You’re driving through the dense, emerald-green woods of Harbor Springs, Michigan. The air smells like pine needles and damp earth. Suddenly, the trees pull back. There it is. True North Golf Club looks less like a formal sports complex and more like someone dropped a world-class playground into a private wilderness. It’s quiet. Like, really quiet.
Honestly, Northern Michigan is packed with golf. You’ve got the flashy resorts in Boyne and the high-end vibes of Bay Harbor. But True North hits differently. It’s a Jim Engh design, which, if you follow golf architecture, means it’s going to be a bit weird. In a good way. Engh doesn't do boring flat fairways. He does bowls. He does massive elevation changes. He does things that make you wonder if you should have brought a mountain climbing harness along with your 7-iron.
Most people think private clubs are these stuffy, hushed places where you can't wear certain socks. This place? It’s basically a high-end retreat that happens to have one of the most challenging courses in the Midwest.
The Reality of the Jim Engh Design
If you’ve played a standard parkland course, True North Golf Club will feel like a fever dream. Jim Engh is known for his "bowl" architecture. What does that mean for you? It means many of the greens are sunk into the earth, surrounded by steep banks. If you miss the green, the ball often—blessedly—funnels back toward the hole.
It’s a bit of a psychological trick. The course looks terrifying from the tee box. You see massive bunkers that look like they belong in a desert and elevation drops that make your stomach do a little flip. But it’s surprisingly playable.
The fairways are wider than they look. Engh creates "safe" zones that rewards the smart player rather than just the long hitter. On the par-5 18th hole, you're looking at a dramatic finish that requires navigating water and sand, but the terrain is designed to help you if you’re brave enough to use the slopes.
It's Not Just About the 18 Holes
A lot of golfers make the mistake of showing up, playing 18, and leaving. Huge mistake. The "club" part of True North Golf Club is actually where the value is.
The cottages here are legit. We’re talking timber-frame construction, massive stone fireplaces, and views that make you want to throw your phone in a lake. They are built for "stay and play" groups. Most people who visit are part of a small group of friends or a family looking to disappear for a weekend.
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What the On-Site Lodging is Actually Like
- The Proximity: You aren't driving ten miles to the first tee. You’re basically rolling out of bed and onto the grass.
- The Vibe: It’s "rustic luxury." Think heavy blankets, high-end kitchens, and enough space to actually breathe.
- The Privacy: Because it’s a gated community and a private club (with some limited outside play depending on the season and guest status), you aren’t dealing with crowds.
The dining experience follows the same "no-pretension" rule. The Compass Grill isn't serving tiny, unidentifiable portions of foam. It’s high-quality, local Michigan fare. Whitefish is a big deal here. If you visit Northern Michigan and don't eat the whitefish, did you even visit?
The "Private" Question: How Do You Actually Get On?
This is where people get confused. Yes, it is a private club. However, like many high-end clubs in the Harbor Springs and Petoskey area, there are windows.
Usually, the easiest way to experience True North Golf Club is through their "National Membership" or by booking one of the on-site cottages. Staying on-site often grants you access to the course. It’s a "membership for a few days" model that many elite clubs are adopting to keep the fairways busy without losing the exclusive feel.
Don't expect to just call up on a Saturday morning and snag a tee time for forty bucks. It doesn't work like that. You have to plan. You have to book the stay. But once you’re in the gates, the staff treats you like you’ve owned the place for twenty years.
Why Northern Michigan Golf is Changing
For decades, the "big names" dominated. But True North Golf Club represents a shift toward "destination" golf that feels more personal. You aren't just a number on a tee sheet.
The course is kept in immaculate condition because it doesn't see 200 rounds a day. The greens are fast—sometimes scary fast—and the bunkers are raked to perfection. This is the kind of turf quality you usually only see on TV.
And the wildlife? It’s everywhere. Don’t be surprised if a deer watches you three-putt on the 12th. It’s part of the charm. The course was carved out of a massive forest, and the designers were careful to leave as much of that natural barrier as possible. Every hole feels like its own private room. You rarely see another group unless you’re at the clubhouse.
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Navigating the Challenges
Let's talk about the bunkers. They aren't your typical sand traps. Some of them are deep. Very deep. If you find yourself in one, don't try to be a hero. Just get the ball out.
The elevation is the other thing. You’ll be hitting shots that are two or three clubs "less" because the drop is so significant. Or, conversely, you’ll be hitting up a hill that makes a 150-yard shot feel like 190.
Pro Tip: Trust the GPS on the carts. Your eyes will lie to you because of the dramatic landscape.
The wind also plays a factor. Being so close to Little Traverse Bay means the weather can shift in ten minutes. One minute it’s a calm, sunny afternoon; the next, a breeze kicks up off the water and suddenly that "easy" par-4 is a beast.
What to Do When You Aren't Golfing
Harbor Springs is right down the road. It is arguably one of the most beautiful small towns in America.
- M-119 (Tunnel of Trees): Take a drive. It starts right nearby. It’s a narrow road that hugs the Lake Michigan shoreline under a canopy of ancient trees.
- Legs Inn: Drive up to Cross Village. It’s a weird, wonderful Polish restaurant built out of logs and stones with a view of the lake that will break your heart.
- The Waterfront: Walk the docks in Harbor Springs. Some of the most impressive sailboats in the Great Lakes are parked there.
Is It Worth the Trip?
If you’re a golfer who loves architecture and hates crowds, then yeah. It’s a no-brainer.
True North Golf Club provides a specific kind of solitude. It’s for the person who wants to play a round of golf, have a great steak, and sit by a fire without hearing a single car horn. It’s a "reset" button.
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It’s challenging. You might lose a few balls. You’ll definitely take a dozen photos of the par-3s. But more than that, you’ll remember the way the light hits the fairways at 7:00 PM.
Moving Forward With Your Trip
If you’re planning a visit, start by checking their seasonal availability. Northern Michigan golf is a short window—typically May through October. Peak season is July and August when the weather is perfect, but the fall colors in early October make for the best photos.
Reach out to their membership director or the golf shop directly to ask about "Stay and Play" packages. These are almost always better deals than trying to piece together a trip yourself. Pack an extra layer—even in July, the nights in the woods get chilly.
Double-check your bag for a variety of clubs. You'll need your short game to be sharp to handle the undulations around the greens. Most importantly, show up early. The practice facility is top-tier, and you’ll want to get a feel for the speed of the greens before you head to the first tee. This isn't a course you want to play "cold." Give yourself thirty minutes to just chip and putt; your scorecard will thank you later. Once you finish the round, make sure to spend time on the clubhouse deck. Watching the sunset over the Michigan pines is the standard way to end a day at True North, and honestly, it’s half the reason people keep coming back.
Key Insights for Your Visit:
- Book the On-Site Cottages: This is the "cheat code" for getting access to the course and enjoying the full private club experience.
- Respect the "Bowl": Use the slopes on the Jim Engh design to your advantage; often, a shot aimed away from the pin will roll right toward it.
- Check the Weather: Lake Michigan creates micro-climates; always have a windbreaker in your bag.
- Explore Harbor Springs: Don't miss the local dining and the "Tunnel of Trees" drive just minutes from the club entrance.
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