Michigan’s best 20 public golf courses rankings: No. 1 is no surprise

Michigan is one of the best golf states in the country, especially when it comes to public access.

While the playing season may not be as long as some other states, when the weather is right, few states can compete with Michigan when it comes to public courses available to play.

There are more than 650 public-access courses in Michigan, and Golfweek − part of the USA TODAY Network along with the Detroit Free Press −has been taking on the challenge of narrowing those down to just 20 top courses for years now.

On Monday, June 15, Golfweek unveiled its full public course rankings for not just Michigan, but all 50 states.

It’s tough competition in the Mitten State.

As expected, Arcadia Bluffs’ original Bluffs Course leads the way at No. 1 (I’ve got the privilege to check it out later this summer for the first time), with Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula still locked in at No. 2.

While there was a decent amount of shuffling in the bottom half of the list, the courses in the top 20 in Michigan are all the same except for one.

To qualify, a course must allow public play in some fashion. “If there’s a will, there’s a tee time — no membership required,” Golfweek’s Jason Lusk wrote.

Here is Golfweek’s top 20 Michigan public golf courses in 2026:

*Indicates location in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

• 1. Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs Course), Arcadia (last year’s rank: 1)

• 2. *Marquette Golf Club (Greywalls), Marquette (2)

1. Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs Course), Arcadia (last year’s rank: 1)

2. *Marquette Golf Club (Greywalls), Marquette (2)

• 3. Forest Dunes (The Loop Red & Black), Roscommon (3)

• T-4. Arcadia Bluffs (South Course), Arcadia (5)

• T-4. Forest Dunes (Forest Dunes), Roscommon (4)

• 6. Boyne’s Bay Harbor (Links/Quarry), Bay Harbor (7)

• 7. Belvedere, Charlevoix (6)

• 8. Eagle Eye, Bath (8)

• T-9. *Island Resort and Casino (Sweetgrass), Harris (T-9)

• T-9. Gull Lake View Resort (Stoatin Brae), Augusta (T-9)

• 11. American Dunes, Grand Haven (11)

• 12. Pilgrim’s Run, Pierson (12)

• 13. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (T-14)

• 14. Tullymore Golf Resort (Tullymore), Stanwood (18)

• 15. *Sage Run, Bark River (13)

• 16. Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor (T-14)

3. Forest Dunes (The Loop Red & Black), Roscommon (3)

T-4. Arcadia Bluffs (South Course), Arcadia (5)

T-4. Forest Dunes (Forest Dunes), Roscommon (4)

6. Boyne’s Bay Harbor (Links/Quarry), Bay Harbor (7)

T-9. *Island Resort and Casino (Sweetgrass), Harris (T-9)

T-9. Gull Lake View Resort (Stoatin Brae), Augusta (T-9)

11. American Dunes, Grand Haven (11)

13. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (T-14)

14. Tullymore Golf Resort (Tullymore), Stanwood (18)

16. Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor (T-14)

• 17. Boyne Highlands (Arthur Hills), Harbor Springs (16)

• 18. Hidden River Golf & Casting Club, Brutus (19)

• 19. *Pine Mountain Resort (Timber Stone), Iron Mountain (20)

• 20. Treetops (Smith Signature), Gaylord (unranked)

17. Boyne Highlands (Arthur Hills), Harbor Springs (16)

1. *Pine Mountain Resort (Timber Stone), Iron Mountain (20)

2. Treetops (Smith Signature), Gaylord (unranked)

Dropped: Treetops (Jones Masterpiece).

Andrew Birkle is an assistant sports editor at the Detroit Free Press. You can reach him by email: abirkle@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Best Michigan public golf course rankings for 2026: Top 20