Bay Harbor Golf Club (Links/Quarry)

Bay Harbor Golf Club (Links/Quarry) – Played May 2017

• Rankings: Golf Digest Public #65, Golf Magazine Public #49
• Location: 5800 Coastal Ridge Drive, Petoskey, Michigan
• Year: 1996
• Architect: Arthur Hills
• Course Access: Resort
• Walking Rules: Carts Available

Score Card Information:

• Black: 6,827 yards, Par 72, 73.0 Rating/145 Slope
• Blue: 6,414 yards, Par 72, 71.2 Rating/141 Slope
• Gold: 5,936 yards, Par 72, 69.8 Rating/132 Slope
• White: 5,175 yards, Par 72, 66.2 Rating/119 Slope
• Red: 4,319 yards, Par 72, 65.1 Rating/116 Slope

Next up on the trip was the course associated with our hotel, Bay Harbor Golf Club.  It was a short drive, which was much appreciated from some of the earlier driving.  The facility has 27 holes that all have their own flair but fit together well.  I was playing the Links/Quarry combination that makes the lists.

The Links was the most expensive nine holes ever built at the time it opened.  It had a lot of kiln dust from the cement plant that used to be on the site.  It is a beautiful nine that plays along Lake Michigan.  The Quarry lives up to its name and is an interesting nine for sure.  BayHarbor Golf Club is linked as well to the Boyne resort and making tee times is quite easy through their booking system.

I played the blue tees and all yardages are from those tees.  I played the Links first and then the Quarry.  Below is a look at the wonderful clubhouse.

And the flags on the course.

The range has plenty of space to warm up.  It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done.

Just like Arcadia Bluffs, there were plenty of beautiful views.  Some of those are seen below.

Hole 1 – 405 yards – Par 4

The first is no easy start.  At over 400 yards you will need a good poke.  This hole plays out towards the water as well meaning you may face some wind issues.

Here is a look at the approach.  Don’t go left!

See what I mean.

The green sits precariously next to the edge.  Bunkers on the left side of the green may be your only saving grace on a wayward shot.

Hole 2 – 420 yards – Par 4

The lack of trees make this a difficult aiming hole.  It’s easier to see in person than in the photo, but you want to take a line a little right of the bunkers.

The approach, as well as the green, are situated on fairly flat land.  Avoid the front bunker and you will be in good shape on this one.

Hole 3 – 368 yards – Par 4

This hole looks like it falls off the world to the left.  I took three wood for safety and erred on the right side since I hadn’t played it before.  There is more room right than it would appear below.

Another angle from the tee.

The second shot plays quite a bit downhill.  You will want to avoid going long.

I liked the tiny bunker in the photo below.  If you end up in there you may not have a stance.

Hole 4 – 151 yards – Par 3

This shot was beautiful to me.  I liked the setting next to the water with the awesome houses behind.  In the absence of wind the hole will play about a club less.  See the second photo for a closer look.

This is one of the smaller greens on the course and it has plenty of undulation.  You can somewhat make out the ridge that cuts through the middle of the green from back to front.

Hole 5 – 332 yards – Par 4

I didn’t know what to do with this tee shot.  Call it the trials of an equipment cheapskate.  I don’t have GPS or a rangefinder so I didn’t know what the carry was over this sandy area.  Also, I think this might have been some kind of project as it didn’t fit the hole.  Either way, the hole is a dogleg right.

The houses on this course were great.  Check out one of my favorites below.

The green is elevated with a large, shaved bank.  If you hit anything with spin just onto the green there is a good chance you will have a long chip coming.

Hole 6 – 388 yards – Par 4

This one is mostly straight with a slight bend to the right.  Keep it out of the trees to the left and you will be going for the flag.

Below is a look at the approach.

The green has some drop-offs around it which can make chipping difficult.  Bunkers are present on the other side of the green in the photo below.

Hole 7 – 490 yards – Par 5

Not overly long, the seventh can be had.  There is plenty of room left, but right will result in a penalty.

The lake view from the tee can be seen below.

The green is elevated making the hole play longer, but if you avoid the bunker seen below you can run the ball up on a green that is open otherwise.

Hole 8 – 206 yards – Par 3

Tough is the word I’d use for this shot.  It’s downhill and long to a smallish green. Bunkers guard the left side.

Hole 9 – 490 yards – Par 5

The front side comes to an end with a definite birdie opportunity.  There is a hazard down most of the right side.  Avoid that with a good drive and you will be in a good position to capitalize.

The view as you round the corner below.

A slightly closer look.

A large mound to the left of the green can bounce balls back to the putting surface if you are lucky.  Beware the hazard sitting close to the right edge.

Below is another angle of the green.

Hole 10 – 355 yards – Par 4

The tenth starts off the Quarry nine and you will see why soon enough.  This hole bends slightly right and at this length does not require a driver.

The approach plays over a small hazard to a green guarded by some bunkers.  You will want to avoid the right side of this hole.

Here is a look at the green.

Hole 11 – 173 yards – Par 3

This is a mid-length one shot hole.  It’s hard to see the green in the first photo, but scroll down and you can see how the green is situated.  It is right past the clump of fir trees on the right.

The photo below shows the slope around the green.  They can make chipping difficult, but if it isn’t damp you can also have the option of putting.

Hole 12 – 523 yards – Par 5

This was one of my favorites.  I’m not sure why.  There is trouble all over the place waiting to grab bad shots.  Avoid the right side from the tee.

Below is a look at the blind second shot.

The approach into the green gives the first view of the quarry.  Anything leaking to the right is going to be in serious trouble.

There is tons of slope around the green.  The only saving grace in front is the bunker below.  The problem with that is how far below the green it sits.  Up and downs will be hard to come by from there.

The green is flat in front and back with a tier running through the middle.

Hole 13 – 412 yards – Par 4

This may be the best hole on the course.  Overall it bends to the right, but the angle of the fairway draws your eyes left.  There is a decent sized landing area.

The approach can be long but is downhill.

You have some decisions depending on where the pin is.  If it’s on the right you have to determine how close you want to go.  The consequence could be the water on the right.

Hole 14 – 468 yards – Par 5

You’re given a serious birdie opportunity here.  If you keep the drive out of the water you will most likely have a chance to go for it in two.  A power draw up the right side is ideal.

The green is protected by a pond in front.  The surface is large, but if you don’t carry you’ll be looking at a drop.  The rock wall in the back is a cool aesthetic.

You really get the quarry vibe when you are walking up to this green.

Hole 15 – 312 yards – Par 4

I like the strategy in this hole even though I can’t take advantage of it.  Big hitters have to make the decision to either go over the hazard at the green or lay up to the left.  The green is right between the two houses in the distance.

A closer look at the landing area is below.

You can see below that you still have to go over the hazard eventually.  Luckily, I only had a wedge in hand.

The most slope in this green is where the current pin position is located.

Hole 16 – 392 yards – Par 4

A good tee shot is needed here to carry the hazard.  The hole veers to the left a bit.

Depending on how far back you are the green may be obscured from view.  It is a downhill shot and you don’t want to be long.

The photo below gives a good perspective of the green and the undulation in it.

Hole 17 – 172 yards – Par 3

This is one of the prettiest holes on the property.  It plays right down to the water. Club selection is a challenge due to the severe slope.  Misjudged shots will have plenty of opportunities to go in the water.

Below is a look at the putting surface.

Hole 18 – 370 yards – Par 4

The last hole features trouble down both sides.  Trees to the right, water to the left, here we are.  A good line is at the clubhouse up the right with a slight draw.  The landing area is downhill so you can get some good distance.

A look at the downhill approach.

I really had a fun time playing Bay Harbor Golf Club.  It isn’t overly difficult, but gives you a lot of options on your shot selection.  There are spots to be aggressive and spots to lay back.  It is a wonderful resort course.  The scenery along the lake is awesome.  The quarry holes were a unique touch I didn’t expect to see in this area.  With the 27 holes it serves as a great complement to the resort a couple miles away.