DOVER TWP., Mich. -- Treetops Resort now has another award to add to its mantle.

The golf resort has been honored as the 2006 “Golf Course of the Year” by the Michigan Golf Course Owners Association (MGCOA).

“This is probably one of the more gratifying awards we've received,” said Treetops Director of Golf Scott Head. “The difference is that this is from our peers. It says that we're responsible stewards of the game of golf and responsible stewards to our community.”

The award goes to a course exhibiting four criteria: Quality of the course, quality of ownership and management, contribution to community and contribution to the game.

“To be recognized by our peers in the state with arguable the greatest golf in the country is very humbling,” said Treetops owner and managing partner Rick Smith in a press release. “We take a great deal of pride in making sure that our golf product is the best that it can be.”

Treetops Resort offers 81 holes of golf on the Fazio Premier, Smith Signature, Jones Masterpiece, Tradition and the par-three Threetops.

It is the annual host to the nationally-televised Par Three Shootout, which has brought in golf stars like Phil Mickelson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

It has also raised a considerable amount of money for charity through its Pepsi Fall Charity Invitational and the Jerry Smith Invitational.

The resort also offers 23 downhill ski runs, a tubing and terrain park, a snowboard half-pipe, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, restaurants and 240 guest rooms.

Treetops has garnered a number of awards from numerous golf publications including being named the “Best Golf Resort in the Midwest” by Great Lakes Golf Magazine in 2002, “America's Best Par Three Course” by Golf Week, “Top Places to Play” by Golf Digest in 2004 and “Top 10 Places to take Dad on Father's Day” by USA Today in 2004.

It was also named No. 3 in the Top 50 International Resorts by Conde Nast Traveler in 2000, behind Pinehurst and Pebble Beach.