Mark Wildeman, CGCS Director of Grounds

         Robert Trent Jones and his design philosophy defines modern golf course architect as we see it today. His blend of strategy, heroic shots, and the penalizing of poor shots is often replicated around the world but never duplicated. Jones admittedly practiced "target golf" by setting up specific targets off the tee and again in approaches to greens by using multiple pin positions and strategic bunkering. This is all very evident on the Masterpiece and the first six holes of the course give you a taste of what the following twelve will bring, for many of us this will be as much a mental test as it will be of our physical ability. Thank goodness the golf shop is between the fourth and fifth hole; by this time most golfers will need more than a great golf swing to finish the course and a couple cold cans of encouragement often proves beneficial and goes a long way in this nightmare. The Masterpiece is a multitude of firsts in my opinion:

• First course built at Treetops.
• First course propelling northern Michigan into the golf world limelight.
• First course in Michigan to have USGA specification greens.
• First course in Michigan with the highest slope rating.

         This course has everything, short par 4's requiring perfect tee shots, long par 5's with water surrounding the greens, fairways undulating with severe downhill slopes, and par 3's with massive bunkering. If your game is not up to this task, Jones has provided alternative routes on every hole, thus the great need to plan and strategize your next shot or pay the price. This is classic Robert Trent Jones...at his finest! All the other courses at Treetops are great in their own right, but only sequels to the Masterpiece and the "master" of golf course architect.