Detailed description of Grand Traverse Resort, The Bear Golf Course
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa is a Resort, 54 hole golf facility located in Acme, Michigan. Grand Traverse Resort & Spa has 3 championship 18 hole golf courses. Each of their three signature courses has a noted designer. The Bear by Jack Nicklaus, the Wolverine by Gary Player and Spruce Run by William Newcomb.
Jack Nicklaus's signature course, The Bear, is named for the fierce and cunning Michigan forest-dweller, it's a links-style course featuring Scottish terraced fairways, tiered greens, deep grassy roughs, moguls, mounds, and deep pot bunkers. Lakes, ponds, hardwood forests, streams, and fruit orchards are home to a variety of wildlife that gives The Bear its character: golf in the midst of wild nature. The course has 4 lakes and 10 holes with water hazards.
Regarding The Bear, Jack Nicklaus said, "The people who play here are going to have a challenge and also have some fun, whatever level of golfer they might be, with rolling land, trees, lakes, streams and flatland, you have a mixture of different features that you rarely see on one course. That's what makes this course unique. No two holes are similar."
The Bears signature hole is #13, a par-3, 167 yards long from the blue tees, over water.
Black tees: par-72, 7,078 yards, 76.3 / 148
Blue tees: par-72, 6,618 yards, 73.2 / 144
White tees: par-72, 6,129 yards, 71.2 / 140
Red tees: par-72, 5,281 yards, 73.4 / 139
$66 (cart included), played on Monday, August 2014 at 8am
I don't hit the ball a long way. That may be somewhat of an advantage on the Bear. I don't reach the trouble on many of the holes. The course is spectacular and well worth the toll.
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Guest (cart included), played on Saturday, June 2018 at 6:40 AM
Played here first in 1980 then 1996 and now returning with a better game....or so I thought.
They now have four (4) tee boxes with six (6) selections of yardages from 7,078yd down to 5,281yds to pick what best fits your challenge. I chose the Blue/White 6,347yd / 72.0 / 144 / Par 36/36 on this traditional Links, 18 hole loop layout. Yes, once you start, you're in for the complete ride.
This course lives up to its name "The Bear" not just because Jack Nicklaus has his signature design attached to it but what it throws at you on every hole. Fairway bunkers and marsh areas guarding the landing areas with forced carries at the tees and even to five (5) greens for your 2nd shots. Playing today with 9-15mph winds made everything even tougher than its existing design. No GPS on the carts so picking your landing areas (very fair) will stress your range finder devices on every shot. Fairway conditions were excellence with first cut very playable. The long grass after that was .....well.....lets just say take the unplayable lie and save the stress for the greens. The greens couldn't be any faster than they were today (10-12) with the wind sweeping across them but rolling very true with the slightest roll....heavenly.
Every hole is very different and a challenge, to plan your attack on the distances for landing areas to avoid visual trouble. There are six (6) holes that have forced 2nd shot carries across water to greens varying between 135yds to 175yds that will make your grip tighten up just a little bit more. I enjoyed this layout/conditions/weather putting the test to my current game abilities and where I need work......Placement. Shot 43 / 44 w/37 putts (5-3putts) and looking forward to a return trip soon.
(If planning to stay/play pick the "Country Hermitage Bed & Breakfast" which is 1/2 mile away and a Member of the resort. You only pay $20 cart fee not $95.00)