On my recent golf buddy Ryder Cup competition/trip I played three golf courses in Mesquite, Nevada. Mesquite is located on the Nevada/Arizona border, 58 miles northeast of Las Vegas. One of the courses I played this past trip is the 18 hole Casablanca Golf Club, which is associated with the Casablanca Hotel. That’s one of the nicer places in town.
Casablanca Golf Club is a desert style course which is fairly tight and requires some accurate tee shots. Below are a few photos for your enjoyment, or golf buddy trip/golf trip research.
Below is the first hole, a short-ish par-4 that dogs slightly right. Stay out of the desert! 
Below is the 18th hole. I made a solid birdie there by knocking a wedge to about two feet. Nice to end on a positive note.
For more Casablanca photos check out the Hooked on Golf Blog Casablanca Photo Gallery.
Following a 3-day golf buddy trip to Mesquite, Nevada I took an extra day to head up to St. George, Utah and play my favorite Utah golf course, Sand Hollow. You can check out my Sand Hollow Golf Course review here. Sand Hollow is such a fantastic golf course and fantastic geological area. I have a million photos, including aerial drone photos, but I can’t resist taking more every time I play the course. Here are a few highlights.
Below is a look from behind the par-3 11th green, looking down at the par-4 12th below.
Below is a shot of the 13th hole, a risk-reward, drive-able par-4. See the sign. Holes 12-15 run along a huge cliff area. Stunning.
Below I’m teeing off on the amazing par-3 15th, from the white tees.
And below is a view of the 15h from the back of the green, shooting toward the tees.
The HOG World Tour is in Mesquite, Nevada this week for a Ryder Cup style golf buddy trip which visits three courses. Today’s course, Conestoga, also known as the Red Planet, Mars.
It has been a while since I played Conestoga. I forgot how fun the course is. Bring your target game here.
There are a few funky holes, like the 4th (below). The fairway ends and a 40 foot cliff happens. Good thing there’s a fence.
Michigan is home to over 800 golf courses and I’m doing my best to experience as many as possible by traveling there about once per year. It might take a while to finish off the task, but it will be worth it. Michigan golf is tremendous, especially in the north.
Now that I’ve convinced you to plan a golf trip to Michigan, you’re going to need a great place to stay. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa has you covered.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Location
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is located just outside of Traverse City in Williamsburg, Michigan. There are endless nearby attractions for golfers and non golfers alike. The resort is close to the east arm of Grand Traverse Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan. It’s a beautiful area.
Golf
On property are three very fun golf courses which boast widely different architectural styles, the Resort Course by William Newcomb, the Gary Player Wolverine Course, and the Jack Nicklaus Bear Course. I had the pleasure of playing The Bear and The Wolverine during my stay.
The Wolverine Course (Gary Player Design)
Rooms/Suites
Grand Traverse offers various rooms in their tower and hotel as well as condos and suites. I stayed in the tower and my room was very spacious, warm, roomy, and comfortable. Plus I could watch the golf courses from an eagle’s vantage point (image below).
Room With a View (of the golf course!)
Amenities
Other than golf the resort offers WiFi, HDTV’s, two indoor and outdoor pools, three outdoor and one indoor hot tub, indoor water playground, private beach club, spa, salon, large fitness center, tennis courts, day care, nearby gaming/casino, business center, watercraft rental.
Marketplace
I did some shopping in the Marketplace during my stay. There are numerous shops offering all sorts of great gifts, apparel and more.
Lobby
Dining
There are five restaurants and lounges at Grand Traverse. I enjoyed a couple of meals at The Grille, which is conveniently located near the golf, the place I need it. The foot there was very well prepared, with generous portions and a great selection.
On the fancy night out I enjoyed the 5-star Aerie Restaurant and Lounge, which is one of the highest rated in Michigan. Fantastic steak.
Staff
I found all of the staff to be very friendly, helpful, and professional. No matter what I needed or where I was, the staff was well prepared and able to provide a great customer service experience.
Final Thoughts
You MUST plan on Michigan for your next golf getaway or a golf buddy trip. Aside from the on property courses at Grand Traverse, there are dozens of amazing courses you can play. Check out the other Michigan golf course reviews here at Hooked on Golf Blog. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is a great choice for a home base on your Michigan golf trip.
Related
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa Gallery
The Bear – Jack Nicklaus Course
The Wolverine – Gary Player Course
I’m my previous life I was a professional rock & roll drummer and recording studio owner. I know just a tiny bit about audio. I don’t get to “mix” that world and the golf world often (did you catch that one?), so I find it a fun opportunity to review Trekz Titanium “Bone Conduction” headphones. Bone conduction, you ask? Yeah. That’s what I asked too.
You’ll notice in the photo of my beautiful ear above that the headphones are not over my ear canal. No that’s not because I need to keep it open for the creatures living in my head to have a pathway. The phones actually conduct the audio through the bones in the jaw/skull.
I’ve been listening to these phones each day while writing code at work. Can these phones unseat my Sony MDR-7506’s as my go-to cans? Stay tuned for the full Hooked on Golf Blog review soon.
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