trending_downLowest Slope Rating (Public)

Easiest Golf Courses in Michigan

The 25 most beginner-friendly public golf courses in Michigan, ranked by lowest slope rating.

The most beginner-friendly public golf course in Michigan on Stymie is Gladstone Golf Club in Brampton Township, with a minimum slope rating of 80 and 3,322 yards from the forward tees. Slope ratings below 115 signal a course where bogey golfers can play their actual game without the layout adding strokes — usually meaning wider fairways, fewer forced carries, and gentle greens.

359 public or municipal courses in Michigan carry a minimum slope of 115 or lower from the forward tees, and the average across rated public courses statewide is 110. This list is restricted to public and municipal courses so anyone can book a tee time — no membership required.

If you're new to the game, looking for a course to take a kid or beginner friend, or just want a stress-free round that lets you focus on tempo, start at the top of this list. Most of these courses also offer instruction programs, learning facilities, or shorter executive layouts that pair well with the forward-tee ratings shown here.

Ranked

Gentlest slope

Avg min slope

110

Slope 115 or lower

359

Hardest Easiest Longest Oldest Newest

#	Course	City	Par	Slope
1	Gladstone Golf Club 3,322 yds · Par 62 · A. H. Jolly · 1936Brampton Township	Brampton Township	62	80
2	Hickory Stick Golf Club 3,030 yds · Par 71 · Bill Wedemyer · 1995Ann Arbor	Ann Arbor	71	85
3	Hidden Valley Resort 3,498 yds · Par 60 · Mike Husby · 1994Gaylord	Gaylord	60	86
4	Forest Lake Country Club 2,349 yds · Par 55 · William Diddel · 1926Bloomfield Hills	Bloomfield Hills	55	86
5	Island Hills Golf Club 3,003 yds · Par 71 · Ray Hearn · 1998Centreville	Centreville	71	87
6	Elmbrook Golf Course 3,009 yds · Par 72 · 1964Traverse City	Traverse City	72	87
7	Country Club of Detroit 1,451 yds · Par 29 · H. S. Colt · 1927Grosse Pointe Farms	Grosse Pointe Farms	29	88
8	Seven Lakes Golf Course 1,500 yds · Par 31Town of Cato	Town of Cato	31	88
9	Charlevoix Municipal Golf Course 3,002 yds · Par 72 · Willie Watson · 1896Charlevoix	Charlevoix	72	89
10	Evergreen Resort 1,574 yds · Par 36Clam Lake Township	Clam Lake Township	36	89
11	Oak Lane Golf Club 3,817 yds · Par 70 · 1967Webberville	Webberville	70	90
12	Benona Shores Golf Course 3,496 yds · Par 60 · Warner Bowen · 1974Shelby	Shelby	60	90
13	Goodrich Country Club 4,246 yds · Par 70 · 1934Goodrich	Goodrich	70	91
14	Copper Ridge Golf Club 3,575 yds · Par 62 · Douglas Treadwell · 2000Davison	Davison	62	92
15	Giant Oak Golf Club 4,697 yds · Par 72Bedford Township	Bedford Township	72	94
16	Waabooz Run Golf Course 3,399 yds · Par 61Union Charter Township	Union Charter Township	61	95
17	Indian Trails Golf Course 3,352 yds · Par 65 · 1928Grand Rapids	Grand Rapids	65	95
18	Stonycroft Hills Club 3,766 yds · Par 70 · Ted McManus · 1952Bloomfield Hills	Bloomfield Hills	70	95
19	Ledge Meadows Golf Course 4,142 yds · Par 72 · Jim Troy · 1971Grand Ledge	Grand Ledge	72	95
20	Bay Meadows Golf Course 1,843 yds · Par 34 · 1995Traverse City	Traverse City	34	95
21	Lenawee Country Club 3,061 yds · Par 67 · 1921Adrian Township	Adrian Township	67	95
22	The Links at Crystal Lake 4,349 yds · Par 70Pontiac	Pontiac	70	96
23	Radrick Farms Golf Course 3,312 yds · Par 72 · Pete Dye · 1967Superior Charter Township	Superior Charter Township	72	96
24	Crystal View Golf Course 4,528 yds · Par 72Crystal Falls	Crystal Falls	72	96
25	Tribute Golf Course 4,292 yds · Par 70Wausau	Wausau	70	96

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest public golf course in Michigan?

Gladstone Golf Club in Brampton Township, Michigan is the easiest ranked public or municipal course with a minimum slope rating of 80. Slope below 115 is considered friendly for beginners and higher-handicap players.

How many public courses in Michigan have a slope of 115 or lower?

359 public or municipal courses have a minimum slope rating of 115 or lower in Michigan. These are generally the most beginner-friendly options in the state.

What slope rating is good for beginners?

Beginners typically look for courses with a slope rating under 120 and a total yardage under 6,200 from the forward tees. Courses with a slope of 105–115 from the forward tees are widely considered the friendliest starting ground.