Boyne Golf Season Opener: Ken Griffin Shares Course Updates and Opening Dates
- Metro Detroit Golfers
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
As one of the premier golf destinations in the country, Boyne Golf continues to set the standard for resort golf—and 2026 is shaping up to be another strong season.
In a recent Lesson on Golf segment, longtime Director of Marketing Ken Griffin shared updates on course openings, early-season operational adjustments, and the national recognition that continues to elevate Boyne.
A 10-Course Destination Getting Ready for the Season
Boyne Golf operates 10 championship courses across its northern Michigan properties, making it one of the most expansive golf resort networks in the region. Following a stretch of heavy spring rain, conditions are clearing, and the expected rolling rollout of course openings includes:
May 1st Openings: The Moor (following a minor delay), the Alpine course down at Boyne Mountain, Crooked Tree Golf Club, and the Arthur Hills course.
May 8th Openings: The remaining six courses will roll up, including all three courses at Bay Harbor Golf Club, the Donald Ross Memorial, and The Monument.
Early June Opening: Doon Brae, the new short course.
Because of Boyne’s unique layout—where golf amenities sit directly on ski slopes—early-season conditions require special care. At Doon Brae, for example, there is still a little bit of winter snow left to melt on the hills before play can officially begin.
Early Season Operational Plans
Rather than rushing to open facilities before they are pristine, Boyne's strategy relies on careful preparation to ensure optimal course conditions for early play. While unseasonably warm 75-degree days are rapidly melting the remaining hillside snow packs, the grounds crew is maintaining a disciplined timeline.
"We just don't want to say we're going to open it and not be able to do it,"
Griffin noted regarding the unique ski-slope terrain of the short course.
"If we can open it earlier, we will... but right now we have it scheduled for early June."
The goal is to avoid promising early openings until the turf is fully ready, protecting the long-term health of the fairways and greens for the peak summer months ahead.
A Nationally Recognized Golf Destination
Boyne Golf continues to earn major recognition well beyond the Midwest.
Most recently, it was ranked:
#3 Golf Resort in the United States by USA Today (10Best rankings)
This type of high-profile national exposure reinforces what many Michigan golfers already know—Boyne is a true powerhouse that competes directly with the top destination resorts in the country.
Built on Experience, Not Just Courses
While the massive footprint of 10 courses is impressive, Griffin emphasized that Boyne’s top-three national ranking comes down to the complete guest experience:
On-course golf operations and pristine maintenance
Distinctive lodging options across multiple properties
Premium food and beverage hospitality
For visiting golf groups, that means every aspect of a stay-and-play package is handled by dedicated operational teams to ensure a premium getaway.
Planning Your Trip
Golfers can explore tee times, custom stay-and-play packages, and overall availability directly through Boyne’s official site. Guest experience teams are also available to help build custom itineraries across multiple courses and properties.
With the season officially kicking off and travel demand rising following the national awards, early planning is highly recommended for groups looking to secure the best dates and customized multi-course itineraries.
Lesson on Golf is hosted by Jeff Lesson and produced by Make The Turn, the team behind Metro Detroit Golfers—one of the largest golf communities in Michigan.
The show highlights courses, destinations, and golf experiences across the state.
👉 Explore more episodes on the Metro Detroit Golfers YouTube channel.
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