Grand Traverse Resort: A Golfers’ Up North Playground
By Tom Lang
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is a true epitome of what many people picture in their minds as ‘Up North’ golf in Michigan. Views of the East Grand Traverse Bay, northern hardwoods and rolling plains covered with fruit trees are just of few of the picturesque mental images.
As a member of golf media, I also think of all the great Michigan PGA Open championships played at GTR over the years – with the 2022 version scheduled for this June 13-16.
As a businessman I often think of all the popular conferences and meeting spaces.
As a family man, thoughts go to the three generations of my family celebrating the parent’s 50th wedding anniversary, where the amenities offered something for everyone of every age, every day.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is a large property with dozens of vacation activity options, but first and foremost it is a golfer’s paradise, with a variety in three true tests of golf at The Bear (Jack Nicklaus), The Wolverine (Gary Player), and Spruce Run (William Newcomb) – but for me I never feel like the place is so big you lose the personal feeling of a home away from home.
Three Championship Golf Courses:
The Bear has been known from day one as the most difficult golf course 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 grounds crews have made the course a little softer than the original for all skill levels over the years, but it remains the regular home of the demanding Michigan Open, our state’s premier championship for pros and amateurs alike. MSU golfer Bradley Smithson is the defending champion from 2021, and one of the rare amateurs to win it in the 105-year history.
When I play The Wolverine, the back nine is my favorite, especially starting at supposedly “unlucky” hole 13 (this month’s cover photo). 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.
As a solo player, last year I was paired up with three buddies from Texas, Illinois and Pennsylvania who take a northern Michigan retreat together each summer – Tom, Fisher and Art.
“It’s our first time at this resort,” Art said. “I like it. The courses are very challenging. A lot of undulation. The Wolverine was pretty open if you get it to the right spots, but there were a lot of places for trouble. It’s a very fair test, and certainly beautiful.
“Spruce Run was awfully tight, so you’ve got to be pretty accurate off the tee. If you’re not, you’ve bought yourself some trouble. A good test and it’s fair. It’s all right in front of you.
“A good place for a buddy’s trip,” Art concluded.
Women Are Joining the Game in Droves:
The game of golf has seen an incredible spike over the last couple years, but the game has really grown with women specifically. Mark Hill, Director of Instruction at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, says he started to see a noticeable change in how many women were participating in golf in 2021.
“The biggest thing we are seeing is people are retiring or working from home and now have more time to be outside,” Hill said. “It’s becoming a social event. People have friends playing golf and they want to be part of it.”
The Resort’s Golf Academy has always been a popular spot year-round, but Hill said they are busier than ever with private lessons, clinics, and special events.
“If you are new to golf, or returning to the game, take a lesson with a PGA professional,” he suggested. “The one-on-one interaction is crucial to improving your game. Golf is hard, and you need to have a sense of humor and fun to avoid frustration. It helps to take lessons with other people who are at the same level as you. It’s great to learn alongside people.”
The GTR Golf Academy is unique that it allows guests to go out on the Resort’s three championship courses and experience the game, proper etiquette and what to do. They offer several women’s golf clinics and Hill said the turnout has been incredible.
“Women of all ages have signed up – younger kids, teens, and older women looking to get into the game. Each clinic has had a record sign-up rate and sold out.”
Hill mentions that women are also getting into the game more as an activity to do with their husbands or partners.
“It’s definitely becoming more of a couple’s game,” he said. “We are seeing more and more couple’s take lessons together as well.”
With more lessons, clinics and events being offered, women of all skill levels can pick up a club and get out on the course and be a part of the more than 600,000 women nationwide to have taken up the game the past year.
Wolverine’s Take Note: Special Wolverine Weekend, June 17-19:
Maize and blue fanatics are planning a huge gathering you can join at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s Wolverine Weekend. The June 17-19 Wolverine Weekend features golf on The Wolverine, a meet-and-greet with star athletes, plus dinner with keynote speaker and author John U. Bacon.
The Wolverine golf course is World Golf Hall of Famer Gary Player’s first signature course in Michigan. With the same name as the iconic mascot, it is the perfect course for Michigan fans, students, alumni, and athletes to play.
Wolverine Weekend kicks off with a live broadcast of Sports Talk 1050 WTKA on Saturday, June 18. Sam Webb, Ira Weintraub and special guest Devin Gardner will be live from the clubhouse. The golf outing to follow includes meet-and-greet photo opportunities throughout the course with current Michigan football players J.J. McCarthy, Ronnie Bell, and Ryan Hayes.
The special event weekend continues with a ticketed dinner and speaker series. There’s an extended meet-and-greet session with the athletes, Gardner and Bacon. Guests will receive a three-course dinner and lite version of WTKA’s Monday Morning Quarterback with Devin Gardner. Bacon will then take the stage as keynote speaker.
Get your Wolverine Weekend tickets fast. Room availability is limited. Click here for more details.
Highlighted Events:
June 13-16: Hall Financial Michigan Open Championship Presented by Turtle Creek Casino
The 105th playing, fans watch for free the most prestigious PGA tournament in the state.
June 17-23: Golf Your Daylights Out
Play as many holes as you can squeeze into a day during the summer solstice and extended daylight in northern Michigan.
July 2-10: National Cherry Festival Golf Special
National Cherry Festival week. With events happening on property and in town, you will get the full Traverse City experience on and off the course.
July 8: Cherry Golf Scramble
Join for a “cherry” good time at National Cherry Festival Golf Scramble on Spruce Run.
September 2-5: Labor Day Weekend Golf Special
Special pricing makes it easy to try out each of the three highly acclaimed courses.
October 1: 12th Annual Big Hole Golf Tournament
Three-person scramble on Spruce Run features gigantic, impossible-to-miss 10’ cups.
October 16: 14th Annual Tuff Enuff Golf Tournament
Play one of Michigan’s toughest courses, The Bear, at its absolute hardest at over 7,000 yards with toughest pins.
More details here on all special events.
