UPPER MIDWEST

his is the time of year when many golfers from Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Min-T neapolis and all points along the East Coast book summer flights to Traverse City, Mich., 250 miles north of Detroit and so far up the state it might seem like South Canada.

It’s a long way to go for dedicated divot diggers, but the area, known as the Gaylord Golf Mecca, has grown substantially over the past several years into a summer delight for the far-flung golfing pilgrims. “Summer golf is better in Northern Michigan than anywhere else in the country,” says Paul Beachnau, executive director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. “It really is an amazing golf destination.”

It’s a destination, it seems, where your journey begins. The receiving point for all those travelers — and just about the only way to get there — is the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, just off the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan. More than 300 flights come through peak summer, churning a constant rush of golf bags, fishing rods, kayaks, backpacks and hiking gear through baggage claim.

The midsize airport, the fourth busiest in the state, is used to this April-through-October influx.

BY BOB SHERWIN

The promotional folks have been at it for more than 30 years, and it has paid off. Airlines have introduced direct flights from most major cities. Larger metropolitan airports should be so fortunate. “It’s a sweet airport,’’ says Beachnau. “The terminal is beautiful. It has a Northern Michigan feel to it. It’s easy to get in and get out.’’

The acclaimed Treetops Golf Club, a fivecourse, 81-hole golfing paradise located in Gaylord, 60 miles east of Traverse City, is what draws many of the golfers. Three of the country’s finest golf architects, Robert Trent Jones Jr. (Masterpiece course), Tom Fazio (Premier) and Rick Smith (Signature, Tradition and Threetops), designed the resort’s courses.

Threetops is a scenic sensation, a short course that has been touted as North America’s No. 1 par3. Beginning in 1999 and running for eight seasons, it hosted the annual ESPN Par-3 Shootout that featured many of the game’s greatest players: Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson among them. Trevino, who had a hole-in-one in 2001, winning a $1 million prize, plans to return July 29 to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of his ace.

It was this high-profile golfing destination that gave birth to the Gaylord Golf Mecca, in partnership with the Cherry Capital Airport. The Mecca has expanded to include nine more resorts, featuring 17 additional courses designed by other noted architects including Wilfred Reid, Rees Jones and Gary Koch.

Beyond the elite golf venues, there are a slew of selling points, especially for golf zealots from the southern states. They can trade 100-plus degree heat for blue-sky 75-degree days. They can get away from the desert and windy plains and get lost in the tall forests. And they can discover green fees that are substantially less than what they pay back home. “You are also within an hour of Lake Michigan,” says Beachnau, “an hour from Lake Huron, and Mackinac Island is less than an hour away. And there are five blue-ribbon trout streams within a short drive. It’s been a vacation destination for many years.”

They’ve just attracted many more folks walking through their airport with loud pants and oversized shoulder bags.

Visit the airport website tvcairport.com and check the best route to Gaylord Golf Mecca. And book your summer or fall golf experience to Northern Michigan today at gaylordgolfmecca.com.

hree years ago, Matt Minder had a vision for the future but never thought it They partnered with Jeff Barrett of Nashville and created a vision for the Tour of ‘by the players, for Cup seven weeks later,” says Minder. About 75 to 80 percent of the participants, T Amateur Players Tour has 300 events across U.S. would materialize so fast, and with such magni- the players.’ They set up an ambitious schedule competing in six handicap categories, are content tude. “It definitely turned into something pret- of tournaments around the nation (and Canada), to tee it up in local and regional weekend events, ty crazy,” he says of the nationwide Amateur and stage events at places like TPC San Anto- but there’s a sizable number who want to test their Players Tour. “From one chapter in St. Louis to nio, where the Valero Texas Open is played, The mettle on a national level. Those players eventuwhere we are today.” Greenbrier, Cog Hill, French Lick, Hilton Head, ally compete for national titles at illustrious Pine-

Where they are today is 35 North American Gainey Ranch, Troon North and Bethpage. hurst (N.C.) Resort on Oct. 25-27. chapters, involving approximately 2,500 amateur The event that competitors look forward to as This is essentially the Tour’s first full season, golfers competing in more than 300 events, many much as any on the Tour’s vast schedule is the Na- managing rapid growth despite COVID restricplayed on some of the nation’s elite courses. Matt tional Major at Whistling Straits, in Kohler, Wis. tions. Plans for 2022, Minder adds, “are signifiand his father Steve ran amateur events in the St. “They’ll walk the same course and hit from the cantly better.” Go to amateurplayerstour.com and Louis area before scaling up to a national profile. same spots as our (American) guys at the Ryder join the action.