Forest Dunes — Forest Dunes

When Forest Dunes opened in 2002, Golf Digest named it the Best New Upscale Course in America. Tom Weiskopf designed the layout on a property in Roscommon defined by towering pines and natural sand, and the course uses both elements with discipline. The pines frame the holes without crowding them, and the sand appears as both formal bunkers and natural waste areas that blur the line between hazard and landscape. The combination produces a course that feels remote and carefully constructed in equal measure.

At 7,116 yards with a slope of 146 and a course rating of 75.2, this is a demanding test from the back tees. The difficulty is honest rather than tricky. Fairways are visible from the tee, greens are visible from the fairway, and the consequences of missing either are clear before the swing. Weiskopf's design philosophy here favours transparency: the course shows the golfer exactly what is required and then demands execution. The challenge comes from the precision of the angles and the firmness of the putting surfaces rather than from hidden hazards or blind shots. Multiple tee options allow golfers to calibrate the length to their game, and the course is considerably more enjoyable from the appropriate set of tees than from the tips, where the yardage demands a level of carry distance that most recreational golfers do not possess.

The routing moves through varied terrain. Some holes play through dense pine corridors where the trees create natural walls and the fairways feel intimate. Others open onto sandy meadows where the scale expands and the wind becomes a factor. The transitions between these environments are well managed, and the variety prevents the round from settling into a repetitive rhythm.

The greens are the course's quiet strength. They are medium-sized with subtle contour that rewards approach shots placed on the correct side. Pin positions that appear accessible from the fairway become considerably more challenging when the ball is on the wrong portion of the putting surface. Green reading at Forest Dunes is not about identifying break but about understanding the overall tilt of each complex, which tends to follow the natural drainage of the surrounding terrain.

Green fees of $119 to $160 match those of The Loop on the same property, and a multi-day visit that includes both courses is the best way to experience Forest Dunes as a facility. The original Weiskopf course and Doak's reversible Loop represent two distinct philosophies of design, and playing them back to back clarifies what makes each one work. Weiskopf's course is more structured and traditional, with clearly defined corridors and formal bunkering. Doak's Loop is more open and improvisational, with wide playing corridors and natural sandy waste areas. The contrast between them is instructive for any golfer interested in how different architects interpret similar terrain. The property also offers on-site lodging, which simplifies logistics for visitors making the 90-minute drive from Traverse City.

Forest Dunes operates as a walking-friendly facility, and the Weiskopf course is well suited to it. The terrain is gently rolling and the distances between green and tee are short. Carts are available for those who prefer them, but the course reveals more of its character on foot.

The bunkering throughout the course is purposeful and well-maintained. Weiskopf placed bunkers to define strategy rather than to decorate holes, and the difference is apparent in how they affect decision-making. A fairway bunker at the corner of a dogleg forces the golfer to choose between playing short and safe or carrying the hazard for a better approach angle. The greenside bunkers frame the putting surfaces and create natural consequences for approach shots that miss on the aggressive side.

The season at Forest Dunes runs from May through October, and the sandy soil ensures the course drains quickly after rain, making it playable in conditions that would shut down clay-based courses elsewhere in the Midwest. The interior Michigan location means slightly warmer summer temperatures than the lakefront courses, and the protected pine corridors reduce wind exposure compared to the coastal layouts. For golfers building a northern Michigan itinerary, Forest Dunes and The Loop together justify the drive to Roscommon and provide two full days of golf that represent the best of what inland Michigan offers.