Treetops is the best golf-volume trip in Michigan: four full courses and Threetops' famous par-3 loop on one northern Michigan property, all walkable from the same lodging. The Rick Smith Signature is the design anchor; Threetops is the trip's conversation piece. Come in the summer window when the northern Michigan evenings extend play until nearly dusk and the course conditions peak.
Courses included
The trip experience
Treetops Resort in northern Michigan occupies a specific spot in the Midwest golf destination map that no other property replicates. The five courses on the Gaylord property give the resort a rotation depth that exceeds its profile in national golf media, and the combination of Rick Smith's ownership and design involvement gives the instruction and course development a coherence that distinguishes it from properties that simply accumulate course count. The challenge here is that the quantity of golf can make the trip feel diffuse if the captain doesn't build the schedule around the courses that actually justify the drive.
The Tom Fazio Masterpiece Course is the anchor. Fazio's design from 1992 uses the glacial terrain of the northern Michigan landscape with the course-building precision his better work is known for -- the routing moves through forest, ridge, and valley in a way that creates genuine strategic variety. The Masterpiece is the course most groups plan around, and it holds up well across multiple visits in a way that the other Treetops courses don't quite match. Conditioning is consistently strong, reflecting the resort's investment in its flagship layout.
"The Masterpiece Course uses the glacial terrain of northern Michigan with the precision Fazio's better work is known for -- it holds up across multiple visits in a way that the other courses on the property don't quite match."
The Rick Smith Signature Course is the second-strongest layout and gives the rotation its most contrasting design sensibility. Smith's knowledge of the terrain translated into a more naturalistic routing than the Masterpiece, with a character that rewards exploring the Gaylord landscape rather than navigating it. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. Tradition Course fills the third round slot as a longer, more classic design that plays to a different standard of difficulty from the resort's modern courses. Premier and Threetops complete the rotation -- Premier as a full 18 that suits lighter days, and Threetops as a par-3 executive layout that's worth playing for its Rick Smith-designed short-game variety rather than as a primary round.
The Gaylord area gives the trip a genuine northern Michigan context beyond the golf. The surrounding forest, the proximity to Otsego Lake, and the nearby National Ski Areas give the off-course hours real options if the group wants them. Traverse City is about 75 minutes northwest and extends the off-course options for groups willing to drive, though most groups find the resort self-sufficient enough to stay on property.
Fly into Traverse City Cherry Capital Airport or Pellston Regional Airport, or drive north from Detroit on I-75 -- the four-hour drive through Michigan pine country is straightforward and pleasant in summer and fall.
"Gaylord is about four hours north of Detroit on I-75, and the drive through Michigan pine country is straightforward in summer -- the northern Michigan context gives the trip a character that pure resort destinations don't provide."
Three rounds -- Masterpiece, Signature, and Tradition -- is the core itinerary. A fourth round on Premier or the par-3 Threetops adds variety without requiring another full championship commitment.
September and October are the peak season for northern Michigan golf, when the hardwood foliage in the surrounding forest makes the courses look significantly different from their summer character. The fall timing also coincides with better driving weather on I-75 and lighter resort booking pressure, which gives the captain more flexibility in both tee-time selection and lodging negotiation. Groups that have played Treetops once tend to go back -- the combination of course quality, northern Michigan setting, and manageable logistics makes it one of the more repeatable Midwest trips available.
Side trips & bonus golf
Forest Dunes is the most compelling extension for groups who can spare one day away from the property. Tom Weiskopf's main design is a serious forest test with its own identity; the Coore-Crenshaw Loop, which plays as two named 18-hole experiences in opposite directions on the same reversible course, adds two more rounds worth playing back-to-back. Groups who play Red and then Black in one day get the full intended experience and come back with the most specific stories of any side trip in northern Michigan. It is an hour southeast and best planned as a dedicated overnight.
Arcadia Bluffs on the Lake Michigan shore is the most visually dramatic extension in the region, with Arthur Hills routing the original course along bluffs above the lake in a way that delivers one of the most photographed courses in Michigan. Tom Doak's more recent South course adds design nuance without the bluff drama of the original. Both are two-plus hours from Treetops and best as a dedicated overnight in the Arcadia or Frankfort area rather than a day trip.
Bay Harbor near Petoskey adds Lake Michigan views and Arthur Hills architecture in a different register from Arcadia Bluffs: the Links and Quarry nines have strongly contrasting characters and combine into one of Michigan's most scenic 18-hole rounds. Worth a night in the Petoskey or Harbor Springs area for groups who want the northern Michigan lake experience alongside the volume golf at Treetops. The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort is a Nicklaus design near Traverse City that fits into any northern Michigan circuit routing through the region.
Is this trip right for your group?
- ✓You want high-volume Michigan golf at a price point that makes 36-hole days economically reasonable.
- ✓Your group loves the golf-camp format: multiple courses, match play, and a trip built around how much golf you can play.
- ✓Threetops' par-3 competition appeals as a nightly ritual rather than a novelty.
- ✓Northern Michigan summers, long daylight, and a relaxed resort rhythm match the ideal trip vibe.
- ✓The group has a range of skill levels; four courses at different difficulty levels keep everyone engaged across multiple days.
- ✓You're within reasonable driving distance of Gaylord, Michigan.
- ✗You're looking for one signature bucket-list course as the trip anchor; Treetops is built for volume, not a single defining round.
- ✗Premium service levels and luxury amenities are the priority; Treetops is a comfortable golf resort, not a high-end spa destination.
- ✗Dramatic scenery (ocean, mountains, desert) is essential to the trip identity; northern Michigan forest golf is beautiful but not visually dramatic.
- ✗Your group wants a nightlife scene; Gaylord has limited options beyond the resort.
When to go
- June through August delivers long daylight (past 9pm in midsummer), ideal temperatures, and the most complete resort operations.
- Masterpiece green fees range from $80 to $145 depending on the day of week and tee time; morning weekend rates are highest.
- Peak summer weekends see the most demand; Masterpiece weekend morning times should be booked two to three weeks in advance.
- Threetops is particularly rewarding in summer when twilight rounds extend past 8pm and the format stays competitive across full evenings.
- Pace of play across all courses is generally good given the northern Michigan volume-golf culture.
- May and September through early October offer similar conditions at lower green fees across all courses.
- September is often the best month for conditions: firm fairways, consistent turf, and fall color beginning to develop around the property.
- Daylight shortens in September and October; Threetops evening rounds may need to start earlier than in July and August.
- May can bring variable weather; course conditions in early May sometimes lag behind what summer play delivers.
- The courses close for the season in November and reopen in May, depending on snowpack.
- Treetops is a ski resort in winter and operates a full Nordic and alpine ski program; golf is not part of the winter offering.
- Not a golf destination from November through April.
What a Treetops trip costs
| Item | Peak | Shoulder | Off-Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee fees (4 rounds + Threetops) | $300–$430 | $230–$350 | |
| Lodging (2 nights) | $125–$250 | $100–$175 | |
| Food & drink | $100–$140 | $85–$120 | |
| Rental car / drive-in | $40–$80 | $35–$70 | |
| Total (est.) | $565–$900 | $450–$715 |
| Item | Peak |
|---|---|
| Tee fees (4 rounds + Threetops) | $300–$430 |
| Lodging (2 nights) | $125–$250 |
| Food & drink | $100–$140 |
| Rental car / drive-in | $40–$80 |
| Total (est.) | $565–$900 |
Per-person estimates for 4 rounds (Masterpiece, Signature, Premier, Threetops), 3 nights on-site, with a group of 4. Excludes ground transport to Gaylord. All-in: $600–$900 peak, $500–$750 shoulder.
How tee times and lodging actually work
- 1Masterpiece books fastestWeekend morning times go two to three weeks out in summer; Book immediately after confirming travel dates.
- 2Green fee tiers vary by day and timeMasterpiece ranges from $80 to $145 depending on when you play; Confirm current pricing on the Treetops website when booking.
- 3All five courses book through TreetopsThreetops is available as an add-on to any full-course round; The resort coordinates the full schedule from one booking interface.
- 436-hole day logisticsStarting Masterpiece or Signature early and following with Threetops in the evening is the best high-volume structure; Premier and Tradition work well as afternoon rounds.
- 5Walking policyAll courses are cart-friendly and walking is permitted on most; Masterpiece's elevation makes walking more taxing than it appears from the scorecard.
Common mistakes
- !Treating Masterpiece as the only round worth full attentionThe Signature Course is the best pure golf experience on the property; Groups that reserve all their focus for Masterpiece sometimes miss the round where they play their best.
- !Not playing ThreetopsIt is the reason Treetops trips develop repeat visitors; Skipping it to fit in another full 18 is the most common and most regretted decision on any Treetops trip.
- !Trying to play all four full courses in two days36-hole days are feasible, but trying to play 72 holes across Masterpiece, Signature, Premier, and Tradition in two days leaves the group exhausted by dinner.
- !Skipping Forest DunesGroups who can spare one day for Forest Dunes consistently call it the strongest course they played on the entire northern Michigan trip.
- !Not pacing Threetops correctlyPlaying Threetops the evening before Masterpiece at 6am is a reliable way to underperform on the main event round.
- !Missing the betting cultureThreetops without side bets is a pleasant walk; Threetops with side bets is one of the best social experiences in golf.
What to pack
Sample itinerary
- Day 1Arrive + PremierDrive to Gaylord, check in, late-afternoon round at Premier. The most accessible course on the property is the right arrival warm-up; keep the evening casual and save energy for Masterpiece.
- Day 2Masterpiece + ThreetopsMorning round at Masterpiece, Threetops in the evening. This is the anchor day of the trip; protect the Masterpiece round with morning energy and clear expectations about the terrain.
- Day 3Signature + ThreetopsMorning round at the Signature Course, evening Threetops rematch. The Signature is best played after Masterpiece because the contrast between the two highlights what each does well.
- Day 4Tradition + DepartMorning round at Tradition before the drive home. Tradition rewards the strategic instincts the group has developed over three days and is a clean closer for a high-volume trip.
Where to stay & eat
Know before you book.
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