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Golf Trips / Midwest / Michigan

Plan Your Acme Golf Trip in 60 Seconds

The Bear and three resort courses on Grand Traverse Bay

Grand Traverse Resort is the big-resort golf base just east of Traverse City — Jack Nicklaus's notoriously tough 'The Bear,' Gary Player's 'The Wolverine,' and the Spruce Run resort course, all on one property overlooking East Grand Traverse Bay. Big lodging, casino next door, and wine country at the gate.

4
courses
Summer, Fall
best season
TVC
15 min drive
<10k
town size
The rota

Courses

Grand Traverse Resort — The Bear (Nicklaus)PremiumDESIGNER CLASSIC

Jack Nicklaus's brutal Scottish-style test — terraced fairways, deep pot bunkers, once ranked among America's toughest

$110–$215
Par 72 · 7,065 yds
links
Grand Traverse Resort — The Wolverine (Player)PremiumDESIGNER CLASSIC

Gary Player's more playable, scenic counterpart — wide fairways and bay views

$95–$185
Par 71 · 7,064 yds
parkland
Grand Traverse Resort — Spruce RunSolidBEST VALUE

The original William Newcomb resort course — walkable, fair, and the value round of the trio

$55–$110
Par 72 · 6,741 yds
parkland · walkable
A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort — SundanceSolidHIDDEN GEM

Bluff-top course over Torch Lake nearby in Kewadin — stunning water views to round out the trip

$50–$100
Par 72 · 6,900 yds
parkland
Base camp

Where to Stay

resort houseSleeps 8–20

$250–$800 /night

Grand Traverse Resort tower rooms and condos — full-service resort with golf, spa, and casino next door

on-site golfcasino nearbyspamultiple restaurantsindoor poolbay access
lakehouseSleeps 8–16

$350–$1,000 /night

East Bay and Old Mission Peninsula homes minutes from the resort and Traverse City

private dockbay/lake accessdeckgrillfire pit
The table

Dining

Aerie Restaurant & Lounge

$$$$
upscale

16th-floor resort restaurant with panoramic Grand Traverse Bay views for the big dinner

The Cooks' House (Traverse City)

$$$
farm-to-table

TC's celebrated farm-to-table — book ahead for a memorable smaller-group meal

Mission Table (Old Mission Peninsula)

$$$
upscale

Historic peninsula inn surrounded by vineyards — great group dinner in wine country

Sami's / Slabtown burgers (TC)

$$
casual

Easy Traverse City burger-and-beer night when you want to keep it casual

After the round

Nightlife

Turtle Creek Casino bars

Late night
casino bar

Casino gaming and bars adjacent to the resort — easy late-night option

The Filling Station Microbrewery (TC)

brewpub

Traverse City brewery in a restored depot with a big patio and wood-fired pizza

Union Street Station (TC)

Late night
dive

Downtown Traverse City late-night staple with live music and a younger crowd

Off days

Activities

Old Mission / Leelanau wine tour

wineryhalf day$60–$150/pp

Two world-class wine peninsulas at the door — riesling, pinot, and bay views by the busload

Grand Traverse Bay charter & boat rental

boat rentalhalf day$60–$150/pp

Rent a boat or charter on Grand Traverse Bay — turquoise water and sandbar swims

Traverse City brewery & distillery crawl

distillery2-3 hours$30–$70/pp

Right Brain, Mackinaw Trail, and Grand Traverse Distillery in one of the Midwest's best craft towns

Ready when you are

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Nearby

Similar Golf Trip Destinations

Kohler, WI

Ryder Cup country meets heartland hospitality

7 courses · 4 bars

Traverse City, MI

Wine country golf on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay

7 courses · 5 bars

Harbor Springs / Petoskey, MI

Northern Michigan's resort golf corridor

7 courses · 4 bars

Lake Geneva, WI

Chicago's escape — resorts, lake life, and championship golf

6 courses · 4 bars

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