If you're looking for the best golf near New Buffalo, Michigan, your top five picks are The Dunes Club, Lost Dunes Golf Club, The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Whittaker Woods, and Briar Leaf Golf Club.
Keep reading for a closer look at what makes each one worth your time, along with pricing, access details, and tips on picking the right course for your trip.
The Dunes Club — New Buffalo's Best-Kept Secret (Private)
Tucked along Marquette Rd on the Lake Michigan sand ridge, The Dunes Club is so private that a small “no trespassing” sign is the only clue from the road.
You won't find public tee times here — access runs through a member's invitation only, and every round is walked with a caddie, no exceptions.
The layout itself breaks from convention. Nine holes, par 36, played twice to complete a full round of 72. But there are no fixed tee markers — each hole offers up to eight different tee boxes, and tradition dictates that whoever won the previous hole chooses where the group tees off next.
That single detail keeps the course playing differently round after round, even for members who've walked it hundreds of times.
Dick Nugent designed the course alongside owner Mike Keiser, opening it in 1991. Jim Urbina and George Waters later refined the layout in 2012, sharpening what was already considered a near-perfect routing.
For Keiser, this project came before Bandon Dunes, Cabot, and Sand Valley — The Dunes Club was where he first proved his instincts for golf course design, and its success gave him the confidence to build the destination resorts that followed.
That confidence was well-placed. Sports Illustrated named it the best nine-hole course in the country, and Golf Digest's design critics have echoed that ranking for decades.
One hole in particular — the 513-yard eighth — earned a spot on a list of the best 18 holes in America, competing against full 18-hole courses despite being part of a nine-hole layout.
Walking the course, you'll notice the Pine Valley influence immediately:
- Sandy waste areas bleeding into fairways
- Tightly treed corridors that punish off-line shots
- Greens running fast enough to demand precision on every approach
- Conditioning maintained at a level few clubs can match
For most golfers, The Dunes Club will remain aspirational rather than bookable. If you do land an invitation through a member — call (269) 469-5539 to inquire — treat it as a bucket-list round, not a casual outing.
Lost Dunes Golf Club — Tom Doak's Hidden Quarry Course (Private)
About 30 minutes north of New Buffalo in Bridgman, close to Lake Michigan and just off I-94, Lost Dunes Golf Club sits on land you'd never guess was once a sand quarry.
The club keeps things intimate, with roughly 300 members, many making the drive from Chicago. Both caddies and walking are available, giving members a traditional way to experience the course.
What makes the site so compelling is what surrounds it: 60-foot forested dunes ring the property, largely swallowing the noise and sight lines from the interstate that bisects it. You'd never know I-94 runs through the middle of the course while you're playing.
Tom Doak designed the 18-hole, par-71 layout with Tom Mead, opening it in 1999 at around 6,900 yards. It stands as one of Doak's earliest solo projects, built before he became one of the most sought-after architects in modern golf.
The greens are what he's most known for here — famously severe, wildly contoured surfaces that Doak himself once called the wildest set he'd ever built, a claim he made years before working on Ballyneal, Sebonack, or Pinehurst No. 10.
That reputation for boldness translates into consistent industry recognition:
- Ranked in Golf Digest's Second 100 Greatest Courses since 2013, peaking at No. 116
- A regular fixture on Golfweek's Best Modern Courses list
- Recognized among the top courses in Michigan year after year
Beyond the golf itself, members get a full-service experience: a driving range for warming up, caddies for a traditional round, and a clubhouse that matches the course's understated, high-end character.
Reviewers consistently point to three things — the quality and variety of the greens, the immaculate conditioning, and the sense of complete isolation despite being minutes from a major highway.
For golfers who can arrange access, it delivers a round that feels remote, technical, and unlike anything else in the region.
The Golf Club at Harbor Shores — Best Public Course You Can Actually Book
If Dunes Club and Lost Dunes are out of reach, Harbor Shores is where you should point your GPS. Located in Benton Harbor, about 30–35 minutes from New Buffalo via I-94, it's the only Jack Nicklaus Signature course on Lake Michigan open to the public.
Carts are required here — there's no walking option — but everything else about the experience is built for golfers who want a championship-caliber round without needing a member's connection.
The course plays to a par 71 across 18 holes, with yardage ranging from about 6,700 to nearly 6,960 depending on which tees you choose.
That range matters: it lets the course flex from a challenging test for low handicappers to a manageable round for weekend golfers, without changing the fundamental character of the design.
Pricing follows a flat seasonal structure for 2026, the same rate whether you play on a Tuesday or a Saturday:
- April 10 – May 17: $135
- May 18 – June 25: $200
- June 26 – September 7 (peak season): $245
- September 8 – October 5: $200
- October 6 – close: $135
Every rate includes a golf car, GPS system, and unlimited use of the practice facility on the day you play. Booking a shoulder-season date, before mid-May or after early September, cuts your cost by $110 compared to peak summer.
Harbor Shores has hosted the Senior PGA Championship six times since 2012, with past champions including Colin Montgomerie and Rocco Mediate.
That tournament pedigree shows up in the routing itself, which moves through four distinct landscapes over 18 holes:
- Inland holes (1–6) that open the round with tree-lined fairways
- Dunes holes (7–9) running along Lake Michigan, including a widely photographed par-4 7th
- Woodlands holes (10–13), where the course's fastest, most contoured greens show up
- River holes (14–18) tracing the Paw Paw River to close the round
Beyond the golf, the course carries a community mission. A portion of every green fee funds Jean Klock Park, and the property hosts the only First Tee location in the Midwest, introducing local kids to the game.
Golfers looking to extend their trip can stay at the Inn at Harbor Shores in nearby St. Joseph, with a driving range, practice green, and full pro shop rounding out the amenities on-site.
Reviewers consistently call the conditioning excellent and single out the view from hole 7 as one of the best in the region.
The most common criticism: the finishing stretch (holes 16–18) doesn't quite match the drama of what comes before it, and at $245 during peak season, you're paying resort-level prices for the privilege.
Whittaker Woods — New Buffalo's Own Championship Public Course
Unlike the other courses on this list, you don't need to drive anywhere to play Whittaker Woods — it sits right in New Buffalo, about 90 minutes from downtown Chicago.
For golfers staying in town, that makes it the default choice, and the course backs up its convenience with a layout that holds its own against anything else in the region.
The course plays long and demanding: 18 holes, par 72, stretching to 7,072 yards from the back tees with a 74.3 rating and 144 slope.
Forward tees bring that down to a far more approachable 4,905 yards, so the course accommodates a wide range of skill levels without losing its identity. Ken Killian designed it, the same architect behind Kemper Lakes, and opened it in 1996.
Pricing for 2025 breaks down by day and time:
- Weekday 18 holes: around $80
- Weekend (Friday–Sunday) 18 holes: $95
- Weekday twilight (after 4pm): $50
- Senior and junior weekday rates: roughly $60 and $45
- Discounted prepaid rates through third-party booking: as low as $40–$48
That flexibility means you can play a full championship round for under $50 if you're willing to book a twilight tee time or catch a prepaid discount.
The course itself is carved through woods and wetlands, which shapes nearly every shot you'll hit.
Fairways twist tightly between trees, several holes require blind approaches, and the bunkering is placed to punish anything off-line. It's a layout that rewards course management over raw power.
There's history behind the name, too. Whittaker Woods is named for Captain Wessel Whittaker, who ran his ship aground near what's now New Buffalo in 1834 and was struck by the natural harbor surrounded by dunes and tall trees — the same landscape the course now occupies.
Recently rebranded as “The Woodlands Course at Whittaker,” the property has invested in clubhouse upgrades, including a converted 1920s farmhouse that now anchors the on-site experience.
Beyond the round, you'll find a driving range, putting green, and practice bunker for warming up, plus a full pro shop, restaurant, and bar for afterward.
The Fairway Hall banquet facility handles events up to 300 people, making it a common choice for golf outings and gatherings beyond just tee times.
Most reviews rate Whittaker Woods among the best public tests in southwest Michigan, praising the challenge and variety of the layout.
Some recent feedback has flagged conditioning as merely “fair” rather than excellent, so it's worth checking current course reports before you book, especially if peak conditioning matters more to you than convenience.
Briar Leaf Golf Club — The Best Value Round Near New Buffalo
Cross into Indiana and drive about 25–30 minutes south of New Buffalo, and you'll land at Briar Leaf Golf Club in La Porte. This is where you go when you want a solid round without paying resort prices.
It's a public daily-fee course, and if you play often enough, the membership option makes even more sense — no initiation fees, no monthly dues, just straightforward access.
The course plays to a par 72 across 18 holes, measuring 6,579 yards from the medal tees with a 73.0 rating and 133 slope.
That's a friendlier number than Whittaker Woods or Harbor Shores, making Briar Leaf a good fit if you want a full 18 without the back-tee punishment those other courses can dish out.
Built on former farmland, the course opened in 1973 and underwent a significant renovation about a decade ago. That update added:
- 21 new bunkers throughout the layout
- More than 200 strategically placed trees
- Sharper definition between holes that previously played more open
Green fees land in the $33–$52 range depending on the day, which puts a full round here at roughly a third of what you'd pay at Harbor Shores during peak season.
It's worth calling ahead to confirm current pricing, since rates can shift, but even at the high end, this remains one of the most affordable rounds in the region.
The course's signature feature is hole 3, a 130-yard par-3 known as “Alcatraz” — an island green surrounded entirely by water, demanding a precise tee shot with no bailout option.
That's not the only water you'll face: eight holes bring hazards into play across the round, alongside rolling terrain and generous sand. It's a layout with enough teeth to stay interesting without becoming punishing.
After the round, the on-site Portofino Grill handles food and drinks, and the course also offers a driving range, short-game practice area, and a PGA professional on staff for lessons or advice.
Reviews tend to run positive, with golfers highlighting the layout and the value in particular. The main knock: conditions can get dry and firm during peak summer months, so if you're playing in July or August, set your expectations for firmer fairways and greens accordingly.
How to Choose the Right Course for Your Trip
With five strong options in play, the right choice usually comes down to budget, access, and timing. Here's how to think through it.
Budget is the simplest filter. If you want to play a full 18 without spending much, Briar Leaf is your pick at $33–$52 a round. If you want a step up in challenge and conditioning without paying resort rates, Whittaker Woods sits in the middle at $80–$95. And if you're treating the round as the highlight of your trip, Harbor Shores delivers a Nicklaus Signature design and tournament pedigree for $135–$245, depending on when you play.
Access splits the decision differently. Harbor Shores, Whittaker Woods, and Briar Leaf are all open to the public — book a tee time and show up. The Dunes Club and Lost Dunes require a member connection, so unless you know someone or your trip includes a networking opportunity at one of these clubs, plan your round around the three public courses instead.
If Harbor Shores is on your list, timing your visit changes the price significantly:
- Before May 18 or after September 7: $135
- May 18–June 25 or September 8–October 5: $200
- June 26–September 7 (peak summer): $245
Shifting your trip by even a few weeks outside peak season saves $110 per round, without changing anything about the course itself.
Beyond the five main picks, a handful of other courses round out the area if you want more options:
- Grand Beach Municipal Golf Course — a short, budget-friendly 9-hole course near New Buffalo
- Pebblewood Country Club — 18 holes in Bridgman with water hazards and sand traps
- Legacy Hills Golf Club — 18 holes in La Porte, with a front nine dating back to 1904
- Michigan City Municipal Golf Course — 36 holes total, a well-regarded municipal option
- Beechwood Golf Course — an economical 18-hole design from the 1930s in La Porte
- Chikaming Country Club — a private 1913 design in Lakeside, MI
A few practical steps will save you headaches once you've settled on a course. Call ahead to confirm current-year rates, since pricing shifts season to season and sometimes year to year.
Check recent conditioning reports before booking, particularly at Whittaker Woods, where reviews have varied.
And build in extra time for drives across Harbor Country — 30-minute estimates can stretch during summer tourist traffic, especially on weekends.
Conclusion
Harbor Country packs a surprising amount of golf into a small stretch of southwest Michigan, from The Dunes Club's legendary nine holes to Briar Leaf's budget-friendly round across the Indiana border.
Whether you're chasing a private-club invitation or booking a public tee time, Harbor Shores and Whittaker Woods give you access to championship-level golf without the wait list.
Pick your course based on budget and timing, call ahead to confirm current rates, and you'll have a round worth the trip.
