Michigan Golf Journal September 2020

Forest Dunes simply take in the gorgeous scenery of the great north. Two holes were specifically designed to allow using only a putter from tee to green if you like – but I think every hole allows for such a choice – with a good hard whack off the longer tees. Forest Dunes and The Loop: Of course, the flagship Forest Dunes course, designed by TomWeiskopf, and The Loop – the property’s ingenious reversable design by Michigan’s Tom Doak – are must plays for anyone who enjoys the challenge of the game. Both are the nationally- ranked draw that brings in the majority of golfers for a few days of golf heaven. The first step onto The Loop feels like taking a step back in time – when golf was simpler, pure and one with the natural terrain. It has 18 greens and 36 teeing areas. It plays clockwise (Black Course) one day and counterclockwise (Red Course) the next. What makes The Loop layout brilliant is that approaching a green one day a golfer could be looking at a deep, skinny green with no bunkering in play, and the next day the approach is from 90 degrees coming into a wide and shallow green surrounded by lots of exposed sand – and most golfers will have no idea it’s the same piece of ground. The Loop appears to work in perfect harmony with the land Doak was dealt. There is no water on the property of sand base and scattered Jack Pines. Doak built about 50 formal bunkers (identified with rakes) and left even more naturally-exposed sand waste areas for golfers to avoid. The land has a rough, raw feel to it with non- manicured bunkers and its firm-and-fast fescue grass for seasonal color and areas to work the ball around. Forest Dunes is a lusher environment – with water hazards in play several times . The front nine meanders through the trees and the back nine a more open layou t with lots of natural sand waste areas acting as the hazards. It has 4-times the irrigation lines installed than The Loop to keep the grass green – but don’t let that foo l you. Many golfers indicated the Forest Dunes greens this year have been firmer and faster than The Loop. MGJ Here’s The Loop green that plays as the Red 4 th hole par 3, and the 15 th Hole par 4 on Black, coming at the camera.