In the News
By Greg Johnson – Black Bear Golf Course increased its rounds played from 2024 to 2025 by over 5,000. It’s an amazing jump considering just 4,000 total rounds were played on the course the year before Olivia and Rob Smith took over ownership. “I feel like we did great,” Olivia…
By Greg Johnson – The PGA of America has noticed what visitors to the Gaylord Golf Mecca have known for decades, and what legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones realized 39 years ago: the Masterpiece at Treetops Resort is a stunning fall golf course. Brendan Elliott, writing for the…
By Greg Johnson – The golf season in the Gaylord Golf Mecca comes to a spectacular and colorful fall close this week. Note, two of the golf course members are staying open until October 31. They are Indian River Golf Club and Black Bear Golf Course, both just seconds off…
By Greg Johnson – As the golf season winds down, here’s hoping you made it to the Gaylord Golf Mecca this summer and had a chance to visit Otsego Resort and play its golf courses. Each of the 17 member courses in the Gaylord Golf Mecca are beautiful green expanses,…
By Greg Johnson – 1. Trees for miles with colorful leaves framing green grass and vistas you will not believe. In fact, you have to see it to believe it. 2. The Mecca marketing group features 17 beautiful championship golf courses packaged any way you like at the price point…
By Greg Johnson – Labor Day is coming up soon, and our country pays tribute to working people with what some see as the last weekend of the summer. Parades, picnics, boat rides and, of course, golf are among the activities that are used to turn Labor Day into a…
By Greg Johnson – In 2024, Black Bear Golf Course was voted the most improved course in the country by the GolfPass online audience. In 2025, the improvements are continuing under now second-year owners, Olivia and Rob Smith. The Gaylord Golf Mecca checked in with Olivia this week and compiled…
Black Lake Golf Club Offers the Best of Everything By Greg Johnson – Black Lake Golf Club in Onaway, one of the 17 premier golf courses in the Gaylord Golf Mecca cooperative marketing group, has been offering the best of everything for 25 years. We could tell you everything (even…
By Greg Johnson – August has been National Golf Month across the country since the PGA of America came up with the idea over 30 years ago in 1993, and the Gaylord Golf Mecca’s wonderful combination of incredible summer weather and world-class golf fits perfectly every August with such a…
Mike Robertson, in 25 years of playing golf, had never had a hole-in-one. The Grand Rapids native had come close a few times but had started to believe it might never happen for him. That changed dramatically last month. He was one of 16 golfers playing in a group outing…
