handy on the par-4 9th, where the drive is blind over a humpbacked fairway that ends around 280 yards from the tee. My son's drive went too long and was lost (greatly disappointing after such a good poke!), whereas mine stayed inches from trouble. From there, I had 110 yards downhill, over a ravine to an idyllic green nestled between the clubhouse and the crystal blue lake. One of the best shots of my life nearly found the cup, leaving me with a 4-inch tap-in for birdie and applause from the clubhouse veranda.

Even my usually nonplussed teenager was duly impressed.

Lasting impressions of Bay Harbor Golf Club

Before Whistling Straits, before Arcadia Bluffs, before Sand Valley, before The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort, there was Bay Harbor Golf Club, the original "bucket-list" course of the Midwest. Bay Harbor, and the rest of the Boyne Golf courses, were among the originals in what was to become a peerless collection of Northern Michigan golf destinations, which are still arguably the best-kept secret in golf.

Bay Harbor's rack rate greens fee of nearly $400 is not necessarily budget-friendly; however, advanced tee times online can be found for as little as $140, and guests at the stately Inn at Bay Harbor (as well as other Boyne properties) enjoy a wide range of stay-and-play package rates. Although the golf season in Northern Michigan only runs from May 1 to the 2nd week in October, the weather and daylight throughout much of it are almost magical.

Like my son, you will find yourself saying "Wow!" over and over again, as you check Bay Harbor Golf Club off your bucket list.

Manistee National is about 2 hours north of Grand Rapids in an area best known for its natural beauty. This explains why you'll have incredible views of the Northern Michigan scenery everywhere you turn. It's often called the "Salt City" because of its salt industry and factories on Lake Manistee. Tourism and fishing are also big industries, and with golf resorts like Manistee National, it may soon be a popular golf destination. It already is for those who know about it!

The resort offers a variety of accommodations, including standard "hotel" rooms and several cottages. The cottages are a refreshing alternative with much more space, privacy, and comfort. The Maxwell Cottage is a modern farmhouse that can sleep up to 20 guests. It overlooks the pond on the 18th hole of the Retreat and has one of the best sunset views in the state. The MacKenzie Cottage features award-winning architecture with space for up to 16 guests. It sits off the 17th green, with nearly a 360° view of the property from the main floor and a deck patio off the kitchen facing west. The Jones Cottage offers clean, modern accommodations for up to twelve guests. Its two living rooms, dining tables, and five bedrooms make it ideal for large groups or family trips.

For most visitors, it's all about the golf, and Manistee National now offers 45 fantastic holes and a practice putting green in front of the Inn, where a lot of money changes hands! The newest edition - The Short Course - is a nine-hole, par 3 course with four sets of tees and no hole longer than 138 yards from the back tees. Its conditioning and quality are the same as the two championship courses, and management has spared nothing in creating this mini-masterpiece!

Don't let the short length fool you; these holes will test your mettle. There's a considerable amount of elevation change and long, wispy fescue grasses that will grab your club and send the ball God knows where. Several bunkers have wooden bulkheads in front, making bunker shots more intriguing. But what sets this course apart are the greens. The fifth green would make Jack Nicklaus blush. The green has a couple of large mounds running through it; if you're familiar with a Biarritz green, this is Biarritz on steroids. Find yourself at the bottom of the swales, and you're looking at a long putt that will have to rise about 8 feet. The Short Course is challenging and can be enjoyed by any level of golfer.

The Retreat was the first golf course built at Manistee National. It was designed by renowned Michigan golf course architect Gary Pulsipher and offers four sets of tees with yardages that range from 4,778 to 6,517 yards. There's also a 5th "hybrid" yardage listed on the scorecard. I found that the White Tees (6,127/129) provided a fitting challenge. The Retreat winds its way through white pine and ancient oak forests. You'll find generous fairways with only a handful of forced carries. Wetlands, marshes, trees, and green-side bunkers hinder your progress as you approach the medium-sized Bentgrass greens. Many holes are tree-lined on both sides, so keeping the ball in play is a must. Each hole is a new and enjoyable adventure. The Retreat will test low handicappers yet still allow less-accomplished players to enjoy themselves.

The two finishing holes were my favorite. Number 17 is a 121-yard par 3 and is all carry over water. The small green is angled and protected by a sand trap between the left side and the water. The finishing hole is a short par 4 that doglegs left around a lake. At 284 yards from the White Tees, longball hitters who can hit a draw may be able to reach the green. Since that does not include me, I aimed at the fairway bunker and left myself a short pitch shot into the green. Although it wasn't so that day, I was told that the 18th hole usually plays dead into a prevailing wind, which will determine your club selection.

Michigan native and golf course architect Jerry Matthews designed the Revenge and transformed a naturally beautiful piece of real estate into one of the most outstanding golf courses in Michigan. From the Back Tees, The Revenge has one of the highest slope ratings in the state at 149. Thankfully for us shorter hitters, there are five sets of tees with yardages that range from 4,571 to 6,321 yards. I found the White Tees at 5,819 yards provided a great challenge and still let me leave with a little dignity!

To score well on The Revenge, you must think your way around the course. Several holes require forced carries over marshes and wetlands off the tee and into the green, so picking the right set of tees to play from will produce the most enjoyment. There are several blind shots, and the rolling topography of the land can leave some interesting lies. Many greens feature open fronts, allowing for the senior-favorite bump-and-run shot. Ridges in the Bentgrass greens create some interesting undulations, and the pin placements can make for some tricky putts. They are in immaculate condition and roll quick and true!

Once again, the two finishing holes are burned into my memory; they are two of the toughest three holes on the back 9. Number 17 is a straightaway Par 4, playing 371 from the White Tees. You'll need to carry the wetlands on the right and avoid them as you approach the green. Finding the fairway off the tee is essential, so you may want to consider hitting a 3-wood or hybrid. That will leave a mid to short iron into a small, elevated green protected by a large bunker front right.

The 18th hole is a 372-yard par 4 and requires a very long carry over water and wetlands onto a fairway that isn't that deep. Your approach shot is into a long, skinny green with 2 bunkers behind the green. They are mainly for aesthetic value; however, if you find yourself in any of them, good luck!

Before your round, be sure to warm up on the practice range. Manistee National has some impressive practice facilities, which include a full-length driving range with hitting mats and grass-hitting areas, a short game area with a practice bunker, and putting greens.

In addition to great golf, Manistee National has some incredible food options. The Grille serves gourmet-caliber meals that won't leave you hungry. With entrees like Pike Perch Filets, Kentucky Chicken, and Pasta Bandito, this is not your typical clubhouse food. For something a little more "low-key," The Lounge offers Detroit-style pizza, baked in a square blue steel pan and smothered in cheese and your favorite toppings. You can pick your toppings or opt for one of Manistee National's house specialties like Pineapple Express or Chicken Bacon Ranch. There's also a full-service bar where you can enjoy your favorite adult beverage along with that special pie. On weekdays, breakfast is also served at the Inn. It's a typical continental breakfast, with cereals, bagels, muffins, juices, fruit, and outstanding coffee! Weekends are a little different, with a full breakfast buffet served in the clubhouse at The Grille.

Should you find yourself needing to burn some unused energy after that big meal or the need to stretch out before your round, the Fitness Center is open from 6 AM - 10 PM and offers a good selection of cardio and weight training equipment. With treadmills, stationary bikes, dumbbells, and a rowing machine, you'll find more than enough equipment to keep you busy. After your workout - or round - submerge yourself in Manistee National's indoor and outdoor pools and hot tub, where you can soothe those aching, tired muscles before you go back out tomorrow and do it all over again!

For more information on Manistee National Golf & Resort or to book your next stay-and-play package, visit them online at www.manisteenational.com.

Fox Hills is home to 63 holes of superb golf set on 500 acres of prime Michigan real estate: the 18-hole, par-3 Strategic Fox Course, the 27-hole Classic Fox Course, and the 18-hole Golden Fox Course. What I found interesting is that regardless of which course you're playing, all the greens are in tremendous condition and rolled true! They get quicker as you move from the Strategic Fox to Fox Classic to Golden Fox. The two 18-hole layouts have five sets of tees, so finding a suitable yardage shouldn't be a problem. And, although they are all on the same property, each course has its own clubhouse.

The Strategic Fox Course was designed by renowned Michigan architect Ray Hearn and opened for play in 2001. With yardages ranging from 91 to 196 yards, odds are you'll hit every iron in the bag, and maybe a hybrid or two! The course offers well-groomed fairways and greens with terrific views of the surrounding area. It is a great course for beginners and will challenge experienced players looking to improve their approach shots and short game. On that note, there's also a driving range and short game area.

Strategic Fox has three patriotic tee boxes (red, white, and blue) with yardages from 1,738 to 2,524 yards. Water and wetlands come into play on several holes. The 17th hole plays 171 yards from the Blue Tees and is nearly all carry over water. A lone bunker protects this large, kidney-shaped green that is much wider than it is deep.

The Classic Fox layouts are fine examples of what a traditional country club golf course looked like. The gently rolling hills, mature trees, and small greens make it a throwback to what golf once was. The original 18-hole course was built in 1927 and was known then as Plymouth Country Club. This Wilfred Reid design was recently renovated and blends in perfectly with the original to create a more modern look and feel with enhancements that bring out the original layout's character. In 1982, Jim Lipe designed an additional 9 holes, which completed the 27-hole layout. These are great courses to walk and soak in the natural beauty.

The clubhouse features Fox Hills' original log cabin, which dates back to 1927 and was renovated in 2008. It still features the warmth and charm of the original log cabin. Classic Fox only has a practice putting green, so if you want to hit balls before play, arrive early and head next door to The Golden Fox.

There are a few subtle differences between each layout. The Hills features rolling fairways and an interesting collection of doglegs that favor right-handed golfers, especially if the can hit a fade. Most greens are open in front and are typically flanked by bunkers. Finding the green in regulation can lead to good scores!

The terrain on the Woodlands is similar to the Hills, although the trees and brush lining the fairways are more dense. It's also the tightest of all three 9s. Many find the greens on the Woodlands more challenging due to the undulation and ridges that create subtle breaks. Number 9 is a 305-yard par 4, with a slight dogleg left. Tee off from an elevated tee box downhill towards the green. If you know where to hit it off the tee, there's a good chance you can make it to the green.

On The Lakes Course, water comes into play on seven holes, and there's less bunkering. The 9th hole on the Lakes Course exemplifies this layout's name. It's a 472-yard par 5 dogleg right with a large lake at the corner of the dogleg. It may seem insignificant, but with the slope of the fairway you're hitting into from the tee, this lake gathers a lot of golf balls.

Once again, we've saved the best for last. The Golden Fox Course is the pinnacle of golf at Fox Hills. This links-style 18-hole championship course is the work of Arthur Hills and, like many of his designs, is reminiscent of courses you would find along the North Sea in Scotland. As you venture off some of the fairways, you'll find a mix of prairie grasses, wetlands, deep bunkers, and large, undulating bent-grass greens often surrounded by large mounds. There's a large driving range and an easy course to walk. Golden Fox is the most challenging of all the Fox Hills courses.

Number 9 on Golden Fox is an interesting par 4 that plays 325 yards from the Blue Tees. There's a fairway bunker in the landing area on the right side, but the intriguing part is the large hickory tree sitting in the middle of the fairway about 40 yards short of the green. The smart shot is to hit your tee shot short enough that you leave yourself room to go over the tree with your approach shot. Get too close to the tree, and you're looking at a long bump-and-run shot under the tree limbs into a well-undulated green with two deep bunkers on the left.

Number 15 takes the cake for uniqueness! It's a 335-yard dogleg right par 4, and you don't want to be right off the tee! What makes this hole interesting is the approach shot. It's blind - the green sits so far below the fairway that they use a 10-foot pin to give you an idea of where the hole is. The green is wide and not that deep. It's a tricky but entertaining little hole!

We all know that Michigan winters can be brutal, and that golf is usually a forgotten event. Fox Hills has something that will drive away those winter blues. Their Performance Center now features eight Trackman simulators, representing the latest shot performance technology. With Trackman's advanced radar and camera tracking, you can learn everything about your golf swing and identify areas that could use improvement. You can also challenge friends to a round on over 260 preprogrammed courses or play challenging skill games with the kids. It's a great way to keep your golf swing in good shape during the cold Michigan winters.

In addition to being known for 63 holes of spectacular golf, Fox Hills has been recognized as one of the top wedding venues in Michigan and is home to three separate and unique banquet centers that can host upwards of 400 guests.

This is just a brief outline of what Fox Hills has to offer. It's easily reachable from the metro Detroit area and will delight any golfer. I've never seen a golf facility that offers so much! For more information, you can find them online at www.foxhills.com.

The five-acre, nine-hole pitch-and-putt Wee Course will open in 2026. The design will consist of holes measuring 60 yards or less modeled after the nine most iconic holes of the current Jack Nicklaus layout. This is the latest community amenity at Harbor Shores Golf Club, providing another unique, fun golf attraction at the popular resort. Kids will play for free, and youth programming will be a priority.

"I am very excited to be a part of such a wonderful project with the Harbor Shores Resort, a place and people that I am very close with, and to collaborate with them to create a wonderful golf amenity that will positively impact the community," said Montgomerie. "Golf is a game for all ages and generations. Courses like the Wee Course will attract parents who play golf and want to introduce their children to the game, and grandparents who might not be able to play 18 but can bring their grandchildren along for nine holes. Children can be introduced to golf through friends and bring along their parents, who have yet to try the game. From my personal experience around the world and especially in Scotland, short wee courses can bring together communities and form a foundation for the whole area."

Montgomerie and the Harbor Shores Resort team walked the course site, which is located adjacent to the golf villas along the first hole. The world-class course designer and his team worked on ideas for the course routing, landscaping plans, and the eighteen-hole putting green that will complement the Wee Course.

While addressing the Harbor Shores group during the fundraising event, Montgomerie said:

"The Wee Course is already exceeding my expectations with how it is all coming together on the five acres of land along the main entrance to the golf course. This piece of land deserves this. It will be another great asset to the community and bring a beautiful landscape along the roadway for the community to enjoy." It will also be a great complement to the Harbor Shores Golf Course, which, hole-by-hole, is one of the greatest courses in America."

Jeff Fettig, former chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation and a leading contributor through the Fettig Family Foundation, and the visionary behind this Harbor Shores expansion, sees this amenity having a major impact on the youth in the community.

"We're so excited to work with Colin to create this new Wee Course to have an even greater positive impact on our area youth.," said Fettig, "When we developed Harbor Shores, our mission was all about being a catalyst in the Benton Harbor community for economic development, recreation and tourism. This project is about seeding the future."

The Wee Course will also be a significant part of growing the annual Whirlpool Community Charity Golf Event, which provides $3M+ in funding to the community's youth by raising money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor, First Tee of Benton Harbor, First Robotics and the three local public school foundations of Benton Harbor, St. Joseph and Lakeshore '

"The Whirlpool Foundation is proud to support this new family-focused amenity at Harbor Shores," said Pam Klyn, president of Whirlpool Foundation. "The mission of Whirlpool Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the communities where Whirlpool Corporation operates. We are excited that our local youth will not only benefit from the ongoing programming at the Wee Course but also from the growth opportunities this provides for our annual charity golf event, which has raised over $34 million and positively impacted more than 10,000 local youth over the last 21 years."

This latest community attraction has strong support from Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad. "The Wee Course will be another testament of the ongoing commitment and collaboration of Whirlpool Corporation, Harbor Shores, and the City of Benton Harbor," said Muhammad. "This new development will bolster our First Tee program, youth participation, and community engagement. As Mayor of Benton Harbor, I look forward to contributing to the success of the Wee Course."

The Wee Course will also be supported through donations from Corewell Health, one of Michigan's largest non-profit healthcare systems.

"We at Corewell Health are thrilled to partner with Harbor Shores, the Whirlpool Foundation, and the Fettig Foundation on this innovative project," said Soroya Pierre-VanArtsen, President of Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan. "By improving the green space in our community and making golf more accessible to everyone, we are not only enhancing the beauty of our surroundings but also creating opportunities for individuals who may not typically have access to play. This initiative embodies our commitment to fostering a healthier, more inclusive community where everyone can enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation."

The Wee Course and the 18-hole putting course, inspired by similar attractions at St. Andrews and Pinehurst, will have lighting, music, and food and beverage to make it a great community gathering space. The new golf amenity is just one of many exciting developments in the community, including an outdoor park along the canal on Riverview Drive and the continued expansion of walking and bike trails.