Labor Day Weekend is in the rearview mirror and soon Mother Nature will be painting a colorful pallette of fire reds and bright yellows, with multiple shades of oranges and browns thrown in for good measure, over the rolling hillsides in Northern Michigan.
If you are wondering where the BEST Fall Golf Getaway Resort is located, I would suggest you consider the Gaylord Golf Mecca in Northern Michigan. Gaylord Golf Mecca is celebrating its 30th year of offering the best values in golf.
With eight resorts featuring 14 different golf courses, How can you go wrong?
You can play golf in the morning and take a Fall Color Tour around Michigan in the afternoon, before settling in for a delicious repast at one of the numerous dining options available among the Gaylord Golf Mecca Resorts.
Treetops Resort
The original owner of Treetops Resort, Harry Melling began the golf migration to the Gaylord, Michigan area with the construction of the Jones Masterpiece Course. Primarily a ski resort back in the 1980’s, Melling found golf to be the perfect remedy to fill his empty hotel rooms in the summer months. Golf quickly caught on and he added three more courses. Tom Fazio designed the Premier, Rick Smith added the Smith Signature, the Tradition, as well as the iconic par-3, Threetops.
Upon viewing the par-3 course at Augusta National, Smith convinced Melling to add a par-3 course to the golf menu. Threetops, with its extreme elevation changes and challenging design, has become one of the must-play courses for Golfaholics.
Over the years many tour professionals have ventured to the Gaylord Golf Mecca. In fact, Golf Channel launched its popular “Big Break” series here in 2003. The original 10 golfers competed in various events and after the other nine competitors were eliminated, Justin Peters from Florida was crowned the winner.
Because of Rick Smith’s coaching relationship with Phil Mickelson, ESPN filmed the par-3 “Shootout” at Treetops. In 2001, Lee Trevino made a hole-in-one on the 7th hole, during the event, featuring Trevino, Mickelson, Paul Azinger and Raymond Floyd, to earn $1.09 million, the richest prize ever awarded for a single shot. A plaque bears the exact location of the Merry Mex’s famous shot yet today.
In addition to the four championship courses and the par-3 at Treetops, Black Lake Golf Club, Gaylord Country Club, Indian River Golf Club, Loon Golf Resort, Michaywe’-The Pines, Otsego Club and The Natural at Beaver Creek offer a total of 14 golf courses to please any golfer’s appetite.
Black Lake Golf Club
Black Lake Golf Club is an 18-hole public course designed by nationally acclaimed architect Rees Jones. To produce this charming design, Jones utilized every feature found on the property including, cranberry bogs and a small sand quarry.
Black Lake has received many national awards. Golf Digest ranked Black Lake one of its top-10 “Best Values.” Always in pristine condition, Black Lake is a championship design that offers golfers of all abilities an enjoyable round of golf.
Gaylord Country Club
Gaylord Country Club opened in 1924. The classic routing meanders through hills and hardwoods and is a well-maintained beauty. Four sets of tee options, plus the design forces players to use of every club in the bag. Gaylord Country Club provides a Private Country Club feel for every golfer.
Indian River Golf Club
Indian River Golf Club was established in 1922 and is still one of the area’s best golf options today. Golf Digest has rated Indian River Golf Club as one of the “Best Places to Play in Northern Michigan.” The course is a challenging, yet walkable layout with a variety of tees for every level of golfer. Elevation changes, water hazards, and tree-lined fairways provide a diverse golfing experience for Golfaholics.
After your round, The Greenside Grille has a reputation for great food and is yet another reason Indian River Golf Club is known as the “Friendliest Club in the North!”
Loon Golf Resort
The Loon Golf Resort recently added The Ridge to its lodging, dining and golf options. Now with three 18-hole courses, the Butch Harmon designed Loon Course, The Lakes, plus The Ridge, The Loon Resort offers a variety of golfing options. Their first-class accommodations, in addition to, multiple dining options, makes The Loon Resort a great choice for your Fall golf getaway.
Michaywe’-The Pines
The Pines Course at Michaywé was designed and recently renovated by Don Childs. Five sets of tees ranging from 5,200, to over 7,000 yards, accommodate every skill level of golfer. Exceptional golf is complimented by comfortable accommodations in the Michaywé Inn, plus The Woods Restaurant provides a tasty and relaxed dining experience.
Otsego Club & Resort
The Otsego Club & Resort is located on the east edge of Gaylord. It offers golfers a variety of lodging options, with rooms, suites, condominiums, plus award winning dining in an alpine log-style ambiance. Conference facilities can accommodate groups of up to 500. Championship golf on either the Tribute, or the Classic make Otsego Club a must-play destination. With a four-season outdoor thermal pool, lighted tennis courts and a 1,200-acre wildlife preserve. Otsego Club has something for everyone in the family.
The Natural
Jerry Matthews, renowned for creating courses that reflect the environment’s tranquil beauty, designed The Natural. The Natural gives golfers that true UP North feel as it winds through elevated forested terrain around some of the most scenic wetlands found in Northern Michigan.
When booking your Gaylord Golf Mecca adventure, ask about the “2 fore 1” Booking Special. A Gaylord Golf Meca Passport provides your second round FREE, when you buy one round of golf with cart at the regular rate. There are No Blackout Dates, plus coupons are accepted every Sunday after 3:00 PM and all day Monday-Thursday. If you combine this value with current lodging discounts it could add up to a savings in excess of $1,000.00.
If you visit the Gaylord Golf Mecca website, sign up for the “Ultimate Golf Giveaway.” The winner, plus three guests receive, Four Nights Lodging, Six Rounds of Golf and Two complimentary Breakfasts, as well as, Two Dinners.
World-class Golf on 14 courses, the magnificent colors provided by Mother Nature, excellent dining options, first-class accommodations, as well as, a plethora of outdoor activities make Gaylord Golf Mecca in Northern Michigan the PERFECT Fall Golf Destination.
