Michigan’s UP Named USA Today Best Golf Destination; Petoskey is #5.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was named the Best Golf Destination of 2026 by USA Today.

The Petoskey, Michigan, area came in at #5.

Both beat out big name areas such as the Pinehurst area(No. 10), Myrtle Beach (No. 9) and Hilton Head (No. 8)

This comes on the heels of the announcement that Boyne Golf was ranked as the #3 golf resort.

In ranking the Upper Peninsula #1, USA Today cited its unique topography, with “rugged forests, rolling terrain and views of both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.”

Courses cited are Sweetgrass and Greywalls. Both, in my mind, are in the conversation for top ten in Michigan. (Read GolfBlogger’s Sweetgrass Golf Course Review and Greywalls Golf Course Review.)

They might also have mentioned a couple of other Upper Peninsula standouts: Sweetgrass’ sister course, Sage Run and Timberstone.

The Petoskey area, which is home to Boyne Golf, was recognized for its “17 golf courses that range from lakeside links to hillside resort clubs.” Depending on the definition of “Petoskey Area” there might actually be more than seventeen, though.

As the article noted, it has a six-month season, but as a summertime resident of the area, I can tell you that May through October are glorious.

Here are some of my greater Petoskey Area golf course reviews. I’m counting courses within an hour or so of Petoskey proper. The total comes to 44 that I’ve played.

1. A-Ga-Ming Sundance Course, Kewadin, Michigan
2. Alpine at Boyne Mountain
3. Antrim Dells Golf Course, Ellsworth, Michigan
4. Arthur Hills At Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
5. Arthur Hills At Boyne Highlands
6. Bay Harbor Golf Course, Petosky, Michigan
7. Bay Harbor Golf Course Preserve-Links, Petosky, Michigan
8. Belvedere Golf Course, Charlevoix, Michigan
9. Black Lake, Onaway, Michigan
10. Cedar River Golf Course, Bellaire, Michigan
11. Centennial Golf Club, Bellaire, Michigan
12. Charlevoix Golf and Fitness, Charlevoix, Michigan
13. Cheboygan Golf and Country Club, Cheboygan, Michigan
14. Charlevoix Golf Club, Charlevoix, Michigan
15. Chestnut Valley Golf Course, Harbor Springs, Michigan
16. Doon Brae at Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
17. Dunmaglas Golf Course, Charlevoix, Michigan
18. Elk Ridge Golf Course, Atlanta, Michigan
19. Gaylord Golf Club, Gaylord, Michigan
20. Hidden River, Brutus, Michigan
21. Indian River Golf Club, Indian River, Michigan
22. Lakes of the North, Gaylord, Michigan
23. Mackinaw Club Golf Course, Mackinaw City, Michigan
24. Michaywe Pines, Gaylord, Michigan
25. Mullett Lake Country Club Review, Mullett Lake, Michigan
26. Otsego Classic, Gaylord, Michigan
27. Rippling Rapids, Cheboygan, Michigan
28. Springbrook Golf Course, Boyne City, Michigan
29. The Chief, Bellaire, Michigan
30. The Donald Ross Memorial, Harbor Springs, Michigan
31. The Heather Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Michigan
32. The Lakes (The Loon Golf Resort), Gaylord, Michigan
33. The Legend at Shanty Creek, Bellaire, Michigan
34. The Loon (The Loon Golf Resort), Gaylord, Michigan
35. The Monument, Boyne Mountain, Michigan
36. The Moor, Boyne Highlands, Michigan
37. The Natural Golf Course, Gaylord, Michigan
38. The Ridge Golf Course (The Loon Resort), Gaylord, Michigan
39. The Torch (A-Ga-Ming Resort), Kewadin, Michigan
40. Treetops’ Fazio Premier, Gaylord, Michigan
41. Treetops Masterpiece, Garylord, Michigan
42. Treetops Signature, Gaylord, Michigan
43. Treetops Tradition Golf Course, Gaylord, Michigan
44. True North Golf Course, Harbor Springs, Michigan