Garland Resort

Garland Resort is about 4 hours north of Detroit, east of Grayling off I-75. The accomodations here are comfortable and somewhat updated, good selection of restaurants, a spa for the ladies, and four very good championship 18 hole courses. A good place to spend a long weekend out of the city for some serious golf. All of the courses here were designed by the developer/owner, Ron Otto, who had no experience designing courses previously. A couple of quirky areas, par 3 finishing holes, and five or six par 3's and par 5's on each course with the Monarch being the only "traditional" 4 par 5's, 4 par 3's, and 10 par 4's. Have played all by the Fountains, which is supposed to have water in play on half the holes, 6,800 yards/ 130/73.0, is the most expensive of all the courses here. None of the four courses are back-breakers by any means, however, enough difficult shots exist for the better player to keep things interesting. Swampfire is 6,854 yards from the blue tees, 141/73/4 ratings, and was the toughest course for our group. Water everywhere, streams, lakes, wetlands, fairways bordered by trees, a true shotmaker's course. We like Reflections the best, it was the more forgiving of the courses with some more open holes than the rest. From the blue tees it was 6,373 yards, 127/70.8, and it was the more reasonably priced of all the courses, a milder version of Fountains perhaps. Parkland style of layout, some nice holes to catch your breath on a have a chance at birdie. Monarch was the toughest we played at 7,100 yards from the back tees, 143/75.3, and as short as 4,900 yards. Water in play on all but 4 holes, long, but more forgiving off the tee, but never an easy hole. Long holes, doglegs, large, sloping greens, and well bunkers, this will put your game to a test. Conditions of all the courses were good, the facilities well cared for, good customer service, enjoyable overall, fair rates.