Southwest Michigan golf spans from spring to late fall, and owner and innkeeper Eric, gets out on every good-weather day he can. Over the years he has played most of the courses around Harbor Country, from quick 9-hole rounds close to home to the Jack Nicklaus signature course at Harbor Shores.
The southwest Michigan golf courses in the Harbor Country area are plentiful, and golfers of all skill, age, and enthusiasm levels can have a memorable round. With how much we know Eric loves golf, we grilled him for all the details and his personal notes on why he loves each course and what you can expect.
Eric’s Favorite Southwest Michigan Golf Courses Near Goldberry Woods
Our farm bed and breakfast in Union Pier puts you within a short drive of every course on his list. Check out Eric’s favorite public golf courses, plus a few private clubs worth knowing about. Each course is a short distance from Goldberry Woods so you can plan your tee times around your stay with us.
Public Golf Courses in Southwest Michigan
The Woodlands at Whittaker Woods. New Buffalo, MI
Price/Round: $60 – $90
Distance From Goldberry Woods: 6 miles
Number of Holes: 18
The Woodlands at Whittaker Woods in New Buffalo is one of the closest public courses to Goldberry Woods, and one of Eric’s favorites. In his words, “the course certainly has some challenges as the woods come into play on most every hole. Make sure to have some extra balls (just in case)!” It’s also beautiful and well maintained, with five sets of tees for every skill level, a driving range, and a chipping and sand practice area. After your round, grab a bite at the course restaurant before heading back to the farm for a quiet evening at Goldberry Woods.
The Golf Club at Harbor Shores. St. Joseph, MI
Price/Round: $100 – $195
Distance From Goldberry Woods: 29 miles
Number of Holes: 18
Harbor Shores in St. Joseph is Eric’s favorite course in the area. A painting of the difficult par-4 7th hole hangs in the dining room of the Inn, where guests can see it over their farm to table breakfast. This Jack Nicklaus-designed course has hosted the Senior PGA Championship several times, and it holds great memories for Eric, including a Father’s Day round with his dad, brother, and father-in-law. He loves the layout and character of the course. The sweeping Lake Michigan views, multi-tiered greens, marsh island tees, woods, and ravines give the course a spacious feel.
Grand Beach Golf Course: New Buffalo, MI
Price/Round: $30-$35/9 or $40-$45/18
Distance From Goldberry Woods: 6 miles
Number of Holes: 9
Closer to home, Grand Beach is a 9-hole, par-35 course just outside New Buffalo that gives Goldberry guests and locals another option in the area. Eric points out its unique features, like finishing with not one, but two blind par 3s on the 8th and 9th holes, where hills keep you from seeing the green from the tee. The course also offers some forgiveness, which makes for an enjoyable day of golf. For a new experience on the back 9, Eric suggests playing a different set of tees.
Legacy Hills. La Porte, IN
Price/Round: $30 – $50
Distance From Goldberry Woods: 16 miles
Number of Holes: 18
Eric loves courses with character and beauty, which is why Legacy Hills in Laporte, IN is one of his favorites for value and diversity of play. The back 9 was added a century after the course was built, giving the front 9 a more traditional feel while the new back 9 spreads out over more diverse terrain. Eric enjoys the 12th hole, a par 3 that drops down a huge hill from the tee to the green, making club selection challenging.
Michigan City Municipal Golf Course. Michigan City, IN
Price/Round: $30 – $45
Distance From Goldberry Woods: 11 miles
Number of Holes: 36
Michigan City Municipal Golf Course in Michigan City, Indiana is the only 36-hole facility in La Porte County, set in a quiet wooded landscape. The par-72 South Course is a full-length 18 holes, while the par-60 North Course is a shorter executive layout with hills, doglegs, and water that still keep things interesting. Eric says both courses are fun to play and great values, making this an easy pick for a relaxed round with friends.
Pebblewood Country Club. Bridgman, MI
Price/Round: $30 – $45
Distance From Goldberry Woods: 12 miles
Number of Holes: 18
Just up the road in Bridgman, this 1923 course is one of the oldest in the area and an easy drive from Goldberry Woods and a great value. Eric recommends it for higher handicaps and newer golfers, since the shorter, par-68 layout has straight, forgiving fairways. Don’t let that fool you, the small greens can be challenging, so your short game will get a workout. If you have kids who want to join you for a round, this course is a great choice.
Private Golf Clubs in Southwest Michigan
Access to a private course typically requires reciprocal rights from your home club or knowing somebody who knows somebody who can get you in. Still, we wanted to include these private clubs so you know all the golf options Southwest Michigan has to offer.
The Dunes. New Buffalo, MI
Distance From Goldberry Woods: 1 mile
Number of Holes: 9
Less than a mile from Goldberry Woods, this hidden New Buffalo course is routinely ranked the #1 9-hole course in the country. With a discreet entrance, no signage, and no website, it’s a truly hidden gem that taunts Eric. iIt’s so close, yet so hard to get into. He finally got his chance to play with some of our guests, and describes it as “nothing short of amazing.” Built on a sand dune, the course is full of sand traps, rolling hills, and Lake Michigan views. No carts are allowed, just walking with caddies. Golfers playing 18 get a completely different back 9, with new tee and hole locations the second time around.
Chickaming Country Club. Lakeside, MI
Distance From Goldberry Woods: 2 miles
Number of Holes: 18
Just down the road in Lakeside, this 1913 club is one of the closest courses to Goldberry Woods and one of the first golf courses in Southwest Michigan. Over the years it has grown into a fabulous 18-hole course that showcases the best natural features Harbor Country has to offer. Eric loves the tree-lined fairways, quiet ponds, and small, old-style greens. Even the clubhouse has a story: Shakespeare House is a replica of Shakespeare’s birthplace, moved here from Chicago in 1925.
The Lost Dunes Golf Club. Bridgman, MI
Distance From Goldberry Woods: 11 miles
Number of Holes: 18
Unlike The Dunes, this Private Bridgman course is hard to miss with large stone gates just off Red Arrow Highway. The club describes itself as a “privileged golf experience,” and it has been ranked among the best courses in Michigan and, in past years, within the top 200 in the country. Panoramic elevated tees give it some of the most breathtaking views in the area.
Other Golfing Options in Harbor Country
If full-size golf isn’t your style, Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks has an 18-hole putting course called Welter’s Folly. The 30,000-square-foot green is dramatically mounded to mimic the famous Himalayas putting green in St. Andrews, Scotland, and it’s open to all ages. For classic mini golf, Captain Mike’s Fun Park in Bridgman is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, a fun stop for families with kids.
Planning Your Golf Weekend in Harbor Country
A golf weekend at Goldberry Woods starts with a farm to table breakfast before your tee time. After a round at The Woodlands or Grand Beach, stop by Beer Church Brewing in New Buffalo for wood-fired pizza and a craft beer on their two story patio.
If you’re playing Harbor Shores, you won’t have to go far for a post-round beer. North Pier Brewing’s taproom and beer garden sit right between holes on the course, serving house-smoked BBQ, smash burgers, and a rotating lineup of craft beers. For more local favorites, see our guide to the best breweries in Harbor Country. And for the wine-lovers in your crew, check out our recommendations for the best wineries in Southwest Michigan.
