Grand Traverse Resort & Spa (Wolverine)

Overview: The Wolverine is the most flexible-feeling of Grand Traverse Resort’s three 18-hole courses, a Gary Player signature design that uses the Acme property’s wetlands, hardwoods and rolling high ground. The official resort describes a front nine that works through water and wetland, followed by a back nine that climbs into higher terrain with views toward Grand Traverse Bay. Four or more tee positions allow the course to be set for different abilities, while the par-72 identity keeps it recognisable as a full championship round. The result is a useful middle ground in a Traverse City golf trip, more varied than a purely parkland course and less severe than The Bear.

History: The Wolverine opened on June 8, 1999, becoming Gary Player’s first signature course in Michigan. It joined The Bear and the older Spruce Run to create Grand Traverse Resort’s three-course golf complex, all operating from one clubhouse. The course has also been used for preliminary Michigan Open rounds, linking its resort role to the state’s competitive golf calendar. Current resort material emphasises playability and versatility, which is why the course continues to work for both destination groups and golfers staying at the property.

Did You Know? The Wolverine’s front and back nines deliberately change setting. Water and wetlands shape the opening stretch, while the higher return brings broader views toward Grand Traverse Bay, so the landscape changes as the round progresses.