Best golf near Saugatuck and Douglas Michigan
Ravines Golf Club in Saugatuck, MI
Best Golf Courses Near Saugatuck & Douglas, MI
Planning a golf trip to Saugatuck? Start with these courses.
Golf is one of our favorite ways to spend a spring, summer, or fall day in the Saugatuck/Douglas area. You can play an early round, meet everyone back in town for lunch or the beach, then head out for dinner in Saugatuck or Douglas.
If you are staying here for a family trip, couples’ weekend, guys’ trip, or fall getaway, there are several good golf courses within an easy drive. Some are close and casual. Others are more challenging and worth building a day around.
Here are the courses we usually recommend near Saugatuck and Douglas.
Quick picks: where to golf near Saugatuck
Closest to town: Clearbrook Golf Club
Best challenge close to Saugatuck: Ravines Golf Club
Our personal favorite local course: HawksHead Links
Best for a quick nine or family round: Clearbrook Golf Club
Best destination golf day: Harbor Shores
Best hidden-gem add-on: Diamond Springs Golf Course
Best South Haven backup or second round: Beeches Golf Club
1. Ravines Golf Club — best challenge close to Saugatuck
Ravines Golf Club is probably the nicest — and the most challenging — of the closest courses to Saugatuck and Douglas. It is an Arnold Palmer Signature course in Saugatuck, about 10 minutes from town.
I usually play Ravines once or twice a season, especially when I want a change of pace from HawksHead or something a little more demanding.
The course feels tucked into the woods, with rolling fairways, ravines, water, bunkers, and several holes where you need to think a little before pulling driver. It is not the course I would choose for a first-time junior golfer or a super casual family round, but it is a great option if you want a real golf day without driving far.
Best for: golfers who want a nicer, more challenging round close to Saugatuck
Drive from Saugatuck/Douglas: about 10 minutes
Good to know: book ahead in peak season, and check current rates and tee times before you go
2. HawksHead Links — our personal favorite local course
HawksHead Links is my personal favorite of the local courses. It is an Arthur Hills-designed, links-style 18-hole course near South Haven, about 20 minutes from Saugatuck/Douglas.
The layout is open, fun, and usually plays at a nice pace. When the course is quiet, I have been able to finish in about three hours, which is perfect if you want to get a round in and still have the rest of the day with family or friends.
HawksHead is a good middle ground: more interesting than a basic casual course, but not as demanding as Ravines. It is also a nice option if part of your group is spending the day toward South Haven.
Best for: a fun, scenic round that still feels relaxed
Drive from Saugatuck/Douglas: about 20 minutes
Good to know: great choice for a morning round before lunch, beach time, or a South Haven stop
3. Clearbrook Golf Club — easiest choice for a quick or casual round
Clearbrook Golf Club is the most convenient course if you are staying in Saugatuck. It is only about five minutes from town, which makes it the easiest choice when you want to play without turning golf into the whole day.
This is the course I tend to choose when I want to play a quick nine holes, or when I am playing with my son. It is more approachable than Ravines or HawksHead, and it works well for family golf, casual rounds, and locals who just want to get out and play.
Clearbrook is also nice because you are so close to everything afterward. You can play in the morning, then be back downtown for lunch, Oval Beach, or dinner without much planning.
Best for: quick rounds, casual golf, family golf, and staying close to town
Drive from Saugatuck/Douglas: about 5 minutes
Good to know: a practical choice when not everyone in your group is golfing
4. Harbor Shores — best destination golf day
Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor is the course to consider if you want to make golf the main event. It is a Jack Nicklaus Signature course and one of the more notable public golf experiences in Southwest Michigan.
This is not the closest course to Saugatuck, so I would not choose it for a quick morning nine. But if you are planning a golf-focused trip, a guys’ weekend, or a special round while you are in the area, Harbor Shores belongs on the list.
It is especially good for golfers who want a more memorable “destination course” experience and do not mind the extra drive.
Best for: a special golf day or golf-focused getaway
Drive from Saugatuck/Douglas: plan on a longer drive toward Benton Harbor/St. Joseph
Good to know: check tee times, rates, and travel time before building your day around it
5. Diamond Springs Golf Course — best hidden-gem add-on
Diamond Springs Golf Course in Hamilton is a good one to add if you are building a golf weekend and want something beyond the obvious Saugatuck/South Haven choices.
It is an 18-hole public course in a more natural setting, with a tucked-away feel and enough challenge to keep stronger golfers interested. I would put Diamond Springs in the “worth considering if you are serious about golf” category rather than the quick family nine-hole category.
This is a good second-round option if you have already played Ravines or HawksHead and want to try something different.
Best for: golfers planning multiple rounds or looking for a hidden gem
Drive from Saugatuck/Douglas: generally a reasonable drive toward Hamilton
Good to know: better for a golf-focused outing than a casual family round
6. Beeches Golf Club — another South Haven-area option
Beeches Golf Club is a public 18-hole course in South Haven. If HawksHead is booked, or if you want another South Haven-area round, Beeches is worth considering.
It is probably not the first course I would send a first-time Saugatuck golfer to if they only have time for one round. For that, I would start with Ravines, HawksHead, or Clearbrook. But if you are planning a longer golf weekend, Beeches gives you another nearby option to work into the trip.
Best for: a second South Haven-area round or backup option
Drive from Saugatuck/Douglas: about the same general direction as HawksHead, toward South Haven
Good to know: useful if your group wants multiple rounds within a short drive
What about non-golfers?
One reason Saugatuck works well for golf trips is that non-golfers have plenty to do while the golfers are out.
They can spend the morning at Oval Beach, walk downtown Saugatuck, browse shops and galleries, get coffee, visit Douglas, or relax at the house. That makes golf easier to build into a family trip or multi-generational weekend without everyone needing to play.
Where to stay for a golf trip near Saugatuck
For a golf weekend, location matters. You want to be close enough to courses, restaurants, coffee, and downtown so the trip feels easy.
A vacation rental works especially well for golf groups because you get:
More space than hotel rooms
A kitchen for breakfast before early tee times
Room to gather after the round
Parking
Space for clubs and gear
Easy access to Saugatuck, Douglas, beaches, and restaurants
At Saugatuck Vacation Rentals, our homes are a good fit for families, couples, and groups who want a comfortable home base for golf, beach time, restaurants, and everything else the area has to offer.
Planning a golf weekend near Saugatuck?
Check availability at our Saugatuck and Douglas vacation rentals and book direct for the best guest experience.
Final thoughts
If you are staying in Saugatuck or Douglas and want to golf, start with Ravines, HawksHead, and Clearbrook. Those are the easiest courses to recommend for most guests.
Then, if golf is a bigger part of the trip, add Harbor Shores, Diamond Springs, or Beeches.
Play early, keep the afternoon flexible, and save time for dinner in town. That is usually the best way to enjoy golf near Saugatuck.
e-mail me at SaugatuckVacationRentals@gmail.com with any feedback, or a suggestion of which courses to add. Hope you enjoy!
Learn more about our properties:
Saugatuck Modern Farmhouse - steps to Downtown Saugatuck
Douglas Modern Villa - steps to Downtown Douglas
