Michigan Golf Journal July 2021

guests have fun,” Galligan said. “They enjoy being outside. Golf is recreation, and providing people with an enjoyable arena to recreate, I think is fantastic.” The Bear has been known from day one as one of the most difficult golf courses in Michigan. It was recently ranked as the 18th-toughest course in America, according to Golf Digest . Nicklaus designed the layout with Scottish terraced fairways, tiered greens, deep grassy roughs, moguls and mounds, and deep pot bunkers. The Resort crews have made the course a little more playable than the original for all skill levels over the years, but it remains the regular home of the Michigan Open, our state’s premier championship for pros and amateurs alike. (see page 38) While covering the 104 th Turtle Creek Casino Michigan Open, I played The Wolverine , where the back nine is my favorite, especially starting at supposedly “unlucky” hole 13. From the tee box the hole looks fairly routine, but reach the corner of the dogleg right and the approach to the green is a beautiful, wide-open view of your downhill shot to a bunker-protected green against a backdrop of water and a massive cherry orchard. No. 14 is a medium par 3 that runs right alongside the same downhill shot you had at 13, making for back-to- back beauties. Hole 16 is a hard dogleg right after you climb a hill off the tee. The fairway then trickles downhill to a green that looks just as nice, or better, when you The Bear Hole 10 Continues on page 16 >> Michigan Golf Journal Cover story