Treetops Resort - Fazio Premier

The Premier Course at Treetops Resort opened in 1992 as the flagship of northern Michigan's largest golf resort, and it's the only Tom Fazio design in the state, a detail Fazio loyalists plan entire Michigan trips around. The layout moves through hardwood forest with elevation changes unusual for the region; the 6th hole drops roughly 170 feet from tee to green, and views of the Pigeon River Valley show up repeatedly across the back nine. Asked about signature holes, Fazio famously answered 'All of them,' though the water-guarded par-3 11th and the risk/reward par-4 15th usually get the most votes. Fazio's brief at Treetops was a resort course that works for a mixed-ability group, and the execution shows, fairways are generous, greens are well-defined, and the trouble is visible. The course has held a 4.5-star Golf Digest rating continuously since opening and sits at #33 in Michigan for 2025-26 per Top 100 Courses. Treetops has five courses total (Fazio Premier, Rick Smith Signature, Tom Smith Tradition, Robert Trent Jones Sr. Masterpiece, and the Threetops par-3) which means a group can stay a full week on property without repeating a layout. If you're building a Gaylord itinerary, Fazio Premier is the marquee round.