GAYLORD — Treetops Resort’s Smith Signature course has been recognized among Golfweek’s Best Resort Courses.
The accolade can be found in the 2014 edition of Golfweek’s Ultimate Guide To Golf Course Living and Great Escapes, which was published this month.
The Smith Signature was rated No. 76 among the Top 100 resort courses, which was an improvement of one spot from 2013. The course was also only one of three Michigan courses recognized on the list joining Lakewood Shores-Gailes (No. 60) and Bay Harbor (No. 88).
Golfweek’s 400 course evaluators for the “America’s Best” listing submit ballots grading courses all over the country on a 10-point scale to determine the country’s finest golf courses. Raters take into account factors such as routing of the course, feature shaping, greens, variety and memorable holes, conditioning, maintenance, and landscape management.
“Having the Smith Signature course make Golfweek’s list of top resort courses is a testament to the uniqueness and quality of the design that Rick Smith created,” said Barry Owens, general manager at Treetops Resort. “This ranking combined with our other three championship courses and Par 3 course solidifies our resort as one of leading golf destinations in America.”
The Smith Signature, which opened in 1993, is one of the most unique and beautiful golf courses in the country. Smith’s design incorporates the look and feel of an overseas Irish course with the rugged hardwoods and views of northern Michigan. The course, which is routed in and around a large ridge providing views for up to 40-miles, plays firm and fast with challenging green complexes and fescue lined bunkers that look like they belong more in Ireland than northern Michigan.