To many people, Michigan is known as the home of the automobile. While that may be true, Michigan is also home to some great golf courses and resorts. Michigan may not initially come to mind when thinking about classic golf destinations, but after seeing what the state has to offer, you will never forget the experience.

A great place to start your golf trip is Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor is in the southern part of the state about 50 miles from Detroit and 50 miles from the Ohio border. You may recognize the city name from being host to the University of Michigan. It is a true college town but offers some fantastic golf courses such as Stonebridge, Eagle Crest, and Links at Whitmore Lake.

After your round of golf there are many other attractions to enjoy in Ann Arbor. On Saturdays in the late summer and fall you can catch Michigan football games in Ann Arbor and Michigan State football games in nearby East Lansing. Detroit has a pro sports team in every major sport, so year-round you can catch an evening game after your round of golf. There are also museums, bookstores, and the Gerald Ford public library if you are looking for a bit of culture.

For the non-golfers, one of the biggest attractions will be “Kerrytown” which is Ann Arbor’s largest shopping area. Kerrytown is full of small boutique shops and several restaurants and even features a Farmers Market on Saturdays. If you happen to be in Kerrytown around noon on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, you can even ring the bells in the bell tower and play a song of your choice for all the other shoppers to hear.

After your stop in Ann Arbor, make your way up to the “Golf Mecca of the Midwest” in Gaylord, Michigan. It’s about a 4.5 hour drive from Detroit, which is the closest major airport. You can also fly into the Cherry Capital airport in Traverse City, which has commercial flights and is only a 1.5 hour drive to Gaylord up in the northern part of the state.

Gaylord is known as a golf mecca for good reason. The area features such resorts as the Treetops Resort and the Otsego Club and Resort. They also feature top golf courses like Marsh Ridge Golf Club and Wilderness Valley Golf Club. Basically, there is enough golf to keep you satisfied for a week.

For any non-golfers, the city of Gaylord has a unique Alpine Village themed downtown area and shopping district to satisfy your shopping and sightseeing needs, as well as several restaurants to choose from.

Even though the peak golf season is only about 4 months long, you can find just as much to do in Gaylord when the snow is falling. Just replace the golf during the day with some snowboarding and/or skiing, and you can still get out and be active and enjoy the beautiful surroundings Gaylord has to offer.

Whether it be during the summer months or winter months, northern Michigan or southern Michigan, you can always find a unique way to experience the outdoors, wildlife, and beauty of Michigan. Next time you are planning a golf trip and are looking for something new; remember that Michigan is home to more than just Motown.