By Greg Wise
golf travel
297 Reasons to Visit
Imagine a golf resort area with elevation changes from tee to green, the likes of a ski slope to test your endurance… natural tree lined fairways to focus your energy and define your game… and a smorgasbord of the ‘Finest Golf Course Architects’ that will take your game to the next level. Websters Dictionary defines a “Mecca” as an area that attracts many people. Add in those 297 holes of golf from 17 Golf Courses and 5 Resorts within a 45-minute radius and some of the friendliest people in golf… and you have found, Northern Michigan’s… Gaylord Golf Mecca. “Although golf began in the 1920’s with the Gaylord Golf Club, it wasn’t until 1987 when the Gaylord Golf Mecca came into existence with the opening of the ‘Masterpiece’ designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., course at the newly renamed, Treetops Resort,” Paul Beachnau, Executive Director of the Mecca, mentioned in our welcome meeting. Paul went on to explain, “when Jones stood on the 6th tee of what was then called Sylvan Resort, he explained to the late owner Harry Melling, and Rick Smith, PGA Teaching Professional… ‘All I can see is the tops of trees… you should call this place Treetops!’ When the course opened in 1986 it was the highest slope rating in all of Michigan. People were talking about the area and coming to Gaylord to take the Masterpiece Chal30
lenge.” Gaylord experienced the slow down in early 2020 from the Pandemic, but when it was determined that was safe because of being outdoors… golf came back with a roar. “We didn’t see our friends from Canada or the South, but what we did see were a lot of people at the spur of the moment, jumping in their cars and coming to see us in the Gaylord Golf Mecca,” said Kevin Henley, general manager at The Natural. Kevin contin-
ued, “People who had stopped playing for one reason or another were coming back. Bringing their families and friends. We also found that so many people were starting to play golf for the very first time, through lessons and clinics we were offering.” Possibly one of the most affordable Golf Resort areas I have ever found, there is something for everyone in Otsego County. For me… the Gaylord Golf Mecca = Quality Golf and Affordable Rates. So… if it is not golf (Imagine that!)… Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 3
