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4.5
68 Reviews (68)
5 Stars
44
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
3.9
Amenities
4.3
88.9%
Recommend this course
59 out of 68 reviews
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Average Rating
Avg Rating
0
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
0
Value
0
Layout
0
Friendliness
0
Pace
0
Amenities
0
0%
Recommend this course
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
20 Reviews (20)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.5
Layout
4.8
Pace
3.7
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.7
90.0%
Recommend this course
18 out of 20 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 7078 yards
Slope 150
Rating 76.1
Book a Tee Time at
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa - Bear
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Course Details

Year Built 1985
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Open: 4/15 Closed: 10/31
Architect Jack Nicklaus (1985) Thomas Pearson (1985)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Golf Simulator Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Indoor Practice Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Slacks, shorts and collared shirts are permitted. Denim, tee shirts and cut off shorts are not allowed.

Available Facilities

Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Activities

Swimming

Reviews

4.5
68 Reviews (68)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

Golf course was in excellent shape. Greens were perfect . We had a beautiful day in mid September with 70 degrees. Was a joy to play

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A gem in the north

This is one of the best courses I have played in MI. Everybody tells you it is very difficult. It is not. It just asks you to think before you hit. A gasoline cart in such a beautiful environment led to one star less in my overall rating. Its OK to pay the green fee they ask, but 7$ for a small bucket of range balls is too much, especially when the range is not in good condition. A little bit of touch up here and there and it is a real 5 star.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 82
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing

Golf outing on Friday at 4:30 start? No wonder it was only $29 Bargain on Jacks diabolical beast

Well, I woke up Friday morning, September 8, and said wow look at 29 bucks to play the bear! Well, yeah, it was like 4:50 in the afternoon starting time which was late and I did not think we would probably get done but we did get done but the reason it was so cheap was it was behind a group of outings that started at 4:30. Can’t believe they started that late from some floor covering company. But anyway, the wife and I enjoyed it overall she was a little Upset that it was so tough I mean come on look at some of those holes over the lakes for women 350 yard par for for a senior lady. Give me a break anyway yeah I enjoyed it the guy in the Alden group in front of us was a cool dude he gave us some free beer put because we put up with , such slow play. Anyway, the homeowner on the 11th holes, a real jack butt hole because his property goes right up to the car path and my ball was just on his property and I could not out of his property because I did not pay to play out of his property. What a jerk anyway I think the course is a little overrated it there’s no way I would pay 150 bucks or whatever the heck they charge here but for 29 bucks year was a blast to play. I’m glad I did we just got done before dark if I ever came across a deal like that again I would play it for sure but the wife has played wants to know that’s it for her.

Anyway, the motels are outrageously expensive $400 for the Cambria motel. Give me a break it’s a comfort suites deluxe. It should be about 100 150 max but with my free points it was good all all good time I did play the wolverine five years ago in October for $25 and that was noisier along the highways of 31 and 72 of the bears a little quieter But yeah, bring her and get a game if you think you’re gonna break par from the tips at a 150 slope rating because it’s a beast

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 82
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing

Diabolically bear traps tricked up # 5 unfair but for $29 followers of an outing neat one time

Well, I woke up this morning saw that the bear was on T off for 29 bucks and for that price I thought well I’ll wait till 445 almost 5 o’clock at night. Hopefully we can get done in three hours 3 1/2 or so, and we just about that we were behind some stupid outing which was slower than molasses But anyway we got done this course is a beast sand traps, cooler mounds, some boys shots, water everywhere swamps everywhere geese geese everywhere carries long carries just a total tricked up one and done for us. It’s just too much but the price was right for us were we would never pay over $100 like most people pay here Ridiculous . Anyway we had a good time I got done and we played the bear finally after living in Michigan 32 years so and we got a nice free motel too so it’s all good up in the ritzy traverse area where people are paying $300 a night for a motel. I don’t know what this world is coming too. It’s crazy.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

The Bear - Not easy, but lots of fun

The Bear is a great course, and was in great condition. It is a difficult course, but fair, with lots of heavy rough, bunkers, and fast greens. A pleasure to play!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Really good and really difficult

What a great course! Greens perfect. Layout interesting but tough. Add at least 5 shots to your normal score. Probably more. I’ll be back to try and tame the Bear! But not this time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Not worth the money

If you do not have a deal it’s not worth it, very underwhelming.

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 211
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

reat Experiance

Check in Fast and efficient. Great warmup area, High quality carts. Concessions there when you needed them, Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 39
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Course, but can be difficult, pick the right tees

And buy a yardage book if they have one. This course would be much more playable if it had GPS, but it does not. I have played here a few times and still struggled to know exactly where to hit the ball. I hit it exactly has I wanted and where I wanted only to find it in trouble.
Fortunately we paired up with another twosome part way through the round and they were very helpful.
Great condition and perfect weather made for a great time. I will be back.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

More target golf holes than links golf holes

Difficult but fair course. Must hit fairways to score well here. The rough is basically half-stroke penalty. Lots of water hazards, especially on par 3s. No easy up & downs if you miss the greens, very severe bunkering. Greens were not nearly as difficult as I was expecting, but still pretty soft and not firm and fast. Will play again in Fall when The Bear fully awakened from hibernation.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Pace of play

Slow play made it unlovable. 5and a half hours on a Wednesday, ridiculous

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Bear Tough

Perfect, 67° September afternoon.
Nice, pro shop. Very pleasant starter and course ranger.
The Course - Bring your A game, you will need to have your best sharp shooting skills with your irons to every green.
You will shoot a higher score than your home course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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