Treetops is the best golf-volume trip in Michigan: four full courses and Threetops' famous par-3 loop on one property, at a price point that makes stacking multiple rounds per day completely reasonable. It's not a bucket-list destination; it's the kind of place where serious golfers come to play a lot of great golf, talk about it all night, and leave already planning the return trip.
Courses included
The trip experience
Treetops works on a different logic from most golf resort trips. The destination isn't built around one signature course you're there to experience; it's built around five courses on-property that you can rotate through across two to four days without leaving the grounds. The result is something closer to a golf camp than a resort weekend, and the groups that have the most fun here understand that distinction and embrace it completely.
Masterpiece is the headline and the course that demonstrates the property can compete with its ambition. Built by Robert Trent Jones Sr. with dramatic elevation, bold views, and a scale that feels more consequential than most Michigan golf, Masterpiece is the round you protect with your best energy and your most patient mindset. The elevation changes are the variable that surprises most first-time visitors: the terrain looks like northern Michigan from the fairway but plays like a mountain course from the tee.
"Masterpiece demonstrates the property can compete with its ambition: dramatic elevation, bold views, and a scale that feels more consequential than most Michigan golf."
The Signature Course is the best pure golf experience of the four full-length courses, delivering a clean and consistent test that works for every handicap in the group. It's the round that most groups replay without hesitation, because the challenge is honest and the satisfaction of a well-struck shot is immediate and clear. The Premier and Tradition courses fill out the rotation with distinct personalities: Premier is the most accessible and efficient-pacing, Tradition is more strategic and demands position over power.
Threetops is the reason Treetops trips develop an almost cult-like loyalty among repeat visitors. It's a par-3 course built specifically for competition and match play: 9 holes, each a distinct challenge, with betting culture that forms naturally and recaps that run until midnight. Most groups play Threetops multiple evenings in a row without tiring of it. It's the nightly ritual that turns a good golf trip into a great one.
"Threetops is built for competition and match play: 9 holes, betting culture that forms naturally, and recaps that run until midnight. Most groups play it multiple evenings in a row and never tire of it."
The value proposition is what separates Treetops from higher-priced Michigan alternatives. Masterpiece, Signature, and Threetops in one day costs a fraction of a single round at most premium Michigan destinations, which means the group can play more golf per dollar without sacrificing quality. The courses are strong enough to hold up to that volume; the operation is efficient enough to support 36-hole days without pace issues.
Forest Dunes in Roscommon is the strongest extension for groups who want to venture beyond the property. Tom Weiskopf's design and the Coore-Crenshaw Loop (two distinct 18-hole directions on one reversible course) in the same complex make Forest Dunes one of the best public golf additions in Michigan. It's an hour southeast of Treetops and worth a dedicated day for any group that takes course architecture seriously. Arcadia Bluffs on the Lake Michigan shore is the most dramatic scenery extension; it's two hours away and best as a dedicated overnight rather than a long day trip.
Book Masterpiece first.
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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