Forest Dunes Selected Among 'Top 100 Resorts in North American' by GOLF Magazine

Northern Michigan’s “Hidden Gem” Recognized by GOLF Readers and Editors

(Roscommon, MI) — Northern Michigan’s acclaimed Forest Dunes, a premier golf destination that has consistently improved and added to its golf offerings, has been selected among “2019 Top 100 Resorts in North America” honor by GOLF Magazine.

Fast becoming one of the country’s top destinations for golf aficionados and buddies’ trips, the 54-hole property is home to the innovative Tom Doak reversible-design, “The Loop” and the original and immaculately conditioned Tom Weiskopf designed Forest Dunes course.

Forest Dunes was included in the Top-100 List as part of the best resort for “Buddies” category.

GOLF's first-ever ranking of the Top 100 Resorts appears in the October 2019 edition of the print magazine and online at GOLF.com. Under the expert guidance of industry veterans, travel writers, GOLF.com readers, and GOLF’s Top 100 panelists and editorial teams, resorts were rated on five key variables: golf experience, accommodations, service, food, and ambience, then placed into four experience categories: Luxury, Buddies, General Excellence and Families.

Forest Dunes opened in 2002 with a Tom Weiskopf design that he claims is one of his top three
designs in the United States. The course, which is cut through the beautiful Huron National Forest. The front nine features parkland-style holes meandering through corridors of red and jack pines, with elaborate bunkering and sandy waste areas on the sides. The back nine is quite different, featuring even more open and exposed rugged native sand areas with scruffy underbrush bordering and crossing fairways and greens.

Under new resort owner, Lew Thompson, he had a vision of a Bandon Dunes/Sand Valley like experience to the heart of Northern Michigan. With the addition of Doak’s Loop in 2016, ongoing lodging, and the latest addition of the short course coming in 2020, Forest Dunes has become a must-experience Buddy trip destination.

The Loop opened 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 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 feelss like he is playing in the wrong direction.

The fun 10-hole Hilltop Short Course, all-par-three design, is situated on a peaceful, rolling bulge of land positioned perfectly between The Loop and Forest Dunes courses and near the spacious clubhouse, pavilion, practice area and massive HillTop Putting Course. The short course, with fun, strategic holes measuring between 50 and 155 yards, will be a focal point and energetic hot spot for golfers of all ages and skill levels. Forest Dunes owner Lew Thompson considered a handful of top golf course architects before entrusting the Hilltop Short Course project to Riley Johns and Keith Rhebb, who have previously partnered on the acclaimed renovation at Orlando’s Winter Park 9 course.

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. For more information and to book a stay and play package, click HERE.