By Greg Johnson
The Loon Golf Resort and Black Lake Golf Club, destinations of the Gaylord Golf Mecca, have taken stay-and-play for golf groups, couples, and more to a new level.
At Black Lake in Onaway, Michigan the term “new” is literal in that the nearby United Automobile Workers, or UAW, Conference Center has remodeled its rooms fashioned with the visiting golfer in mind. It is also open to the public, and has been for the last few years.
Stay and play at Black Lake where the Rees Jones designed course is always worth the trip. Nick Aune, general manager at Black Lake, said they have a very popular package for golfers who head to the America’s Summer Golf Mecca with three days to enjoy.
The first day includes arrival to the Mecca, a round of golf at either Gaylord Country Club or Michaywé Pines Golf Course and the scenic finish of the drive to Onaway and the Conference Center.
The night is spent in remodeled lodging and the next day’s play takes place on the great Black Lake, which this year has added a new fleet of golf carts with GPS systems. There is also an opportunity to work on the short game if visitors choose and play the little nine-hole par 3 walking course—all holes range from 33 yards to 117 yards—for a full day of great golf.
Visitors then return to comfortable accommodations for a Northern Michigan slumber before departing on the third day and playing either Gaylord Country Club or The Pines on the trip home. The best part might be the price. It is a very reasonable $234 per golfer based on double occupancy.
At The Loon in Gaylord, Michigan, the Mercedes bus service between the closely grouped The Loon, The Ridge and The Lakes golf courses is second to none. They go out of their way to make sure players arrive where they want to be on time and ready to play.
From the service with a smile, and the great golf and dining, to the comfortable, perfectly-designed four-bedroom, four-bath townhome lodging for the stay-and-play golfer; it is clear the staff and management at The Loon understand how to deliver a great golfing experience.
Matt Preuss, managing partner at The Loon, estimates nearly 70 percent of the golfers who venture to The Loon for stay-and-play return to stay and play some more.
“It tells us we are giving them what they want in accommodations, service, food, really everything,” said Preuss. “Our goal here is to have our customers want to return, because they like being here, and that we answer all their needs from the moment they arrive. We want them to have a great time golfing, dining, whatever they choose to do.”
The Loon and Black Lake will customize your stay-and-play plans to fit individual needs and desires. Contact Black Lake via blacklakegolf.com or 989-733-4653, and contact The Loon resort at loongolfresort.com or 989-732-4455.
