The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort

The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort is Jack Nicklaus's statement piece in northern Michigan, a 1985 design that earned him the credibility of building one of the toughest courses in the Midwest. The par-72 layout tips out at over 7,000 yards with a course rating of 76.1 and a slope of 150, making it one of the most difficult public resort courses in the country. Nicklaus built The Bear with his trademark high-difficulty fingerprints: multi-tiered greens guarded by deep pot bunkers, native fescue rough that swallows errant tee shots, mounding and moguls framing nearly every corridor, and forced carries over wetlands and water hazards on several holes. Ranked on Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Public list for ten consecutive years, The Bear was named the 18th toughest course in America by Golf Digest and continues to earn top-5 placements on Michigan state rankings (32nd nationally in 2023-24, 33rd in 2025-26). It's one of three championship courses at Grand Traverse Resort, along with The Wolverine (Gary Player) and Spruce Run (Bill Newcomb), and anchors the resort's reputation as one of the Midwest's most serious golf destinations.