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The only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course on Lake Michigan

Harbor Shores is the first beach, golf, and residential waterfront community in Michigan’s Great Southwest

Harbor Shores is the first beach, golf, and residential waterfront community in Michigan’s Great Southwest and the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course on Lake Michigan. Just 90 minutes from Chicago, this 18-hole, public Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course reflects the high standards of the world’s leading design firm, Nicklaus Design. After successfully hosting the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 Harbor Shores will again play host in 2020, 2022, and 2024 as the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. The course runs over four remarkably diverse terrains that challenges golfers even as it offers a spectacular setting in which to play.

The beginning holes, 1-6, are in the Inland terrain. Holes 7, 8, and 9 are in a Dunes terrain with dramatic views of Lake Michigan. Holes 10-13 are in our Woodlands terrains, which wind through rolling hills, ravines and hardwood forest. The finishing holes 14-18 are placed in a River terrain which border the Paw Paw River, Ox Creek and its wetlands. The result is a golf course unlike any other, allowing you to experience all the different courses you can play in Michigan, all in one course. Amazing terrain. A dramatic design.

The Senior PGA Championship made its first appearance in Michigan in 2012 at Harbor Shores, a proud part of  the revitalization of the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph communities, which is quickly becoming one of the premier golf destinations in the Midwest.

“With Harbor Shores, we set out really to change a community,” Nicklaus said. “This wasn’t just about a golf course. This was a non-profit project. That’s the important part of it. When we started, we had a factory where the first tee is. We had to remove toxic waste and buildings. But in the end, the whole course looks beautiful and we hope is enjoyable to play.”

Harbor Shores was ranked No. 3 on the 2010 Best New Courses You Can Play list compiled by GOLF Magazine. In describing the course, GOLF Magazine said, “One of the year’s feel-good stories is this short but stern Jack Nicklaus Signature design that weaves through hardwoods, marshland and the massive white sand dunes that edge Lake Michigan on holes 7, 8 and 9.”

“A SPECIAL GOLF DESTINATION”

Two-time Champion of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, Colin Montgomerie talks about why Jack Nicklaus Signature Design at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor and Southwest Michigan have become a special golf destination.

For more information, tee timesoutings & packagesmeeting or wedding availability, contact us at 269-927-4653.

An Environmental Masterpiece Transforms a Community

As golfers play the course, it’s difficult to imagine that over 3 million square feet of dilapidated buildings were demolished and over 140,000 tons of waste material was removed from portions of the Paw Paw River and throughout the various sites on the property.

Harbor Shores is a not-for-profit development. While none of the greens fees are used to pay for the construction of this magnificent facility, a portion is used to maintain the public areas in Jean Klock Park and its 12 mile walking system. Any revenues above operating expenses are granted back to the community for job training and educational programs.

Truly a unique development, Harbor Shores is also a proud partner of The First Tee of Benton Harbor, an organization that promotes character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Many of the people assisting golfers at the course are members of The First Tee.

A TIE-IN TO THE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY.

In addition to the challenging design, the course has a strong connection to art and the local community. Each hole has been named after plants indigenous to the area. At each hole, a metal sculpture with at least one piece of hand-blown glass holds a plaque describing one of Jack Nicklaus’ major championships. The metal sculptor, Josh Andres, and the glassblower, Jerry Catania, have studios in the Arts District in Benton Harbor.

This project was a partnership between Harbor Shores and the Benton Harbor Arts District.

Thank you for your interest in this unique destination. We invite you to experience Harbor Shores for yourself.

Community Revitalization

BENTON HARBOR, Michigan (August 20, 2020) — This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the grand opening of the Harbor Shores Resort project. To help celebrate this important milestone, Whirlpool Corporation and Harbor Shores are releasing a four-part digital series that tells the story of how the community worked collaboratively on multiple projects, including the resort development, as part of a multifaceted transformation of the surrounding Southwest Michigan area. 

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News, Published Articles and Awards

Article

“Golf Tips Special Holiday Issue”

BY
Golf Tips

Article

“10 Year Revitalization Celebration”

BY
Nicklaus

Article

“Benton Harbor’s Comeback Appeal”

BY
Golf Advisor

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