GAYLORD, Michigan — Often referred to as “Golf Mecca,” Treetops Resort has five championship courses to choose from.
First, The Masterpiece, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, will challenge golfers of all abilities in two particular ways — through their shotmaking and course management skills.
“Robert will test each golfer’s ability to think their way around the course,” stresses Chris Hale, director of marketing and sales. “They won’t have to hit every shot perfectly, but he will punish them if they miss a shot in the wrong spot.”
Each fairway is relatively wide, enabling golfers to be aggressive and possibly rewarded with birdie or eagle putts. However, if they mishit their shots, they’ll struggle to get up and down for par.
“The bottom line? Par is a great score on any hole,” says Barry Owens, general manager.
In addition, The Premier, designed by Tom Fazio, offers golfers an ample amount of risk versus reward shots, leading to potentially low scores on par-4s and par-5s. Two par-4s are potentially “drivable,” according to Hale, while each par-5 can be reachable in two shots.
“It’s a fun course that provides great views and elevation changes,” says Doug Hoeh, director of recreation. “Golfers will hit every club in their bags.”
Furthermore, The Signature enables golfers to hit various types of shots into every green. Designed by Rick Smith, the course has 134 bunkers, which are considered “aiming points,” according to Owens, as they’re “not in play.” But if golfers “get off line a bit, the bunkers will reach out and grab their balls.”
“The Signature has some of the best views on the property, and is the most visually appealing course,” Hoeh adds. “Every hole is beautiful, while also a challenge to play.”
On the other hand, Smith’s other design, The Tradition, has several trees that will test all golfers. Their nerves will especially be tested by the course’s winds, which swirl around in its valleys.
“The beauty of The Tradition is the lack of earth that was moved when Rick built the course,” Hale says. “Golfers can stand on tees and greens and see the land roll the way God intended.”
Finally, Treetops arguably has one of the world’s greatest par-3 courses, Threetops. A host of the Par-3 Shootout from 1999 to 2006, which was televised annually on ESPN, the course has welcomed the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Lee Trevino.
“It’s a must-play during any visit to Treetops,” Owens says. “It’s a very playable course for all skill levels and will make everyone ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ with every shot.”
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
As Treetops Resort looks ahead to the coming years, a variety of tree removal projects have recently occurred at the Tradition, Premier and Signature courses. Consequently, golfers will enjoy new views of each course’s stunning surroundings, which they simply wouldn’t have witnessed in the past.
“In some places, players can now see upwards of 20 miles over the valley,” Hoeh says.
Moreover, the resort has enhanced each course’s turf management, created more consistent putting surfaces and increased the courses’ playability from tee to green. To continue these recent trends, the resort will remove trees on The Masterpiece and Threetops soon, too.
“This tree removal has been — and will continue to be — critical to providing world-class course conditions,” Hale says. “As a result, golfers will want to come back, relish the incredible views and enjoy each course many more times.”