Harbor Shores Resort, the lakeside resort destination with its Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf course that has been the core of a major economic transformation for the Benton Harbor, Mich. community since 2010, has announced its next community amenity. The Wee Course will provide another golf attraction at the popular resort, where kids will play for free, and youth programming will be a priority.
Hall of Fame golfer and former KitchenAid Senior PGA Champion Colin Montgomerie will design this five-acre, nine-hole pitch-and-putt course adjacent to the cottages along the first hole. The course will consist of holes measuring 60 yards or less in length, modeled after the nine most iconic holes of the current Jack Nicklaus layout.
When Whirlpool initially developed Harbor Shores almost 20 years ago, it was all about creating a catalyst in the Benton Harbor community for economic development, recreation, and tourism. This project is about seeding the future.
“It’s a perfect use of the land,” says Jeff Fettig, former chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation, who is the visionary behind the Harbor Shores expansion and a leading contributor through the Fettig Family Foundation. “We’ve been talking over the last several years about what other amenities we could add. We percolated the idea, focusing on families, kids, non-golfers, and golfers – wondering what we could do to make this an even more successful magnet for people in our community. This project will fit that need. It will be a fun pitch-and-putt course that anybody can play.”
The Wee Course, which will also be supported through donations from Corewell Health, one of Michigan’s largest non-profit healthcare systems, will target kids, families, and non-golfers.
“We at Corewell Health are thrilled to partner with Harbor Shores, the Whirlpool Foundation, and the Fettig Foundation on this innovative project,” said Soroya Pierre-VanArtsen, president of Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan. “By improving the green space in our community and making golf more accessible to everyone, we are not only enhancing the beauty of our surroundings but also creating opportunities for individuals who may not typically have access to play. This initiative embodies our commitment to fostering a healthier, more inclusive community where everyone can enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation.”
Serious golfers will also enjoy the new course because it allows them to practice short shots in a unique setting. It’s also about creating a value proposition that complements the Harbor Shores championship course. This experience is fun, inexpensive, and can be played in an hour. It will be the centerpiece for getting kids and families together, friends socializing, and entertainment. It will be a perfect venue to host events.
“There will also be two different tees so that you can play 18 holes,’’ Fettig said. “It will be lit, too, so guests can play at night. And it’s just something that we think will be attractive to the entire community, and that’s really what we’re trying to do. You can bring a wedge and a putter or just a putter to play a round with.”
Complementing the Wee Course at Harbor Shores Resort will be an 18-hole putting course inspired by similar attractions at St. Andrews and Pinehurst – replete with lighting, music, and food and beverage to make it a great gathering space for the community.
Joshua Doxtator, General Manager of Harbor Shores Golf Club, sees this latest golf attraction and community development as further enhancing the value of Harbor Shores.
“We’re very excited to create something that will be so much fun and unique while enhancing the value and overall experience for our guests, members, and the community,” he said. “The Wee Course will provide a much more accessible and less-intimidating experience for youth and beginners to learn and play the game but will also be a popular spot for golf guests to hang out and play more into the evening.”
The Wee Links development and putting green will break ground in early 2025 and could see preview play by Fall 2025, with a grand opening in the spring of 2026. The new course is just one of many exciting developments in the community, including an outdoor park along the canal on Riverview Drive and the continued expansion of walking and bike trails.
Photo Courtesy of Harbor Shores Resort