Chestnut Valley Golf Course

Overview: Chestnut Valley is a locally rooted 18-hole course just northeast of downtown Harbor Springs, close to Petoskey, Bay Harbor and the wider Little Traverse Bay golf corridor. Larry Mancour’s par-72 design measures 6,235 yards from the back tees and uses a parkland setting of rolling ground, tree lines and open views to create a relaxed but credible round. The scale suits a golfer building a multi-course trip around the area: it is substantial enough to reward good planning, yet approachable enough to work between larger resort rounds at Boyne or Shanty Creek. The clubhouse terrace and surrounding northern landscape add to the sense of place.

History: Chestnut Valley was built in 1994 and remains closely associated with architect Larry Mancour, who the club says still visits during the season. The property takes its name from an American chestnut tree that once stood between the tenth and eleventh holes. By 2019 only the trunk remained, and the club had it carved into a sculpture, preserving a physical link between the course name and the land. That story gives Chestnut Valley a more personal history than a simple opening date, while its current semi-private identity keeps it connected to both local golfers and the Harbor Springs visitor market.

Did You Know? The course’s namesake tree did not disappear from the story when it died. The remaining trunk was carved into a sculpture positioned between holes 10 and 11, turning a natural landmark into part of the course’s memory.