Grand Traverse Resort

Designed by golf great Jack Nicklaus, The Bear is our best-known course and described as one of the toughest in the Midwest. You'll quickly appreciate this beautiful par 72, links-style course featuring Scottish terraced fairways, tiered greens, deep grassy roughs, moguls, mounds, and deep pot bunkers. Lakes, ponds, hardwood forests, streams, and fruit orchards are home to a variety of wildlife that give The Bear its character: golf in the midst of wild nature. Listen to what two of golf's legends have to say about The Bear:

"The people who play here are going to have a challenge and also have some fun, whatever level of golfer they might be…with rolling land, trees, lakes, streams and flatland, you have a mixture of different features that you rarely see on one course. That's what makes this course unique. No two holes are similar."

– Jack Nicklaus

"The Bear is one of the great golf courses we play. The thing that makes this course so great is that it can be set up as tough as you want. This course challenges you on every shot. This is the way golf courses should be designed."

– Chi Chi Rodriguez, winner of the 1990 Ameritech Senior Open

Profile of The Bear
The Bear features:

Bentgrass tees, greens, and fairway
A challenging 7,078 yd. layout
Signature hole #13, par-3, 167 yds. from the blue tees, over water
4 lakes and 10 holes with water hazards
Wildlife including deer, ducks, blue herons, swans, and muskrat

The Bear
- Score Card
- Course Layout
- Key Playing Holes

Tee Yardage Course Rating Slope Rating Par

Black 7078 76.3 148 72

Blue 6618 73.2 144 72

White 6129 71.2 140 72

Red 5281 73.4 139 72

Group Outings
Your group or organization will find the experience playing The Bear, second to none. And the unparalleled service you'll receive from our professional staff ensures that your outing will be a success from beginning to end. Click here to fill out our Online Golf RFP to receive a proposal for your group.

For truly legendary golf, contact us now for a tee time at 800-236-1577 or learn more about rates or our fabulous golf packages now available.