Gaylord, Michigan: The Midwest's Summer Golf Mecca

Garland Resort

If you are looking for a "sophisticated-rustic experience" that golfers, couples, and families will enjoy" then Garland Lodge and Resort should be at the top of your list. Garland has long been known for its up north ambiance featuring 72-holes of golf designed by its former owner Ron Otto. Under the direction of new ownership, the 'Largest Log Resort' east of the Mississippi River -- Garland Lodge and Resort has undergone a 'make over' to improve upon its world-class resort destination.

The resort has undergone extensive landscape improvements; renovation and preservation of the log lodge and cabins; a new outdoor gathering place -- a grand patio fireplace overlooking championship golf holes; and redesign and redecoration of the lobby interior, resort hotel rooms, and restaurant and lounge areas. In addition, there have been a variety of golf course renovations.

Treetops Resort

Treetops Resort's brace of four championship courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., Tom Fazio, and the resort's own star, Rick Smith, the acclaimed teaching guru, makes for some of the best golf on any one property anywhere. With panoramic views that on some holes on the Jones and Smith courses goes for 30 or more miles over deep forested valleys, these golf courses have pure holes that are as artistic as they are breathtaking in their natural beauty. The Fazio Premier and Smith's Signature designs have made some of golf's most prestigious national magazine rankings.

Otsego Club

The senior member of the Mecca is the in-town Otsego Club, formerly the Hidden Valley Resort. This affordable retreat offers four courses including the new Tribute course designed by NBC Golf commentator Gary Koch. Other courses include the Loon, designed by Mike Husby, which features tall hardwoods, small lakes and wetlands. Strategic bunkering and undulated greens makes this course a real test for male players. Women like it just as well, judging from its listing in the Top 100 player friendly courses by Golf for Women magazine. The Lake Course designed by Jerry Matthew's, and the Classic Course compliments the popular Loon. A fourth course under construction serves up great views of the Pigeon River Valley. It was designed by TV commentator Gary Koch and will open for play next year.

Marsh Ridge

Another Mike Husby design is the course at Marsh Ridge, an intimate golf resort whose early beginning as a romantic getaway is still evident in the theme suites that compliments regular hotel rooms. Husby routed the course over and around a ridge dotted with marshland and wildlife habitats. The resort's restaurant, Jac's Place is one of Gaylord's best.

Black Bear

The Black Bear Resort is a refreshing choice for players looking for that "one of a kind" Northern Michigan golfing experience. Black Bear combines Scottish rolling hills, undulating greens, and signature Northern Michigan Hardwoods.

Black Forest

A must-play in the Mecca is Black Forest, designed by Tom Doak at Wilderness Valley Golf Club. This traditional layout meanders over 400 acres of forested meadow and valleys. The large undulated greens are the most challenging in Michigan. The British style bunker complexes are works of art. This pure golf experience is also on several national rankings of the best modern courses in America. The Valley course was designed by former Ryder Cup team-member Al Watrous, and offers the perfect compliment to the rigors of Black Forest.

The Natural

Renowned for designing courses that reflect the environment’s natural beauty, Jerry Mathew's designed The Natural. The Natural winds through elevated forested terrain around some of the most scenic wetlands found in Northern Michigan. The clubhouse, located on an elevated bluff, overlooks the wetlands and seven of the eighteen challenging holes. The Natural, with its rustic cabin settings, is conveniently located next to Beaver Creek Resort three miles south of Gaylord.

Elk Ridge Golf Club

Another Mathew's creation is the award winning Elk Ridge Golf Club on the eastern outskirts of the Mecca. This is a big rolling course with elevation changes; magnificent stands of red and white pine trees, wetland and streams, with tough undulated greens.

Black Lake Golf Club

Black Lake Golf Club is an 18-hole facility cut from a 1,000-acre forest retreat owned by the United Auto Workers. Rees Jones, the nationally respected architect, handled all design work. Holes mesh seamlessly with the surrounding terrain and dense tree lines. Black Lake Golf Club was awarded 2nd place for “Best New Upscale Public Facility” and voted the top rated public course in Michigan by Golf Digest in 2000. Golf Magazine in 2000 also selected Black Lake among its prestigious list of “Top 10 You Can Play” in America. Black Lake is a championship design that will afford UAW members, guests, and public golfers of all abilities an enjoyable round of golf.

Gaylord Country Club

Other Mecca Gems are the semi private Gaylord Country Club, which lays claim to the best greens in the area, and the classic Michawye Pines, designed by William Newcomb. The Pines is a true championship layout as it hosted the prestigious Michigan Amateur in 1991 and 1996. The traditional design featuring superb greens and big white sand bunkers is cut through pretty strands of white birch trees along the AuSable River. Deer Run, designed by William Newcomb, rolls through the pines and hardwoods of the Lakes of the North Association.

In the Gaylord Golf Mecca, you will find plenty of great quality golf to match all levels of play. For more information on the
Gaylord Golf Mecca call 1-800-345-8621.

Mountain Lake Golf Club

A Jerry Matthews design, Mountain Lake Golf Club is a favorite challenge among returning guests.  This exceptional championship course offers three design styles: six holes feature links architecture, another six offer alpine terrain traversing up, down and around stunning vistas, and six holes are enhanced by the natural beauty of the lake, the ponds and the headwaters of the AuSable River.  The Mountain Lake course should be on your "must play" list for this season.