Gaylord Michigan-America's Summer Golf Mecca. Home to 16 Premier Golf Courses

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Northern Michigan Golf Mecca of Gaylord is home to 16 Premier Golf Courses

The ingredients of a great Texas summer golf trip are fairly basic. Wide variety of courses and somewhere cooler than constant 90-100 degrees back home. Ease of access is a big plus and so is plenty to do when golf is done for the day. To which the Northern Michigan Golf Mecca of Gaylord answers check, check, check and a very refreshing check. From great courses, great weather, direct flights from two of Texas’ largest cities, Gaylord really does have it all for a summer getaway.

“We have found over many years people from Texas love Gaylord and Northern Michigan. They love the great value, great variety, great food, golf and plenty of non-golf activity,” said Paul Beachnau, executive director of the Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau. Gaylord, located in the lower half of Michigan’s Northern Peninsula or Mitt, has 16 different courses to choose from by some of the greatest designers in the business. Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones, local favorite Rick Smith and former PGA Tour player Gary Koch have all produced great works here. Plus, you want golf history? How about one of the most famous Par 3 courses in America and its most famous Million Dollar Ace by none other than Texan Lee Trevino at the iconic Threetops short course. Gaylord really does have it all. But first

you have to start by getting there. No more annoying delays or possible missed connections, as again this summer both Houston and Dallas will have nonstop flights to the scenic and convenient Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City. “We know Houston and the

nonstop service is an absolute home run,” said Beachnau. “In Dallas, we started in with a single jet and upgraded to a jumbo airliner with a full flight. This year  Houston’s nonstop service to TVC starts a month earlier, in late May, as well as Dallas.” From there it’s only an hour ride via shuttle or rental car to one of the many Gaylord golf destinations, and that’s where the fun really begins. With an embarrassment of golf riches in the Gaylord area, the biggest problem a golfer has is which course to play first.

Gaylord Michigan-America's Summer Golf Mecca.

Home to 16 Premier Golf Courses

“I really believe The Tribute at the Otsego Resort is a hidden gem in our area,” said Bechnau, “so many people know about the famous Treetops Resort and the Threetops par 3, but former PGA tour golfer and TV commentator Gary Koch did The Tribute at the Otsego Resort and it’s really, really good.”

“We also had a lot of people playing at Gaylord Golf Club, which is open to the public, and report they have the most per­fect greens and putting conditions on any course we have here. There are so many great choices in the Gaylord area this year” Bechnau said.

For those seeking a close walk from their room to the greens, Garland Lodge and Golf Resort and Black Lake Golf Club serve up resort accommodations and championship golf. Garland’s four courses weave their way through meadows, hard­woods and pines, and make ample use of the abundant natural water.

 Adding to Beachnau’s pointers on hid­den gems, the United Auto Workers golf property open for public play, Black Lake’s expansive grounds are equally as impres­sive as their 18 holes designed by Rees Jones.

Partnering with these stellar resort properties are more stand-alone courses which offer immaculate greens, superior dining and friendly service.

Among the Gaylord Golf Mecca’s members are Black Bear, a real gem, Lakes of the North Golf Course and Indian River Golf Club, which recently celebrated 100 years of service. All three standalone courses offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy the extra hours from daylight savings time and get in another round before the sun sets.

Big-game golf hunters still come to Michigan to immediately seek out Treetops Resort to play the scenic Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Masterpiece course, which was one of his last designs in 1987 and helped coin the resort’s name. From the popular par-3 No. 6 hole tee, your golf ball drops 180 feet, and your view stretches for over 40 miles and hundreds of trees.

It’s built close to the club­house and lodging and makes a perfect headquarters for your Gaylord golf quest.

 Famed designer Tom Fazio has also made his mark on the Gaylord Golf Mecca. His work at Treetops is the only Fazio design in Michigan, called Premier. It is stunning and designed with the resort golfer in mind, for fun and challenge all at the same time.

Another big-game and big-name course is the Signature, which was designed by renowned swing coach Rick Smith, a local native. It com­bines the strong features of golf found in Ireland.

Michaywe Pines Golf Course has been the host to the Golf Associa­tion of Michigan’s annual qualifiers and a top course in the Gaylord golf empire.

A popular add-on for any golf package in the Mecca is the beloved Threetops Par-3 course at Treetops, home of the former ESPN Par-3 Shootout and often tagged the No. 1 par-3 course in America.

The Shootout helped put the region on the national map, featuring superstars Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples and Jack Nicklaus over the years, and scored its biggest ESPN national replays when Lee Trevino aced the seventh hole in 2007. It’s regarded as the richest payday ever for a single shot – a cool $1 million. A plaque commemorating the moment sits on the tee and awaits golfers hoping to match the big skin or recreate some Texas Trevino magic.

Of course all that great golf and views can make a person powerful hungry. There are plenty of great places to dine in Gaylord, 5 minutes from the Treetops Masterpiece course. Choices range from thick steaks and plenty of liquid to wash them down with to Italian, German and Michigan native food, or a good chicken fried steak to make you feel right at home.

If you want to stay on property, almost all of the resorts provide a hearty breakfast, great sports bars and fantastic nearby dining to choose from.

If you need to check off all the ingredients to what makes a good summer golfing escape, then Gaylord and its nonstop flights from Texas’ biggest cities can fill your link travel requirements.

Visit www.GaylordGolfMecca.com