Black Bear Golf Course Continues Remarkable Transformation
By Greg Johnson –
Black Bear Golf Course’s magnificent and award-winning improvements continue.
The newly lined ponds are once again filled with water on holes 4 and 5. They are blue again, and in a little time, nature will help fill them completely. Soon they will blend with the new sod, rough and wildflowers around the edges.
It’s the latest in a series of improvements since local owners Rob and Olivia Smith purchased the course and added it to the collection of 16 destination courses in the Gaylord Golf Mecca marketing group.
In 2024, Black Bear Golf Course was voted the Most Improved Course in the country by the GolfPass online audience, and two years later, the improvements keep rolling out. The transformation is remarkable.
Canyon Priestley, who is the only holdover employee from the previous ownership, has worked at Black Bear in almost every role since he was a cart attendant at age 13. The Gaylord native is 22 now, and he has been the golf course superintendent for the last 18 months.
“I don’t think you can ask for more than what they have brought to this place,” Priestley said. “It’s exciting to see the changes and the course improving all the time.”
Among the changes are an improved irrigation system, a new cart fleet, a remodeled clubhouse and pro shop, golf simulators and the new Bourbon Bar and Black Bear Bar & Grill, which are open year round.
It’s clear that the Smith family, Priestley and the entire Black Bear team have put in the work to make the course sparkle like the new water in the ponds.
Priestley said the pond improvements involved 23-foot by 150-foot pieces of heavy plastic liner dragged into place and then seamed.
“It took a bunch of us, including Rob and his son Will, three guys from my crew, and also the guys from the company who ran the seaming machine,” he said. “It took us four days with a rainy day in there, and we put sod around the edges. It’s looking so much better with those ponds filled, and it’s going to keep getting even better yet”.
The pond project is just the latest example of Black Bear’s commitment to improvement. Every change reflects a shared goal of giving golfers an experience that continues to improve.
Learn more about Black Bear Golf Course on their website and make it part of your next Gaylord Golf Mecca trip.
