Gaylord, Michigan golf...who's been there?

[DDD_17]

For our group outing, we will be traveling to "that state up North" this Summer. Gaylord, is proclaimed as the "golf mecca" of Michigan. This will be our first visit at this venue, and I'm looking for some thoughts, opinions, comments, etc. any of you may have. Particularly, if you have played any of the courses there (see listing below)? What courses did you like or think are the best? Which courses to avoid or you didn't like? Plus anything else you think is worthy to know. Here is a link and a list of the courses...

http://pineconevacations.com/golf.htm

Beaver Creek / The Natural
Black Bear
Black Forest / Wilderness Valley
Black Lake
Elk Ridge
Fox Run
Garland / Fountains
Garland / The Monarch
Garland / Reflections
Garland / Swampfire
Gaylord Country Club
Otsego Club / The Classic
Otsego Club / The Tribute
Lakes of the North / Deer Run
Marsh Ridge
Michaywe / The Pines
The Loon
Treetops / Masterpiece
Treetops / Premier
Treetops / Signature
Treetops / Traditio

Thanks for your help.

[jag01]

ddd_17
I went up to Garland with a group of guys and we stayed at the log cabin and played all of the courses. I really enjoyed each course. We played 36 each day and I remember tree lined fairways that were very tight!
We also played Treetops (don't rememeber the course) and it was excellent.
I don't think you could go wrong at Garland or Treetops.
Have fun and let us know how it was.

[DDD_17]

jag - Thanks for the info. We are staying in unit #202 Pine View Lodge...sounds like this was where you stayed? Looks and sounds like a sweet crib. We too will play 36 each day for 3 days...but not sure yet which courses. Is your group going somewhere this year? We've been to Snowshoe, WV, Oglebay, WV, The Legacy, MI, Peak-n-Peek, NY, and most of the state park courses in Ohio. We like to play 18 holes on the way to where ever we go too, so if you have any suggestions (between Columbus and Gaylord) we would like to hear about it.

[copa88]

Garland is a great facility. Nice courses and bars!

[DDD_17]

Here's a link to a site for the Treetops Resort (courtesy of Two Guys Who Golf).

http://michigan.twoguyswhogolf.com/resorts/treetops.html

[delco]

I have been going up there for years with about 20-28 guys. It is a annual trip. I have played all the treetops courses. I would highly recomend,. if you get a chance play the par 3 course. You should need a 8 or 9 iron and a putter for the entire course. I was not that impressed with Ostega courses.Garland -Very nice. You will love the area. I like it better than my spring trip to myrtle beach [I go in march]. I go to gaylord in July.

[delco]

If you get a chance there is a course just about one hour away in traverse city called Bay Harbor. It will remind you of pepple beach in away!

[DDD_17]

delco - thanks for the info. we are going at the end of July.

[cman824]

Treetops is a great facility I played every course up there except the Masterpiece which is suppose to the best of the 5. The great thing about that area is that it seems that daylight during the summer seems to last forever. We played until well past 9pm a couple times. Threetops is awesome I could have stood on the 3rd hole all day and hit balls. It drops about 150 ft. be careful when you take your cart down the hill. Otsego is alright I had some friends play there but they didn't really think it was anything to write home about. If you make it to Traverse City Grand Traverse Resort is the best bet a really good Nicklaus design and a good Player design too. The Boyne resort is also within driving distance but Garland and its story is awesome. If you want a great course to hit on the way up or back not too far from I-75 check out Forest Dunes in Roscommon, I spent two years up there and this was by far my favorite course.

[charger77]

Delco - Bay Harbor is nowhere near Traverse City. It is in Petoskey. But you are correct that BH is as good as it gets in Northern MI.

I've got a group of 12 that has been going UP NORTH for 20 yrs. We've played almost all there is to play worth playing. Here are my favorites...

Black Lake - UAW owned and one of the best.
Elk Ridge - Honey Baked ties. pig shaped bunkers.
Tree Tops - everything except the Tradition (supposedly a walking course) just not on par with the others there. and DO play the par 3 - Threetops.
Arcadia Bluffs - Rick Smith's beauty on the cliffs overlooking the big lake, south of Frankfort.
Black Forest/Wilderness Valley - an early Tom Doak design gets better with age.
Shanty Creek/Lake Bellaire - the tough to beat twosome of Palmer's Legend and Weiskopf's Cedar River.

Garland is ok. golf cottages are cool, huge putting green is fun. but, in my opinion, not what i go up north for. not much elevation change etc. plus, it's in the middle of nowhere. and a couple times i've been there the bugs have been horrible, but othere times there has been none. so...go figure.

The Natural at Beaver Creek - they ran out of land. wierd layout.

there's my two cents. enjoy! we are fortunate to be so close to some of the best golf in the country.

[delco]

I stand corrected but they are close -45 minutes I believe

[DDD_17]

charger77 $ cman824 - good info! thanks!!

[DDD_17]

ttt

[thunder22]

Played Marsh Ridge, The Natural and Wilderness Valley.

Marsh Ridge was by far the best of the 3 I played. The Natural was O.K., lot of wetlands.

Wilderness Valley - forget it. Not any better than a municipal course in Anytown, U.S.A.

[DDD_17]

ttt - Looking for more reviews and comments.

[DDD_17]

Well, we leave tomorrow (7/30) for this trip and will play Three Tops (renowned par 3 course) when we get up there. Then we will play Otsego (Tribute) and Mountain Lake on Thursday, Treetops (Masterpiece) and Treetops (Signature) on Friday, and then finish up with Michaywe (Pines) and The Loon on Saturday. Really looking forward to this trip!! I'll give a report when we get back.

[bird]

Where is Tullymore, I hear that's a great course.

[twright]

North of Gaylord you can find even better. My favorites:

Black Lake: #25 in top 100 public courses, owned by the UAW, $80

Little Traverse Bay country Club: Great views, $55

True North: Barried in the middle of no where but a real treat to play, $140, tough course

[CBmance10]

treetops is the best by far.... rick smith anyone???

[DDD_17]

It took me awhile to dedicate a little time to post my report of our trip, so here goes...

Our group played 7 different courses...

Wed. 7/30
~We Started at Three Tops upon arrival for an evening round (I didn't get there in time for this opening round though...bummer :( Memebers of our group gave it rave reviews and say it is very well worth playing, particularly if you only have time to get in 9 holes.

Thur. 7/31
~Our morning round was at Otsego, The Tribute. One of my favorites. It set the bar really high for the outing. The strange thing about this course was when you arrive the topography seems relatively flat, which I believe is where most of the other course (The Classic) is laid out. However, when you get in your cart at the club house and drive to the first tee, which is probably about a qurter mile away, it's like you enter a whole new world. You drop down into a massive gorge and drive for quite awhile. It doesn't even seem like you are going to be playing golf as you don't see any of the course. Eventually though, you will arrive at the first tee...and from there through the rest of the course it was incredible. I rate this as a must play!

~PM round was at Mountain Lake. Not much to this course really. It was okay, but nothing to write home about...Dime-a-dozen variety. I would probably not paly this course again.

Fri. 8/1
~We played Treetops - The Masterpiece for our morning round. The name says it all...a very tough challenging track. The variety of this layout is rivaled by few. Bring all your clubs and shot making creativity...you'll need it! Breathtaking views. Awesome design. Top notch facilities...just spectacular! Another one of my favorites. A must play!

~For our afternoon round we didn't have to go far...Treetops - Smith Signature. Again, just magnificant!! See above....ditto!!! (perhaps even better?)

Sat. 8/2
~For the morning round (and our final round of our stroke play tournament) we played Michaywe - The Pines. Sadly, I was disappointed wtih this track. It just didn't stack up whatsoever with Treetops. This was just another "Anytown, USA" type course. I will say that some of the holes did have huge potential, but I would liked to have played another one of the Tree Tops courses...particulary since it was the Championship round. Extremely tight on several holes! I shouldn't complain too much though...as I won the tournament, and came back from a 2 shots on the final hole to win the FUGA Cup!!! Sweetness!!

~Our final round on Saturday afternoon (aka - "the drunk round") was at The Loon. I really wasn't sure about this course when we booked it. After playing at Mountain Lake and Michaywe, I assumed more of the same...and I was quite wrong. We really enjoyed this track. Cool layout and very challenging. It might not rate up there with Treetops, but I would play this one again for sure. I thoroughly enjoyed the Loon...and my victory cigar!!

So there you have it. The group concensus for this outing was very positive overall and we will definitely be traveling back up to Gaylord in a couple years. Can't wait!!

My course ranking:
1. both Tree Tops and Otsego (all tied)
4. The Loon
5. Michaywe
6. Mountain Lake

p.s. - Just a bit of advice...if you plan a trip here, and use a GPS device to navigate your way around the resort community you will want to pay close attention to where you are guided. There are gobs of named paths and trails, which apparently are recognized by GPS technology. Depending on the direction setting used, you may be instucted to make a turn on one and find yourself cruising through the woods and weeds and end up driving right onto a golf course...as we did!! LOL :)

Happy hacking!

[DDD_17]

Our group is headed back up North to Gaylord again this Summer, so I dug up this old thread to see if anyone has something new to add. Would love to hear from others who have experienced Northern MI golf, both the good and bad. Thanks!

[rupe34]

i work at treetops during the summer and live in sunbury during the winter. I would recommend any of the courses there. A few other courses worth the money are the Loon (now owned by Butch Harmon), Elk Ridge in Atlanta and the Tribute. If I knew how to contact you. I would send you a card I have that would allow you to stay at Treetops and play for $90 a night. If that interest you post an email and I will get you the information.