Within 30 Minutes of Grand Rapids
Boulder Creek Golf Club
Designed to challenge golfers of all skill levels, Boulder Creek is a par-72 course offering five separate tee box areas that play at almost 7,000 yards from the back tees and nearly 5,000 yards from the front tees.
One of several area courses designed by golf architect Mike DeVries, Boulder Creek is rated four stars by Golf Digest. TwoGuysWhoGolf.com notes the course’s “diverse terrain and wonderful conditioning and exquisite landscaping from tee to green.” Spring 2023 rates range from $35 for nine holes with a cart on weekdays to $69 for 18 holes with a cart on weekends. Juniors and seniors (60 and older) enjoy discounted rates.
Cedar Chase Golf Club
Golf architect W. Bruce Matthews III designed Cedar Chase with tree-lined bent grass fairways, elevated tees, Scottish-like roughs and bunkers, and spacious, undulating greens. It’s a taste of “up north” Michigan golf just 25 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids.
This par-72 course offers five sets of tees and measures 7,100 yards from the championship (black) tees. It has hosted a US Open qualifier and was ranked in the top 30 in a Golf World Reader’s Choice Awards poll. Rates range from $25 for nine holes and a cart on spring/fall weekdays to $55 for 18 holes and a cart on summer weekends. Discount rates are offered for kids 13 and under, and seniors 60 and older.
The Falls at Barber Creek
Built on a 230-acre family homestead, The Falls welcomes golfers of all skill levels to a challenging track featuring dramatic elevation changes, breathtaking scenery, handmade stone structures and a 40-foot waterfall. Tees are traditional bentgrass and fairways are bluegrass.
The par-72 course features three sets of tees and plays more than 6,000 yards from the longest one. Rates range from $25 for nine holes and a cart on spring/fall weekdays to $55 for 18 holes and a cart on summer weekends. Discount rates are offered for kids 13 and under, and seniors 60 and older.
Indian Trails Golf Course
Established in 1928, Indian Trails is owned and operated by the city of Grand Rapids, which keeps the rates affordable and the course impeccably groomed. Golf course architect Chris Wilcynzski redesigned Indian Trails in 2017, creating five new holes and adding a 25-acre driving range (with 26 hitting stations) and the area’s largest short game practice area, featuring five practice greens and three bunker complexes.
With three tees on each hole and a maximum distance of 4,840 yards, Indian Trails is a fun and challenging course for all abilities. Though it feels secluded, it sits adjacent to one of the city’s busiest commercial districts, offering plenty of opportunities for post-game meals and refreshment. Weekday rates range from $20 for nine holes without a cart to $41 for 18 holes with a cart. Pressed for time? Play “Speedgolf” – a faster, fitness-oriented alternative to the traditional game – on Tuesday and Saturday mornings from 6:45am-7:20am.
The Meadows Golf Club
Located on the campus of Grand Valley State University, The Meadows was designed by environmentally forward golf architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan. The course is ranked #6 in the Top 25 College Golf Courses in the U.S. and #21 in the state of Michigan by Golf Advisor. It has hosted multiple NCAA National Championships and dozens of Michigan High School State Championships.
The par-72 course features five sets of tees and plays as long as 7,060 yards, with a rotation of holes that throws a little bit of everything at golfers – including wetlands and well-bunkered greens. Rates range from $31 for nine holes with a cart on spring/fall weekdays to $64 for 18 holes with a cart on summer weekends. Discounts are available for seniors (55+) as well as GVSU faculty, students and alumni.
The Mines Golf Course
Situated just five minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, The Mines is built 150 feet above old gypsum mines. Features of the mines and the mining process were used in the construction of the course, and the water used to irrigate the course is pumped directly from the mines.
Another Mike DeVries design, The Mines is a par-70 course that measures 6,701 yards, with a slope of 137. It offers four sets of tees for different skill levels and is quite hilly. “It’s pure fun,” raves TheFriedEgg.com. Peak season rates range from $32 for nine holes with a cart on weekdays to $64 for 18 holes with a cart on weekends. Senior (60+) rates are available before 3pm on weekdays and after 3pm on weekends.
The Golf Club at Thornapple Pointe
A panoramic view of the beautiful Thornapple River provides the backdrop for Thornapple Pointe, which features bentgrass fairways and impeccably groomed tees and greens. Winding along 7,000 feet of river frontage, the expansive 18-hole, par 72 course guides you over gently rolling hills, through hardwood-lined fairways and near three enchanting wetlands.
Designed by Bill Newcomb, Thornapple Pointe offers five sets of tees with a maximum distance of 6,821 yards. 2023 rates range from $36 for nine holes with a cart on weekdays to $75 for 18 holes with a cart on weekends. Seniors (60+) and juniors (18 and under) enjoy special discounts at specific times during the week.
Quail Ridge Golf Club
Randy Erskine, a five-time Michigan Open Champion and former PGA tour player, partnered with renowned Michigan golf architect Raymond Hearn to build Quail Ridge in Ada, just 20 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids. Featuring generous fairways and greens, gentle hills and large trees interspersed with occasional water and bunkers, this par-72 course can be challenging – but five sets of tees help make it playable for all skill levels.
Quail Ridge offers “dynamic pricing” to guests booking on its website or calling the golf shop. This replaces a standing green fee with a golf rate that changes based on current demand. We checked tee times for an early spring day and rates ranged from $25 for nine holes with a cart to $49 for 18 holes with a cart, with a senior (60+) discount available.
Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center
“Where Golf is Fun!” is the promise at Scott Lake, a Comstock Park course nine miles north of downtown Grand Rapids. There are actually three distinctly different nine-hole courses here plus a six-hole short course for a total of 33 holes of golf. There is also a practice facility with two greens, a bunker and large hitting area to work on your game or warm up before a round.
Winner of a Michigan Golf Course Owners Association award for “Michigan Golf Course of the Year” and a National Golf Course Owners Association award for “National Golf Course of the Year,” Scott Lake offers scenic terrain and the ability to play three different 18-hole combinations. Rates range from $9.50 for the short course without a cart on weekdays to $66 for 18 holes with a cart on weekends.
