25 minute read
TOUR DE FAIRWAYS
AMERICAN DUNES
AND GREENS
Advertisement
Text: Brenna Buckwald
Remote work combined with indoor restrictions has led to a great number of people trying new hobbies and expanding their leisure time outdoors. It has also resulted in more individuals picking up a golf club for the very rst time alongside those reuniting with the sport or simply using their free time to play and grow their enthusiasm for golf as both a competitive sport and recreational activity. e Golf Explorer: Michigan’s Journal to Incredible Golf Magazine has assembled a list of golf courses around Michigan, for both the beginner and experienced golfer alike to help them discover new ways to enjoy the game or simply reconnect with an old favorite.
GAYLORD GOLF MECCA
GREATER GAYLORD, MICHIGAN REGION Just o Interstate-75, a collection of 17 golf courses and 21 lodging facilities awaits in the heart of the Northern Lower Peninsula, all within approximately a 45-minute radius. ese facilities form the Gaylord Golf Mecca, a collection of courses and lodging that together, create the ideal gol ng destination for those hoping to experience a variety of courses within one region.
“For such a small region, I would say we have the highest concentration of quality golf courses of any community literally in the United States,” said Paul Beachnau, executive director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau.
“We are renowned for having a wide variety of terrain; we have the highest elevation in the lower peninsula. e views from all our courses are pretty spectacular,” Beachnau added. e member courses in the Gaylord Golf Mecca are all public, 18-hole courses. e different golf clubs and resorts comprising the Gaylord Golf Mecca are Treetops Resort, e Natural at Beaver Creek Resort, Otsego Resort, Michaywé Pines Golf Course, Lakes of the North Golf Course, Indian River Golf Club, Gaylord Golf Club, Garland Lodge and Golf Resort, and Black Lake Golf Club.
“What makes Black Lake Golf Club so special is that it is carved out of northern Michigan woods, and there is no development on the golf course. It is just pure golf, the way nature intended golf to be played,” said Nick Aune, general manager of UAW Black Lake Conference Center and Black Lake Golf Club.
Due to its woodsy environment, people gol ng at Black Lake Golf Club will o en see wildlife on the course, such as deer and turkey
milling around. As a warmup or wind down to playing the Rees Jones 18-hole design, groups can also enjoy the walking nine-hole, par-3 course that Black Lake o ers.
“We are the headwaters for ve major river systems, so all our courses have these really unique, interesting terrain that makes them really fun,” Beachnau said.
“If you are just starting to play, or you are fairly new and learning, Michaywé Pines Course, the Gaylord Country Club, Lakes of the North, and e Classic golf course at Otsego Resort would all be really fun courses that won’t make you hate the game. ey all have forward tees so you can shorten them a bit,” Beachnau added. e Gaylord Golf Mecca encompasses a variety of levels of di culty, so both beginner and practiced golfers will nd a course to play that will match their experience. Beachnau recommended pairing a more leisurely course with a more challenging course to create a rounded day of golf. e combination allows groups to put their skills to the test during the morning hours and then nish the day with a less demanding game, so they can socialize more and focus less on strategy. One of the bene ts of gol ng at the Gaylord Golf Mecca is all the courses are within driving distance, making it easy to combine di erent courses into one day’s activities.
“ e Premier at Treetops Resort is the only Tom Fazio design in the Midwest, and it is just a really fun, scenic, playable golf course,” Beachnau said. “I love e Tribute at Otsego Resort; I think it doesn’t get enough recognition for what a high-quality course it is. It is in and around Sturgeon River Valley, so it has got these views that are just phenomenal, and there are various places where water literally just comes out of the ground to start the Sturgeon River.”
ere are many lodging facilities that are partners of Gaylord Golf Mecca when it comes to booking a stay-and-play package. rough Gaylord Golf Mecca’s website, people can browse the di erent package deals that vary with member lodging facilities and member courses, choosing a package that allows them to play as many rounds as they’d like and stay in Gaylord for however long they choose.
Beachnau indicated that the mecca has seen record purchases of golf equipment within the past year or so, which is a good sign that people intend to return to the sport in upcoming seasons. When gol ng in Gaylord, people not only have a choice between 17 di erent golf courses to play, but also are close to the area’s other northern Michigan activities, o ering many entertainments for their downtime.
FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB
6376 FOREST DUNES DR | ROSCOMMON, MICHIGAN “More than anything, it is about the experience. We are a true getaway located within the Huron National Forest and like any good golf course, it is o the beaten path and away from a lot of the distractions of life. It is about enjoying our high-quality courses with the group of people that you’re with,” said Don Helinski, director of operations at Forest Dunes Golf Club.
Home to three championship-level courses, a putting course, and a 10-hole short course, Forest Dunes o ers a variety of golf experiences paired with an overnight stay in one of their three lodging options.
First opened in 2002, the Forest Dunes course, designed by British Open Champion Tom Weiskopf, is highlighted by wide open meadows, hardwoods, rugged native dunes, scru y sand areas, and water features. Two distinct nines provide their fair challenges—the front nine features parkland-style holes that wander through passages of red and jack pines, a path punctuated by elaborate bunkering and sandy waste areas on the sidelines. e back nine, however, features exposed native sand areas, scru y underbrush, and is bordered by fairways and greens.
Measuring just 302-yards, the 17th hole on Forest Dunes course is a Tom Weiskopf trademark. e short par-four hole is high-risk, high-reward, owing through dramatic native sand dunes and framed with fescue grasses, and o ers several ways to be challenged. Helinski noted that trying to hit the ball onto the green runs the risk of putting it right in the bunker that nearly lines the entire le side of the fairway.
“Another unique aspect of the Forest Dunes course is the 19th ‘bye’ hole, which is kind of a Scottish tradition to settle bets. It is spelled B-Y-E, as in waving goodbye, but our joke is we like to call it the ‘buy hole, B-U-Y,’ as in who buys the drinks, because a lot of times people will have a closest-to-the-pin contest or something fun even if they’re not playing a match,” Helinski said.
“ at hole is just a hundred-yard-shot over water, but there is a bunker right in the middle of the green that makes it interesting as well, so that is kind of a feature that a lot of people don’t see either. It is a 19th extra bonus hole for you to play at the end of your rounds,” Helinski added.
A two-in-one course, e Loop is a Tom Doak design that opened in 2016. is course has two routes available to play: the Red routing, which plays counter-clockwise around e Loop, and the Black routing, which plays clockwise. On even calendar days, the course follows the Red routing, and on odd calendar days, the Black route is available to play, o ering two entirely di erent courses on back-toback days for golfers staying at Forest Dunes.
FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB
TULLYMORE GOLF RESORT
“What makes e Loop unique is that it is more of an English Heathland style of course. It is very fast and rm and more brown than it is green. You will get a lot of extra rolls on your drives; when you’re approaching the greens you don’t want to re right at the pins, you want to land it in front of the green and have it roll on,” Helinski said. “It is very similar to the experience that most of us are used to seeing when watching the British Open on TV. It is a di erent style of play and something you need to get used to.”
In 2018, Forest Dunes reopened the HillTop Putting Course, a feature of the original Forest Dunes development that had been closed for about nine years. HillTop is free to play for anyone, even those who aren’t gol ng at Forest Dunes or staying onsite. Booked tee times are not required to play this course, although large groups may reserve HillTop for exclusive, special events through tournament services for an additional fee. e most recent addition to Forest Dunes Golf Club, e Bootlegger, is a 10-hole short course that sits atop a hill between e Loop and Forest Dunes courses. e pavilion at Forest Dunes has been renamed Bootlegger Bar a er the short course and is situated next to its rst tee—the perfect place to grab a drink before or a er heading out for a friendly competition.
“ e Bootlegger is a really relaxed experience that throws out some of the old norms of golf,” Helinski said. “We allow groups of up to 12 to play together, there is music playing throughout, and rather than concentrating on our score it is more about playing di erent games and competitive contests with that larger group of people that you’re with.”
Helinski indicated that it only takes about an hour to play e Bootlegger on a regular day, but if the club isn’t as busy and someone is playing alone, they may be able to play the ten-hole course in about half-an-hour.
“Being in the middle of nowhere, you want to stay right onsite and be with us under the bowl of stars at night, and not have to worry about driving anywhere. We’ve got three di erent types of accommodations depending on what your group is looking for,” Helinski said. e three lodging options at Forest Dunes include full home rentals available in a variety of areas around the property, villas positioned centrally near the clubhouse, and a quaint lodge with standard hotel-style rooms.
“2020 and 2021 have been our best two years in history, and 2022 is shaping up to surpass both of those years with the number of bookings that we’ve had this o -season,” Helinski said. “We’re looking forward to the season and, like most of the other resort courses throughout Michigan and particularly Northern Michigan, we are all expecting a tremendous year again and looking forward to it.”
TULLYMORE GOLF RESORT
11969 TULLYMORE DR | STANWOOD, MICHIGAN “Tullymore [Golf Resort] is frequently ranked as one of the top 100 courses in the country, and just the overall experience and atmosphere you’re going to get here between the two courses being so uniquely di erent from one another, but also both so playable and enjoyable for any level of golfer is unique,” said Matt Golden, chief executive o cer and general manager at Tullymore Golf Resort.
Both the 18-hole St. Ives and the 18-hole Tullymore at Tullymore Golf Resort give guests the opportunity to have two distinct golf experiences onsite, while also enjoying the resort’s other amenities during their golf trip.
“I think that the di erences between the two courses is one of the most unique things here. You’re going to play a more wooded, hilly course over at St. Ives, and over at Tullymore you’ve got a little more room to work but a lot more action on the ground with our trademark deep bunkers and the approach to some of the shots that you have to gure out,” Golden said.
First opened in 1995, the St. Ives course was designed by golf course architect Jerry Matthews. Carved out of glacial till, the par-72 course reaches dramatic elevation changes of 40- to 80-feet, allowing golfers to meander through mystic woodlands, sprawling wetlands, and rugged high-
HAWKSHEAD LINKS GOLF COURSE
4award-winning courses from torch lake to charlevoix 3 Beautiful locations • 72-Holes of Championship golf
We are frequently asked, “What is A-Ga-Ming?”. A-Ga-Ming represents many things. To the Native Americans, it is a word meaning “on the shore.” For families across the Midwest and the nation, it is a beautiful vacation destination, complete with lodging, dining, and relaxation. To the golf community, it is a 72-hole golf resort nestled on the shores of Torch Lake and Lake Michigan, in three beautiful Northern Michigan locations. For everyone, it means the perfect destination for group trips, membership & daily-fee-play, dreamlike weddings, celebrations and more!
Opened in 2005 as the third best new course in the country, Sundance exempli es the extraordinary natural beauty of northwest Michigan with views of both Torch Lake and Lake Michigan. With wide, playable fairways, superbly sculpted greens, vast windswept bunkers, heather-clad mounding and spectacular vistas, Sundance will delight the scratch golfer or a newly edged beginner. Sundance continues to be one of the premier golf courses in northern Michigan.
e original A-Ga-Ming 18 holes, renamed Torch in 2005 for the famous lake that the course overlooks, continues to be a very scenic and enjoyable round. e Torch is situated majestically on the ridges o ering spectacular views of Torch Lake. A challenging shot-makers course that favors accuracy over length, water comes into play on 11 of the holes, as do mature stands of woods throughout the course. e Torch is one of the most scenic golf courses in all of northern Michigan. Overlooking Lake Michigan Antrim Dells is back to its splendor as one of nest golf experiences in northern Michigan. Former host of e Michigan Amateur, the course is in the best shape of its life! Built by Hall of Fame architect Jerry Matthews who calls it one of his favorite designs, Antrim Dells now features four sets of tees along with some of the “Sweetest Greens in the North.” From your rst tee shot until your nal putt you will enjoy the peace and tranquility of “ e North.” Charlevoix Country Club is a four-star Jerry Matthews design that o ers golfers beautifully manicured bent grass fairways and large undulating putting surfaces. Water dominates the landscape, as many holes weave their way across a nice mix of open and tree lined holes with expansive surrounds of heather. ere are many birdie and par opportunities to be had, but the last 4 holes are among the most challenging nishing holes in northern Michigan. is course proves to be worth the drive!!
ISLAND RESORT
lands, taking in the scenic landscape as they play through the course.
One of the more popular holes on St. Ives is the par-4, hole number 14, which tests how straight and accurate one can hit onto the narrow landing pad, and challenges golfers to display a lengthy carry over wetlands to land on the green.
At St. Ives course, a driving range that can accommodate up to 15 golfers allows people to warm up before beginning a round, as well as a separate chipping and putting practice area for short-game practice.
Designed by golf course designer Jim Engh, Tullymore is a par-72 course rst opened to the public in 2002. Weaving its way through roughly 800 acres of woods, meadows, and wetlands with subtle undulations throughout, golfers can test their skills on greens that vary in shape and size and adapt their game to their personal abilities with multiple tee sets at each hole.
A driving range sized for 22 golfers and a separate practice area for chipping and putting await those who would like to hone their skills at Tullymore course.
Along with utilizing each onsite practice facility at the courses at Tullymore, guests looking for one-on-one assistance can book a golf lesson with one of Tullymore’s PGA golf professionals for a lesson individualized to their needs.
“A visit to Tullymore and St. Ives really comes down to an overall experience. It can be enjoyed for a group of two going out for a round of golf during the day or a group of up to eight or 24 looking to stay at some onsite lodging, take advantage of our restaurants, and making a weekend trip out of it,” Golden said.
At Tullymore, there is an abundance of lodging options to t the needs of any group—including a range of styles, amenities, and the size of the space. Guests can choose between a classic hotel stay or booking a condominium or cottage for larger groups. e two onsite restaurants, the Tap Room at Tullmore and the St. Ives Grille, also provide onsite options for those guests who want to socialize, grab drinks, and dine without having to leave resort property. A shuttle is also provided to transport between the two golf courses and overnight accommodations to o er a relaxed, worry-free trip.
“2021 was a great year especially coming out of 2020,” Golden said. “It ended up being a great season for daily play golf, but it was also nice to see some of our groups return and get back together for their annual golf trips. We look forward to that in 2022 as well. We are looking forward to the Canadian border being reopened and welcoming our guests back from Canada who weren’t able to join us in 2021 or 2020.”
HAWKSHEAD LINKS GOLF COURSE
523 HAWKS NEST DR | SOUTH HAVEN, MICHIGAN A course that ranges from a 4,960-yard game marked at gold-colored tees to a 7,003-yard, par-72 layout marked by the championship tees, the HawksHead Links Golf Course, designed by golf architect Arthur Hills, allows guests to play in a variety of ways.
At HawksHead Links’ practice facility, golfers can perfect their swing with the assistance of certi ed instructors, on the full-size driving range, chipping green with bunkers, and the putting green.
Not only do guests of HawksHead Links’ golf course and country club get an adaptable game of golf and practice, but they can also make the most of their golf trip while staying onsite. Restored from an elegant Old English Tudor Mansion, e Inn at HawksHead sits near the course, the interior featuring nine rooms in uenced by old world décor. Tucked on the back nine of HawksHead Links course, two GoldenHawk Cottages o er more spacious accommodations for larger groups, with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as a common area kitchen and dining room.
In-between rounds, golfers can grab a bite to eat at the HawksHead restaurant, located inside the Inn at HawksHead, which o ers an old-time atmosphere and varied menu for lunch and dinner inside the pub. In the dining room, guests can enjoy gourmet cuisine inside a space wrapped in understated elegance, perfect for a dinner for two or more intimate gatherings. From either space, people dining can look out oor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views of the woods and links.
APPLE MOUNTAIN
ISLAND RESORT AND CASINO
W 399 US HIGHWAY 2 | HARRIS, MICHIGAN Just outside Escanaba in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Island Resort and Casino houses 36 holes of championship golf split between Sweetgrass course and Sage Run course, as well as overnight accommodations in the resort’s suites or RV park, and a premier gaming casino.
As they make their way through the Sweetgrass course, golfers will experience an open parkland layout designed by golf architect Paul Albanese and highlighted by motifs of the area’s heritage. On each hole, golfers are introduced to the rich history of the Hannahville Indian Community with holes named a er traditional Potawatomi clans, villages, allies, medicines, and symbols.
Also designed by Paul Albanese, Sage Run offers a prairie, links style course, a stark contrast to the resort’s Sweetgrass. A natural drumlin, or elongated hill or ridge, formed by glacial ice is the primary feature of the course, providing a challenge to golfers of all abilities as the course’s holes meander o and around the hill. ick fescue grasses line the course, and a combination of long holes and short par-4s test golfers’ strategy in shot-making.
At the Island Hotel, guests can stay the night in one of more than 400 rooms or luxury suites or book a one of 42 sites in the RV Park. e resort o ers free transportation services from the RV Park to the casino.
Island Resort and Casino makes booking a golf trip easy with their Stay & Play packages. Golfers can choose a package with the perfect number of rounds and nights to stay for them, with rates that include ½ cart, GPS system, warm-up balls, and a stay in a standard guest room at the Island Hotel.
Staying onsite allows groups to spend the day gol ng, eat at the onsite dining establishments, and end the night with gaming in the casino.
APPLE MOUNTAIN
4519 NORTH RIVER ROAD | FREELAND, MICHIGAN A John Sanford design, the par-72 championship course at Apple Mountain was built to challenge golfers of all ages and abilities, o ering four tee boxes, grand fairways, scenic vistas, and the feeling of up-north style golf. e land the golf course occupies was once an apple orchard, and subtle clues to the history of the property are integrated in the course’s design. Ben Schippers, marketing manager at Apple Mountain, indicated that the h hole of the course, a par-3, features an apple-shaped green and bunker complex, and on the sixth hole, a par-4, there is an apple-shaped bunker complex in the middle of the fairway, requiring a well-placed tee shot.
“Holes ve and six are the pinnacle of the Apple Mountain experience as both are played from the top of the mountain,” Schippers said. “ e change in elevation on the par-3 h hole requires careful club selection to place the ball on a green that is full of subtle breaks. e tee shot on the par-4 sixth hole features views from the highest peak in the region, and a well-placed shot makes way for good opportunity on the approach into a forgiving green.”
Apple Mountain’s location just o Interstate-75 makes it an accessible up-north style golf course for those in the lower part of the state, as well as an easy stop for groups making the trek farther north during their golf trip, according to Schippers.
While gol ng at Apple Mountain, guests can also grab a bite to eat. O ering quick, casual fare, Putter’s Pointe Café on the main level of the Club House is a simple solution to those wanting a snack or beverage before or a er playing the course. Mountain View Restaurant hosts casual elegance and a variety of cuisine and beverages, a perfect venue for a sit-down meal with clients, friends, or a date night.
“We anticipate wrapping up a refresh of our Club House building prior to the start of the 2022 season. e work includes the addition of a stateof-the-art indoor golf simulator featuring TrackMan 4,” Schippers said. “We’re excited to make golf a year-round experience with access to over 100 iconic courses and the ability to use insights to improve your game year-round.”
SOUTH HAVEN, MICHIGAN
CHAMPIONSHIP
GOLF COURSE
R ESTAURANT 9 ROOM INN • COTTAGES
From its exclusive setting less than two miles from Lake Michigan, and nestled between South Haven and Saugatuck, HawksHead Links off ers world-class golf, fi ne dining, superb accommodations, special events, and beautiful weddings. The 7,003-yard, par-72 golf course designed by Arthur Hills, a renowned golf architect, winds through sand dunes and woodlands in southwestern Allegan County.
Vacation cottages
Four-bedroom, four-bathroom cottages—featuring a common kitchen and dining room—are located on the back nine of HawksHead and provide a serene golf or beach vacation escape for families or friends.
GOLF WEEK’S BEST
523 Hawks Nest Drive | South Haven, MI 49090 269.639.2121 | HawksHeadLinks.com
AMERICAN DUNES GOLF CLUB + FOLDS OF HONOR
17000 LINCOLN ST | GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN
Text: Brenna Buckwald
Roughly 15 years ago at Grand Haven Golf Club, a golf tournament called Patriot Golf Day inspired the formation of Folds of Honor, a nonpro t organization established the following year to pay-it-forward to the families of fallen or disabled military members, honoring their sacri ce by providing their spouses and children with educational scholarships.
Folds of Honor has the motto: “Honor eir Sacri ce. Educate eir Legacy,” a representation of the organization’s mission to supporting the families of those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. e nancial contribution of the scholarships granted to the spouses and children of service members ensure that they can pursue their academic dreams without added nancial burden, providing the funding for primary and secondary education, as well as post-secondary education. Folds of Honor has awarded roughly 35,000 educational scholarships since its founding, totaling more than $160 million in educational impact. e nonpro t has a cumulative average ratio of 90 percent of every dollar raised going to their scholarship program.
In 2018, though Grand Haven Golf Club closed inde nitely, a group of people who wanted to pay tribute to Folds of Honor worked together to create American Dunes Golf Club, which opened to the public in May of 2021. e project was led by the collaborative e orts of Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, PGA Professional, founder and chief executive of cer of Folds of Honor, and Jack Nicklaus, known as e Golden Bear, an 18-time professional major championship title holder, and founder of Nicklaus Companies LLC. e company also comprises Nicklaus Design, which has been recognized as a leader in golf course design with more than 420 courses globally in its portfolio. For American Dunes, Nicklaus waived his $3 million design fee and designed the new golf course, while 18 other individuals sponsored each hole, and ve additional private investors joined the mission to preserve the birthplace of Folds of Honor.
Since its opening in 2021, American Dunes Golf Club has been dedicated to honoring those who serve in the United States Armed Forces, by donating all pro ts generated from the club to Folds of Honor.
“It is bigger than just playing a round of golf, because you’re helping support Folds of Honor, which supports all these spouses and children across the country of our military members who were hurt or disabled,” said Doug Bell, PGA, general manager at American Dunes Golf Club.
“When you get out of your car and walk to the clubhouse, you walk through a memorial that has 13 plaques hanging on the wall of 13 service members who were killed serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is a very emotional experience for most people that play. Before they even get to the golf course, they are here for an hour or more, absorbing all that,” Bell added. e only way to enter or exit American Dunes clubhouse is through the memorial, a tribute and fundraiser to Folds of Honor. Once inside, guests can visit the golf shop, where merchandise with either a patriot jet or patriot bear logo, among other things, can be purchased—wearing or using the patriotic gear not only supports American Dunes and Folds of Honor by showing pride in their mission, but also directly supports Folds of Honor’s cause, as pro ts are donated to the organization.
Also inside the clubhouse, CAVU Fighter Squadron Bar celebrates ghter pilot traditions and culture through memorabilia on the walls. Golfers can grab a drink before or a er playing the course, in remembrance of those who have served the country. e 7,213-yard, par-72 American Dunes golf course, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, was completely redesigned from the routing that had previously sat in the same location as the Grand Haven Golf Club since the 1960s. e new design features rolling fairways, dramatic elevation changes, 30 bunkers, and natural dunescapes native to the shoreline area.
As golfers play their way through the golf course, they’ll notice each hole recognizes one of Nicklaus’ 18 major championships, as well as plaques honoring a service member’s legacy and how Folds of Honor supported their family members. e course also features tees with designated names such as “Jet,” “Valor,” “Freedom,” “Honor,” and “Bear.”
Bell indicated that the 4th hole of the course, which brings golfers to a higher elevation, is often a crowd favorite, as it allows those playing it to look down and see how vastly di erent the property looks from its redesign, as well as capturing views of the sand dunes local to Grand Haven.
Allowing golfers to extend their onsite experience at American Dunes, the golf club currently has plans to build e Camp, a building that will house overnight accommodations in 16 patriot staterooms curated to honor each branch of the United States Armed Forces. On the lowest level of the structure, there will also be a social, gathering space called e Bunker. e project is designed by GH2 Architects LLC of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is planned to be built in 2023.
“ e golf course opened last year to huge fanfare and national press; we had players come from every state in the country to play here,” Bell said. “It is fantastic that it is in Michigan, and we like to say it adds to the wonderful options that people have if they come to play golf in Michigan. We are very proud that it is here in Grand Haven, and the west side of the state—that being said, it is being accepted across the nation as a go-to place.”
