Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, which features a Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf course along Lake Michigan, is opening the Wee Course.
The new short pitch-and-putt course, designed by Hall of Fame golfer and 2014 and 2015 KitchenAid Senior PGA Champion Colin Montgomerie, will be open for limited preview play Labor Day weekend. Kids will play for free, and youth programming will be a priority.
Montgomerie design resulted in a five-acre, nine-hole course. The total yardage ranges from 275 yards to 500 yards. It consists of short yardage holes from 20 yards up to 80 yards with green complexes modeled after the nine most iconic holes of the current Jack Nicklaus layout.
The design includes the 7th hole that features a miniature version of Jack Nicklaus’s 10th green.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this special project with Harbor Shores, a place and community I hold close to my heart,” says Montgomerie.
“The Wee Course is more than just a golf amenity; it’s a gathering place for every generation. Having seen how short courses bring people together around the world, especially in Scotland, I know this course will create the same sense of community here.
“With nine holes that can be played in under an hour, resort guests, families, and youth will find it a fun, affordable way to spend time outdoors, away from screens, while learning the values and etiquette that make golf so special. It’s an investment in both the game and the community that will pay dividends for generations.”
The Wee Course features a combination of two sets of tee markers, allowing the option to play 18 holes.
The longer tees (blue) feature more angles and challenging pitch shots while the forward tees (white) are for shorter pitch shots. Golfers also can use a putter from the forward tees on every hole.
“Growing the game is at the heart of what we do and making the game affordable and accessible for all is the real vision behind the Wee Course,” says Joshua Doxtator, PGA General Manager for Harbor Shores. “From novice to skilled players, the Wee Course provides entertainment value never seen before in SW Michigan.
“Colin has been exceptional to work with, and his understanding of community impact has been designed into the entire project.”
The Wee Course complements the new 18-hole Highlands Greens Putting Course. Inspired by similar attractions at St. Andrews and Pinehurst, the 15,000-square-foot putting attraction offers lighting, music, and food and beverage services along with Monty’s Place, a place for fire pits and casual seating for up to 60 people.
Wee Course pricing start at $30 for nine holes, $40 for 18 holes, and $50 for all-day access, which includes the putting course. Kids under 12 with an adult are complimentary, while juniors aged 13-17 is $20 per person with an adult. Season passes will also be available.
Jeff Fettig, former chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corp. in Benton Harbor, a leading contributor through the Fettig Family Foundation, envisioned the Harbor Shores expansion. He says the new attraction will have a major impact on area youth.
“The opening of the Wee Course is another milestone in our mission to make Harbor Shores a true catalyst for community growth,” says Fettig. “This project is about more than golf; it’s about inspiring the next generation. With support for programs like First Tee Benton Harbor and the Boys and Girls Clubs, First Robotics, as well as our three local public-school foundations, we’re creating a place where area youth can learn, grow, and experience the game in a fun and accessible way.
“The design, with multiple tee options and lighting for evening play, ensures this course will be a gathering place for families, friends, resort guests, and the entire community. We couldn’t be more excited about the impact it will have, both today and in seeding the future.”
The Wee Course was supported by multiple corporate sponsors, including the Whirlpool Foundation, Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital, Indiana Michigan Power’s Cook Plant Foundation, and United Federal Credit Union, as well as a number of individual donors.
The course emphasizes youth programming and builds on the success of the annual Whirlpool Community Charity Golf Event. The event provides $3 million-plus in funding annually to community youth. Over its 22-year history, the event has raised more than $37 million and positively impacts more than 10,000 local youth each year.
“Our ability to continue to grow the game has expanded tenfold,” says Doxtator. “Through innovative programming and special events like putting leagues, junior leagues, mixed, and late-night leagues, the Wee Course will have something to offer everyone.”
The course joins other nearby projects, including an outdoor park along the canal on Riverview Drive and the continued expansion of walking and bike trails.
Harbor Shores, the long-time site of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship (2012-2024), is a golf, resort, beach destination, and waterfront community. More than 75 years ago, Benton Harbor became a booming industrial town.
During World War II, Whirlpool transformed its plants and factories as part of the Arsenal of Democracy, manufacturing components for fighter planes. The town then evolved into a manufacturing center.
Today, golf is the core component of the development on the shores of Lake Michigan and the Paw Paw River, and overall $900 million in strategic investments have been made.
The award-winning Harbor Shores golf course winds through a variety of terrain including wetlands, riversides, and hardwood forests; it offers remarkable views of Lake Michigan from the lakeside holes.
The 550-acre residential, golf, recreational, and waterfront community features a marina village and a river walk, a town center with restaurants and shops, a health and fitness center, a deep water marina, the four-star Inn at Harbor Shores hotel and spa, golf villas, miles of recreational trails and rivers, and acres of parks and green space.
For more information, visit harborshoresresort.com.
