Stay And Play – Gaylord Golf Mecca With 17 courses and 21 Lodging Accommodations, Activities Gaylord Golf Mecca Is Worthy Of “Bucket List Status”

By Joe Burkhardt, Publisher

Golfers and families looking for an escape to not only play golf but enjoy many activities like hiking and biking along North Central State trail, fishing one of the many area lakes and rivers for kayaking. Gaylord Golf Mecca is your paradise away from home to do just that. Let’s not forget to mention the establishments along the Craft Beer & Tap Trail and this becomes a lot of fun after your round on one of 17 area golf courses you decide to play. Gaylord is worthy of “bucket list” status and is a first class facility. With first class accommodations at one of the 21 lodging facilities to choose from with world class resorts and championship golf designed by some of America’s top golf course designers, Gaylord will become a go-back-to location for many years to come.

Located an hour’s drive east of Traverse City (known as the National Cherry Capital of the World) that hosts their annual National Cherry Festival in July, another activity you can take in while booking your trip, this becomes even more alluring to want and book a trip and play some championship golf courses but take in many activities as well that will keep the days full of fun.

Golfers who can’t get enough of playing–you have 297 holes to play here and I played seven courses and 90 holes while there and they didn’t disappoint, especially the first one that’s a must play while there.

www.gaylordgolfmecca.com

800.345.8621

Threetops at Treetops: This is known as America’s best par-3 course anywhere and a great start to your trip especially arriving in the afternoon and wanting to get in a nine and dine. This is the first of three Rick Smith (former swing coach to Phil Mickelson and many other PGA Tour Pros) designed courses. You may remember if your an avid golf tv watcher Threetops was the venue back in 2001 for the ESPN Par-3 shootout that hosted Fuzzy Zoeller, Raymond Floyd, Fred Couples and the shot heard around the world by Lee Trevino when with one swing of the club on hole #7 and where a plaque is on that tee box today, that you can play from, had a hole-in-one and won him a whopping 1,090,000 from that one swing of which he generously donated half of that to St. Judes Children’s Hospital. What you can expect here is a really good par-3 course with elevated tee boxes and jaw dropping drops that can have you clubbing down from the carry. After a good fun start to getting nine in, head to Treetops sports bar and kick back and then get ready for staying at the Lodge at Treetops Resort. www.treetops.com

866.348.5249

The Natural at Beaver Creek: This is a golf course that hosts more rounds than any other course on your Gaylord Golf Mecca trip from low green fees and encourages local play. The “Natural” is a scenic course that is right in front of you and simple as the name. It’s a course with rolling terrain that has tee boxes for any level of golfer and while playing you can see some wildlife that you will catch out of the corner of your eye, from deer, wild turkey, beaver, heron and other waterfowl. Located on the west side of Otsego Lake this course is one of the most scenic sites you’ll play in northern Michigan. thenaturalgolfcourse.com

989.732.1785

Masterpiece Course at Treetops: Designed by the great Robert Trent Jones this 18-hole “Masterpiece” Par-71 course is all you can handle from 7,060 yards of golf from the back tees. With a course rating of 75.5 and a 144 slope for you 10 handicappers, a word to the wise– move it up a tee box. Open in 1987 that golf digest named it the #2 resort course in the United States that you will find the most challenging and difficult of all the Gaylord Golf Mecca courses. You will find a well manicured golf course with fast greens and plenty of elevation and underlation in the greens. I would definitely save this course for a later round in the week, after you have played a few courses and honed that swing for here. www.treetops.com

866.348.5249 great accommodations, three restaurants on site, Antlers Bar & Grille, Tamarack dining room and my favorite, the Tiki Bar, that will keep you hanging there after the round. www.garlandusa.com

989) 786-2211 www.michaywepines.com

Michaywe Pines Course: I found Michaywe Pines course to be a nice, friendly, flatter golf course than most of the other courses with forgiving rough and pretty straight away golf course right in front of you. It’s a popular golf course that has hosted the Golf Association Michigan Amateur Championship.

989.939.8911

Bennethum’s. You will not only find great food and portions, but some really good craft beers to throw back as well.

Fountains Course at Garland Resort: This is a course I highly recommend on your trip. This is the newest of their courses that opened in 1995 and had a redesign in 2010. The unique thing about this golf course is, it offers a 6-6-6 design, six par 3’s, six par 5’s and 6 par 4’s with great golf course conditions. Located in Lewiston only a 30 minute drive from Gaylord, Garland Resort and Lodge offers 4 championship golf courses, all from one pro shop, and no driving from course to course. This also has www.otsegoresort.com

The Tribute at Otsego Resort: Another of my favorite courses on this trip is an 18-hole trek through the Sturgeon River Valley with views that will make you lose concentration on the shot at hand. I like those kinds of distractions, that can make you take in nature, surroundings, views and not thinking about grinding over the next swing. This course can accommodate any level of golfer with four to six tee box levels and great elevation changes.

800.752.5510

Extra Holes: After any round, you’re always thinking about that cold beer or dining options for that appetite you worked up during the round. There are plenty of dining options in Gaylord, starting at the Big Buck Brewery and the Alpine Tavern or

Sleeping OnThe Next Round: After a round and a good meal, you always want some good accommodations and Gaylord has 21 lodging options. Treetops (www. treetops.com, 855.420.0557) has 238 newly renovated guest rooms plus outdoor/indoor pools, hot tubs, a spa and salon. Here you have access to four 18-hole championship golf courses– The Masterpiece, Signature, Tradition and Premier along with America’s best Par-3 course, Threetops.

The OtsegoResort (www.otsegoclub. com, 800.752.5510) offers guest rooms, suites, condominiums and cabins that are excellent. Also, enjoy an on-site meal at Duck Blind Grille that will not be short on portions. This location offers two outstanding championship golf courses, The Tribute and The Classic.

Who’s ready for a trip to Gaylord Golf Mecca? LET’S GO!!! TSG