Boyne Highlands — Donald Ross Memorial

The Donald Ross Memorial at Boyne Highlands is built on an unusual premise: each of the 18 holes is a recreation of a celebrated Donald Ross design from courses across the country. The concept, executed by designers Newcomb, Kircher, and Flick in 1989, draws from Ross's portfolio of work at Pinehurst, Seminole, Oakland Hills, and others. The result is a course that functions both as a playable round and as a survey of one architect's most recognized ideas.

The strength of the concept depends on how faithfully the individual holes translate to northern Michigan terrain, and the results are mixed in the way that any tribute project would be. Some holes capture the strategic intent of the original convincingly. Others are better understood as interpretations rather than replicas, adapted to a landscape and climate quite different from the Carolinas or the Northeast where Ross did most of his work. The greens, which are central to any Ross design, are the most successful element. They feature the crowned, turtle-back shaping that Ross favoured, where approach shots that land on the putting surface but miss the correct sector tend to roll off the edges and leave challenging recovery shots.

At 6,814 yards with a slope of 132, the Donald Ross Memorial is the most accessible of the Boyne Highlands courses in terms of raw difficulty. The yardage is manageable, the hazards are visible, and the rough, while present, does not impose the kind of penalties that the Heather does. The course plays through the same northern Michigan forest that defines the rest of the resort, and the conditioning is consistent with Boyne Highlands' overall standard.

The green fee range of $40 to $91 makes the Donald Ross Memorial the clear value play on the Boyne Highlands property. At the lower end of that range, in shoulder season or through a stay-and-play package, the course represents some of the best value in the northern Michigan resort market. It pairs naturally with the Heather for a two-round day at Boyne Highlands, offering a less demanding complement to the Jones Sr. championship layout.

The course plays through the same northern Michigan landscape that defines the Boyne Highlands property: hardwood forest, gentle hills, and the kind of quiet that comes from being well removed from any major population centre. The routing is walkable, and the terrain between holes is manageable. Carts are available and widely used by resort guests, but the course does not demand one.

For golfers with an interest in golf architecture and the history of course design, the Donald Ross Memorial provides a useful introduction to Ross's design principles without requiring travel to the original courses. The tribute concept invites comparison and conversation, which makes it a good choice for a group round where architecture is part of the discussion. For those without that particular interest, it is a well-maintained resort course at an accessible price point in one of northern Michigan's most established golf destinations, and that is recommendation enough. The season runs from May through October, consistent with the Boyne Highlands resort calendar.