True North Golf Club

What True North Golf Club does

True North Golf Club operates a private, low-volume destination golf club on a 320-acre property in Harbor Springs, Michigan, approximately five miles from Lake Michigan. The core asset is an 18-hole championship course spanning over 7,000 yards from championship tees, designed by award-winning architect Jim Engh with bent-grass fairways and putting surfaces and ranked in the top 10 in Michigan by Golf Digest. The club's experience stack bundles golf with on-site cottages, The Compass Room dining venue, a golf shop, and outdoor amenities including a trout fishing pond and hiking trails, marketed to affluent golf purists seeking a secluded, no-tee-time playing environment.

The business operates four revenue streams: (1) recurring club membership dues and initiation fees, including a tiered Junior Membership for ages 23-34 with deferred payments and discounted dues; (2) real estate sales of Estate Homesites, Club Cottages, and Camp True North Cabins (with cottage owners able to place units into a club-managed rental pool); (3) cottage rentals to members and guests; and (4) F&B and private events at The Compass Room, which supports buy-outs of up to 50 guests. Real estate transactions are handled by dedicated Realtors Alisa and Bill Winslow, and membership sales are led by General Manager Chris Alexander. Distribution is entirely direct, with no third-party booking or membership platforms.

The club employs between 11 and 50 staff across functions including golf operations (Director of Golf Pete Makarov), course maintenance (Superintendent Allen Saville), hospitality (Director Sarah Brownrigg), facilities (Bruce Mullen), culinary (Executive Chef Eddie Marusarz), and real estate (the Winslows). Marketing is conducted through the company website, an email newsletter, and Instagram and Facebook channels, with earned-media credibility from Golf Digest rankings. Ownership is private and undisclosed, with no known venture or private equity backing, parent company, or public filings.

Name

True North Golf Club

Legal name

True North Golf Club

Website

https://truenorthgolf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

True North Golf Club is a private 320-acre destination golf club in Harbor Springs, Michigan, offering an 18-hole Jim Engh-designed championship course, on-site cottages, dining, and real estate to affluent golf members and luxury property buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Golf Club

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910), Traveler Accommodation (7211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Golf Resorts (THAGACAH), Golf & Leisure Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAH)

Keywords

• Private golf club
• Championship golf course
• Golf club membership
• Golf course real estate
• Country club hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Harbor Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Club Memberships: Private membership fees including initiation fees and annual dues. Regular memberships in name of one individual with spouse and dependents under 23 granted full privileges. Junior memberships available for ages 23-34 with reduced payments and dues.
2. Real Estate Sales: Sale of estate homesites, club cottages, and Camp True North cabins. Cottage owners may put units into rental pool managed by club for revenue generation while club handles maintenance.
3. Cottage Rentals: On-site cottage accommodations available for members, their guests, and club guests. Short stroll from clubhouse adjacent to short game practice area and driving range.
4. Dining Services: The Compass Room restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. Signature Wine Dinners and Compass Room Chats events. Private dining room accommodating up to 12 guests, full Compass Room buy-out for up to 50 guests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

True North Golf Club is a private destination golf club offering a top-rated 18-hole championship golf course designed by Jim Engh, complemented by on-site cottage lodging, The Compass Room dining venue, a full-service golf shop, and outdoor amenities including trout fishing and hiking trails. The club also sells residential real estate including Camp True North cabins and True North Estates homesites, and operates a low-volume membership program in Regular and Junior tiers. All offerings are delivered on a 320-acre gated property in Northern Michigan.

Product overview

True North Golf Club is a private destination golf club offering an integrated experience combining championship golf, on-site lodging, dining, and real estate. The core offering includes an 18-hole championship golf course (designed by Jim Engh) ranked in Michigan's top 10 by Golf Digest, complemented by The Cottages for overnight stays, The Compass Room for dining, a Golf Shop, and outdoor amenities including trout fishing and hiking trails. The Club also offers residential real estate opportunities through Camp True North cabins and True North Estates homesites. Golf membership is available in individual and junior tiers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Championship Golf Course An 18-hole championship golf course carved into Northern Michigan's deep woods, designed by award-winning architect Jim Engh. Features bent-grass fairways, pure rolling greens, and exhilarating elevations spanning over 7,000 yards from championship tees. Ranked in the top 10 in Michigan by Golf Digest and offered to private members and their guests.
• The Cottages at True North On-site cottage accommodations adjacent to the short game practice area, driving range, and trout fishing pond. Features one-level golf quad arrangements with four bedroom suites (two queen beds each) and bi-level units with common areas. Available for rental by members, guests, and club guests.
• The Compass Room Fine and casual dining venue in the clubhouse with views of the 18th hole and mountain vistas. Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to members, their guests, and club guests. Includes signature Wine Dinners and Compass Room Chats events.
• Private Dining and Events Private dining room accommodating up to 12 guests and full Compass Room buy-out for up to 50 guests. Expansive grounds available for tented events, corporate retreats, weddings, and intimate affairs.
• Golf Shop Full-service golf shop located in the clubhouse offering golf apparel, equipment, and merchandise.
• Camp True North Trout Pond and Hiking Trails 320-acre property amenity featuring trout fishing pond stocked with local trout, hiking trails through meadows and hardwoods, and a swimming area. Fishing rods available at the clubhouse.
• Camp True North Cabins Residential cabin community designed by award-winning architect John Sather, featuring timber frame and cottage style architecture situated around the Camp True North Pond. Owned cabins may be placed in the club-managed rental pool to generate revenue.
• True North Estates Estate homesites on and off the golf course with strict architectural requirements. Sites are over one acre in size with privacy, spectacular views, and upscale community standards.
• Golf Membership Private membership program offering low-volume, no tee-times access to championship golf. Regular Membership is held in one individual's name with spouse and dependents under 23 granted full privileges. Junior Membership is available for ages 23-34 with reduced payments and dues (50% dues reduction with same rights and privileges).

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked in top 10 in Michigan by Golf Digest
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Pinehurst Resort: Pinehurst Resort is one of America's most iconic destination golf resorts in North Carolina with multiple championship courses, on-site lodging, spa, and dining. Comparable as a multi-course golf destination combining high-level championship play with full hospitality offerings and a residential real estate program.
• Bandon Dunes Golf Resort: Bandon Dunes is a renowned destination golf resort on the Oregon coast featuring multiple championship links courses, on-site lodging, dining, and a caddie program. Comparable as a top-rated American destination golf property where the core experience is championship golf paired with overnight accommodations and resort amenities.
• Whistling Straits (Kohler): Whistling Straits is a high-end destination golf resort owned by Kohler in Wisconsin with championship courses, The American Club lodging, and full resort amenities. Comparable as a destination golf property integrating championship play with luxury lodging and dining.

Direct peers

• Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club: Arcadia Bluffs is a high-end public-access destination golf club on the Lake Michigan shoreline featuring multiple courses. Comparable as a top-ranked Michigan golf destination with stunning lakeside terrain and premium positioning similar to True North's private, secluded experience.
• Forest Dunes Golf Club: Forest Dunes is a destination golf resort in northern lower Michigan offering championship golf with on-site lodging accommodations. Comparable as a Northern Michigan destination golf property combining golf with overnight stays and member-friendly amenities.
• Bay Harbor Golf Club: Bay Harbor Golf Club is a private destination golf club also located in Northern Michigan (Petoskey area, near Harbor Springs), featuring multiple championship courses on the Little Traverse Bay. Comparable as a fellow top-tier private destination club in the same regional market with on-site lodging, real estate, and dining.
• Crystal Downs Country Club: Crystal Downs is a private, members-only golf club located near Frankfort/Beulah in Northern Michigan with a renowned Perry Maxwell-designed course ranked among America's best. Comparable as a private member-owned club in Northern Michigan offering secluded championship golf with similar low-volume positioning.

Regional players

• Sundance Golf Club: Sundance Resort in Arizona (or similar resort-courses) offer destination golf and lodging combinations in a different geography. Listed as a regional comparable illustrating the destination-golf-with-lodging model in an alternate region rather than Northern Michigan.
• Kampalach Resort / Northern Michigan Resort Collection: Northern Michigan-area resort and recreational properties (such as Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands) operate resort-style golf courses with lodging and amenities. Comparable as a regional operator pairing golf with destination experiences in the same market geography.

Emerging players

• The Members Club at Mira Vista: Private member-owned destination golf clubs with championship courses and residential components (such as Mira Vista, The Club at Mediterra, or Kiawah Island Club) represent the broader national category of exclusive member-owned golf communities. Comparable as private member-owned destination clubs integrating golf, dining, and real estate offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/truenorthgolf
• Facebookfacebook.com/TrueNorthGolfClub
• Xx.com/truenorthgolf

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about True North Golf Club