Went in with high expectations and wasn’t disappointed. The course was in excellent condition, the facilities were top notch and and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We expected a tough course and it gave us all we could handle and yet from tee to green it is very playable for all skill levels. The greens is where the real challenge is. If you end up on the wrong side of the green you will definitely have some extremely challenging putts. Lots of undulating, multi-tiered greens that are fast and will test even the best putters. Absolutely will be looking to come back here in the future and am already looking forward to it.
I love this place. I knew the property when it was a nasty, junky swamp. What Harbor Shores did to that particular acreage is amazing (although the old bridge off which I used to catch Chinook salmon is gone now 😪). But I love playing the Jack Nicklaus course, especially knowing he and Arnold Palmer - and more of the worlds best golfers - have played there. The layout is gorgeous and the holes are challenging. My favorite is #7 (pictures), but #10 is also special because my 14-year old son and I played there in October 2009 and had a moment on #10 that, in August 2010 during the Grand Opening, became a signature moment for us. Long story short, since nobody was behind us, we stayed on the #10 green a good 30 minutes trying to get putts close on this extremely tiered surface. My son tried going from the bottom tier to the top and had the ball roll in a big circle back to within a couple feet from where hed hit it. The following august, Arnold Palmer did the same thing. Right after that, Jack made his famous 102-foot putt (see YouTube). I told my son, re: his circular putt attempt: If it happens to Arnold Palmer, youve got nothing to be ashamed of. 😁
Had an absolutely phenomenal time at Harbor Shores yesterday. Everything about the place is special, from the views, to the quality of the layout, to the facilities, to the conditions. I’m not sure how this course isn’t on any Michigan top courses lists, but it has to be top 5 public in the state. Best course I’ve ever played.
Really nice course and facility. A little spread out and not quite with full rates in opinion but a fun and challenging course
Beautiful facility. Fantastic layout! My new favorite course in Michigan. Very tough greens but generous fairways. It should be 5 stars but not in the condition I would expect for the price you pay to play.
Wow! Really visually stunning. Very challenging, no gimmes, trouble lurking everywhere, but so much fun. Staff is really nice, especially like the 15 minutes between tee times!
Visited on 5.30.2021. Started with breakfast and a nice conversation with the Chef, Cali. Played 18 holes in the challenging course and stopped for a glass of wine and bruschetta after golf. We were so impressed by the service and food we received we then decided to go for dinner. My husband had the salmon special and I had the tenderloin pasta special. Chef, Cali even came to our table to suggest a wine pairing. Great day! I would highly recommend.
Everything was really expensive. Not a walking course at all. Beautiful scenery around the facility for sure
Fantastic track, facilities and staff. The course was in great shape. The greens are very undulating and tricky....bring extra golf balls!!! =)
Only had lunch here but was very good and surprisingly inexpensive compared to the hotel prices.
Golf course generally in good shape, except greens had very numerous divot marks!Bar closed and no food offering after round ending @ 5:30!?!
Really enjoyed my round at Harbor Shores. The course was in fantastic condition, the pace of play was perfect and we could not have had a more glorious day to play. 7th Hole is a gem.
Very nice course my only complaint is i wish the gps on the cart helped more with navigating the course. It was not always that well marked and kind of confusing in the turn area and lake side holes by snack shop. Either better signage or better utilization of the gps would be be great
Awesome layout. Some of the most unfair greens Ive ever played....especially when the pins are placed in the hardest part of the green, as they were when I played it. Expect to three-putt alot. So, worth the experience but just be prepared for a long day on the greens.
Course is awesome. Greens fast and have a lot of break in them. GPS was acting up bit during the round. Great practice area too.
Top rate design by Jack! Challenging but fair.Great course.
Beautiful golf course. Geese all over the course. Otherwise would have given it 5 stars. 😟
Classic Nicholas course. Challenging and scenic!
Course always in great shape. A challenging course that is not an easy scoring track especially if it is windy out. Most expensive public course around.
Great course! Our caddie Kegan was fantastic, and added a special touch to our round!Look forward to returning!
This place is huge so I have no idea where Im going.Thankfully there is a receptionist/security outside to help out everyone.He guided me to the entrance and to my buddy.If it wasnt for him I would not have figured it out.Thank you
Beautiful landscaping. Golf course
Fun especially if you like losing golf balls
Great service, great venue, great weather for our round.
My food selection not as described on menu. Food nothing special, limited menu but pricing ok.
Great staff great course
This is a spectacular golf course! 3 gorgeous holes on the water, many challenging holes where you have to be intelligent about where you are placing your shots or you will go through balls very quickly. Driving range and short game area are included in your green fees and the most deluxe golf carts I have ever seen.The downsidea were the fairways were soaked at spots, so were difficult to hit from. Its not inexpensive, especially for St. Joe, MI.
Beautiful course. Very difficult greens.
Bring some extra balls! Beautiful course!
Spectacular course in immaculate condition.
Great place to play golf.
I have played here twice and think this course deserves more publicity in this state. The course is an absolute adventure with perhaps one of the best holes in the state. #7 has every range emotions in it, fear, joy, elation, anger. The greens are in pristine condition and each hole is unique in its layout. The greens can be quite the adventure but it makes for a fun round that you cant normally get at your local course. The range and short game area area also top notch. The course is also a steal for the price, to play where the pros play and then have a hole with views of Lake Michigan!
Beautiful Jack Nicholas track. Course was in great condition. There are multiple blind tee shots. If its your first time playing, take a minute to drive up on these holes. What may seem like a perfect line or a tiny target/landing area is often incorrect. Greens were fast and very undulating.
Probably the most difficult course that I have ever played! Been swinging the clubs for 20+ years all over MI. Could say Ive played a decent sample set of courses across the state. Overall an awesome course, great greens, views, and very challenging. The guys in the pro shop were helpful too!
Beautiful facility and great staff. Slow play by a foursome of young hoodlums even after warning by Ranger forced us and two other groups to end play after 15 holes and 5 hours of play. Sad. Hire a ranger that has some authority.
This course is in excellent condition and is a 1st class establishment! Beautiful views all over! Bring your A game!
Great course but still charged $85 with greens just being punched. Worth all of $85 with good greens
For non-members, the pro shop needs to tell them the fairways were aerated and that the bunker sand is hard. For $150, golfers expect better:((
Unbelievable place go there
OMG i love this course first time playing it, its a must play at least once
Too expensive.
This 18 hole course is really made up three 6 hole courses. There is no flow to the layout. Nicklaus is the greatest of all time. He must have thought everyone is as good as he is when he created this beast. If you are a 15 handicapper you will lose a dozen balls and three putt numerous times. The greens are crazy. I would bet there will be a revision to this course before long. It is just too hard for the average golfer. The service, amenities are very nice. The greens are usually in pretty good shape. This particular day the course was extremely soft (it hadnt rained in at least a week). Ball marks were like craters. Balls were plugging in the fairway. It was way over-watered. It is a unique layout and worth giving it a shot. Just make sure to bring your A game.
First class operation! Excellent practice facility. Pricey but worth its price. 👍👍
We visited the restaurant. I understand they were getting slow because of the season, but only having one person to serve, bartend and bus is asking a bit much. Food was good and service was good too after they called in a second person to help.
Every time I step onto this course I feel like I’m on day 4 of clinching a major. The only thing missing is the crowd chanting my name as I’m about to sink a 20 foot putt on hole 18 right before I put on my green jacket.
A beautiful track!! Worth the drive from Chicago. Fairly priced. I will be back!
Top notch!
Jack Nicklaus masterpiece.
The staff, clubhouse, practice facilities, and experience are nothing short of amazing. The views on the golf course are spectacular. This track is a must play. The only reason I gave 4/5 is the course design; its certainly good, however there are too many forced carries for the amateur golfer in my opinion. Great course, go check it out.
Staff is friendly and course is great condition. Bit pricey, but it is a champion course and resort.
Beautiful course! I will definitely be back.
Great course, but bring plenty of balls for your 1st outing... Youll need them.
Excellent golf course. Under-rated even as it relates to some of the great courses in the state. Immaculate conditions with top-notch amenities. Layout of the Front-9 is awesome, Back-9 doesnt have as unique of a layout but still great. A must-play if youre in the area.
Beautiful and challenging course. Very helpful and friendly staff.
Given that Harbor Shores was constructed on largely abandoned industrial land, it is truly amazing what was accomplished with the course design, clubhouse and surrounding improvements. Golf course holes run through marsh, sand dunes, forest and river ecosystems. Though course is not walkable, enjoy the ride between the segmented holes as this is one of the most unique and visually appealing courses you will ever play. Generally in great shape and top notch facilities and staff.
Overall the clubhouse/ course is very well kept up. I would recommend all to come golf and try something to eat . For all that live in the area now I know why regular folks dont want to golf or eat there.. $$$$$$$ its not for us all.... go try it out .
Beautiful trail to hike.
The Grille at Harbor Shores is one of our best kept secrets. Good food, great service, wonderful setting.
What a great course! A little rough though
Great coarse
Course was very interesting and challenging. The fairways were filled with divot holes that showed no growth. For a supposedly championship course the greens were much worse than a $22 course in Hamlet,Indiana. Many unrepaired pitch marks and other types of holes which prevented true roll on puts. I would recommend not playing until full growth is achieved in May
If I could have given ZERO stars, I would have. This use to be my favorite hotel in Lake Geneva. They stood apart from the others. But, that has certainly changed! When I surfed the net to check out the prices, I found that the rates were more than double what they were previously. I was finally able to get a deal, on Groupon, for a little more than I’ve paid in the past. When I phoned in to make the reservation, I questioned the staff about the increase in the rates. I was then advised that this was due to the fact that there had been significant upgrades. However, when I arrived at the hotel, I quickly saw NOTHING but “downgrades.” More specifically, when I went to the bathroom to prepare for a nice long bath, there was no tub—only a shower. Then, I woke up the next morning only to find out that the complimentary breakfast had been replaced by complimentary coffee??????? I can make my own coffee as there are coffee makers in EVERY ROOM!!!Moral of the story: Harbor Shores took away the ABC essentials that I love....1. Affordability2. Bathtub3. Complimentary breakfastNeedless to say, I won’t be visiting them again when I make my annual trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Additionally, I’m officially retiring from my volunteer position as a walking advertisement for Harbor Shores to all of my family and friends. So, to Harbor Shores, I bid goodbye. My regards to your complimentary coffee-making staff.
Had the pleasure to play Harbor Shores a few times in the past. Put it on the sched6fir an August golf time. If in the area do yourself the favor of grabbing a tee time. One of the bests courses in Michigan. Challenging but playable. Great views on many holes.
I am a waiter myself. I felt the staff here was under attentive or under trained. One of my family members food was delivered under cooked resulting in a family issue later regarding the way in which she tried to get staff attention and couldnt. Other negative reviews already submitted.
The course is hard for a double digit handicap expect to loose 5 balls if you are playing good. The greens are fast and true but the pin placements are PGA difficult. The course is pretty but for $150 and a 1/2 dozen balls a $10 hotdog Michigan has way better places where you can hit your driver AND find your ball good luck to this place I am glad it is there.
I know Harbor Shores has been here for a long time I had never been there to eat. I was surprised at how affordable the food was and the delicious quality. Overall the atmosphere was fantastic and I would certainly go back!
This is an absolutely gorgeous Jack Nicklaus course. The greens and fairways are covered with rollers and mounds that add to feel of the course. This course is punishing if you miss the green. And the greens are all tiered, so hitting the right 10 square foot area is a must.
Fancy place definitely for the wealthy. We went to the tornament about a month ago and it was an excellent experience for the most part. The food could be better. Staff was very helpful and nice. Would go again next year for the tournament!
We booked our outing over 9 months ago. A few weeks before (edited per comments below) the outing, we are informed that they now have to close the course all day Friday for an outing/event, costing us two of our rounds. We saw the set-up for this event multiple tents, a stage, etc., so there is no way they found out about this event a week before. They gave us zero compensation for our inconvenience, not even a free round. The twelve of us spent thousands at the course and the Inn over the weekend.For the cost, the course is not well maintained. Fairways and greens are a little beat up. Sand traps werent raked. The course is fun, but we were treated poorly, and none of us would ever go back.
A unique golf experience and one of the best courses in the nation. The conditions are amazing, the staff is second to none and this is a must play if you are in the area. Stop in for dinner afterwards as the hole resort is top notch.
Simply put, on a 1-10 scale Harbor Shores was an 11. Excellent service on and off the course. The golf course was in outstanding condition!!
Course looked to be in excellent shape. Better have a fully charged cart though. Some holes seemed to be 1/4 to 1/2 mile from one green to the next the box. Very strange!!
Kdawg doin it to it.
Very clean...havent gotten a chance to eat at the restaurant yet but the grounds are beautiful
While on vacation in nearby New Buffalo, I played a round of golf here. I couldnt have been more impressed with every aspect of the course. The Jack Nicklaus design was incredible and offered a variety of course types - from holes built on sand dunes, or winding through marshlands and river, to some holes tucked in the woodlands. The course was in fantastic shape, and the staff couldnt have been more friendly. I will absolutely be making Harbor Shores a must-play course while visiting Harbor Country in the future. Ive played many great courses in the Midwest and Harbor Shores just jumped towards the top of the list.
Too notch, all around.
Beautiful course, bring extra balls
Food and views are great. Wait staff could use more training.
- Address:201 Graham Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022, United States
- Site:http://www.harborshoresgolf.com/
- Phone:+1 269-927-4653
- Recreation center
- Bar & grill
- Golf course
- Golf driving range
- Outdoor sports store
- Public golf course
- Golf club
- Sporting goods store
- Sports complex
- Sportswear store
- Monday:9am–8pm
- Tuesday:9am–8pm
- Wednesday:9am–8pm
- Thursday:9am–8pm
- Friday:9am–8pm
- Saturday:9am–8pm
- Sunday:9am–8pm
- Wheelchair-accessible car park:Yes
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes