Petoskey, MI – The largest family-owned golf and ski company in North America, Boyne Resorts, has had four of its golf resort properties nationwide listed among the 25 best U.S golf and ski resorts by the writers’ of Golf Pass, the leading consumer digital golf membership platform powered by NBC Sports Group.
“Golfers and skiers are always at odds. Skiers can’t wait for snow to fall. Golfers can’t wait for snow to melt. Despite their differences, golf and skiing form a formidable twosome at resorts around the country. These two leisure pursuits anchor the summer and winter seasons, keeping these unique resorts open year-round,” said Golf Pass in the article published in December.
Leading the way on the list for Boyne Resorts are BOYNE Golf in Michigan, including Boyne Mountain Resort and Boyne Highlands Resort (1), along with Sugarloaf (2) and Sunday River (20) in Maine, and Big Sky Resort (8) in Montana. They join other high-profile golf and ski destinations like Keystone, Omni Mount Washington, Park City, Stratton Mountain, and Sun Valley.
“Over the past six decades, Boyne Resorts has evolved into one of the top four-season golf and ski resort companies across North America and to be recognize together with many of our peers is an honor,” said Bernie Friedrich, Senior Vice President Golf Operations and Resort Sales. “It is also a tribute to the vision of our founder, Everett Kircher, who wanted to create a company that could employ people year-round and used golf as the catalyst to make that happen.”
A Detroit native and former Studebaker car salesman, Boyne founder Everett Kircher and two friends purchased property near Boyne City, Michigan in 1947 for a whopping $1 and developed Boyne’s first ski hill, and it’s been uphill ever since.
After nearly a decade of winter success, Kircher wanted to create a four-season destination and be able to keep his employees working year-round – enter golf. In 1955 the resort’s first golf course was built, a 9-hole executive course.
As golf began to become more popular in the 1960’s, Kircher was able to convince legendary course designer Robert Trent Jones Sr. to create a classic parkland course on the new Boyne Highlands resort into a top summer destination. In 1966, The Heather course at Boyne Highlands opened with Boyne’s Scottish themes in place (Northern Michigan was thought to resemble the Scottish Highlands) while at the same time utilizing the property’s unique elevation and water features. Thanks to instant appeal of The Heather, a spark was lit that launched the golf boom in Northern Michigan.
Over the next five decades, the Kircher family continued to expand the golf offerings every decade ushering in The Alpine and The Moor in the 70’s, along with Big Sky. In the 80’s, The Monument at Boyne Mountain and Donald Ross Memorial at Boyne Highlands, and in the 90’s, the Arthur Hills at Boyne Highlands and BOYNE Golf’s flagship property, Bay Harbor Golf Club were added. In addition, Sugarloaf Golf Club has been managed by Boyne Resorts since 2007 and Sunday River has been part of the Boyne Resorts family since 2007, purchasing the Sunday River Golf Club in 2019.
About BOYNE Golf
Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Golf Club have been named among the Best Golf Resorts In The Americas by Golf Digest, as well as a North American “Premier Resort” (Gold) by GOLF Magazine. Boyne’s flagship property feature 45-holes including three golf course combinations designed by Arthur Hills (Links/Quarry, Quarry/Preserve, and Preserve/Links), and the scenic Crooked Tree Golf Club, with one of the most beautiful and iconic hotels in America, all set along a scenic five-mile stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline.
Boyne 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. In addition, the resort features The Donald Ross Memorial, which is a rendition of the legendary architect’s great holes from around the country, and the always-fun Moor course. 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 northern Michigan features.
Boyne Mountain not only features two fun 18-hole courses (The Monument and Alpine), along with the charming Mountain Grand Lodge & 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.”
Big Sky
Located between Bozeman and West Yellowstone, Montana, Big Sky is the largest of the Boyne Resorts, sharing the scenic region with Yellow Stone National Park. Complimenting the world-class skiing experience is the Big Sky Golf Course designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer. The scenic 18-hole, par-72 course is routed at 6,500 feet above sea level, providing long drives and a spectacular backdrop with sweeping views of the towering Lone Peak.
Sunday River
Located near Portland, Maine, Sunday River is one of the largest ski resorts in the Northeast, featuring generous skiing terrain with six peaks. The Sunday River Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., is the number-one course in Maine, according to Golfweek magazine, and was named one of the “Top Ten Best New Courses in the World” by Travel + Leisure Golf. Overlooking the beautiful Sunday River Valley with the Mahoosuc range towering above, the course meanders through the Maine forest and showcases dramatic elevation changes and spectacular mountainside scenery.
Sugarloaf
Surrounded by Maine’s Western Mountains in the heart of the Carrabassett Valley, Sugarloaf is the second-largest ski resort east of the Mississippi River. The Sugarloaf Golf Club has been rated the top course in Maine by Golfweek and Golf Digest. The fun and challenging layout features a scenic and hilly routing through the hardwoods of Maine, offering up majestic views, like on the 11th hole, where the green sits 120 feet below the tee.
For more information, visit BOYNEGolf.com, BigSky.com, SundayRiver.com, Sugarloaf.com.
