The Grand
Traverse Resort and Spa is located just a couple miles east of
Traverse City in Acme Michigan and boasts a colorful palette of three courses,
designed by three different architects, each offering varying levels of
challenge. Those courses include The Bear, The Wolverine, and Spruce Run.
Spruce Run,
the Resort’s original course, began as a nine-hole Acme Public Golf Course and
was expanded to 18 holes in the 1970s. The course was redesigned as a
6,741-yard par-72 course in 1979 by former University of Michigan Golf Coach
William Newcomb and renamed The Resort Course.
It was given
the name Spruce Run in 1992 as a reflection of the numerous spruce and fir
trees that line its fairways and greens. Spruce Run was modified to a par-70
course during the development of The Wolverine.
More forgiving than The Bear, Spruce Run is
fun to play and retains some of the challenging elements for which it was
renowned as host to the Michigan Open. The Michigan Open was played on Spruce
Run from 1981 through 1984. The course winds among rolling hills that surround
the Hotel and overlook Grand Traverse Bay. There is a mix of fairly open and
tightly tree lined holes, with several doglegs that demand careful execution
off the tee and approach.
There are 57 soft sand bunkers
strategically situated along the layout, and water hazards come into play on
more than half of the holes. Golfers will need distance and accuracy to score
well on the course, and it is important to stay below the hole on the greens,
which often slope from back to front. Three sets of tees play to distances and
slopes measuring 6304 yards/130 slope, 5696 yards/126 slope and 4726 yards with
a slope of 125 for women playing from the forward sets.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa features
a fleet of 225 golf cars with canopies, windshields, and ball washers; 120
electric, 105 gasoline. Golf club rental is also available for those who travel
to the Traverse City area and aren’t able to bring their clubs with them. Other
course amenities include beverage carts on all three of the courses. The
clubhouse includes a fully stocked pro shop with the latest in equipment,
accessories and beautiful Grand Traverse Resort logo attire. The service is
outstanding as the attendants genuinely go out of their way to make sure all is
in place. The Grille Restaurant is also part of the clubhouse and is open
during the entire golf season. You can sit inside and enjoy the classic
clubhouse atmosphere and large bar or sit outdoors on the patio and take in
sweeping views of The Bear #18 hole with every bite. Lunch and dinner menus
created by the talented culinary team feature a wide range of familiar club
favorites.
Through the
years, publications like Golf Digest, Conde Nast Traveler, Golf
Magazine, ?and Links Magazine have recognized Grand Traverse Resort
and Spa as one of the Midwest’s finest golf experiences.
In addition to three championship golf
courses, the property of Grand Traverse Resort features 600 guest rooms, a full
service spa and fitness area, Wi-Fi throughout the property, a grand lobby with
lounge, magnificent beach club, outdoor pool, indoor pool area with free form
pool and large lap pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, locker rooms with
saunas, game rooms, fine and casual dining (6 restaurant/lounges), an array of
retail stores including a deli with fresh brewed coffee, 85,000 square feet of
flexible meeting/conference space – and free shuttle to the Turtle Creek Casino
just a few miles away.
To find out more about Grand Traverse Resort
and Spa or to book your tee time on one of the three championship courses,
visit https://www.grandtraverseresort.com/
or call the pro shop at 231-534-6470.
