Signature trip · Michigan
Michigan Summer 54
Three days, 54 holes of headliners — and a bonus loop for the iron men.
- Nights
- 3
- Golf
- 54 holes + bonus golf
- Best months
- June–August (September for fall color)
- Ideal group
- 4–12 golfers
- Fly into
- Traverse City (TVC), ~1 hour to Arcadia
Trip highlights
- Clifftop golf 200+ feet above Lake Michigan
- Daylight until nearly 10 p.m. in late June
- Tom Doak's reversible Loop at Forest Dunes
- Traverse City breweries and Old Mission wineries
- Big value compared with coastal destinations
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day 1
Arrive & the Bluffs at golden hour
- Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs Course)18 holes· Late-afternoon tee time
Fly into Traverse City and drive about an hour to Arcadia. Tee off late on the Bluffs Course for the best light over Lake Michigan — summer daylight makes a 4 p.m. start easy.
Evening: Dinner in the Arcadia clubhouse overlooking the lake.
- Day 2
Macdonald tribute, then east to the dunes
- Arcadia Bluffs (South Course)18 holes· Morning
The South Course is a love letter to C.B. Macdonald's template holes — wide fairways, bold greens and a totally different feel from the Bluffs. After lunch, drive about two hours east to Forest Dunes.
Evening: Fire pit and drinks at the Forest Dunes lodge.
- Day 3
Forest Dunes & the bonus Loop
- Forest Dunes18 holes· Morning — round 54
- The Loop18 holes· Afternoon bonus, played in that day's direction
- Forest Dunes short course9 holes· Twilight, optional
Finish the 54 on Tom Weiskopf's sandy, pine-framed Forest Dunes. Then the bonus: The Loop, Tom Doak's reversible course that plays clockwise one day and counterclockwise the next. Iron men finish under the lights of a long summer evening.
Evening: Final-night steak dinner at the lodge.
- Day 4
Breakfast & fly home
Sleep in, grab breakfast and drive back to Traverse City (about 90 minutes) — or tack on a night downtown for breweries and wine tasting on Old Mission Peninsula.
Where to stay
Arcadia Bluffs lodge rooms & cottages
Stay on site for sunset views and easy tee times.
Forest Dunes lodge & cottages
Cozy, golf-only atmosphere with a great bar.
Traverse City lake house
Add-on night for groups who want a town night.
Estimated budget per person
Before airfare. Estimates reflect typical group pricing; your proposal is quoted for your exact dates.
Value
$1,200–$1,700
3 nights in shared cottages, 3 rounds, shoulder-season dates
Premium
$1,900–$2,700
Peak summer tee times, on-site lodging at both resorts, bonus Loop round
Luxury
$2,900–$4,000
Private cottages, caddies, private transfers between resorts, chef dinners
When to go
Courses generally open in late April or May and close in October. June–August is peak with long days; September brings crisp air and fall color.
Concierge tips
- Late June and July give the longest days — perfect for 36.
- Book Arcadia summer weekends 6+ months ahead.
- Rent a van: the Arcadia-to-Forest Dunes drive is easier together.
Common questions
What does 'Summer 54' mean?
The core trip is 54 holes of headline golf across three days — Arcadia's Bluffs and South courses plus Forest Dunes — with optional bonus rounds at The Loop and a par-3 course thanks to summer daylight.
How much does a Northern Michigan golf trip cost?
Plan roughly $1,900–$2,700 per person for a premium three-night summer trip with on-site lodging, before airfare. That's often less than comparable trips on the coasts.
More signature trips
Signature tripPinehurst Sandhills Classic
Four nights, up to seven rounds and the U.S. Open's favorite course.
- Nights
- 4
- Holes
- 135
- From
- $1,700
Signature tripScottsdale Desert Oasis
Four nights of winter sun, stadium golf and Old Town nights.
- Nights
- 4
- Holes
- 90
- From
- $1,300
Have a trip in mind? We'll build it around your group.
Tell us where, when and how much golf. We design a day-by-day itinerary with tee times, lodging and a clear per-person price.