#83 TOP 100 USA MODERN (GOLFWEEK)
Masterpiece was designed in 1987 by Robert Trent Jones Sr. It was selected by Golf Digest as the second best new resort course that year. The setting is stunningly beautiful, rolling through the hills and valleys of the northern Michigan backwoods. The elevation change drops over 100’ on a few holes! On the spot of par three sixth, Jones told Harry Melling, owner of Sylvan Resort, that all he could see were treetops, thus inspiring the name change that we associate the Masterpiece with today.
(The 539/510 yard par five fifth plays over and around a dropping valley, enticing players to cut off the yardage and give the second shot a go…
…laying up to the right reveals just how tiny the target is. Jones’ sprawling bunkers protect every part of the green. A par is a fine score.)
I’m a big fan of RTJ sr older courses. The small greens have good internal contours to them. They demand very precise shots, often times over deep cavernous bunkers. I love the look! I know it’s not en vogue right now, usually criticized as being too difficult and boring (aerial shots only) but as a single digit handicap, the thrill of seeing the ball land safely on the green after taking on a tucked pin position is addicting. Watching your buddies take on the same shot or bailing out is fun too. His “hard par, easy bogey” philosophy means weaker players can layup short of the sand and try their hand at saving par with a good short game.
(The 180/162 yard par three sixth drops 120’ down to a triangular green. The view from the tee is awesome, and only the changing of the seasons when the leaves are ablaze with color can the view be better. Club selection is a bit tricky. It was 175 ish when we played and I hit my 145 club to 5ft!)
(The 431/389 yard par four ninth begins at the beautiful waters of the Pigeon River. It crawls uphill between thick treelines. Four will be a good score…
…the island tee is particularly beautiful with this wooden bridge leading down to it. The water is crystal clear!)
The stretch from 5-15 is undoubtedly one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen. Pure views at every vantage point is almost like hiking a trail through a national park. The routing through this area covers all the best parts, hitting the high points offering fantastic vistas, while transversing the low area next to the river headlands. Unfortunately, the beginning of the round is somewhat predictable (the par three fourth is an absolute dog) and the final three are on less dramatic land although they’re all solid holes. When I was reviewing my round, I had given 5,6,8,10,15 an exclamation point. They were all really cool holes with great features.
(The 605/589 yard par five tenth is a monster of a hole! It plays uphill, heaving and buckling all the way to the green. Bunkers guard the front, guaranteeing only an aerial assault. Five feels like a birdie!)
(The 431/387 yard par four eleventh plays downhill and a draw will take the speed slot into mid to short iron range territory. It’s another well bunkered green.)
(The 208/176 yard par three thirteenth is nicely set in a grove of trees over wetlands. Today’s pin is on an upper tier although it’s difficult to find the green regardless what level it’s on.)
The Masterpiece is easily good enough to be a top 100 course in America and I’m pleased to see Golfweek comfortably place it on their modern list. I wish RTJ had done something different with the first four holes. (I was actually shaking my head after putting out on their new par three fourth hole.) It’s not often that I give a course five exclamation points much less that many in an eleven hole stretch. That said, I like a course to be consistently good throughout, with no poor runs. It’s enough of a letdown to dock it point. I give Masterpiece a 7 (great)(worth driving 3-4 hours to play).
(The 446/407 yard par four fourteenth has an awkward tee shot where one lays up to the edge of the ravine. If successful, this is the approach over the valley to a green atop the hill. I love the front left bunker melding into the woods. It’s a daunting shot!)
(The 363/343 yard par four fifteenth drops over a 100’ to a skinny green edged into the hill. The long hitter can drive this green if he chooses to take on such a risky shot. Look at all the fairway short right. It’s very difficult not to let your eye get drawn to the left…
…the green lies on a narrow ledge with sand guarding every inch. When I saw the green from seven fairway, I actually thought the players putting were on a tee box. It is quite small in the rear. I love 2-7 type of holes!!)
[we played the blue/white tees at 6100 yards. It was our last round (90 holes) in the three days we stayed at Treetops. The overall goal was to enjoy the round and hit good shots. My 81 was fine. I holed out a bunker shot on the par three sixteenth for my only birdie. My buddy birdied two of the hardest holes on the course at eight and fourteen. Note the back tees with a 74.8/147 course and slope rating. It’s a par 71.]
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