Treetops Resort began as a ski destination in the 1950s and evolved into a notable golf resort during the late 1980s and 1990s. With the golf boom, the property added several championship-caliber courses and developed a strong reputation for golf design and instruction.
Founder Harry Mellon brought in Rick Smith in the late 1970s to help transform Treetops into a combined ski and golf resort. Today Treetops features five distinct courses: The Masterpiece, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr.; The Premier, by Tom Fazio; The Tradition and The Signature, both by Rick Smith; and The Threetops, a Rick Smith design made famous by ESPN’s Par 3 Shootout.
Rick Smith is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading golf instructors, having worked with numerous top players and PGA Tour winners. His student list includes names such as Jack Nicklaus, Lee Janzen, Phil Mickelson and Rocco Mediate. Smith’s Signature Course at Treetops opened during one of his most memorable years, 1993, and reflects design influences he gathered from courses in Ireland, England, and elite U.S. venues. The result is a course that balances playability with strategic challenge.
On a bright Monday morning I teed off with Mike Donahue, chairman of Global Traveler’s Advisory Board; Kevin McKinley, Treetops’ director of golf and ski; and Russ Glasby, director of sales at Treetops. Due to an airline oversight our clubs and shoes didn’t arrive with us at O’Hare, so Mike and I rented clubs and improvised with our footwear. Despite the inconvenience, we were determined to play and enjoy the course.
Hole 3 | 467 yards, par 4
This dogleg-right provides a very generous landing area off the tee. Morning dew covered the fairway and the course looked pristine. Smith intentionally preserved pockets of bracken fern across the property, using them to create natural edges and texture on several holes. The approach into the green is tricky: the green slopes from front to back and often rejects shots, while the bunkering is framed by high grasses and wildflowers—evoking the links-style elements Smith admired abroad.
Hole 4 | 186 yards, par 3
The green here has a distinctive shape that funnels balls into a shallow left-side bowl. When the pin sits in that bowl it yields many birdie opportunities. On our round the pin was positioned left and back, giving us a challenging uphill putt for par. One of our group found the left side and had to scramble but managed a commendable recovery bogey.
Hole 5 | 421 yards, par 4
Rated the most difficult hole on the course, this fairway climbs steadily toward the green. The preserved bracken fern accents begin at the tee and lead the eye into the hole. A drive to the right-center sets up an approach that often requires an extra club because the green sits above you. I salvaged a bogey here while others in our group found trouble in the rough and woods.
Hole 5 with bracken ferns © Francis X. Gallagher
Hole 10 | 556 yards, par 5
Jack Nicklaus favored this hole. It occupies one of the few open areas on the course where significant tree removal wasn’t necessary to carve the fairway. Off the tee I found a good position down the left-center while others found varying fortunes. My second shot left me about 100 yards out, but a mishit wedge sent the ball past the green. Still, the hole rewarded smart play and presented exciting scoring possibilities.
Hole 11 | 175 yards, par 3
Often compared by Smith to Pine Valley for its tight, forested feel, this hole was hand-shaped with careful excavation to fit the terrain. The cart path originally stopped short, encouraging a short walk that added to the experience; for pace of play the path was later extended, which altered that element of the walk. The green slopes left to right and the surrounding trees and leaf litter made errant shots interesting but generally recoverable.
Hole 15 | 485 yards, par 5
Designed to give players a chance to gain strokes late in a round, this par 5 is deceptive rather than long. The approach narrows and climbs to a two-tiered green, misleading many into underclubing and landing short in bunkers flanking the green. On our round one player reached the green in two and converted an eagle; others misjudged the rise and had to battle back for par.
Hole 18 | 363 yards, par 4
The finishing hole allows long hitters to shorten the hole by cutting the slight dogleg left. Several of us hit excellent drives that reduced the yardage and set up manageable approaches. The green sits elevated with a center bunker guarding the front, ready to punish errant approaches. I missed long and took a bogey, while another player safely reached the green and two-putted for par, closing out a thoroughly enjoyable round.
The Signature Course
Treetops Resort
3962 Wilkinson Road
Gaylord, MI 49735
tel 866 348 5249
treetops.com