Treetops Resort

This course is in Treetops North area (3.5 miles from main check-in at Treetops) and is in the same area as Treetops Premier, Signature, and Threetops. Played tough due to intermittent rain but in very good shape for being their cheapest 18-hole course.

Played couple days after a week end tournament of 500 players and its shows. Too bad we had to pay $110 for this. Course underaeration condition made the same day. Many workers on the course. I would think than usually the course would worth the price but not yesterday! For my husband and I, the most chalenging was the putting. Really something to figure out. Misread couple time. Would playit again when dryer when visitinhg nexttime in Michigan. We far more enjoyed the Quarry and Links at Bay harbor.....those two nine are master piece and must play in that state.

The Good: Extremely unique, interesting layout from longtime instructor Rick Smith is the perhaps the most complete golfing experience at Treetops. Great course conditions from tee through the green. A layout with very limited water but significant elevation changes, winding through woodlands and rolling hills of northern Michigan. Very open off the tee but terrifying around the greens. Some of the most undulating greens you will find. Many strong, difficult Par 4's and risk-reward Par 5's. Very good on-course amenities that include restroom areas and half-way houses. One of the best resort practice areas in the Midwest includes a cool putting course. Strong service and good clubhouse with mini-restaurant. Great value for upstate Michigan resort golf at $100 with cart and range balls.

The Bad: Difficult to nit-pick, but the lack of GPS is a negative. Not as much variation in the Par 4's compared to the Fazio and Masterpiece courses.

The Verdict: The Smith course is arguably the most visually threatening yet enjoyable course at the Treetops resort. Best conditioned of the four 18-hole courses and perhaps the best course in the Gaylord area.

Best Hole: The long, downhill Par 4 3rd is the epitome of the Treetops Resort and Signature course: Huge elevation change from the tee to a large landing area that requires a long-iron/hybrid approach to a demonic two-tiered green.

The Good: Eye-appealing, elevation changing resort layout from Tom Fazio is arguably the most playable layout of the four 18-hole courses at Treetops. Superb conditioning, especially the slick greens that have less undulation compared to The Signature and Masterpiece. Excellent mixture of par 4's (including the awe inspiring opener), risk-reward Par 5's and very challenging downhill Par 3's. Good on-course amenities that include restroom areas and half-way houses. One of the best resort practice areas in the midwest includes a cool putting course. Strong service and good clubhouse with mini-restaurant. Great value for upstate Michigan resort golf at $100 with cart and range balls.

The Bad: No GPS is a bummer. Sand complexes are a little rocky in spots. Practice green is so undulating that it doesn't provide true perspective of greens.

The Verdict: Many consider The Premier to be their favorite at Treetops and is perhaps the best overall golfing experience at the resort. Great for the mid-handicapper.

Best Hole: The Par 4 9th requires a precise right to left tee ball to an uphill green enveloped by sand. Very challenging hole!

The Good: One of the final RTJ Sr. tracks and the course that really jump-started the Northern Michigan golf boom, the Masterpiece has arguably the best collection of Par 3's in the Midwest. Many doglegs that include supreme elevation changes and long, uphill Par 5's are a signature of this bear of a layout. Nice greens that put true and very difficult. Great on-and-off course amenities includes full clubhouse and restaurant nearby in the resort, full practice facility, and halfway house. The best service of any of the Treetops courses. Arguably the most eye-appealing of all the layouts at the resort. Just awesome!

The Bad: Lack of GPS is a glaring omission. Course conditions are good but not great. Sand consistencies are sub-par compared to the other courses. Extremely difficult in the wind - high handicappers beware!

The Verdict: The most fun you can have playing northern Michigan golf. The appropriately named course is one of RTJ's defining tracks and the stamp of the Treetops resort.

Best Hole(s): The downhill Par 3 6th is where everyone brings their camera out, but the best hole is actually the dog leg Par 4 8th. A blind tee shot around the corner to a small peninsula green. Very tough!

ThreeTops is probably the best Par 3 course ever. The weather could have been better.

This course is what I would call plain. Nothing special.

The Tradition fairways and greens were just fine.
To drive or ride the golf cart one mile to tee #1 and to
ride or drive over the roughs was very rough, ruts all over ,
They should smooth out the course, they have the bucks....

Threetops was an awesome 9 holes to play, one of the
best anywhere. However, it was October and the guy
blowing the leafs was in my way or following and it
sounds like a fire warning. Not good.

Given that it was October 4 and raining, the course was in great shape. Good variety of holes and the views can't be beat. Don't miss A chance to play here.

Great course for average golfer, very wide fairways, well maintained, yet a bit challenging at times.

I love this par three course. Setting is spectacular, and course is a real challenge. Fun, fun, fun!

This is the same par 3 that the pros played for 3 years. Had a great time trying to guess the correct club to use. Holes from 210 yards to 105 yards with mostly downhill drops.

Played all 4 courses. I've always thought the "signature" was their best course, and now that a $10 surcharge has been added to play this beauty, it was correct. LOTS of elevated tees, with gorgeous views of N.Michigan.
The "premier" would rank 2nd at the resort. Hilly, challenging, and a lot of fun to play.
The "masterpiece" would be 3rd on my list. This course has some of the most spectacular holes you'll ever see #especially holes1-11# , but it is VERY difficult. It's hard to score on.
"Tradition" would be 4th. an easy, flatter course then the others, but it's an oppurtunity to go low scoring wise, which may be needed after the other 3 brutes have beaten you up.
Threetops is a fun Par 3, but expensive

I love this course (Smith). But the experience was ruined by the slow play. There are zero rangers on the course and the staff seemingly doesn't care about you once you tee off. Of course, I expected slower play during Labor Day weekend. However we were headed for a 6 hour round (and darkness) when we finally walked off the course after skipping around to find open holes and playing a makeshift 15 hole course playing multiple holes of over and over again.

I suggest you play any of the other fine golf courses in Gaylord during peak golfing dates.

Every hole was breathtaking. Very challenging but very helpful tips on the score card.

We had a beautiful day and the course was in great condition, even though it gets a lot of play. Played the front in 2 hours but the back was 2 1/2. It was a super value with GOLFNOW.

I can not say enough good things about Treetops. I have played all 5 courses. Tradition is fairly easy. Signature and Premier are hard. Masterpiece is super challenging. Great staff, courses are in great shape!

While this is the first Treetops course it IS the most challenging. The greens, faiways and tee boxes had been just aerated and actually in a lot of cases helped. This course is NOT for the average player. The fairways are all sloped and there is not a level lie virtually anywhere. I can't imaging playing this course when the faiways are running fast.. I have to admit the scenery and the course itself is gorgeous. If you are ready for a challenge, this is your course. If you are a 15+ handicap, be ready to be frustrated .... even on good shots.

The Tradition course at Treetops is supposed to be their walking course. It does not have paved cart paths. But very few people walk it, and it is a very nice venue. Not perfection at Treetops, like the Premier. But it is a great course and a great value.

With it's panoramic views of rolling hills and woodlands,
it's easy to understand why this course is highly recommended.
The fairways are well maintained and the tee's are easy to locate.
While the staff was very polite and imformitive, we were a little
disappointed in the greens keeping. The harsh winter we had here in Nortrhern Michigan may have had something to do with it.
The stagering drop from tee to green on hole number six is
one like you will seldom see, play it carefully. The entire course
is challanging and a pleasure to play, we will be back again.