relatively easy layout with lightning fast over-undulated greens. also ive never had to hit so many blind shots in a round in my life. there are quite a few holes where you basically have no idea where the hole or fairway is. i like the odd blind shot but not on every second hole. this course actually has 19 holes with the first being a par 3 'warm up' hole. fairways were in good condition but the greens needed a bit of work. all in all it was a decent experience but there are definetly better other courses in the gaylord area id play before playing this one again.

Customer Service

below average. we had a group of about 25 playing and during the middle of the round (appx 12:00) the spriklers came on on numerous holes and we basically had to play through them. we were the only ones on the course, pretty inconsiderate.

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My wife and I looked forward to playing this course on a return trip from Mackinaw Island, as it was well advertised on the drive north. What a disaster!

While the course appeared to have been an interesting design and layout at one time, evidence of neglect was apparent from the practice area near the the 19th (warm up), 9th and 10th holes.

We were told to rush to the tee box for our tee time in 8 minutes (got there in 4), then waited for 3 foursomes and 3 twosomes to tee off on 19, as the starter (doubles as marshall) "held court" on the tee-boxes substantially slowing down play and tee times. Meanwhile not one group made the turn from the front nine to the back. With two more twosomes waiting behind us, I approached the starter and offered to help facilitate play by going off the back nine and taking our chances on the turn, as the back was clearly wide open, and still no group in sight coming in on 9.

Quite rudely he rejected it as "there is a foursome that will be making the turn and you will slow them down." Huh?? A twosome slowing down a foursome? And we routinely play 2 1/2 - 3 hr rounds??? On what did he possibly base that assertion??

A bit concerned now that this was to be the marshall out on the course, we allowed the twosome behind us to proceed while we waited for any sign of a 4some and after 10 minutes, seeing none, opted to drive a couple of hours further south to Stanwood and play Tullymore and St. Ives. More on them later (GREAT!!!). But bottom line on this effort was: poor condition, and very inhospitable and even rude starter/marshall.

Agree with previous reviewer. There are far too many great options to waste time on this one.

Customer Service

Pro shop was great. Good deals and returned our full $100, no questions asked.

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South in Stanwood, we played St. Ives, which was much better maintained. We had no problem accessing it the same day, nor of securing an early morning tee time on the absolutely stellar Tullymore course. Pricier than Black Bear, but with the golf package, a great value. We both consider Tullymore a must play for anyone in the area!

All in all, it worked out great -- thanks to poor course conditions and a lousy starter at Black Bear!

It's a beautiful piece of land and the price is reasonable. $56.00 for 18 and $15.00 replay.

Lack of management vision.

I played this course about 3 years ago (when it was new) and it was in better shape then it is now. The greens are tricked up to make an otherwise easy course difficult. Pin placement and undulating greens make it like going to Putt Putt. The management appears uninterested in making upgrades or including resort-style nicities. I had played The Fortress in Frankenmuth the day before and was much more impressed with that then Black Bear. The six of us who played (the other 5 all shoot in the low 80's) were all disappointed in the course condition. It has great potential but needs a management team to step up and spend some money. Even the GPS on the carts had been taken off (and that was one of the unique things that made it fun).

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