TREETOPS TO "PAY IT FORWARD" WHEN GUESTS "PLAY IT FORWARD"

Gaylord, MI (July 17, 2009) - Treetops Resort, located in the Alpine Village of Gaylord Michigan, will host the 2nd Annual Patriot Golf Day Shootout September 4 - 6, 2009. The popular two-person event will serve as a fundraiser for Patriot Golf Day benefiting the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational scholarships to families of our fallen heroes. To date, the Folds of Honor Foundation has awarded over 550 scholarships.

F-16 Fighter Pilot and PGA member Captain Dan Rooney founded Patriot Golf Day after flying from Chicago to Detroit on a plane which carried Army Corporal Brock Bucklin home to his family after he lost his life in Iraq. At that point, Brock became Dan's inspiration and with the help of the PGA of America, Patriot Golf Day has become a national phenomenon. "Our experience in hosting the Patriot Golf Day Shootout in 2008 was very rewarding. To be featured in PGA Magazine and in the video shown at the PGA Annual Meeting in November was quite an honor. We feel it is necessary to create another event that eclipses last year's success," said Treetops PGA Director of Golf Kevin McKinley.

The event will kick off on Friday, September 4th with an Opening Ceremony that will pay tribute to those who have put their lives on the line for the freedom of all US citizens. At the Opening Ceremony, Treetops is excited to have an Honor Guard, a potential military flyover and the parents of the late Brock Bucklin (Duane and Dawn) as special guests among others. Saturday, September 5th will include a dinner banquet in the evening that will feature Army Special Forces Captain Timothy Murphy, who is currently in Iraq and will return home shortly before Labor Day.

The Patriot Golf Day Shootout format will consist of two person teams competing in a best ball event on the Tom Fazio Premier and a scramble event on the Rick Smith Signature. Teams will be flighted based on team handicap. In addition, on Saturday players will play their own ball on the world-renowned 'Threetops' par 3 course, which will have the same course setup that the popular ESPN Par 3 Shootout had over the years. Prizes will be awarded to players who can get inside closest to the pin shots that the legends of the game hit during the popular event. In addition, other prizes will be awarded for flight winners.

For more information about participating in the tournament, becoming a sponsor, or to make a donation please contact Alex Hughes, Tournament Director, at 989-731-8824 or ahughes@treetops.com. Please visit our site at www.treetops.com for more details and links to articles on Patriot Golf Day.

Treetops Resort is home to 81 holes of championship golf by designers Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Tom Fazio and Rick Smith. Treetops' is an eight-time recipient of Golf Magazine's "Silver Medal Resort" award and was rated in "America's Top-75 Golf Resorts" by Golf Digest in addition to being a "Top 25 Golf School in America".

In addition to 81 holes of championship golf, Treetops is a full-service, multi-season resort offering 23 downhill ski runs, extreme tubing and an expanded Terrain Park, The Yard. Lodging at Treetops consists of 238 guest rooms including standard and deluxe rooms and suites as well as two and three bedroom condominiums. A 10,000 square-foot convention center is available for conferences along with a variety of other meeting facilities. Rounding out the amenities are three restaurants, the Treetops Salon and Spa, an award-winning child development center, retail shops offering a variety of clothing and equipment, indoor and outdoor pools and much more.

The second annual Patriot Golf Day, a nationwide campaign that benefits the Folds of Honor Foundation, raised approximately $2 million in 2008 through the participation of more than 3,800 golf facilities. Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of those military service members who have been disabled or died as a result of their service. In 2008, Folds of Honor was able to award almost 200 scholarships to these deserving families.

The Patriot Golf Day campaign is jointly supported by The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association, and was conducted over the Labor Day weekend. Patriot Golf Day was originated by Major Dan Rooney, an F-16 pilot, PGA Professional and USGA member from Broken Arrow, Okla., who returned from his third tour of duty in Iraq in November 2008. The 2007 inaugural fundraising campaign produced funds of more than $1.1 million.

Patriot Golf Day 2009 will again be held during the Labor Day weekend, September 4th through September 7th. If you are interested in joining our mission to empower the lives of these deserving military families with educational opportunities,

As the plane landed, the pilot spoke. "We have the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board, and his brother Corporal Brad Bucklin has accompanied him home from Iraq. As a sign of respect, please remain seated while we honor Corporal Bucklin and his sacrifice," the pilot requested over the intercom.

Dan Rooney, a passenger on the flight, watched through the plane window as the flag-covered casket was removed from the rear cargo-hold. He saw Bucklin's family meet the procession with tears streaming down their cheeks. And he choked back emotion when he saw the soldier's young son clutching at his mother's leg.

This is any serviceman's worst nightmare, thought Rooney. An F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, Major Rooney had served two tours in Iraq. And while he had experienced the harsh reality on the frontlines, he had never witnessed the devastating reality back home.

As Major Rooney attempted to regain his composure, he finally turned back to the plane. It was then he noticed that half of the passengers had ignored the pilot's request and had already de-boarded. That moment changed Major Rooney's life forever.

When the paths of Corporal Bucklin and Major Rooney crossed on that fateful flight, Rooney vowed to make a difference. Though he couldn't change the fate of a fallen soldier, he could change the future of a grieving widow or a fatherless child.

Major Rooney set out to prove to America's heroes - our military personnel - that their sacrifices would never go unappreciated or unrewarded. From that sincere and simple wish, a foundation was born. Folds of Honor hopes to ensure that families of the fallen must never endure alone. With your help, we can permanently change the courses of lives for generations to come.

Education is the key to a brighter future, and it's the basis for Folds of Honor: We're offering scholarships to spouses and dependents to attend the university or institution of their choice.

Gaylord, Michigan (July 8, 2009) - It is no secret that the Rick Smith Golf Academy at Treetops Resort boasts the best teachers in the state of Michigan. And now Golf Digest has resounded their praises as all three Academy instructors have been recognized in the Top 10 "Best Teachers in Your State" and published in the recent issue of Golf Digest.

Treetops Owner and Managing Partner Rick Smith has grown accustomed to the top spot in Michigan since the inception of the Golf Digest survey's in 1999. In addition, he is ranked as the 11th best instructor in the nation. Smith continues to work with PGA TOUR professionals most recently as a key cog in the resurgence of John Daly, who already has a 2nd place finish under his belt on the European tour which took place very early on in his comeback bid.

Henry Young, who has been with the Rick Smith Golf Academy since its origin in 1986, ranks impressively in the 8th position on the list. Young, a former Michigan PGA Teacher of the Year, has vast knowledge and experience and is driven by his genuine interest in making people better. "Henry is hands down one of the best instructors that I've ever worked with. He has the ability to help people of all skill levels and make the lesson experience an enjoyable one," said Rick Smith.

Last and definitely not least is one of the finest up and coming instructors in the nation, Jason Guss. Not only does Guss round out the Rick Smith Academy instructors on the Golf Digest list at #7, but he is also ranked as a Top 20 Instructor under the age of 40, the 2nd youngest instructor and the only recipient from Michigan. This ranking marks the second time Guss has been included on the list and is sure to be not the last. Guss has also been included within the pages of Golf Digest as a contributing instructor, helping countless golfers from around the country improve their games.

The Rick Smith Golf Academy brings a level of passion to instruction that is admired by many across the globe. In 2008, the Academy was included on a list of the Top 25 Golf Schools in America. The ranking of these three instructors will go a long way in solidifying the Top 25 rating for the golf academy. The Golf Digest rankings are derived from a survey of instructors around the country. Thus, these individuals are honored by their peers for their talent.

The Rick Smith Golf Academy is one of the only schools in the nation that designs nearly all of their programs around a maximum 2 to 1 student to teacher ratio; a ratio that Smith, Young and Guss feel very strongly about. This is evident in the newly created Junior Development Program which boasts a 1 to 1 ratio while most junior programs and camps are dominated by much higher student to teacher ratios. "Our ratio really allows us to spend the time necessary to improve each of our student's games, "said Jason Guss.

Treetops Resort is home to 81 holes of championship golf by designers Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Tom Fazio and Rick Smith. Treetops' is an eight-time recipient of Golf Magazine's "Silver Medal Resort" award and was rated in "America's Top-75 Golf Resorts" by Golf Digest in addition to being a "Top 25 Golf School in America".

In addition to 81 holes of championship golf, Treetops is a full-service, multi-season resort offering 23 downhill ski runs, extreme tubing and an expanded Terrain Park, The Yard. Lodging at Treetops consists of 238 guest rooms including standard and deluxe rooms and suites as well as two and three bedroom condominiums. A 10,000 square-foot convention center is available for conferences along with a variety of other meeting facilities. Rounding out the amenities are three restaurants, the Treetops Salon and Spa, an award-winning child development center, retail shops offering a variety of clothing and equipment, indoor and outdoor pools and much more.

For more information please click here or call 1.888.TREETOPS (888.873.3867).

Gaylord, Michigan (June 8, 2009) - Treetops Resort has developed a unique vacation package termed "Play it Forward" that gives employees of the auto industry, auto dealerships and their related suppliers the opportunity to play unlimited golf (an option not normally offered at Treetops) at a great rate. In addition, Treetops will donate a portion of every golf package to a charity within the guest's own neighborhood. Thus, a charity in Saginaw, Michigan would benefit if a guest from Saginaw, Michigan took advantage of the "Play it Forward" package.

"Treetops has benefited greatly over the years from business derived from the auto industry. This has helped us build a wonderful tradition securing us a spot on the global map. Certainly, this would not have been possible without their support," stated Treetops Owner and Managing Partner Rick Smith. "Our way of saying thank you not only benefits our friends in the auto industry but also the cities and towns they live in."

The "Play it Forward" package includes unlimited golf from the moment you arrive at Treetops until the time you depart in addition to a night of lodging for only $159 per person per night based on double occupancy. The package is offered any Sunday through Thursday throughout the golf season (subject to availability) to those showing proof that they are currently employed, retired or have recently been employed by any automotive industry manufacturer, dealer or supplier.

Treetops very rarely runs unlimited packages and never in their history during the heart of the golf season. The value of an unlimited golf package, although tough to pinpoint, would be in excess of $225 per person, per night. The "Play it Forward" package is a tremendous offer with lodging and unlimited golf at a very affordable price capped off by the subsequent donation made for each package purchased. The donations will help many, many people by giving back to each of the guest's communities.

Those who qualify for this opportunity should contact Treetops Resort at 1-888-TREETOPS to reserve this package.

Treetops Resort is home to 81 holes of championship golf by designers Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Tom Fazio and Rick Smith. Treetops is an eight-time recipient of Golf Magazine's "Silver Medal Resort" award and was rated in "America's Top-75 Golf Resorts" by Golf Digest in addition to being a "Top 25 Golf School in America".

In addition to 81 holes of championship golf, Treetops is a full-service, multi-season resort offering 23 downhill ski runs, extreme tubing and an expanded Terrain Park, The Yard. Lodging at Treetops consists of 238 guest rooms including standard and deluxe rooms and suites as well as two and three bedroom condominiums. A 10,000 square-foot convention center is available for conferences along with a variety of other meeting facilities. Rounding out the amenities are three restaurants, the Treetops Salon and Spa, an award-winning child development center, retail shops offering a variety of clothing and equipment, indoor and outdoor pools and much more.

For more information please call 1.888.TREETOPS (888-873.3867).