looking to schedule a summer golf trip in MIchigan.

Has anyone played the 4 courses at Garland? Are the courses any good?

I highly recommend it. The four courses all share the same clubhouse / starter area, so it's easy to do 36 in a day. We actually played three rounds one day. The Fountains is the best of the four, and Reflections is the weakest, but still very good, just not as well-conditioned. Monarch has water on 17 holes.

Garland is generally flatter as compared to most other Northern Michigan courses, (especially Treetops), but still has some pretty decent elevation change. Some of the drives from green to tee are 5-10 minutes, which is pretty cool, but makes the courses utterly unwalkable.

The restaurant and lodging are very good - both in a giant log cabin. Make sure to squeeze in Elk Ridge in nearby Atlanta. Well worth the 1/2 hour drive. Nice restaurant there as well.

You will not be disappointed.

Also recommend two other courses that are close by:

Tree Tops - 4 other courses and much more elevation change and much more scenic.

Elk Ridge - A must play 30 mts from Garland. Unbelievable shape and never busy but a great, great value. Owned by the family that founded Honey Baked Hams and you really get the feeling that they don't have to make $ off of the course.

Enjoy!!!

How is the price comparison between Treetops and Garland?

Garland is a great, semi-secluded resort and the golf is excellent. It isn't to much of a stretch to get 54 holes in depending on the time of year; summer the sun doesn't set until 9:30-ish. You are out in the middle of nowhere, but the resort's restaurant is very good, and you can always cook in if you stay in one of the golf cabins.

I agree with the rest of the guys on Elk Ridge, it is fantastic. You also aren't far from Gaylord if you want to play some other great courses, but you will probably just want to stay at Garland the whole time.

Be sure and take a couple extra minutes when you spot the Bald Eagles' nest. Hopefully, you will get to see these majestic birds in flight.

We will most likely try Garland and save Tree Tops for summer of 2010. We'll toss in Elk Ridge as well.

Bald Eagles are magnificent, I saw hundreds of them while in Alaska for a month for few years back.

Garland will not disappoint. I've played Garland since the 70's. Be sure to make the 10 minute drive into Lewiston for the best cheeseburger on the planet at Talley's bar.