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High Pointe Named Best Transformation Golf Course in America

  • Writer: Metro Detroit Golfers
    Metro Detroit Golfers
  • Jan 14
  • 2 min read
Aerial view of High Pointe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Michigan, surrounded by dense forest under a clear sky. Overlay text announces the course's national recognition as "Best Transformation Golf Course in America" by Golf Digest. The Detroit Golf Club (MDG) logo is featured at the top.

Northern Michigan continues to earn national recognition, and this time it’s High Pointe Golf Club taking the spotlight. In the Golf Digest rankings, High Pointe Golf Club was named the Best Transformation Golf Course in America, a major honor that highlights one of the most ambitious and successful redesigns in the country.


Located in Williamsburg, Michigan, High Pointe Golf Club near Traverse City has become a talking point far beyond the state in a short period of time. The award is not about small upgrades or routine improvements. It is recognition for a true transformation, the kind of project that fundamentally changes how a course looks, plays, and fits the land.


What makes this story even more compelling is the architect behind it. Tom Doak, one of the most respected names in modern golf course design, returned to High Pointe to help reimagine the course. That detail matters because High Pointe was tied closely to the earliest chapter of Doak’s career, giving this transformation added significance within golf architecture circles.


The redesign has been widely viewed as a full rethinking of the playing experience, with strategy and variety emphasized throughout the routing. Rather than simply making the course longer or tougher, the transformation focuses on golf that is more engaging, more thoughtful, and better connected to the natural northern Michigan setting.


For Michigan golfers, the recognition reinforces what many already know. Northern Michigan is not only a destination for scenic golf, but a serious player in the national golf conversation. With Traverse City as a hub for golf travel, High Pointe Golf Club near Traverse City adds another reason for golfers to look north, whether they are planning a weekend trip or building out a full summer golf itinerary.


Awards like this also reflect a broader trend in golf. Across the country, more properties are investing in renovation and redesign, choosing to improve the experience through smarter architecture rather than chasing distance alone. High Pointe’s recognition shows that when those projects are done at a high level, they can earn national acclaim.


High Pointe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Michigan now carries one of the strongest endorsements a public golf destination can receive, and it is another win for Michigan golf.

 
 
 
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