Michigan Golf Journal February 2020

The Bear The golf season is a short few months away and if you haven’t purchased or checked into The Golden Passbook, you need to act now. There are over 200 coupons for free greens fees on over 95 courses through- out the State of Michigan. Visit Goldenpassbook.com for a list of participating courses . • Over 95 courses • Three shareable sections • Coupons for free green’s fee’s • Not a two-for-one, golf is FREE . Golden Passbook ToMichiganGolf 800-860-8575 www.GoldenPassbook.com To order call us or visit: Starting at just $200 per sec- tion, enjoy a summer full of great golf with the best value in the State. Take a friend or in some cases a foursome to play at one of these great venues. This is your golf “membership” without having to play the same course time and time again. We will only be selling 150 books, so get your order in today . playing The Bear for the first time in late 2019. “It was challenging yet playable. I’m certainly not a fantastic golfer, but I was able to shoot my average score.” His playing partner that day, Brian Kowalski of Bowling Green, Ohio, added: “My first impressions were intimidating, but I wanted to try it because it’s listed as one of the top golf courses in Michigan. I definitely want to come back here and also try The Wolverine and Spruce Run. Always great golf in Northern Michigan.” While The Bear sees most of its play by the average golfer, throughout the years it has hosted our premier state championship — the Michigan Open — more times than any other golf course. And not long after The Bear opened, it hosted the PGA Champions Tour Ameritech Senior Open in 1990, won by global fan favorite Chi Chi Rodriguez. “The Bear was the hardest course, as Jack built it, when it opened in 1985, and it’s withstood the test of time,” McGee said. “It’s still very attractive, people still love to play it, and those who come to the Resort, if they’re going to play one golf course, they choose The Bear.” MGJ Reprinted courtesy of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. This article first appeared in the 2020 edition of its Barefoot magazine.