Forest Dunes, Both Directions of The Loop Ranked Among America's 100 Greatest Public Courses

The Loop at Forest Dunes, the innovative reversible layout designed by Tom Doak, continues to garner the highest accolades from the golf industry.  In an unprecedented achievement, both golf course routings, Red and Black, have been ranked among Golf Digest's list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.  The panel ranked the Black No. 45 and the Red No. 47. 

 

Not to be outdone by the boutique Northern Michigan resort's newer addition, the original and immaculately-conditioned Tom-Weiskopf designed Forest Dunes course is ranked No. 28 on the list, putting all three Forest Dunes Golf Club layouts in Golf Digest's top 50.  Forest Dunes joins Pebble Beach, Streamsong, Bandon Dunes, and Kohler as the only resort properties with three courses distinguished among the nation's Top 50. 

The Loop opened in 2016 to rave reviews across the industry.  Golf Digest named it the Best New Public Course, and GOLF Magazine named it the Best New U.S. Course You Can Play.  The two different layouts, Black-clockwise and Red-counter clockwise, alternate directions for play on a daily basis. 

 

The Forest Dunes course (a staple of the Golf Digest Top-100 Public Courses List since 2007) has drawn flattering comparisons by Golf Digest writers to Spyglass Hill, Pine Valley, and Augusta National thanks to pristine turf conditions that contrast beautifully with roughly-hewn bunkering and dunescapes. 

Head Golf Professional Elliot Oscar said, 

"To have both routings of a reversible golf course ranked among the top 100 courses in America says volumes about the creativity, craft,and pure genius of Tom Doak.  The Loop is a special experience in both directions.  To see the Golf Digest panel affirm our praise for Tom's monumental design feat here on this beautiful site is a tremendous honor." 

 

The Loop is the only reversible course of its kind using 18 green complexes, which are the heart and soul of the unique design.  Doak showed his genius as this generation's iconic designer, creating fun green complexes that had to be approachable and interesting from 360 degrees, while also maintaining pure host values so a golfer never feel like he is playing in the wrong direction. 

He and his team accomplished it throughout the golf course in both directions.  Golfers marvel at No. 6 of the Red Course (counter-clockwise), a very short par 3 with a wide and shallow green, and the seventh, a short par-4 with a long and narrow green that has a dip in the middle of it.  Those two holes are also among the best holes playing clockwise coming into the greens from 90-degrees. 

 

Doak also added his version of a Redan hole, which is No. 4 of the Red Course, a par 3, and plays as the Redan green on No. 13 of the Black Course (clock-wise), the longest par 3 on the course. 

Although the course was designed for walking and is especially walker-friendly, The Loop will allow golf carts for the first time in 2019.  And golfers can choose to enhance their experience with the professional caddie fleet offered by CADDIEMASTER, the world's leading caddie company.  In addition, the new exciting HillTop Putting Course, a two-acre 18-hole putting course, is routed over thrilling natural undulations and tucked into a quaint setting in the mature surrounding pines. 

 

The Tom Weiskopf designed Forest Dunes has become one of the country's premier golf experiences, and features rugged native dunes, scruffy sand areas, and water features. The course has been consistently ranked among the best courses by the leading golf publications, and is nestled on 1,300 acres of heavily wooded land within the Huron National Forest. 

To build a unique Forest Dunes package with golf and lodging, simply combine the Lake AuSable Lodge, golf cottages, or the new golf villas with the Forest Dunes and Loop courses.  Lodging rates can range, depending on the time of the season and room type, from $69 to $159 per person.  Golf rates, depending on the time of season, range from $85 to $160. 

 

In addition, Forest Dunes is providing a tribute rate during the summer months on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays on both courses for $100 for military, first responders, seniors (55 and over), ladies, and teachers. 

For more information and to book a stay and play package, check out www.forestdunesgolf.com/golf/book-a-tee-time/rates.  And as always, feel free to send me an email or DM on twitter or Instagram if you have any questions.