Short course and Himalayan-style putting course highlight the reimagination with new golf attractions at The Highlands and Michigan’s Magnificent 11
BOYNE Golf, one of North America’s largest golf resort destinations located in Northern Michigan, announces its new par-3 short course Doon Brae, and the Back Yaird, a Himalayan-style putting course, will open in the summer of 2025. Located behind The Highlands Main Lodge, the new short course will be BOYNE Golf’s 11th golf course, now becoming Michigan’s Magnificent 11.
Doon Brae, which is now accepting tee times in advance of its opening, will be the perfect add-on to any golf and resort package. The name, Doon meaning going down into a valley, and Brae, meaning steep bank or hillside in Scottish, is fitting as the routing of the course is on the site of the former Cuff Links nine-hole par-3 course set along the hillside that doubles as a ski slope during the winter months.
“As far as I know, this is the first modern golf course ever built on a ski hill,” said Bernie Friedrich, Director of Golf Course Renovations and Development at Boyne Resorts. “The combination of small greens inspired by some of the great green templates from overseas with sod-faced bunkers and tight mowing patterns will be a fun, perfect add-on to the daily golf itinerary. It also provides a wonderful option for families, kids, and beginners to try golf for the first time.”
Complementing the new par-3 short course is the Back Yaird (Scottish word for yard), a 1.5-acre 27-hole putting course featuring three nine-hole combinations. Inspired by great putting courses like the Himalayas at St. Andrews and Thistle Du at Pinehurst, this exciting golf experience features a variety of slopes and swales, providing endless excitement for golfers of all abilities, families, and kids. The location, just off the Slopeside Patio of The Highlands, will be convenient for lodge guests.
“Adding the Back Yaird putting experience creates the perfect combination for a fun golf experience for everyone,” continued Friedrich. “Having experienced some of the top resorts in the country with their short courses and putting courses they have created for guests, it is exciting to bring that type of golf entertainment for our BOYNE guests.”
Golf course architect Ray Hearn was selected to design the leading golf destination’s latest golf attractions. Hearn, a Michigan native, was the perfect choice, as he has been working closely with the BOYNE Golf team, modernizing and renovating many of the resort’s golf courses over the past several years.
Although Doon Brae is routed on a ski hill, Hearn focused on minimizing the walking uphill. The course, which measures between 993 yards and 678 yards, will feature a variety of fun yardages with downhill, flat, uphill, and sidehill lies, generally moving horizontally back and forth across the slope. Holes range from 57 yards to 134 yards, providing multiple angles and fairway options, with shorter-length holes having fewer bunkers on the path toward the greens, while longer holes provide more strategic angles with bunkers more in play.
“I wanted to make sure we were creating something fun and unique without being a difficult walk,” explained Hearn. “We also considered all the families taking their kids out to play the short course and then the putting course. Every time I visited Scotland with friends, I was always inspired by The Himalayas at St. Andrews. We just kept playing it over and over and never got bored. The Back Yaird will provide that kind of experience.”
Hearn’s favorite part of the project was the creatively designed green complexes. “Drawing on our inspiration from the British Isles allowed us to create scaled-down versions of famous template greens highlighted by The Short at National Golf Links, a favorite of Stephen’s,” he said. “Other inspirations include Eden, Punch Bowl, Redan, Reverse Redan, Whinny Brae, Steep Slope, Postage Stamp, and Biarritz.”
Doon Brae and the Back Yaird putting course is the perfect addition to the continued reimagination of The Highlands that has been ongoing for the past few years, with new lodge rooms, renovations, and future amenities being planned.
“We are so excited about how this area has been reimagined and how the guests are going to enjoy the uniqueness, character, and atmosphere around Doon Brae and the Back Yaird,” said Josh Richter, Senior Vice President of Golf Operations for Boyne Resorts. “Add in the lights, music, fire pits, and food service; it will be a wonderful gathering space for golfers and families to hang out well into the evenings, creating a new energy level at The Highlands and fond golfing memories. It will be a great golf entertainment venue.”
About BOYNE Golf
BOYNE Golf has been named one of North America’s “Premier Resorts” (Gold) by GOLF Magazine.
Bay Harbor Golf Club and the Inn at Bay Harbor are Boyne Resorts’ flagship Michigan properties, set along the stunning Lake Michigan shoreline. They feature 45-holes including three golf course combinations designed by Arthur Hills (Links/Quarry, Quarry/Preserve, and Preserve/Links), along with the scenic Crooked Tree Golf Club. The Inn at Bay Harbor is a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel combining luxe comfort with gracious hospitality.
The Highlands, rated the No. 1 Golf Resort for Value by Golf.com, features 72 holes of premier golf design. The Heather, the 2019 NGCOA Course of the Year, was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., while the Hills Course was crafted by Arthur Hills. The Donald Ross Memorial is a rendition of the legendary architect’s great holes from around the country, and The Moor course was recently updated. The Highlands is the perfect buddy trip destination for golfers who like to play as many holes as they can during the long summer daylight hours that northern Michigan features.
Boyne Mountain not only features two fun 18-hole courses (The Monument and The Alpine), along with the charming Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa, it is also the leading family-friendly golf destination in the region with the Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark, junior golf camps, and various kid golf programs. Golf Digest named Boyne Mountain one of its “Top-10 Destinations for Family Golf Trips.”
For more information, visit BOYNEGolf.com.
