Acme Golf Trip Planning Guide
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.
Quick Facts
Summer, Fall
TVC (15 min drive)
$50–$215
$250/night
1 of 4
~$314/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Acme. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Grand Traverse Resort — The Bear (Nicklaus) — links, $110–$215
Jack Nicklaus's brutal Scottish-style test — terraced fairways, deep pot bunkers, once ranked among America's toughest
Aerie Restaurant & Lounge — upscale, $$$$
16th-floor resort restaurant with panoramic Grand Traverse Bay views for the big dinner
Turtle Creek Casino bars — casino bar · Open late
Casino gaming and bars adjacent to the resort — easy late-night option
Day 2
Grand Traverse Resort — The Wolverine (Player) — parkland, $95–$185
Gary Player's more playable, scenic counterpart — wide fairways and bay views
Old Mission / Leelanau wine tour — half day, $60–$150/pp
Two world-class wine peninsulas at the door — riesling, pinot, and bay views by the busload
The Cooks' House (Traverse City) — farm to-table, $$$
TC's celebrated farm-to-table — book ahead for a memorable smaller-group meal
The Filling Station Microbrewery (TC) — brewpub
Traverse City brewery in a restored depot with a big patio and wood-fired pizza
Day 3
Grand Traverse Resort — Spruce Run — parkland, $55–$110
The original William Newcomb resort course — walkable, fair, and the value round of the trio
Grand Traverse Bay charter & boat rental — half day, $60–$150/pp
Rent a boat or charter on Grand Traverse Bay — turquoise water and sandbar swims
Mission Table (Old Mission Peninsula) — upscale, $$$
Historic peninsula inn surrounded by vineyards — great group dinner in wine country
Union Street Station (TC) — dive · Open late
Downtown Traverse City late-night staple with live music and a younger crowd
Course-by-Course Guide
Acme has 4 courses worth playing. 1 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Acme has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $250/night for the whole house.
$250–$800 /night
Grand Traverse Resort tower rooms and condos — full-service resort with golf, spa, and casino next door
$350–$1000 /night
East Bay and Old Mission Peninsula homes minutes from the resort and Traverse City
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Aerie Restaurant & Lounge
$$$$16th-floor resort restaurant with panoramic Grand Traverse Bay views for the big dinner
The Cooks' House (Traverse City)
$$$TC's celebrated farm-to-table — book ahead for a memorable smaller-group meal
Mission Table (Old Mission Peninsula)
$$$Historic peninsula inn surrounded by vineyards — great group dinner in wine country
Sami's / Slabtown burgers (TC)
$$Easy Traverse City burger-and-beer night when you want to keep it casual
Nightlife
3 bars curated for groups. 2 stay open past midnight.
Turtle Creek Casino bars
Late nightCasino gaming and bars adjacent to the resort — easy late-night option
The Filling Station Microbrewery (TC)
Traverse City brewery in a restored depot with a big patio and wood-fired pizza
Union Street Station (TC)
Late nightDowntown Traverse City late-night staple with live music and a younger crowd
Activities Beyond Golf
3 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Old Mission / Leelanau wine tour
Two world-class wine peninsulas at the door — riesling, pinot, and bay views by the busload
Grand Traverse Bay charter & boat rental
Rent a boat or charter on Grand Traverse Bay — turquoise water and sandbar swims
Traverse City brewery & distillery crawl
Right Brain, Mackinaw Trail, and Grand Traverse Distillery in one of the Midwest's best craft towns
Getting There
Fly into Cherry Capital Airport (Traverse City) (TVC) — it's a 15-minute drive to Acme. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Traverse City party bus operators and Grand Traverse Resort shuttles). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.