Designed by a legend.
The only golf course in the state of Michigan designed by the iconic Tom Fazio.
![jones-golf-course-masterpiece-icon Treetops Jones Masterpiece Golf Course](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fazio-golf-course-icon.png)
Fazio Premier
When we invited legendary course designer Tom Fazio to visit the property, he couldn't resist playing a role in developing Treetops Resort's golf courses. The Fazio Premier opened in 1992 and maintains a 4.5-star rating from Golf Digest. To this day, Premier is the only Fazio-designed golf course in the state of Michigan.
Awards
From its opening in 1992, Premier has maintained a 4.5-star rating from Golf Digest.
![Northern-Michigan-summer-vacation-1 Northern Michigan-summer vacation 1](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/michigan-summer-vacation-golf-badge-sm-4.png)
Book Your Golf Trip. Tee Times are Filling Up.
Explore Fazio Premier.
Experience a birds-eye view of the course.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-1-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 1 - Par 4
- 431
- 399
- 377
- 370
- 326
Hole Tips
- You could say this hole is the left-leaning brother of right-favoring hole 1 from the Signature course. Yeah, he’s adopted.
- Past the tree line your ball is in for a wild ride with plenty of slopes. Stick to the right for a chance at victory. A well-hit driver adds about 60 yards if you get to a certain speed slot in the fairway.
- Often you’ll end up with a downhill lie, so some prefer to lay back in the fairway for a 140 – 160 yard shot with a lie as flat as a pancake. Eye on the prize looky-loo Larry (or Lauren).
- The landscape is awesome, but what’s not awesome is a bogey due to misses right or left. Stay focused.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-2-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 2 - Par 5
- 517
- 494
- 472
- 444
- 439
Hole Tips
- The first of 4 fairly tame par 5’s on this course. You’ll need to birdie at least one of them to shoot a good score.
- Whatever you do, don’t go over this green. Otherwise you’ll find lots of frustration trying to get that ball up and down.
- Easily reachable in two. Approaches coming in from the left and avoiding the front right bunker will run to the right once on the green. That’s the best approach
- Your tee shot should favor the right side because anything left blocks you out. Take your approach from the left since a bunker lurks on the right to block your green goals.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-3-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 3 - Par 4
- 421
- 396
- 375
- 325
- 319
Hole Tips
- Landing in the bunker is better than a lost ball in the woods when you go left. Doesn’t mean swinging at sand is ideal though. Try a tee shot right. There’s more room than you think.
- You love uphill par 4’s right? Well, then this hole is right up your alley.
- Check pin location on this one as it will be very hard to tell with the naked eye where the pin is.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-4-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 4 - Par 3
- 162
- 143
- 127
- 117
- 103
Hole Tips
- You have 2 choices: bunker life going left or missing right and having a tough up and down.
- This unique green looks like it is sloping backwards. Jokes on you though, the back of the green slopes away, making it a challenge to hold shots and putt from the front to the back.
- It’s hard to feel the wind on this hole but it plays in the same direction as hole 1. Try to remember where it was blowing, and you’ll be alright.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-5-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 5 - Par 4
- 313
- 289
- 279
- 269
- 219
Hole Tips
- Welcome to Fazio’s driveable par 4 on the front 9.
- If you find the pin on the upper level (right side), approaches that land anywhere left of that basically fall into oblivion.
- It’s not impossible to drive this green, but if you plan to lay up, the best approach angle is from the left side of the fairway. Too far left and you’ll end up between a rough patch and a tree.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-6-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 6 - Par 5
- 499
- 462
- 429
- 423
- 386
Hole Tips
- A little Fazio magic is evident on this hole. Balls that miss by a little to the left will pull a Houdini and roll back into the fairway.
- Door #1 is a trap down the right side. Door #2 is the second bunker. You can carry past the first with the tee ball, but too far right and you’ll be knocking on a bogey’s door.
- Definitely a reachable Par 5 with a well placed tee ball but you’ll have to carry it all the way there. A ball coming to a stop on the front left of the green will almost always roll back off.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-7-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 7 - Par 4
- 373
- 333
- 307
- 292
- 238
Hole Tips
- The beginning of a troubling trio of holes on the Fazio.
- Not a whole lot of room to draw or fade the tee ball. Aim down the middle and if you curve it from there, the slopes on the right and left of the fairway should keep it in the middle. You must carry your approach past the middle of the green, otherwise it will come back off the front.
- A driver is not a common club, but some big hitters get pretty close to this green on the tee ball. Feel free to put your muscles to the test.
- A left pin doesn’t have much room on the green, but it sure does reward a great shot with a short birdie putt if you hit it on the right level.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-8-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 8 - Par 3
- 183
- 167
- 150
- 146
- 123
Hole Tips
- The second of the difficult trio that makes club selection like music chairs.
- Use enough club to land in the middle of the green as balls on the front roll off, leaving you with an awkward shot.
- Back-right pins aren’t so bad if you hit your shot anywhere in that section of green. You’ll cash out on a short birdie putt if you do.
- The big drop on this par 3 might mean you hit as many as 3 clubs less than the yardage claims since wind direction is a factor.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-10-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 10 - Par 4
- 407
- 362
- 349
- 320
- 314
Hole Tips
- A putt from the middle of the green to a front pin is crazy fast and if too aggressive, sometimes finds the front fringe. Our advice? Stick left on your approach.
- Plenty of room with a whole pasture to the left, however, the shortest route on this hole is to hug the right side. Yes, we’re contradicting ourselves here, but it’s for good reason. If you get past the bunkers, rough, and trees, your approach will be way easier.
- If our tips are too confusing and you’re parched, stop by the snack shop after this hole for a little respite. It’s just a short hike back to the tees.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-11-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 11 - Par 3
- 195
- 168
- 145
- 133
- 120
Hole Tips
- Here is the only hole with water on the Fazio Premier. The Fazio Oasis if you will.
- The safest play is to hit it at the left side of the green avoiding the water. There is a slope to guide the ball back onto the green. Funny enough, some golfers take our advice a little too literally and end up in the left trees or on the cart path. Rarely do they come back from that.
- If you want to be a wuss and play away from the water, don’t expect much. Doing semi-decent on this hole and getting close to the pin means facing the water without drowning the ball.
- If your ball ends up soaked and you hear faint laughter, that’s not us. It’s the condo dweller lurking on your play.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-12-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 12 - Par 5
- 485
- 465
- 444
- 339
- 335
Hole Tips
- This hole plays uphill the entire way so you know what to do. Get clubbin’.
- Hitting your tee ball too far to the left (even in the fairway) will quickly make this a 3 shot hole. Almost every pin location is best approached with a shot aimed to the right of the pin. A huge ridge in the middle of the green will feed balls down to a left pin so don’t get too greedy.
- Another attainable par 5 that is best approached when the tee ball is right-center in the fairway. If the pin location is left, don’t take dead aim against it. Big brain golfers take this bad boy from the right. It’s all about those high IQ plays.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-13-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 13 - Par 4
- 396
- 380
- 360
- 348
- 267
Hole Tips
- Another hole of deception that claims a draw is the best play. However, the fairway slopes from right to left and those hit too far left end up in trouble. Stick right, grasshopper.
- We know you like to hit that driver but keeping it in play on this hole holds a much higher premium than trying to bang it way down there where the fairway narrows a bit. You do what you want though. No matter what you do, favor the right side on your approach to the green.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-14-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 14 - Par 4
- 451
- 405
- 355
- 312
- 306
Hole Tips
- Fido returns on this par 4 with a dog leg from Hell that makes you think there’s lots of room left, but often drives end up going through this left sloping fairway.
- If the driver is your tool of choice, hug that right tree line like you mean it or fade the shot a bit. Approaches should also favor right since the green slopes in the same direction.
- It’s not a quite a dinner bell, but the group behind can’t see what you’re up to, so ring it with pride after slowpoke in your group is done.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-15-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 15 - Par 4
- 362
- 334
- 315
- 307
- 250
Hole Tips
- Fazio’s drivable par 4 on the back 9. Sounds easier than it looks, trust us.
- You’ll have to channel your inner surgeon for this hole. Precision is everything; too far right, congrats, there’s a forest waiting for you. Not enough right means you’re going through the fairway. Being on the wrong level of this 3-level green means putting nightmares for you.
- High risk, not so high reward depending on your score. If you’re going to drive the green, you have to commit. Any half-stepping means you’re better off laying up 100-125yds to avoid the bunkers and trees.
- For funsies, try to putt from the front to a back pin or vice versa. Look, it’s not our idea of fun, but some golfers like it.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-16-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 16 - Par 5
- 546
- 494
- 459
- 430
- 422
Hole Tips
- This par 5 is a doozy, but scoring a birdie on this hole isn’t unheard of. Do you have what it takes to fly?
- The tee encourages you to hit a draw but the best position is the right side of the fairway. You’re not a pirate so don’t bother to hit a hook. Make sure you’re approach is on the same level as the pin. That ridge won’t make it easy if you’re not.
- Reaching the green in 2 is possible, but you’ll need to get your tee shot on the right side of the fairway then carry your 2nd shot all the way to the elevated green.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-17-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 17 - Par 3
- 214
- 180
- 170
- 162
- 147
Hole Tips
- Here it is friends, the Goliath of the par 3’s.
- With a right pin, favor the right side of the green. Too far left and the slope will take your ball further that way, making your putt harder than it needs to be.
- With a left pin on this par three, a shot careening off the right side of the front bunker will feed to the pin. The bunker is a cruel mistress so if you fail, strap in for a challenging bunker shot.
- Make sure you’re on Hole 17 of the Fazio, some people end up across the road on the Tradition after the 16th. How embarrassing.
![masterpiece-golf-course-jones](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Fazio-Premier-Hole-18-video-bg.jpg)
Hole 18 - Par 4
- 471
- 421
- 345
- 315
- 310
Hole Tips
- Bunkering becomes a true art on this hole. Who knew danger could look so good?
- You’re really going to cap your 18 holes of play here with this last hurrah. Up to the 150 marker, the fairway goes wide and slopes away on the left with trees lurking on the right. The long and narrow green complex slopes away on the left, so favor the right on approach.
- Big hitters might be able to clear the fairway bunkers that pinch in on the left from the whites or blues, but the safest play is to lay it up to back of them.
Accolades
![img-2 img-2](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/img-2.png)
The Premier course is one of our favorites when we visit Gaylord. Premier features challenging elevation changes, where accuracy is at a premium. We recommend golfing all Treetops courses if you can. - Jim N.
Every course is immaculate. Personal favorite was Tom Fazio's Premier. Couldn't ask for a better golfing weekend with the boys. - Austin W.
For a full Treetops experience, be sure to check out our Pro Shop. And ship those sticks!
![icon icon](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/icon.png)
Visit our Pro Shop
Treetops has something in store for all golfers' taste, style and needs. With two Pro Shops on the property, we carry a wide selection of brand name shoes and equipment.
![icon icon](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/icon.png)
Ship your sticks
Your clubs delivered. Ship Sticks provides a hassle-free travel experience backed by an on-time guarantee. Traveling to your golf destination just got easier!
![icon icon](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/icon.png)
Visit our Pro Shop
Treetops has something in store for all golfers' taste, style and needs. With two Pro Shops on the property, we carry a wide selection of brand name shoes and equipment.
![icon icon](https://www.treetops.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/icon.png)
Ship your sticks
Your clubs delivered. Ship Sticks provides a hassle-free travel experience backed by an on-time guarantee. Traveling to your golf destination just got easier!