Dance with the Beast: Jack Nicklaus's “The Bear” at the Grand Traverse Resort

When 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus completed his design for the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme in June 1985, he created far more than just a new golf course—he left behind a timeless monument to modern course architecture. Named “The Bear” after Nicklaus’s legendary nickname, the par-72 course is still regarded today, far beyond the borders of Michigan, as one of the most spectacular and challenging courses in the American Midwest.

The design combines the rugged charm of traditional Scottish links golf with the rolling woodland and orchard landscape of northern Michigan. Deep pot bunkers with steep walls, waist-high fescue grass, pronounced earthen mounds, and expansive wetlands demand absolute precision and uncompromising course management from the Tee. Four tee boxes make the course accessible to players of varying skill levels: While recreational players get a fair chance from the front tees at 5,281 yards, the “Beast” unleashes its full destructive power from the rear championship Tees at a whopping 7,078 yards and an extreme slope rating of 150.

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Front Nine: The challenging Par-4 on the 5th and the peninsula green on the 9th

Even the front nine holes show no mercy for lackluster shots. After a straightforward start and a blind tee shot on the 2nd hole, the third hole presents a tricky double-dogleg Par-5, where a solitary tree and uneven terrain demand precise landing zones.

Hole 5 proves to be the most difficult hole of the entire round: This 413-yard Par-4 requires a precise tee shot between the fairway bunker and the stream, before the flowing water empties into a pond that protects the entire right side of the green. After the strategic par-5 sixth hole with its treacherous “Valley of Sin,” the front nine concludes with holes 8 and 9, where water finally takes center stage. The visual highlight is the Par-3 ninth hole, whose two-tiered peninsula green borders the water directly.

Back Nine: Risk and Reward and the Split Fairway on the 18th

The second nine holes of the out-in course also offer pure golfing excitement. The 10th hole, a relatively short 505-yard par-5, requires clever strategy to navigate past a dividing strip of rough, while the picturesque par-3 13th hole leads across a pond to a green framed by five Bunkers. At 543 yards, the par-5 15th hole—the longest on the course—challenges players to make bold decisions, as the shot to the flag can optionally be attempted as a direct carry over the water.

After a challenging 220-yard par-3 on the 17th hole, the round culminates on the famous 18th hole. This spectacular par-4 is considered the course’s signature hole and surprises players from the Tee with a split Fairway. While the path to the left of a massive tree offers more room, the shortcut on the right requires a precise carry shot over the pond directly onto the crosswise-lying, forward-sloping green.

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A First-Class Resort Experience in Michigan

Under the watchful eyes of fellow golfers from the clubhouse terrace, you’ll finish a challenging round here—a Nicklaus masterpiece that will stay with you for a long time. Since the course is also part of the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, you can perfectly combine your round with an overnight stay. The hotel is within walking distance, and the resort also features two other highly rewarding 18-hole courses: The Wolverine and Spruce Run.