Grand Traverse Resort & Spa - The BearThe Bear Course at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

The Bear Course at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd
Acme, Michigan 49610
Grand Traverse County

Phone(s): (231) 534-6470
Fax: (231) 534-6474
Website: grandtraverseresort.com


The 18-hole The Bear Course at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, MI is a resort golf course that opened in 1985. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, The Bear Course at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa measures 7078 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 150 and a 76.1 USGA rating. The course features 6 sets of tees for different skill levels. Greens and fairways are bent grass.

The Bear Course at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
3.5 stars out of 5 (based on 4 reviews)
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A view of a green at The Bear Course from Grand Traverse Resort & SpaA view of the 10th green at The Bear Course from Grand Traverse Resort & SpaA view of hole #1 at The Bear Course from Grand Traverse Resort & SpaView from The Bear course at Grand Traverse Resort

Golf course details

  • Holes: 18
  • Designed by: Jack Nicklaus, Thomas Pearson
  • Public/Private: Resort
  • Year opened: 1985
  • Golf Season: Open: 4/15 Closed: 10/31
  • Guest Policy: Open
  • Tee times welcomed: Yes
  • Fairways: Bent Grass
  • Greens: Bent Grass

Facilities

  • Pro in house: Yes
  • Driving range: Yes
  • Rental clubs: Yes
  • Rental carts: Yes - included in green fees

Green fees price ranges

  • Week days: $55 - $140
  • Weekends: $55 - $160

Course policies

  • Metal spikes allowed: No
  • Dress code: Slacks, shorts and collared shirts are permitted. Denim, tee shirts and cut off shorts are not allowed.
  • Credit cards accepted: VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed

Length, slope and rating for each tee

Tee Par Yardage Slope Rating
Blue 72 6601 147 73.3
Black 72 7078 150 76.1
Yellow 72 5281 128 67
White 72 6122 139 71.1
Blue/White 72 6347 144 72
White/Yellow 72 5688 134 69.2
White (W) 72 6122 150 77.8
White/Yellow (W) 72 5688 145 74.9
Yellow (W) 72 5281 139 73.1

Reader Ratings / Reviews

  • The Bear Course at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
    3.5 stars out of 5
    by Jeremy
    on October 13th, 2014 07:25
    OK, I finally played the Bear after years of mixed reviews and deciding to play elsewhere... Conditions- very good... Greens fast and good.... If your not a great golfer.. and have a bad sand game... I would not recommend playing the Bear. That being said I have played... not real sure if I will play again with all the wonderful choices in northern Michigan..
  • The Bear Course at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
    1.5 stars out of 5
    by LaBeau
    on August 29th, 2011 15:13
    Played on 19 Aug 2011. Course design is fair, but either yardage books or GPS would help most first time players. conditions good except for variability between sand composition in bunkers on many holes. Many issues off the course. Telephone tee times did not know about tournament during morning. Afternoon play delayed 50 minutes waiting tournamnet to finish. No on-course player assistance. Waited behind a very slow foresome on every shot despite being a threesome. Not sure I would ever go back despite vacationing in the Traverse City area annually.
  • The Bear Course at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
    4.5 stars out of 5
    by Shaun Donahue
    on April 02nd, 2010 09:18
    The Bear has been tamed a bit since it opened 25 years ago. Currently it is definitely still a challenging course but a bit more enjoyable. Course is always in top notch condition.
  • The Bear Course at The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
    3.5 stars out of 5
    by B. Tucker
    on September 09th, 2009 14:17
    Good players will enjoy this test, bad players will just have to enjoy the beat down. It's tough, thanks to small, well-guarded greens built during Nicklaus' design period where penal was good. At least the course is in fantastic condition and the resort is one of Michigan's best. Warm up on Wolverine and Spruce Run before you take this one on. Great finishing par 4 with a split fairway.
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