ACME, Mich. -- Located just minutes north of Traverse City, Grand Traverse Resort is the most upscale offering in the area. The highlight among its three golf courses is Jack Nicklaus' Bear Course, which debuted in 1985 and set off a wave of luxury, championship golf up north.
Annual host of the Michigan Open, The Bear is reputed one of the most difficult golf courses in Michigan, and the layout is indeed penal. You'll pay for bad shots. But Jack's claws aren't always sharpened: The course isn't terribly long, and fairways can be hit with a good drive. The Wolverine, the resort's Gary Player-designed sister course, is just as upscale but a little more forgiving.
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
Bunkers and fountains greet you at the final hole of Jack Nicklaus' The Bear at the Grand Traverse Resort near Traverse City, Mich.
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Grand Traverse Resort - Wolverine golf course
Gary Player's Wolverine is the more player-friendly of Grand Traverse Resort's two mammalian tracks.
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Grand Traverse Resort - Wolverine golf course
The Wolverine opened in 1999 at Grand Traverse Resort, 14 years after The Bear.
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Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear GC
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
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Grand Traverse Resort - Wolverine golf course
The Wolverine was designed by Gary Player to be more forgiving to average golfers.
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Grand Traverse Resort - Wolverine golf course
A view of The Wolverine golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
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Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf
Grand Traverse Resort - The Bear golf course
A view of The Bear golf course at Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan.
Brandon Tucker/TravelGolf