Information on Traverse City, Michigan and the surrounding Northwest Michigan area

05/06/2007

Golf Mecca has Gaylord pointed in right direction

Smorgasbord of courses a boon economically

BY JAMES COOK
jcook@record-eagle.com

Special to the Record-Eagle
Garland's Swampfire course in Gaylord.

GAYLORD — This year the magic 21 turns 20.

The Gaylord Golf Mecca — consisting of 21 courses in the Gaylord area — has been a boon for Otsego County in almost every way imaginable. As the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca is the center of the Muslim faith, the Alpine Village's summer economy centers largely on golf.

The county's summer tourism industry is driven by the pastime, with hotels filling and courses bustling as soon as warm weather creeps up and extending well into the fall.

Paul Beachnau, executive director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau, says golf brings in $17 million in greens and range fees and food and beverage sales to Otsego County.

"It's been a large impact,” said Garland president Barry Owens. "The growth of the golf courses in the area has contributed to tourism, tax base and the exposure to Gaylord as a whole.”

The golf vortex has also made Gaylord a destination for conventions.

At least 10 Gaylord hotels also have convention centers, which in turn brings a steady flow of visitors to the town's Alpine-themed downtown shopping district.

Beachnau also says golf has really helped the area with the "shoulder seasons” of spring and fall, bridging the gap between the area's popular winter snowmobiling and ski season and the heart of the summer.

The Mecca started with seven courses in 1987, with Garland among them.

The Mecca has continued to grow, and Garland — in existence since 1951 — is keeping up. Owens said the resort is planning on adding a fifth course, Sanctuary, in the near future, but no date is yet set.

That isn't the only change in the Mecca.

Otsego Club was purchased by Osprey Recreational Properties and The Lake has also changed owners and is now known as Mountain Lake Golf Course.

Otsego Club has renovated its main lodge and many rooms and Mountain Lake has rebuilt four greens and done some clubhouse improvements after being closed for business last year. Michaywe' has undergone $1 million in renovations to improve cart paths, greens, the sprinkler system, tee boxes and the clubhouse.

"To be part of the cooperative nature of this program has been good for us,” Owens said. "We've enjoyed doing it and look forward to 20 more years.

"In a lot of instances you're competitors, but all the owners realize that we can all benefit in the long run from this.”

One special this year is a free golf weekend April 27-29. OK, it's not really free, but you can get a complimentary round of golf with cart at one of 10 Mecca courses by staying at one of nine participating hotels (prices range from $69.95 for a double to $85 per person). For more details, visit www.gaylordgolfmecca.com/free-golf-weekend-21.