Gaylord Golf Mecca Continues on Path of Success
The Gaylord Golf Mecca moves into 2025 as a premier U.S. summer golf destination for the 38th year, coming off yet another banner golf season in 2024.
A grand total of 273,724 rounds were played at member courses in 2024, which was a four percent increase over what was then a record-setting 2023.
And those rounds were played at an average price of $58.35 per round.
It is unmatched quality, quality and affordability that powers the cooperative golf marketing group in the heart of northern Michigan, and it has been that way for almost four decades.
The time-tested Gaylord Golf Mecca has clearly earned the right to be called America’s Summer Golf Mecca and is the country’s favorite summer golf destination built on 38 years of cooperation.
“The first budget for the Mecca was $15,000, the Tourism Bureau contributed $7,500 and we had a formula for the golf courses to put in $1,500 each to make up the rest,” said Mecca Executive Director Paul Beachnau, who has been around since the start in 1987.
“The initial Tourism Bureau budget for Gaylord was just over $100,000 and is now well over $1 million with about $300,000 budgeted for the Golf Mecca marketing and advertising.”
The first year of the Mecca saw courses record 60,000 rounds of golf with revenues of $2 million. High water marks for the Mecca are now nearly 275,000 rounds with revenues over $23 million.
In 2025 the Mecca, the second oldest cooperative golf marketing group in the U.S. behind only Myrtle Beach, S.C., will include 17 golf courses and 20 lodging partners at nine properties, including three resorts with multiple golf courses.
Black Bear Golf is new to the fold in 2025, joining Black Lake Golf Club, Garland Lodge & Golf Resort, Gaylord Golf Club, Indian River Golf Club, Lakes of the North Golf Course, The Pines at Michaywe’, Otsego Resort and Treetops Resort.
JT Aude, the head golf professional at Gaylord Golf Club, which celebrated its 100th year as a club in 2024 and is one of the founding Mecca members, calls the Gaylord golf destination unique in the U.S. and beyond.
“I can’t think of any other destination that has a similar combination of quality and quantity combined with affordability, ease of access and a clear effort to make sure the golfer comes first,” he said.
“There are places with affordable golf, but not with the quality of courses we offer at our combination of prices. There are places with more courses, but not in a variety from family-friendly golf to classic country club style to award-winning resort golf. To top it off, they’re all designed by some of the world’s top architects. You only find all that here, in Gaylord.”
Visit gaylordgolfmecca.com to learn more.
