Treetops, Smith Signature

Some years ago Harry Melling, owner of Treetops, hired a young pro to head up his golf course operation here in Gaylord. You may have heard the name of this young pro -- Rick Smith. He's helped (among many others) a couple of golfers named Nicklaus and Jantzen improve their game. This helped Rick become world famous as a golf instructor.

While he was running the golf operation at Treetops, Rick, a charming fellow, who has a way with words, talked Harry into letting him design a course.

Rick didn't let him down. He came up with a superb course he modestly called the Smith Signature.

The Smith Signature is set on a piece of property that when you pull into the parking lot you know why they call it Treetops North. It will be impossible for me to describe the views you will get here but they are unbelievable -- just take my word for it. There are three other courses here, the Fazio, Threetops and opening soon, the Tradition, a walking only course with caddies.

For us younger golfers a caddie is a person who carries your bag and tells you what you should have hit.

Back to the Smith Signature, which is where you wanted to be in the first place. This course is carved out of hardwoods. You will seldom even get a glimpse of another fairway and I don't think it is possible to hit into one. You will go over and around hills. You will take the time to take pictures. You will putt over an elk track or two and if you are lucky maybe see an elk standing in one.

The thing I like about this course is that most of the tees are elevated with the fairway falling away in front of you. This is just a great way to see a hole. They give you generous landing areas for your drives so this should not be to big a problem. Of course we all find a way to make it a problem at times.

There are only a couple of holes that you would call flat. That is, with the tee, fairway and green on the same elevation. The rest of the holes are either up or down and some times both on the same hole.

The greens on this course are big with nice undulations that make it an adventure in long putting. A distance of forty yards from front to back of green is not uncommon. The green on the third hole is almost 60 yards deep and 30 yards wide. If you have trouble visualizing that, let me put it this way. You could build a nice house with a two car garage, a lawn ,maybe a small pool and still have room to practice your putting. That could make three or four club difference just on the green. Think about the putt you could have on this one.

The par threes are mostly in the mid-iron range (white tees) from slightly elevated tees. This course has five of them.

The par fives are reachable to the long knockers in two, but for most mortal golfers it's a short iron for the third shot to the green.

My favorite hole is number 15, a par 5 that has you teeing off high to a fairway that makes it seem your ball will go forever. After you reach your ball it's all uphill from there to a long narrow green with a tear in the middle. If you are at one end and the flag is at the other, think three putt. In my case four, I think three all the time.

Sand and water, while there is some, should not be much of a problem.

So there you have it. A great course in a great setting. So bring your camera. You will see enough treetops to make you think you're on your way to Florida., but why would you want to go there when the golfing is so great in Gaylord.

The only knock I could have for the course is I don't know why they make it a par 70. It was Rick's first course, maybe he just got tired.

For More Information on the Smith Signature at Treetops Visit the Treetops Sylvan Resort Home Page

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