Lincoln Hills Golf Club

Overview: Lincoln Hills occupies a handsome piece of Ludington ground close to Lake Michigan, where tall trees and rolling fairways give the course a settled parkland character. The present layout is an 18-hole par-72 round, but the property’s modest, walkable feel reflects its long local history rather than a recent resort build. The club’s position near Ludington State Park and the lakeshore makes it an appealing addition to a coastal golf itinerary. It is the sort of course where the atmosphere matters as much as the scorecard: mature vegetation, familiar lines and a sense of a community course shaped over generations.

History: The land was once part of the Stearns logging empire and later served as a Michigan National Guard training site during the years before the First World War. Planning for Lincoln Hills began in 1918, and nine holes opened in 1921. The course was expanded to its current 18-hole form over time, preserving the connection between the old lakeside property and the club now operating there. Current club material provides that sequence clearly but does not name a dependable original architect, so the profile does not attach an uncertain designer to the course.

Did You Know? Before it became a golf course, the property had a military chapter. The Michigan National Guard used the land for summer encampments from 1904 to 1912, only a few years before the first Lincoln Hills holes opened.