Michigan’s country club scene is a magnet for the ultra-wealthy, offering an unparalleled blend of luxury, exclusivity, and world-class amenities. From historic institutions with storied pasts to modern enclaves catering to the elite, these clubs represent the pinnacle of opulence. Below, we dive into the top 25 most exclusive and expensive country clubs in the Great Lakes State, each epitomizing the lavish lifestyle sought by the affluent.
25. Prestwick Village Golf Club
Prestwick Village Golf Club, located in Highland Township, Michigan, is a private club offering a blend of championship golf and family-friendly amenities. The 18-hole course, designed by Ron Garl, stretches over 7,100 yards and features a mix of links and wooded terrain, providing a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. The club’s 26-acre practice facility has been recognized nationally, offering multiple tees, short game areas, and an indoor teaching center for year-round improvement .
Beyond golf, Prestwick Village fosters a close-knit community atmosphere. Amenities include tennis courts, a swimming pool, dining options, and social events that cater to families and individuals alike . While not widely publicized, the club maintains a strong reputation among its members for its well-maintained facilities and welcoming environment. Membership options vary, with some categories capped to preserve the club’s exclusive feel
24. Wabeek Country Club
Wabeek Country Club is a private club located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, known for its unique 18-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye. The course plays just over 6,500 yards and is famous for its back nine, where water hazards come into play on every hole. It offers a scenic but demanding round of golf that rewards careful shot-making.
The club also features a wide range of amenities beyond golf. Members enjoy a resort-style pool, fitness center, spa, and a mix of dining options. For families, Wabeek offers pickleball, basketball, volleyball courts, and a dedicated kids’ area, making it a well-rounded destination for recreation and relaxation.
23. Lost Lake Woods Club
Lost Lake Woods Club, located in Lincoln, Michigan, is a private, member-owned resort established in 1926. Spanning over 10,000 acres, it offers a variety of recreational activities, including an 18-hole golf course, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and more. The golf course, designed by Jerry Matthews & Associates, provides a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels.
While the club maintains a relatively low profile, it has recently introduced a social membership option, allowing individuals and families to access select amenities without the need for property ownership or familial ties. This initiative reflects the club’s commitment to welcoming new members while preserving its longstanding traditions and community spirit.
22. Country Club of Lansing
Situated along the banks of the Grand River in Lansing, Michigan, the Country Club of Lansing (CCL) has been a cornerstone of the region’s elite social and sporting scene since 1908. The club’s 18-hole championship golf course, crafted by renowned architect William Langford, is celebrated for its classic parkland design, featuring tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and swift, undulating greens. Measuring 6,905 yards with a par of 72, the course offers a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. Notably, the course includes unique double-dogleg holes, such as the par-five 6th and 15th, which require precise shot-making and strategic play.
Beyond golf, CCL offers a comprehensive array of amenities, including tennis and pickleball courts, a swimming pool, fitness facilities, and diverse dining options. The club provides various membership categories, from full golf to social memberships, accommodating a range of lifestyles. While the club maintains a relatively low profile in national media, it holds a strong reputation locally for its well-maintained facilities and vibrant community. Members often cite the club’s networking opportunities, family-friendly environment, and rich traditions as key benefits of membership
21. Wequetonsing Golf Club
Wequetonsing Golf Club, known as “Weque,” is a private club located in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Founded in 1896, it’s one of the oldest golf clubs in the state. The 18-hole course is just over 6,000 yards and features tree-lined fairways and a classic layout. It’s not long by modern standards, but it challenges golfers with tight lines and well-placed bunkers.
The club is very private, with access limited to members and their guests. It doesn’t get much media attention and keeps a low profile, which adds to its charm. Weque is known more by word of mouth, especially among families who’ve spent summers in Harbor Springs for generations.
20. Birchwood Farms Golf & Country Club
Birchwood Farms Golf & Country Club is a private community located just north of Harbor Springs, Michigan. Set on 1,600 acres, it features 27 holes of golf spread across three nine-hole courses—The Farms, The Birches, and The Woods. The courses offer scenic views of Lake Michigan and are designed to challenge golfers of all skill levels. Beyond golf, the club provides a range of amenities, including tennis and pickleball courts, swimming pools, a fitness center, and dining options.
Birchwood is more than just a golf club; it’s a year-round residential community with over 400 homes and condos. Members can enjoy activities like hiking, cross-country skiing, and various social events throughout the year. The club maintains a low profile, making it a peaceful retreat for those seeking a blend of recreation and relaxation in northern Michigan.
19. Kent Country Club
Kent Country Club, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the state’s oldest country club, established in 1896. The club features an 18-hole golf course designed by Donald Ross, offering a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golfers. The course is known for its rolling terrain and strategic layout, making it a favorite among members.
Beyond golf, Kent Country Club provides a variety of amenities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts, paddle tennis courts, and multiple dining options. The club fosters a family-friendly environment, offering junior programs and social events throughout the year. Its location, just minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, makes it a convenient retreat for members seeking both recreation and relaxation.
18. Plum Hollow Country Club
Plum Hollow Country Club, located in Southfield, Michigan, is a private club established in 1921. The 18-hole golf course, designed by renowned architects Harry Colt and Charles Hugh Alison, features rolling hills and scenic ravines, offering a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. The course has hosted notable tournaments, including the 1947 PGA Championship and the 1957 Western Open.
Beyond golf, Plum Hollow offers a variety of amenities, such as a resort-style pool, clay tennis courts, pickleball, and multiple dining options. The club fosters a welcoming environment for families, with events and programs designed for all ages. Membership options are available to suit different needs, providing access to the club’s facilities and social activities.
17. Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club
Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club is located in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and has been a fixture in the state’s golf scene since opening in 1957. The 18-hole course, known for its classic layout and smooth greens, gained national attention as the longtime host of the Buick Open on the PGA Tour. Today, it continues to attract top players with the annual Ally Challenge, part of the PGA Tour Champions series.
The club offers more than just golf. Members enjoy amenities like a heated swimming pool, clay tennis courts, bocce, and multiple dining options. Social events and family-friendly programs are a big part of the club’s culture, making Warwick Hills both a competitive golf destination and a welcoming private retreat.
16. Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club
Grosse Ile Golf & Country Club is a private club located on Grosse Ile, a quiet island community just south of Detroit. Founded in 1919, the club features a classic 18-hole course designed by Donald Ross. With tree-lined fairways and quick, sloping greens, it provides a traditional golf experience that rewards accuracy and strategy.
The club also offers tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a welcoming clubhouse with dining and event space. It’s known for its strong community feel and long-standing traditions, including Michigan’s first-ever Invitational tournament. For families and golfers looking for a low-key but high-quality experience, Grosse Ile is a hidden gem.
15. Birmingham Country Club
Birmingham Country Club is a private club in the heart of Birmingham, Michigan, with roots dating back to 1916. The 18-hole course blends history and challenge, featuring narrow fairways, subtle elevation changes, and slick greens. It has hosted major events like the 1953 PGA Championship and remains a respected test for golfers in metro Detroit.
What sets Birmingham apart is its quiet exclusivity. It doesn’t market heavily or chase attention, yet it maintains a loyal, multigenerational membership. The setting feels more like a neighborhood retreat than a scene—making it popular with families who value tradition, privacy, and a strong sense of community.
14. Lost Dunes Golf Club
Lost Dunes Golf Club, located in the small town of Bridgman near the shores of Lake Michigan, is one of the most exclusive and low-profile golf experiences in the Midwest. Designed by Tom Doak, the course is built on a former sand quarry, giving it dramatic elevation changes, bold bunkering, and fast-running fairways that feel more like links golf than typical Midwest parkland. It’s a pure golf club—with no tennis courts, pools, or noise—just serious architecture and a tight membership.
The club flies completely under the radar, rarely advertising and maintaining a near-total media silence. Membership is invite-only, and even many locals aren’t fully aware of what lies behind the gates. That quiet exclusivity is exactly the point. Lost Dunes was built for golfers who care more about turf quality and shot value than status displays—and that’s made it one of Michigan’s true hidden gems.
13. Barton Hills Country Club
Barton Hills Country Club sits quietly just west of Ann Arbor, offering a blend of tradition, privacy, and high-level golf. Designed by Donald Ross in the early 1920s, the course has a classic layout with wide fairways, subtle greens, and strategic bunkering. A major restoration in 2012 brought the design back to its original roots, and today it’s considered one of the best examples of Ross architecture in Michigan.
Unlike some clubs that chase attention, Barton Hills keeps a low media profile. It draws a tight-knit, mostly local membership—think Ann Arbor professionals and U-M alumni—who value a peaceful setting over flash. With a small footprint and a focus on golf over glitz, the club delivers a refined, understated experience that rarely gets talked about—and that’s just how the members like it.
12. Bloomfield Hills Country Club
Bloomfield Hills Country Club is a private country club located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The club was established in 1909 and offers a range of facilities and services, including an 18-hole golf course. The golf course at Bloomfield Hills Country Club was designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Bendelow (redesigned two years later by Harry Colt) and has hosted several professional golf tournaments over the years. The club also offers various membership options for individuals, families, and corporations.
Today, Bloomfield Hills Country Club remains one of the premier private country clubs in Michigan, offering a range of facilities and services for its members.
11. Meadowbrook Country Club
Meadowbrook Country Club, located in Northville, Michigan, is a private club established in 1916. The club’s 18-hole championship golf course, originally designed by Willie Park Jr., has hosted notable tournaments, including the 1955 PGA Championship. A significant renovation in 2016, led by architect Andy Staples, restored the course to USGA standards, enhancing its classic appeal and playability.
Beyond golf, Meadowbrook offers a variety of amenities for its members. These include four tennis courts (both asphalt and clay), three swimming pools (ranging from full-size competition to wading pools), and a clubhouse that serves as a hub for dining and social events. The club fosters a family-friendly environment, providing activities and programs suitable for all ages.
10. Wuskowhan Players Club
Wuskowhan Players Club is a quiet, private golf club located near Lake Michigan in West Olive. The course was designed by Rick Smith and winds through woods, wetlands, and rolling terrain. It’s known for being peaceful, well-kept, and focused purely on golf—there are no pools or tennis courts here, just a strong layout and a relaxed pace of play.
The club keeps a very low profile and limits membership to preserve its calm setting. There’s a small clubhouse with great food and helpful staff, but the real draw is the course and the quiet atmosphere. For serious golfers looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a true walkable round, Wuskowhan is one of Michigan’s best-kept secrets.
9. Orchard Lake Country Club
Orchard Lake Country Club sits on the edge of its namesake lake just outside Detroit and is known for having one of the best golf courses in the state. Originally designed by Colt and Alison, the course blends wide fairways, deep bunkers, and beautiful views across hilly terrain. A major renovation in recent years brought back many of its original features, and the course now ranks among the top classic layouts in the Midwest.
The club itself is private and proud of its strong golf culture. While there are other amenities like tennis, paddle courts, and lake access, the focus remains on a high-end golf experience. With limited media exposure and a tight-knit membership, Orchard Lake offers an upscale but relaxed setting that attracts players who want tradition and top-level course conditions without the noise.
8. Detroit Golf Club
Detroit Golf Club is one of the most well-known private clubs in Michigan, located just north of downtown Detroit. Opened in 1899, the club features two courses designed by Donald Ross, with the North Course serving as host of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. The layout is traditional but tough, with tree-lined fairways and small, fast greens that reward precision.
While it has a strong focus on golf, Detroit Golf Club also offers tennis, swimming, dining, and social events. The historic clubhouse, designed by Albert Kahn, adds a unique character you won’t find at newer clubs. With its mix of tradition, city pride, and professional-level golf, DGC stands out as both a competitive and social hub for members across metro Detroit.
7. Country Club of Detroit
The Country Club of Detroit, located in Grosse Pointe Farms, is one of Michigan’s oldest and most respected private clubs. The course was originally designed by Harry Colt and Charles Alison and later restored by Tom Doak to bring back its classic look and feel. With wide fairways, deep bunkers, and firm greens, the course is a serious test and has hosted major amateur events—including the U.S. Amateur won by Arnold Palmer in 1954.
The club has a strong sense of tradition but has kept its facilities up to date. Members have access to tennis, fitness, bowling, and elegant dining inside a Tudor-style clubhouse. It’s a place where history meets comfort, attracting families and longtime members who value both the golf and the close-knit social scene.
6. Franklin Hills Country Club
Franklin Hills Country Club is a private club tucked away in the quiet town of Franklin, just northwest of Detroit. The golf course was designed by Donald Ross and has been carefully preserved over the years, offering classic features like sloped greens, tree-lined fairways, and a layout that rewards smart play. It’s known for being both fun and fair, making it a favorite among members who play often.
The club has a calm, under-the-radar feel and doesn’t chase the spotlight. Members enjoy a traditional experience with amenities like tennis, a pool, and casual but high-quality dining. With its old-school charm and tight-knit community, Franklin Hills feels more like a second home than a flashy destination.
5. Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club
Point O’ Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor is one of Michigan’s most respected golf-focused clubs. Opened in 1958 and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., the course is carved through wooded terrain and is known for its smooth fairways, tricky greens, and peaceful setting. It was home to the Western Amateur for over 40 years, helping build its reputation as a serious player’s course.
The club is quiet, traditional, and built around the game. It doesn’t have the flash of larger resorts, but that’s part of the appeal. Members come for the pure golf experience, the well-kept course, and the privacy that comes with a smaller, more focused membership. Point O’ Woods is the kind of place where the golf always comes first.
4. The Dunes Club
The Dunes Club, located in New Buffalo, Michigan, is a private 9-hole golf course designed by Dick Nugent and opened in 1990. Nestled on 60 acres near Lake Michigan, the course features sandy waste areas, dramatic bunkering, and fast, undulating greens. It’s a walking-only course with no tee markers, allowing players to choose their own teeing grounds. The club maintains a low profile, with less than 100 members and no signage at the entrance, preserving its exclusive and tranquil atmosphere.
Beyond its unique design, The Dunes Club offers a minimalist clubhouse with basic amenities, emphasizing the pure golf experience. The course is often compared to Pine Valley and is considered one of the best 9-hole courses in the country. Its secluded location and limited membership contribute to its reputation as a hidden gem in the golfing world.
3. Kingsley Club
Kingsley Club, located just south of Traverse City, Michigan, is a private golf club established in 2001. Designed by architect Mike DeVries, the 18-hole course spans 6,956 yards with a par of 71, featuring fescue fairways and bent grass greens. The course is known for its minimalist design, utilizing the natural rolling terrain and glacial features of the 400-acre property. DeVries moved only about 30,000 cubic yards of earth during construction, emphasizing the land’s natural contours . The course offers a firm and fast playing surface, reminiscent of Scottish or Irish links-style golf.
Beyond the course, Kingsley Club maintains a low-profile atmosphere focused solely on the game of golf. The clubhouse is modest, providing essential amenities without extravagance. Members have access to on-site cottages overlooking the 17th hole, offering a comfortable stay for those seeking a retreat. The club’s secluded location and emphasis on traditional golf values make it a unique destination for golf enthusiasts.
2. Oakland Hills Country Club
Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills is one of the most famous golf clubs in America. Its South Course, designed by Donald Ross, has hosted some of golf’s biggest events—U.S. Opens, PGA Championships, and even the 2004 Ryder Cup. Known as “The Monster,” the course challenges even the best players with long holes, tough greens, and deep bunkers. A recent renovation by Gil Hanse brought back many of Ross’s original design touches while making it even tougher for future major championships.
The club also has a second course—the North—which offers a more relaxed round while still maintaining high standards. While Oakland Hills has other amenities like tennis and dining, golf is clearly the main event. The clubhouse, which was badly damaged by fire in 2022, is being rebuilt with care. For serious players and golf fans, Oakland Hills is the gold standard in Michigan.
1. Crystal Downs Country Club
Crystal Downs Country Club, situated in Frankfort, Michigan, is one of the most revered golf courses in the United States. Designed in 1929 by the legendary duo of Alister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell, the course is celebrated for its natural, rolling terrain and challenging greens. Despite its relatively short length of 6,518 yards, the course demands strategic play and precision, making it a favorite among golf purists. The club’s understated charm and commitment to preserving the original design have earned it a spot among the top golf courses globally.
Perched between Lake Michigan and Crystal Lake, the course offers breathtaking views and a serene golfing experience. The clubhouse, designed in an English cottage style, complements the picturesque setting. Crystal Downs maintains a low profile, focusing solely on the game without the distractions of modern amenities. This dedication to tradition and the pure essence of golf continues to attract those seeking an authentic and challenging round.
These clubs represent the epitome of luxury and exclusivity in Michigan’s country club scene. Each offers a unique blend of world-class golf, opulent amenities, and a commitment to privacy, catering to the elite who seek the finest in leisure and lifestyle.