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Rating Index Rating
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4.4
114 Reviews (114)
5 Stars
74
4 Stars
22
3 Stars
13
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.3
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.5
83.4%
Recommend this course
97 out of 114 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.4
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
87.0%
Recommend this course
20 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
23 Reviews (23)
5 Stars
16
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.4
Layout
4.7
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.6
87.0%
Recommend this course
20 out of 23 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 7078 yards
Slope 150
Rating 76.1
Book a Tee Time at
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa - Bear
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Course Details

Year Built 1985
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/15 Closed: 10/31
Architect Jack Nicklaus (1985) Thomas Pearson (1985)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Golf Simulator Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Indoor Practice Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Slacks, shorts and collared shirts are permitted. Denim, tee shirts and cut off shorts are not allowed.

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Activities

Swimming
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+
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10 rounds of waived fees
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$120 in tee time credits
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Tee Time Protection
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Reviews

4.4
114 Reviews (114)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 61
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 61
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun day

Great golf course...the Bear. Beautiful and challenging..

Though the pace of play was very slow, we enjoyed the beauty of the course and took lots of pictures in between shots waitin.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The Bear

They put tee times 10 minutes apart so ny the time I reached the 5th hole there were 3 groups waiting. I quit after 9 holes. Would have been a 5 hour round.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course. Slow play

We booked a hot deal. The course was overbooked and we were only able to get 12 holes in before the sun set. Overall really nice course and cool layout. Very nice staff and pro shop. A little hard for our skill level.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The bear

Great place to play a round the bear lives up to its name the staff goes above and beyond to make you feel like a home course

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 694
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Golf Advisor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

A Michigan beast

The Bear never lets up.

I have played 3-4 rounds here, and every time, my game does not hold up to the constant pressure supplied by tough carries over water and bunkers and greens that aren't easy to read or putt. It's a championship test with just enough wiggle room for resort players to get by. I wouldn't mind seeing the rough a little shorter. With so many penal aspects to the course design, players deserve some sort of concession. It might be the key to getting more players to embrace its challenges, instead of shying away from trying again.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 216
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0

Greens where fast and true pins where tucked in behind slopes true test of skills

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 216
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Awesome Experience

I played the Bear twice this past week. The first round was in the afternoon with winds gusting at around 40 MPH if I had to guess. It was absolutely as tough as advertised. Greens were nearly impossible to hold. The greens were incredibly slick and the wind would even move the ball. The second time was also in the afternoon on a day that we assumed would be a wash out. We decided to “bear” the rain, and attempted it again. On a wet day, the bear is a million times easier. You can shoot for flags. You can hit more club into the layup holes. It makes it a longer course, but the shots into greens are so much easier. Overall, it was an incredible experience!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great day if you have the time

Great course. Pace of play was a real let down 5 and 1/2 hours. Multiple times we had two to three groups on a tee box and the course Marshall came by multiple times with no sense of how to improve the pace of play. Too bad because this is a great property’. I will not be back unless they can get times under 4 1/2

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good course

Course in good shape and staff were excellent. Although a good course, nothing special except for the name.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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