Forest Dunes Golf Club Blog

Forest Dunes Golf Club Molded By Weiskopf Into One Of Nation’s Best

forestdunes — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:54:36 +0000

Jul 5, 2010 Mike Terrell, Regional Editor Comments (0)

Forest Dunes is one of the top golf resorts in the nation.

Northern Lower Michigan has long been known for its outstanding golf courses, many designed by some of the top golf course architects in the nation. But none, in my opinion, have captured the essence of northern Michigan golf like Tom Weiskopf’s Forest Dunes Golf Course. It took the Great Lakes to provide the terrain and Weiskopf to mold it into one of the nation’s top courses. Sand dunes, pine forests, birch groves and grasslands authenticate the name Forest Dunes.

Since it opened, just eight years ago, it has garnered several national honors including recently being named by readers of Golf World magazine as the top golf course in America that they’ve played. Other honors include: Golfweek’s Best Residential Course in America, No. 24, and, Golf Digest’s Top 100 Greatest Courses in America, No. 20.

Ron Whitten, Golf Digest’s architectural editor, said, “Half the holes at Forest Dunes are Augusta National-style, rolling down majestic corridors of red and jack pines, with elaborate bunkering of gleaming white sand. The remaining holes bring to mind Pine Valley, with dark, exposed native sand littered with scruffy underbrush. The mix is artfully blended on both nines.” Pretty heady comparisons for a course less than a decade old.

“When you finish playing here, you will have used every club in your bag,” says GM Mark Gurnow. “No two holes are the same, and the environment is as pristine as you can get.” That’s no exaggeration either. As an Audubon International Certified Gold Signature Sanctuary, it is one of only 16 such designated courses in the world.

The course measures over 7,000 yards from the tips, but five sets of tees offer lots of yardage choices and playability for just about all golfers.

Completing the picture, the resort is located next to one of the Midwest’s top blue-ribbon trout streams, the South Branch of the AuSable River, and the famed Mason Branch Tract, a several-thousand acre natural area. Combine your golf outing with a guided fly-fishing excursion on the AuSable, or rent a canoe or kayak from an outfitter in nearby Roscommon and do an 11-mile scenic float through the sanctuary. Wildlife, waterfowl and eagles – on and off the course – are abundant. It’s about as “pure Michigan” as you can get.

There’s a massive 22,000-square-foot Adirondack-style clubhouse lodge with locker rooms and fine dining, a spa and fitness center, beach club, an expansive practice facility, a two-and-a-half acre putting green, and, something you don’t often see, a short 19^th par-three hole to settle ties.

Forest Dunes has cottages and homes scattered around the course, and through a management agreement with home owners offers stay and play packages. Through August 21 an overnight, Wednesday through Sunday nights, golf package is $259 per person, which includes a night’s stay, dinner, and a round of golf. Add $50 per person, per night for an unlimited golf package at the Troon managed club.

Forest Dunes as good as it gets

forestdunes — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:10:37 +0000

Jeff Lesson

Forest Dunes as good as it gets

Forest Dunes is a Tom Weiskopf ultra upscale daily fee design in Roscommon, about three hours from Metro Detroit.

It’s one of the best golf experiences in the country. Memberships are available.

The national publications love Forest Dunes. Golf World magazine readers rank Forest Dunes No. 1 among public courses in the U.S. Golf Digest ranks Forest Dunes 18th public in the country, while GolfWeek magazine ranks it No. 2 in Michigan. Golf Magazine has also listed Forest Dunes in its top 100 national rankings.

A recent visit confirmed all of the buzz. It’s among the best Michigan has to offer. There’s not a bad hole on the course. The variety is compelling and memorable.

The entire course is superbly conditioned from tee to green. The front nine is a tree lined, albeit somewhat flat, parkland style course. The back nine features rolling dunes and shot values seldom seen in Michigan.

My favorite is the short, four par 17th. It’s a reachable green from the tee that plays up to 302 yards. Yet with a strategically placed fairway bunker and dunes all around, it’s not without risk. Birdie and double bogey can come into play.

Mark Gurnow, in his fourth year as general manager of Forest Dunes explains, “We want everyone to feel like this is the best golf experience they have ever had. Forest Dunes represents golf in its purest form with it being totally natural and nothing manufactured. It gets better every time you play it.”

Having played it several times, we would have to agree.

jeff@lessonongolf.com For half off golf at great courses, visit lessonongolf.com. Listen to “Lesson on Golf” at 7 a.m. weekend mornings on 97.1 and WXYZ TV.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100603/OPINION03/6030357/1048/SPORTS0105/Forest-Dunes-as-good-as-it-gets#ixzz0q5AiZrhG

Michigan Golf Live to feature Forest Dunes on FSND

forestdunes — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:50:12 +0000

Bill, Mark and Donny on the Air!

Michigan Golf Live will feature Forest Dunes on Fox Sports Network Detroit at the following upcoming times: Saturday @ 9:30, Sunday @ 8:30, Tuesday @ 2:30 and Friday @ 2:30. Be sure to watch! We recently also enjoyed having Bill and the gang out for the regular broadcast from the Dunes. Always a good time!

GOLFWEEK NAMES “BEST COURSES YOU CAN PLAY”

forestdunes — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:36:34 +0000

Accolade honors more Troon Golf managed courses than ever before.
Scottsdale, Ariz. – Troon Golf,® the leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing is pleased to announce that 26 of its managed courses were named to Golfweek’s “Best Courses You Can Play” list. The accolade was recently featured in a special issue of the magazine, which honored more Troon Golf managed courses than ever before. Notable mentions include the Lake of Isles’ North course in Connecticut, Branson Creek in Missouri and Old Works in Montana for being named the No. 1 golf course in their respective states. Additionally, the Legends course at Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort in Minnesota earned a spot on the list for the first time while the Nicklaus course at Pronghorn (a Troon Golf newcomer) was named No. 4 in the state of Oregon.

Troon Golf-managed courses named among Golfweek’s Best include:
Michigan
No. 3 Forest Dunes Golf Club, Roscommon

Forest Dunes named top public course

forestdunes — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:28:34 +0000

By FRED STABLEY JR.
Sun Special Writer
Forest Dunes Golf Club was recently named the No. 1 public golf course in the United State by the Reader’s Choice poll in GolfWorld.
The pro shop door burst open and in walked a distinguished looking gentleman.
“This better be something,” he announced to the somewhat startled staff. “I’m from Florida but I was in Detroit on business and I drove up to play this course.”
Apparently, he liked what he saw, played 36 holes and said, “If I had three thumbs, I’d put them all up.”
Stories like this for Forest Dunes Golf Club are commonplace after being rated the No. 1 public golf course in the United States.
That was the honor bestowed on the Tom Weiskopf-designed layout in the 2010 GolfWorld Reader’s Choice poll.
FOR THE FULL ARTICLE, CLICK HERE…aHvQq6

Forest Dunes

forestdunes — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:33:44 +0000

Forest Dunes: Sinks a Hole in One as ‘the Best’ in the U.S.
By Rick Coates
Michigan is number one in the country in the quantity of public golf
courses, and is third behind Florida and California for the total number
(both private and public); impressive considering Michigan’s weather and
current economic plight. Now within that ranking of most golf courses
comes another notable accomplishment; Michigan is now home to the #1
public golf course in the country.
According to the readers of Golf World Magazine (a weekly publication,
with 225,000 subscribers, that is part of the ESPN sports family) Forest
Dunes Golf is the “Number One Best Public Golf Course in America.”
Nestled within the Kirtland Warbler habitat of the Huron Valley National
Forest near the South Branch of the Au Sable River, the golf club
neighbors Michigan’s heavily forested Mason Tract and is located 10
minutes east of Roscommon.
The honor is matter of personal pride for General Manager Mark Gurnow and
his team. Forest Dunes is managed by Troon Golf; since their arrival four
years ago the course has garnered several accolades.
“This (Golf World) award is probably the most meaningful,” said Gurnow.
“It is given by the golfing public and takes in all the factors that make
a great golf experience and not just the golf course.”
Designed by Tom Weiskopf, winner of the 1973 British Open, the former PGA
and Senior Tour great is himself continually ranked among the world’s best
golf course designers.
“I would put Forest Dunes in the top-three courses in which I have ever
been involved. It is the best I have built on U.S. soil,” said Weiskopf.

THE BACKGROUND
Forest Dunes was once part of a large parcel that was owned by William
Durant, the founder of General Motors. Durant also owned the 1,500 acre
parcel that is now known as the Mason Tract.
Durant sold the 1,200 acre Forest Dunes parcel in the 1930s to the Detroit
Partnership (The Detroit Mafia families of Tocco-Licavoli-Zerilli). For
years it was known as the South Branch Ranch and served as the private
hunting grounds for the onetime Detroit crime families and their
colleagues. Legend has it that the grounds were guarded by men with
machine guns and that Jimmy Hoffa was a regular visitor, leaving some to
speculate that he might even be a permanent fixture to the grounds.
Forest Dunes opened in 1998 but almost wasn’t given a chance to succeed.
Shortly after opening, the course was plagued with financial troubles,
almost closing for good. In 2001, the Detroit Carpenters Union Pension
Trust Fund took over the outright ownership of the course.
Despite all the recent accolades Forest Dunes Golf Club remains “America’s
best kept golf secret,” often labeled by golf writers as a “hidden gem.”
Gurnow feels that is no longer a title that Forest Dunes will carry as
they move forward.
“I’ve been here for three years and we are starting to hear less of these
types of comments; we are no longer a secret,” said Gurnow.
While admiration from the golf media has helped get the word out, it is
the praise from the golfer that has resulted in Forest Dunes’ most
effective public relations campaign: “word of mouth.”
“Forest Dunes with all of its accolades has been on my bucket list of the
100 best golf courses I plan to play in my lifetime. I am halfway through
that list and it is the best I have played so far,” said Paul Somerville
of Southern California. I have played Augusta, several great courses in
Europe, and this has been my best experience so far.”

COURSE CONDITIONS
Golf World selected Forest Dunes for its top honor based on more than
46,000 individual facility ratings and more than 600,000 criteria
evaluations nationwide. The criteria included course quality, condition,
reputation and prestige, practice facilities, speed of play, clubhouse and
locker room, hotel accommodations, caddie program, golf shop, food and
dining, off-course activities and amenities, service, and overall value.
Driving perfect scores for “course conditions” is Jim Bluck, golf course
superintendent. Bluck has been with Forest Dunes since 2001, coming from
the Grand Traverse Resort.
“I remember the first time I played Forest Dunes, I was still at the
Resort and Dave Whiteford, a Traverse City architect and one of the
founding members of Forest Dunes, brought me over here. The course was not
even completed yet and I remember saying to him, ‘this is the best
designed golf course I have ever played,’ even without the course being
completed I knew this place was something special,” said Bluck. “The golf
purist has several expectations and course conditions are at the top of
that list, courses that cut corners in this area find it difficult to
attract that type of golfer.”
Essentially located in the middle of nowhere, the serenity and virtually
cellphone-free zone adds to the appeal of Forest Dunes. Bluck and his
team excel at keeping the grounds in its natural state. In 2003 Forest
Dunes became the first Michigan golf course to be certified as a Gold
Audubon International Signature Sanctuary and remains one of only 21
worldwide.

GOING PRIVATE
The course remains open to public play but is transitioning to becoming
private. It currently has just over 80 members. This season, non-members
are restricted to being able to play the course only twice.
While private courses are challenged and many are closing their doors,
Gurnow sees the Forest Dunes model as viable for becoming private.
“Every step we have taken here has been with that goal of taking this
course private,” said Gurnow. “It is why we often hear from those that are
not members that they felt like they were treated as members; that when
they entered through the gatehouse every aspect of their visit with us was
what they would expect if they were a member here.”
Much of the financial future of Forest Dunes falls on the sale of more
than 300 housing lots. Currently, there are 11 homes on property. As for
going completely private, Gurnow says there is not “a specific timetable”
but is confident that it will take place in the next couple of years.
For now, anyone interested in playing “America’s Number One Public Course”
they may do so (only twice a year). For additional details, to make a tee
time or visit for dinner check out www.foresdunesgolf.com.

Rick Coates is part of the management team at Forest Dunes.

TROON GOLF ANNOUNCES NEW BENEFIT FOR MEMBERS

forestdunes — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:55:53 +0000

Extends Playing Privileges Across the Troon Privé Portfolio for Full Golf Members

The benefit of being a member of a Troon Privé club just got even better as Troon Golf,^® the leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing announces an exciting new program called the Troon Privé Privilege. This exclusive program is now available to full golf members at Troon Privé private clubs, providing added value to their current memberships at no additional cost.

The program extends special playing privileges to golf members allowing them to play other private Troon Privé clubs at the host club’s cart-fee rate. A dedicated website has been created that allows members to research participating private clubs in the program and to request rounds. Troon Privé Privilege also gives members the opportunity to bring up to an additional three guests at the host properties accompanied guest-fee rate.

Along with the Troon Privé Privilege, members of Troon Privé clubs still have the opportunity to utilize the Troon Advantage program. This popular program is reserved for full golf members as well and extends exclusive discounted rates at Troon Golf-managed, daily-fee and resort facilities.

Troon Privé, Troon Golf’s private club division, includes private clubs that are among the most prestigious in the world. Each club features an atmosphere of extraordinary luxury and unsurpassed personalized service. Troon Privé is dedicated to delivering a world-class private club experience while, at the same time, safeguarding the integrity and exclusivity of each club. The Troon Privé collection of clubs enjoys all of the benefits of being associated with Troon Golf, without sacrificing their individuality or diminishing the ultimate authority of their members.

For more information on the Troon Privé Privilege and Troon Advantage program, visit www.troongolf.com.

Member Guest 2009

forestdunes — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:21:19 +0000

Hello Members! Please leave your comments and stories from the Member Guest Tournament held this past weekend!

Forest Dunes Golf Club Blog is up!

forestdunes — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:48:58 +0000

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forestdunes — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:46:32 +0000

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