Golfers likely will spot deer, elk, wild turkeys and perhaps even a fox on a getaway to a northern Michigan region known as the Gaylord Golf Mecca.
They’ll also see birdies and eagles — though not necessarily on their scorecards.
Boasting 21 golf courses, including championship designs by Tom Fazio, Tom Doak, Jerry Matthews and Robert Trent Jones Sr., the Gaylord area offers summer and fall golf on par with Hilton Head Island and Myrtle Beach.
Against a scenic backdrop of gentle hills and blue lakes, golfers test their skills on challenging courses replete with tree-lined fairways, vexing sand traps, ball-hungry marshlands and manicured greens. Elevation changes and multiple tee boxes cater to all skill levels, and women, couples and seniors are welcome. With nearly two dozen accommodations to choose from, golfers typically check into a single inn, budget motel or upscale resort and hopscotch to courses across the region.
Popular resorts include Garland, whose four-season lodge in Lewiston is the largest log structure east of the Mississippi, and Gaylord’s Otsego Club and Resort, where undulating cart paths and panoramic views bring to mind a roller coaster ride.
Another favorite, Treetops Resort, hosts ESPN’s Par-3 Shootout each summer, and resort owner Rick Smith, a sought-after swing coach, counts Phil Mickelson, Rocco Mediate and other top pros among current and former clients.
Area eateries are known for their casual ambiance. And the food, from sinful gourmet muffins at Diana’s in downtown Gaylord to creative cuisine at Jac’s at Marsh Ridge, makes all that exercise worthwhile.