Course Introduction – Forest Dunes

I made a little discovery when looking at all the courses I have viewed over the last few months… some courses have “bonus holes,” who knew!?!?! One of the courses on that list is my chosen course for Michigan, Forest Dunes. Here is their “19th hole” (note the sandtrap in the center of the green)…

While cool, the extra hole didn’t actually play a part in my decision to play Forest Dunes (I had already decided before I discovered it). The course description, layout and comments did much the talking. The fact that Forest Dunes has a list of awards that is almost too long to fit on my screen didn’t hurt either (including seemingly permanent residence in the top 25 of Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 greatest public golf courses” … #23 in the last two editions).

The biggest factor, though, was their enthusiasm for my project, even taking time out while attending a conference in a different state to make sure I had everything I needed to go forward. I really can’t wait to get to this course, meet some of their outstanding people, and play some great golf! Michigan is day #35.

Bonus Intro: In the spirit of Forest Dunes having a “bonus hole” I’ll also give a bonus introduction, The Loop the newest course at Forest Dunes is a fully reversible course. Using the same tees and greens, in the opposite direction, every other day. If I’d been in Michigan longer it would have been a tough choice between these two courses simply due to the novelty of playing the same greens on a completely “different course.” I am absolutely planning a two day trip in my future to play this course both ways.

Sidenote: If you want to see what I believe a “right and proper” bunker looks like (what I see when I close my eyes and think “bunker”), this trap from The Loop is pretty much it…