Above the Pines: A Golfer’s Journey Through Treetops Resort
There’s a moment every golfer lives for—a hush before the swing, the sweet connection of club and ball, and a long, soaring drive framed against a canvas of green and sky. At Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Michigan, those moments are not the exception—they’re the standard.
Over 1,500 acres of rolling forest, elevation changes, and meticulously crafted fairways await at this northern Michigan haven. For passionate players, Treetops isn’t just a golf resort—it’s a pilgrimage site. With five championship-caliber courses, Treetops has rightly earned its place among the elite, recognized seven times with Golf Magazine’s prestigious Silver Medal Award.
A Legacy Rooted in Vision
Treetops’ origins are humble, its history as rich as the fairways it now boasts. Back in 1954, a visionary named Ouellette “Lin” Meade opened Sylvan Knob Ski Area. It was Michigan’s answer to the call of winter sports. But everything changed in 1983 when Harry Melling—then-owner of a Michigan-based tool company—acquired the ski hill. His intention? To create a world-class ski resort.
What Melling understood early on was that to sustain year-round excellence, the resort needed more than just snow. It needed green. It needed golf.
So, he turned to a titan—Robert Trent Jones, Sr., whose name is etched into the design of over 450 golf courses across the globe. One walk with Jones through the undulating terrain of northern Michigan, and the vision crystallized. Standing atop what is now the sixth tee of the Masterpiece Course, Jones beheld the sweeping vista of the Pigeon River Valley and simply said, “Call it Treetops.” The name stuck. The legacy began.
The Full Resort Experience
Today, Treetops is more than a golf destination—it’s a comprehensive resort experience. From fly-fishing and horseback riding to spa treatments and mountain biking, there’s something for every member of the family. The lodging ranges from classic hotel-style rooms near the central lodge to spacious chalets and cottages perfect for groups.
Three restaurants, outstanding service, and a wide array of amenities ensure every stay feels both luxurious and relaxed— whether you’re hitting the slopes in winter or the back nine in July.
The Courses: A Symphony in Five Movements
Treetops offers five distinct courses, each a masterpiece. The original Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Masterpiece course lies adjacent to the main resort, while the remaining four—Rick Smith’s Signature and Tradition courses, Tom Fazio’s Premier, and the celebrated Threetops Par-3—reside at Treetops North, a short five-mile drive away.
Of all the courses, my personal favorite—perhaps the crown jewel—is the Smith Signature Course.
Designed by Rick Smith—PGA Tour swing coach to legends like Phil Mickelson—the Signature Course was Smith’s first full 18-hole creation after the phenomenal success of Threetops. It’s clear he poured his heart into every detail.
The Smith Signature: Elegance in Elevation
Walking the Smith Signature feels like stepping into a private woodland cathedral. Each hole is carved into dense hardwood forest, and the isolation adds a serene, almost sacred quality to the round. Towering maple, spruce, and beech trees surround you, and from the elevated tees, the views stretch for miles across Michigan’s northern canopy.
Locals often cite this course as their favorite—and for good reason. It’s the most photographed of the Treetops five, and once you stand on the back tee at the par-5 fourth, with the valley opening before you, you’ll understand why.
The design is thoughtful, with generous yet contoured fairways. Drives need to be well-placed—mere distance won’t cut it here. Many fairways feature bunkers that are either strategically challenging or placed as visual misdirection. Either way, they influence every decision.
The greens, true to Smith’s style, are often multi-tiered. Landing on the wrong section turns routine two-putts into nervy lag fests. Precision matters.
One detail worth noting: the ninth hole doesn’t return to the clubhouse. But fear not—a well-stocked halfway house just off the tenth tee ensures you’re never far from refreshment.
A Golfer’s Playground
Ultimately, the Signature Course strikes that rare balance: it’s challenging without being punishing, scenic without distracting, and fun without sacrificing strategy. Every round feels like an adventure. Every hole tells a story.
For players who crave variety and crave it with elegance, Treetops is a sanctuary. It’s where golf lives not only in the game but in the land, the air, and the spirit of every player who steps onto the tee box.
And for those of us lucky enough to have walked its fairways, it’s a place we return to—in memory, in conversation, and, whenever possible, in person.
If You Go:
• Course Info – Treetops Resort Golf comprises five golf courses. Four eighteen-hole golf courses – Premier by Tom Fazio,
Signature and Tradition by Rick Smith and Masterpiece by Robert Trent Jones, Sr; and one 9-hole par3 course – Threetops. All courses are open to the public
• Yardage: Signature has five sets of tees from 4604 yards to 6285 yards (71.0/139) to 6653 yards (72.9/140).
• Location – Northern Michigan in the town of Gaylord, seventy miles east of Traverse City and four hours north of Detroit.
• Practice Area – Large two-tiered grass practice range.
• Lodging – Treetops Resort Golf has a variety of accommodations including The Inn, The Lodge and The Jones Cottage.
By Chuck Fox, Owner, Quintessential Golf, Resident since 2012