Michigan Golf Journal May 2020

Michigan Golf Journal American Dunes The name says it all – American Dunes. The design Jack Nicklaus has created along Lake Michigan will fund and house offices for the organization that supports military veterans’ families – the Folds of Honor – and it’s built on pure sand south of Grand Haven. It is all-American. It’s all sand dunes. Construction began last spring, and shaping took place all summer long before nine holes were seeded in the fall. On six of those nine they are currently growing in grass enough to mow tees, greens and fairways. Two more holes only have greens being mowed, while the rest is still growing in. “When I started April 1 last year, the ground was still too frozen for us to dig up an old sprinkler head we were trying to save,” said American Dunes GM Doug Bell. “They were cutting some trees down, but the weather was just so lousy. So, it’s amazing to think here we are a year later looking out at grass being mowed.” The former Grand Haven Golf Club had tree-lined fairways which had gotten out of control, literally making the course claustrophobic. There will be no visual comparison to the end result Nicklaus is going after, as thousands of trees were removed to open Lake Michigan breezes and golfer sightlines across the entire rolling, sand- covered property. The new design contrast between bright green grasses and white sand dunes should provide a gorgeous layout to look at, and challenging golf course to navigate. The American Dunes is Progressing Nicely Latest Jack Nicklaus design inMichigan By Tom Lang