Boyne Golf Season Opener: Ken Griffin Shares Course Updates and Opening Dates
- Metro Detroit Golfers
- 2 days 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:
The Early Openings: Four courses successfully opened the gates last weekend to kickstart the season.
The Main Rolling Rollout: The remaining six courses are coming online this weekend, including all three tracks at Bay Harbor Golf Club, the Donald Ross Memorial, and The Monument.
Early June Opening: Doon Brae, the highly anticipated new short course and its 27-hole backyard putting area, remains on schedule for early June.
Because of Boyne’s unique layout—where golf amenities sit directly on ski slopes—early-season conditions require special care. The resort recently celebrated its transition with the annual "Hemlock Open," a dual event where 92 participants skied in the morning and played a round of golf in the afternoon.
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 the hillside snow packs are completely gone, the grounds crew is managing a disciplined timeline to get all fairways into tournament shape.
The Hemlock Open showcased this transition perfectly, with Oakland County brothers Brandon and Justin Jansson capturing the tournament title by firing a stellar combined score of 77. The goal is to maximize regional play across all properties, maintaining top-tier turf health from the Heather at the Highlands to the peak layouts at Boyne Mountain.
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 readers' choice rankings).
This type of high-profile national exposure reinforces what many Michigan golfers already know—Boyne is a true powerhouse that competes directly with iconic national destinations like Big Cedar Lodge, Bandon Dunes, Sea Island, and Innispree.
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 across 10 championship layouts
Distinctive lodging options spanning multiple resort properties
Premium food and beverage hospitality tailored for traveling groups
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. Due to unprecedented demand, the resort has taken the rare step of opening its reservation window far earlier than normal.
With current booking paces tracking well ahead of last year's historic, record-breaking season, the team has officially opened up the booking window for the 2027 golf season. Early planning is highly recommended for groups looking to secure the best dates and customized multi-course itineraries across the entire portfolio.
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.
Comments