Press Releases

Winner 2007 Gaylord Golf Mecca Ultimate Golf Giveaway

Gaylord Michigan

Congratulations to Jeffrey Rhonehouse of Antwerp, Ohio for being the 2007 Grand Prize Winner of the Gaylord Golf Mecca Ultimate Golf Giveaway!

As the winner of this premium package Jeffrey and 3 guests will be treated to:
- 4 nights lodging (2 nights each at Treetops and Otsego Club)
- 6 rounds of golf
- 2 Breakfasts and 2 dinners
- A custom fit set of clubs per person provided by Best Golf Deal

Congratulations Jeffrey!

GAYLORD GOLF MECCA OPENS 2008 SEASON WITH FREE GOLF and New PARTNERSHIPS

Golf destination partners with GolfSwitch and GolfPac

Gaylord Mich., (April 10, 2008) - The Gaylord Golf Mecca, known as America’s Summer Golf Mecca will open the 2008 golf season with FREE golf, and new partnerships to lead the golf co-op group into the 21^st century. The Mecca has developed a strategic alliance with online tee-time partner, GolfSwitch and major golf package wholesaler, Golf-PAC. These partnerships will strengthen the Gaylord Area’s presence in the marketplace.

Gaylord Golf Mecca opens the 2008 season with FREE Golf Weekend April 25-27

The 3rd Annual Gaylord Golf Mecca FREE Golf Weekend, originally scheduled for April 18-20, has been extended to April 25-27. Due to the longer then normal winter season, most area courses have pushed back opening dates. Make sure to check with the participating hotels and golf courses for conditions if you have already booked, but also feel free to participate the following weekend April 25-27 as well. This is a celebration of spring and a "thank you" to the many golfers from around the Midwest who have frequented the scenic destination over the past twenty years.

Visitors who book an overnight stay at one of the participating hotels will be able to play a FREE round of golf on one of the participating Gaylord Golf Mecca courses. For a complete list of participating hotels, golf courses and rates please log onto www.freegolfgaylord.com. Golfers simply call one of the participating hotels to book your room and mention you would like to participate in the FREE Golf Weekend. Each hotel guest will receive a golf certificate to upon check in. The certificate is then presented to the golf course in order to get the FREE round of golf.

A close-out Fall FREE golf weekend is also planned for October 17-19.

The Gaylord Golf Mecca partners with GolfSwitch Technology

The Gaylord Golf Mecca continues to strengthen its’ partnership with GolfSwitch, a real-time golf and vacation booking system. This new technology will provide online tee-time and vacation package bookings to the 21 member golf properties and 19 lodging facilities.

GolfSwitch was selected because of their dominance in the golf reservation marketplace and open architecture, allowing golf courses of the Gaylord Golf Mecca to communicate interact and respond to customers and business partners in real time, 24-7 environment. The system has created new, real-time marketing and distribution channels for the golf courses and most importantly, new, more efficient ways for consumers to find and book tee times, anywhere, anytime.

“Our partnership with GolfSwitch will open up many new avenues for increased business opportunities throughout the United States” commented Paul Beachnau, Executive Director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. “This fits within our long range plan and will allow us to be a leader among golf destinations”, he added.

The Gaylord Golf Mecca partners with GOLFPAC, the countries leading golf package wholesaler.

The Gaylord Golf Mecca, in addition to its GolfSwitch relationship has also partnered with the countries leading golf package wholesaler company – GOLFPAC. This relationship between GOLFPAC and the Gaylord Golf Mecca is the only northern golf destination for the popular travel wholesaler who handles golf package bookings for many of the countries top golf destinations, located mostly in Southern States.

The Mecca’s partnership with the leading golf packager will provide increased golf packaging opportunities to the area. In addition, the GOLFPAC relationship will create more opportunities to target golfers outside of Michigan, which is a key objective in the future in order to increase rounds to the area.

Two decades ago, a group of innovative golf entrepreneurs in the Gaylord area came together along with a young marketing upstart to form what is now the Gaylord Golf Mecca. Twenty one years later, the group has taken major steps to insure that technology and the golf package business remains an integral part of its over all business model.

The Gaylord Golf Mecca offers something for everyone -- high-quality public courses, fine and casual dining, opulent resorts and quaint inns. It's an experience golfers of all skills and tastes can enjoy. For more information, visit www.gaylordgolfmecca.com or call (800) 345-8621.

Media contacts:

Resort & Golf Marketing

Kevin Frisch, (989) 614-0241, kevin@resortandgolf.com

GAYLORD GOLF MECCA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF GOLF EXCELLENCE

Golf Destination Opens 2007 Season with a FREE Golf Weekend And other newsworthy announcements

Gaylord Mich., (March 8, 2007) – The Gaylord Golf Mecca, known as the Midwest’s summer golf “must-play” destination, will open its 20^th golf season as a leading golf destination. The group has been promoting the golf destination since 1987.

Two decades ago, a group of innovative golf entrepreneurs in the Gaylord area came together along with a young marketing upstart to form what is now the Gaylord Golf Mecca. Rick Smith and the late Harry Melling from Treetops, Keith Gornick at Otsego Club, Ron Otto from Garland, as well as the late Dick Weber saw a vision of what the area could become if they worked together in promoting the quality and quantity of great golf the Gaylord Area featured.

Twenty years later, what began with ten properties and 7 courses has grown to include 3 resort destinations, 21 golf courses, and 20 hotel properties all promoting the area as a top golf destination. This year the Gaylord Golf Mecca will be celebrating 20 years of excellence with various promotions and specials.

Gaylord Golf Mecca opens the 2007 season with FREE Golf Weekend – April 27, 28, 29

The 2^nd Annual Gaylord Golf Mecca FREE Golf Weekend, scheduled for April 27,28 and 29 is a celebration of spring and a “thank you” to the many golfers from around the Midwest who have frequented the scenic destination over the past twenty years.

Visitors who book an overnight stay at one of the participating hotels will be able to play a FREE round of golf on one of the participating Gaylord Golf Mecca courses. Golfers simply call one of the participating hotels to book your room and mention you would like to participate in the FREE Golf Weekend. The hotel will then make the tee-time and present a golf certificate to golfers upon check in. The certificate is then presented to the golf course in order to get the FREE round of golf.

A close-out fall free golf weekend is also planned for October 19, 20, 21.

For more information and to view the participating hotels and golf courses please visit www.freegolfgaylord.com

Osprey Recreation Finalizes Acquisition of Otsego Club & Resort and moves forward with renovations and upgrades.

Otsego Club & Resort, one of the founding members of the Gaylord Golf Mecca, is under new ownership with Osprey Recreation. Osprey also owns another popular Gaylord Golf Mecca property – Black Forest and Wilderness Valley, which will be exciting for golfers.

Osprey is making a substantial impact on the Otsego Club with multi-million dollar renovations. Preliminary renovations are underway in the main lodge and guest rooms including new interior finishes, furniture, heated walkways leading into the lodge, and the private dining areas for small groups in the Pontresina Restaurant.

The Lakes Course Re-Opens as Mountain Lake

The former Lakes Golf Course, which was previously part of Michawye, was recently purchased by a new ownership group and will re-open in the spring of 2007 as Mountain Lake Golf Club . Under the new ownership, Mountain Lake is undergoing a number of course renovations including the rebuilding of four green complexes and redesigning a couple of holes to improve the quality of play.

A Jerry Matthews design, Mountain Lake Golf Club is a favorite challenge among guests. The 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.

Great Lakes Golf Honors The Gaylord Golf Mecca.

The Gaylord Golf Mecca was once again selected as the Midwest’s premier summer golf destination by receiving the highest praise from Great Lakes Golf Magazine. The publication selected the Gaylord Golf Mecca as the #1 golf destination in the Midwest as part of its popular 2007 “Players Choice Awards”. This is the fourth time the Gaylord Golf Mecca has been selected for this honor.

In addition the Gaylord courses are consistently ranked among the top courses in Michigan. GolfWeek Magazine selected four Gaylord Golf Mecca courses among the state’s Top- 10 courses. Black Forest, designed by world renowned architect Tom Doak, was ranked 5th; the Rick Smith-designed Signature course at Treetops (#8); Black Lake Golf Club, designed by Rees Jones (#9); and the Tom Fazio Premier at Treetops (#14). In addition, Golf Magazine also awarded Treetops Resort the Silver Medal Resort for the seventh time.

The Gaylord Golf Mecca offers something for everyone — high-quality public courses, fine and casual dining, opulent resorts and quaint inns. It’s an experience golfers of all skills and tastes can enjoy. For more information, visit www.gaylordgolfmecca.com or call (800) 345-8621.

Media contacts:

Kevin Frisch , (989) 614-0241, kevin@resortandgolf.com

Dave Richards, (248) 642-6420, dave@resortandgolf.com