The Rick Smith Signature course at Treetops remains one of Gaylord's most popular courses. (GolfPublisher.com)

Gaylord in northern Michigan remains the Midwest's top golf mecca

By Brandon Tucker,
Senior Writer

GAYLORD, Mich. — Forgive the golf courses of the Gaylord Golf Mecca for boasting a bit of a cool swagger, it's just that for the last decade they've been at the top of the Midwestern golf game.

And it keeps getting bigger and better.

Originally founded in 1987 with a modest seven courses, the Gaylord Golf Mecca, which is a golf marketing partnership of two dozen courses in Gaylord and environs, sees more than 350,000 rounds each summer. Great Lakes Magazine voted it as the No. 1 golf destination in the Midwest.

With the recent additions of the Otsego Tribute, nearby Black Lake and Forest Dunes complimenting the already nationally acclaimed Treetops, Black Forest and Garland, there's a course and resort for every shape and size.

Places to play

Treetops Resort: You really can't go wrong at Treetops, and could easily enjoy the best of the area golf without leaving the property. Each of the 81 holes of golf represent which the epitome of northern Michigan "resort golf": many downhill holes, big, contoured greens and wide fairways. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. Masterpiece (the original and largely regarded as the most difficult) receives the most play annually (thanks to a slightly longer season) while the Rick Smith Signature has the most-filled tee sheet during peak season.

Then there's Tom Fazio's Premier, which shares the Treetops North facility with the Signature Tradition and Threetops. The Tradition course, which is the only course that allows walking at Treetops, doesn't make much sense to walk since price is the same with a cart. It's also a bit shorter at slightly more than 6,400 yards.

Black Forest: Black Forest is the "anti-Treetops": it's not going to help you with elevated tees and wide, bowled fairways. This is the most difficult course in the area and kudos to designer Tom Doak for not catering to a resort-friendly ease of design like so many northern Michigan courses.

While it's possible to hit driver on every hole, you'd be an idiot to do so. Forest lines each hole on both sides, but landing zones are fair and errant shots will be punished.

While the tee shots feel intimidating, the true difficulty comes in Black Forest's small, tricky greens. While the course is worthy of a four-star hotel, facilities are modest, featuring a newly renovated clubhouse and grill, as well as outdoor deck and fire pit.

The Tribute, Otsego Club: The Tribute at the Otsego Club boasts its ranking as a "Top 10 Course in Michigan" by Michigan Golf Magazine around every corner at the resort.

Conditions at the time of play (mid-June), however, didn't make the cut. To be top-10 in the super-competitive Michigan market, tee-to-green must be nearly flawless. The greens were a little bare at times and the course feels two years old, not four.

That aside, there are some fabulous holes, including the most picturesque and fun to play downhill third hole. The course is built on 1,100 acres and is nearly a 10-minute cart drive from the clubhouse. If conditions eventually live up to the design and land, The Tribute will deserve its "Top 10" accolades.

Black Bear: Black Bear recently changed ownership, overhauled course conditions and dropped greens fees, making it a winner once again. The course opened in 1996 with the gimmicky "only 19-hole golf course in Michigan" slogan.

Now it's one of the area's best bargains — just $38 weekdays and $55 weekend — although officials admit Internet specials abound and few people actually pay the full fare here.

The 17th is a great tee shot, featuring a good drop in elevation and about a landing area that's doubled in width after new management mowed down the heather on both sides of the fairway. It's a level below Treetops, Black Forest and the Tribute, but conditions are above average and it's the area's best value.

Outside Gaylord

If you don't mind putting a few miles on your car, there are some courses 30-45 minutes outside Gaylord definitely worth visiting.

Forest Dunes: Located in Roscommon, Forest Dunes has flown under the Michigan radar for quite some time as it changed ownership and is now one of the state's best. Like Black Bear, it also features a 19th hole (although this one culminates the round).

As its name implies, part of the course plays through forest, while the rest plays into open wastelands and dunes. The contrast makes for a great variety of holes and as a result the round flies by.

Forest Dunes conditions and amenities — beautiful clubhouse and free, Titleist NXT range balls — make the $125 worth every penny.

Garland Resort: Garland Resort, featuring 72 holes of golf is also close to Gaylord and included in the Mecca, but is a totally different type of golf, thanks in part to its flat, watery landscape. Obscure designer/owner Ron Otto likes par-3 finishing holes and five or six par 3s and par 5s on his courses.

Garland, especially the water-filled Swampfire, resembles Myrtle Beach or Florida more than northern Michigan at times, but the tall pines and main lodge are distinctly northern Michigan.

The best part about Garland is each of the four (soon to be five) courses tee off within a minute's cart drive of the main facility. The service at Garland, in the hotel and bag staff is also a cut above any of the other mega golf resorts in northern Michigan.

The UAW's Black Lake north of Gaylord in Onaway is also worth the short drive. This Rees Jones design is complete with bold bunkering and open greens in front. Conditions, service and amenities are on par with any private course in the state, whether you're in the Union or not.

Stay and play

The classic Otsego Club is located right in downtown Gaylord and is a good hub if you plan on playing a lot in the Gaylord area.

There are a variety of lodging options, from simple hotel rooms to condos and cottages overlooking the Classic course. The Treetops Resort is located about five minutes from downtown and most of the lodging is within a short walk of lighted chipping and putting greens.

Dining out

Downtown Gaylord isn't exactly hopping with activity. Rival destination Traverse City certainly has the area beat as far as restaurant and nightlife options, but the main strip has a good deal of restaurants and you won't pay much for a meal anywhere.

The Otsego Club's Pontresina has been known as one of Gaylord's finest dining options since the club opened years back. Overlooking the Sturgeon River valley, the upscale menu features international cuisine.

October 4, 2006

Brandon Tucker is a Senior Writer and Special Projects Editor for the WorldGolf.com Network, where he contributes not only golf and travel articles, but photo essays, videos and more. His golf travels have taken him across the U.S., including more than 50 Myrtle Beach-area golf courses, and to such destinations as Scotland, Wales, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Malaysia.