Bay Harbor Golf Club (Links & Quarry)

The Bay Harbor Golf Club boldly suggests on its website that its Links/Quarry combination is “the Pebble Beach of the Midwest.” It will take some intense arguments to sell that to well-travelled golfers, so the club does not mess around when bringing the “seaside” views into play.

Rather than wait until the fourth hole, as Pebble does, players will tee off alongside the Lake Michigan cliffs on the opening hole, and continue for three more before turning inland. The course will return to the water for its signature a hole, a par five that plays along the length of the coast.

The course identity takes a dramatic turn for the “heroic school” of golf course architecture during the back nine, where players will face forced carries and elevated tee shots in a former slate quarry, converted for golf. The Pebble Beach aspirations return at No. 17, however, as golfers will play a par three toward the lake and finish with one more finishing hole along the coast (admittedly a par four versus Pebble’s five). It never hurts to stay ambitious in one’s advertising!