We Just Got Back From Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Michigan. Here's Why You Need to Go.

81 holes. Five championship courses. One resort that completely lives up to the hype.

We just got back from Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Michigan — and we're already talking about when we're going back. That's really all you need to know. But since you're here, we'll give you the full picture.

We've been sending groups to Treetops Resort Gaylord Michigan for a while now. But there's something about playing it yourself that reminds you exactly why this place has developed the kind of reputation that gets passed around in golf circles like a well-kept secret that's finally getting out.

Gaylord, Michigan has been called the Golf Mecca of the Midwest. Treetops Resort is the reason why.

Five courses designed by legitimate legends of the game. A resort that actually has its act together — great food, comfortable lodging, a staff that knows what they're doing. And Northern Michigan doing what Northern Michigan does, which is make everything feel a little more beautiful and a little more worth it than your everyday round back home.

If your group is serious about golf, this is the trip.

Five Courses. Zero Bad Days.

Most golf resorts have one signature course and a couple of fillers. Treetops isn't built that way. Every course on this property has a real identity, a real pedigree, and a real reason to be there. We played multiple rounds on this trip and came away genuinely impressed by how different each one feels — same resort, completely different round.

Jones Masterpiece — Play This One First

Robert Trent Jones, Sr. walked this property in 1985, looked around, and decided it was the right place to build his Masterpiece. That's not marketing — that's what happened. And when you're standing on those fairways with the elevation dropping away in front of you and the Northern Michigan tree line stretching out in every direction, you get it immediately.

This is the course. Consistently 4.5 stars from Golf Digest, dramatic layout, views that stop you mid-pre-shot routine. If someone in your group plays one round at Treetops and leaves, make sure it's this one. Though fair warning — one round here and leaving feels like a crime.

Smith Signature — The Best Conditioned Course on the Property

Rick Smith designed three courses at Treetops. The Signature was first, and it might still be the best. Golf Magazine ranked it #2 in the Midwest. The conditioning is exceptional — bent grass fairways that look like someone ironed them — and the layout draws on Scottish and Irish influences that give it a look and feel you don't expect in Northern Michigan.

It's visually threatening in the best way. The kind of course where you're sizing up the trouble before you've even pulled a club.

Fazio Premier — For the Golfer Who Wants to Be Humbled

Tom Fazio showed up at Treetops and did what Tom Fazio does — built something that looks beautiful and plays harder than you think it will. 4.5 stars from Golf Digest since 1992. Elevation changes, demanding tee shots, approach angles that punish anything other than a well-placed drive.

This is the course you're still thinking about at dinner. The one where you replay three specific holes in your head and wonder what you were trying to do on the approach at number twelve. Good luck.

Smith Tradition — The One Everyone Can Enjoy

Rick Smith designed the Tradition to be walkable and more approachable than the other layouts on property. That's relative — it's still a 4.5-star course. But in a group of mixed handicaps, the Tradition is the great equalizer. The scratch golfer gets a real test. The 20-handicap doesn't feel like they're in over their head. That combination is harder to pull off than it sounds and it makes the Tradition an essential part of any multi-day Treetops itinerary.

Threetops Par 3 — Don't You Dare Skip This

Voted one of the best par-3 courses in the country and it earns it. The elevation changes on Threetops are unlike anything you've seen on a par-3 layout — tee boxes perched up high, shots that play completely differently than the yardage suggests, and a competitive format that turns a "short course" into the most fun two hours of the whole trip.

We played it. We loved it. The trash talk was elite. Put it in your itinerary and don't let anyone talk you out of it.

The Resort Itself Is the Real Deal

We've all stayed at golf resorts that oversell the experience and underdeliver on the basics. Treetops isn't that. The lodging options — from The Lodge to chalets, cottages, condominiums, and rental homes — give groups real flexibility depending on size and budget. The dining is genuinely good. Legends on the Hill, The Sports Bar, the Treetops Jones Tavern — you're not stuck eating mediocre resort food after a long day on the course.

And Gaylord as a town delivers too. It's got the kind of small-town Northern Michigan energy that makes the whole trip feel like a real escape — not just a golf trip but an actual getaway.

While You're Up There — Add Black Bear

If you want to spend one day off the Treetops property and mix something different into the itinerary, Black Bear Golf Club is the call. Where Treetops is polished and resort-caliber, Black Bear is rugged and adventurous — hardwood forests, natural wetlands, dramatic elevation changes, and the occasional wildlife sighting that reminds you you're genuinely Up North.

It's a great contrast. One day at Black Bear in the middle of a Treetops trip gives the itinerary variety and makes the whole thing feel more like an adventure than a resort stay.

How to Build the Trip

Three to four days is the sweet spot. Arrive Thursday evening. Play the Masterpiece and Signature on Friday and Saturday — those are your two anchor rounds. Add the Premier or Tradition Sunday morning. Squeeze Threetops in whenever the group needs a change of pace or an afternoon activity. Black Bear fits naturally on day two or three if you want to get off property for a round.

Groups of 8-12 are ideal. Treetops has the infrastructure to handle group tee times, group lodging, and group dining all under one roof — which is genuinely rare and genuinely valuable when you're coordinating a trip for a dozen guys.

We Can Plan the Whole Thing

Treetops is one of our top partner destinations at Great Lakes Golf Excursions — and after spending time there ourselves, we can tell you it delivers on every level. We know the courses, we know the property, and we know how to build an itinerary that gets the most out of every day up there.

Tell us your dates, your group size, and your budget. We'll handle the tee times, the lodging, and everything in between.

Browse our Northern Michigan packages or reach out and let's start building your Treetops trip. You've been talking about doing this. Stop talking and go.