Forest Dunes Golf Club Reviews

Beautiful course! It's a challenging course for sure but the scenery and setting make it extra special.
All of the staff were great! We had dinner afterwards and all of my foursome enjoyed our meals. Highly recommend!

I went on a guys golf trip to Forrest Dunes and Treetops. We played the loop both ways and Forrest Dunes. The Loop is a fantastic links course either direction. Very firm and fast. As good as anything at Bandon (minus the ocean views). Forrest Dunes is a fantastic course. Very memorable holes in great condition. One of my favorites.

Loop course is WAAAAY over priced for the conditions. $160 for a course that fairways that still show the seeding lines and barely have any grass. Very disappointed in the course. (Exception: The greens are in great condition) The staff is top notch. Will not be returning to play the loop....ever.

It is the best golf course in Michigan. The combination of the Dunes course and the forest course gave the 9th hole and 9th hole at the front a totally different feeling. If you go to Michigan, I encourage you to try rounding once.
However, it is inconvenient to be located in a little remote place ...

We love the golfing at Forest Dunes. But many trips are to the restaurant the food is top notch the waitress we has was Super. If you looking for a wonderful place to eat or even Golf go to Forest Dunes.

Hidden gem. Unbelievavble amenities and golf courses. Come for 3 rounds of golf at a minimum.

Everything is fantastic... The facilities, food, staff and golf courses. The Dunes is exceptional...excellent design and very fair and playable. In great shape. Beautiful. One of my favorites. The Loop is very unique and quite an experience. I love everything about this place.

We signed up for the Tribute package and we were sent a confirmation for full price. When I called we were told the person taking the reservations was new and this would be a teaching moment, this was mid July. We had people knocking on our door half of the night looking for someone that was not in our room and yelling up and down the hallway looking for someone. The gnats were unbearable. No one fills in their divots on the fairways or greens. We waited on every hole for the group in front of us. at one point there were three groups on one hole. The hair in my food at breakfast was not appealing at all. For the price they charge I will not be back. There are too many other courses in Michigan to chose from that doesn't charge what Forest Dunes charges that are more accommodating and just as nice a course.

Having a great time at Forest Dunes with Nick & -Rick Kruisenga and Ralph Johnson. Playing the Loop course today. Can't wait.

Love this place. First time doing both sides of The Loop. Fit my game with big fairways. Greens are crazy fast with big undulations.

One of the best golf resorts in the world. The greens are fast and the course conditions are amazing. Easily a top 50 golf course in the U.S. A must play if you are an avid golfer.

The loop was incredible. Played both ways. Closest thing to true links golf. The Dunes course was great as always.

Awesome course and a great staff. Well worth the Trip

My bachelor party was hosted this and this review is for hosting a long weekend group at Forest Dunes. Friday Loop Black, Saturday Loop Red and Forest Dunes in the afternoon. Sunday we played Forest Dunes again. If you are a serious golfer it is the perfect set up. We stayed on property with 8 players. You can pick from an assortment of types of rooms/units/houses. General Manager Chad and his staff took special attention to our group to make sure everything was ready for us each day of play. There was even a range attendant at the range waiting for us before we went to the 1st tee. We ate all of our meals at the course and there was no reason to ever leave the property.

As for the golf. It's would be hard to find better on one property. The "New" Loop is so unique and a wonderful challenge. The design is incredible and more so spectacular when you realize you can play every hole two directions. Its pure artwork and architectural brilliance. If you are a serious golfer who studies the game, it will leave you speechless when standing on greens and looking at the hole in different view points. Incredible.

Enjoy.

Food is excellent staff is friendly very friendly kind environment

Beautiful course with a unique design. I would highly recommend to anyone!

Nice setting, great conditions, interesting design, decent pace of play, good value.

Pleasant check in process. Restaurant staff very friendly. Very rude golf staff.....felt very unwelcome at the facility.

gorgeous course and helicopter friendly, gotta love it.

One of my favourite courses in Michigan. Challenging but forgiving layout, immaculately maintained.

Playing this golf course over and over again will not get old no matter the weather or time of the year. The fairways are as luscious as most course s greens, the amenities are first class, and the food is glorious. Make sure to arrive an hour early and take advantage of the practice facilities - especially the short range.

Best golf course in Michigan! Hands down! Great club house and staff. Food is excellent!

Great track in great shape. I don't know if $150 a round is quite worth it but it is ranked the #3 course in Michigan.

My Friends and I just visited this beautiful place... I do not know where to start. Villa's are so nice and comfortable and 8 of us that slept in two villa's we all had own bedroom and bathroom with very very comfortable beds.
we enjoyed forest dunes course first day and got stuck playing loop all other days . we all got surprised when we play loop day after from opposite side. Just genius.
Pro shop is amazing with a lot great products and souvenirs , food is amazing and all waitresses are bit goofy :).
We are definitely coming here next year.

It'll be beautiful once they get a few more homes built.

For the $160.00 cost the Loop course is very disappointing. Very large greens is the best part of it.. Course itself not a top notch course that should be charging that amount. I would like to play the Dunes course to see if that is better. I would not pay over $50.00 to play the Loop again.

Loved the Loop. Starter will tell you to take 10-15 yards off approaches, but it played more like 20-25 yards short for my foursome. Highly recommended.

Awesome courses. Stay and play though is way overpriced. St Ives is almost have the price and just as nice condos/villas

Ok I was there about 2 months ago maybe the best experience at a golf course EVER!!!! Everyone friendly and helpful. The Condos we stayed at were right on the course and beautiful. We ate there several times and was good. Its not a 5 star restaurant so I don't know what everyone else is complaining about. If you want a Bday 5 star meal dont got to a golf course. The outside bar is great with the fire pit . AWESOME.... Yes its 150 but its worth it

Very highly recommended, adding a twelve hole par three course.

With now both Forest Dunes and The Loop, this club boast an offering few others can match. Tom Wieskopf walks you through both forest trees and sandy dunes on the original 18 holes, with 1 extra if needed.

Tom Doak and his team put a revolutionary idea into reality with the The Loop. A golf course that can be played two different ways by combining tees and greens. Switching routing every day, the Red course and the Black course share all 18 tee boxes and greens. However by playing them in the opposite direction reveals a totally golf course. A true one of kind experience in Roscommon, MI

Destination golf at the highest level. Lodging, food, service and as many golf choices you could ever want.

Love the course, accommodations, food, and people. Awesome place and I would come back again in a heartbeat.

Greens were cross-cut & looked like walked on with metal spikes. Far from the great course it was in 2008.

Beautiful golf course! (Played the Forest Dunes course) Reminds me of the sand hills of North Carolina. Greens are very tough. The other guys in my group really struggled with the quick speed.

Food was excellent. They really go all in with the sides, even for a burger. Very nice clubhouse, restaurant, and patio.

Definitely want to return to play the Loop courses. If you're a golfer that lives in Michigan, this is a must play.

This place is amazing. The accommodations were incredible and the course is a lot of fun.

The Loop is a very special place in the universe of golf architecture. There aren't many reversible courses in the world and this is a modern marvel. I lowered my expectations after seeing pictures (pics never do a course justice), but the course blew my expectations away.

The fairways are gigantic, as big as they get. That makes it fun for the high handicapper because he/she isn't re-teeing or taking many drops. The greens are normal size, but they play firm and have big undulations. It plays true links style and it is hard to hold some of the greens. That is part of its genius and what makes it fun--you can run it into the green or hit to the flat part of the green. I'd describe the course for a +10 handicap to be hard to par, but easy to bogey. When I played the greens were pure and rolled perfectly. If it weren't reversible, I'd give it an 8 on the Doak Scale. Since it is reversible, I'd give it a 9.

The Weiskopf course has a lot of eye candy, fantastic conditioning, and some very good holes. It's a very good course. If I had 10 rounds at Forest Dunes though, it'd be 8 on The Loop and 2 on Weiskopf.

If you don't like this course you don't like golf. Play it!

One of the best courses in the U.S. Front 9 plays through the thick Northern Michigan woods. Back 9 opens up and the greens are some of the best I have ever played. Don't miss this course.... it's a must play!

Went golfing on May 16th, 2020 for my 45th birthday with my son. I understand we are in unusual times but charging $115 for the golf experience at Forest Dunes when the condition of the course and organization and communication of the club is terrible. The greens are infected with a disease and have patches of green and dead spots all over. The greens were terrible and no bunkers have been racked so the course looks terrible. We showed up and no signs communicating what to do or anyone around to check anyone in. We finally found someone and asked if we just take any cart and we got a rude answer of yes and nothing else. Got our clubs loaded and then tried to find someone to ask about the practice facility and when we finally found someone they didn't even respond just point towards the driving range. We played behind a drunk foursome who never let us pass through and with no ranger or anyone supervising the course became drunk and actually got into a fist fight on the 15th tee off with one of the guys throwing his golf club at the other as they had to be separated by the guys they were playing with. All while my son and I watched. I have played Arcadia Bluffs and Harbor Bay and they put this place to shame. Maybe it was just a bad day and it wasn't a good representation of the facilities but if you are gonna pay this much to golf go to Arcadia or even most of the Boyne courses are better than this. Very disappointed as we were so excited to golf this course only to watch a fight and play on a terrible condition course. I understand it is still spring conditions but to charge that much to play right now is probably the worse golf value in Michigan.

Great golf courses. Good restaurant. Friendly and courteous staff/grounds keepers.

This course is super nice! but for the price they have to get GPS! And you need it at this place.

This was a family golf weekend so eight of us stayed in The Warbler Cottage. Gorgeous place and we all loved and enjoyed it. We played The Loop on Saturday and Forest Dunes on Sunday. Forest Dunes is beautiful and challenging. The Loop was a bit too rustic for all of especially for the money. The black flies and gnats were incessant and biting on both courses especially on The Loop and were not deterred by any of our bug sprays.

This is a special place. The course is amazing, the lodging is unforgettable... Just an amazing property. I am looking forward to their new layout coming soon. If you get the chance, play here. It is SO pure.

The staff is outstanding from the bag drop to the Golf Pros to Guest Services to caddies. The facilities are charming and immaculate. And the golf is AMAZING. You feel like the course is all yours as you play your way through the Huron National Forest. The fairways and greens are fast and flawless. And each hole is challenging and full of character. Stay overnight and play The Loop across the road, a reversible links course and an architectural and engineering marvel that plays clockwise one day and counterclockwise the next to the same 18 greens! The best golf in Michigan!

Friendly help, awesome clubhouse. Well manicured, waste bunkers fun, but basically flat course. Enjoyed it, but hard to justify the $150 greens fee.

Well maintained course and friendly helpful staff, I would recommend stopping here on your way Up North.

Michigans best golf resort for the golf purest. Also incredible customer service from staff in food and beverage.

Great track. Incredibly fast greens with a large amount of challenges. For me this isn't Arcadia or bay harbor level, but it's damn close. Up north golf at it's absolute best.

My favorite course in Michigan! Forest Dunes just keeps getting better and better. The Loop is a must play while you re there. The condos and rental homes on the property are perfect! The staff and customer service take it beyond and make it truly a fantastic golf experience!

Is this heaven? No it s Forest Dunes. I took the fam up to Forest Dunes this past weekend and was blown away by the course and accommodations. The Villas are amazing and the course is phenomenal. Didn t play the Loop yet but going back. Also my kids really enjoyed the new jumbo putting green - HillTop.

The food was excellent in the restaurant and the outside golf staff was great. My son left his wedge on #6 and the staff delivered it to our villa.

Definitely recommend this place

Beautifully manicured course, super-fine clubhouse, great professional and service staff. I've played a number of top notch courses across the nation and Forest Dunes is one of the best...!

SPECTACULAR! Even if you Don't golf, the view is beautiful. They aim to please. The buildings are inviting. The main building gives you the feeling that you just stepped back in time. Beautiful carved wood and tall impressive ceilings. Just beautiful.

I've played many of the great courses in the US and Forest Dunes ranks amongst the best of them. Every hole is memorable. Great course to walk if you able. I hope to come back every summer to play it!

Au Sable lodge & Restaurant are beautiful. Weiskopf course as good as it gets. Doak's Loop is must play. Villas are large & comfortable. Perfect for any family or group.

Played the Loop (Black) today. The design is amazing...all the way we kept turning around to see what the hole/green would look like from the Red perspective. Conditioning is excellent - both fairways and greens are Very firm and very fast. All in all a unique golf experience!

The green complexes are extremely difficult to negotiate...do not come here expecting to play to your handicap. You will appreciate an approach from around the green that ends up 10-15 feet from the hole as a good shot. To be honest, more people will likely enjoy it if the green speeds are slowed down just a bit.

No complaints with service at all. Very much enjoyed the opportunity to walk and use a caddie.

Forest Dunes is home to three fabulous golf courses on two layouts: The Forest Dunes Course and the Loop, which is played clockwise the first day and counterclockwise the next. The Forest Dunes Course was designed by former PGA TOUR champion turned golf course architect Tom Weiskopf.

The course features several elements that Weiskopf is known for: A split fairway, a drivable par 4 and a 19th hole in case you need to settle a bet! It s a short, 117-yard par 3 that plays over water to a green with a bunker in the middle of the green, much like the 6th hole at Riviera Country Club in California.

The back nine opens up and is highlighted by rugged native sand dune areas with thick underbrush crossing and bordering several fairways and greens. Water comes into play on three holes on the back nine, four if you count 19. On the front, you don t see any water until the 8th hole. This would be The Dunes.

Before your round, take advantage of Forest Dunes incredible practice facility, included with your paid greens fee. There s a full-length grass driving range where you can hit every club in your bag, a short game area complete with a grass bunker and a large practice putting green. Up above the practice area is a two-acre, 18 hole putting course.

Most Memorable Hole: Number 19: Par 3, 117 yards. Just in case you haven t had your fill quite yet, Weiskopf gives you one final opportunity; it s also a great place to settle bets or start a new one. It s a short par 3 that plays slightly downhill over sand dunes and water to a large green with a pot bunker in the middle, reminiscent of the sixth hole at Riviera Country Club. Find the green, make the putt, collect some dough. Easy!

Forest Dunes features an impressive 15,000 square foot clubhouse that includes a well-stocked pro shop, beautifully appointed locker rooms with showers for both men and women and Sagamore s Restaurant, with both formal and private dining rooms. The food is outstanding with all three meals being served, peppers, red beans and just the right mix of chili spices. Steaks and burgers are also very popular at Sagamore s.

Forest Dunes offers some tremendous stay and play opportunities with several lodging options. Now you can play all three courses without leaving the property.

The Lake Au Sable Lodge is located just a long putt from the first tee. This two-story lodge features 11 standard rooms and two suites and exemplifies the same Adirondack them of the clubhouse.

In the last couple of years, Forest Dunes has built several villas that are located within walking distance of the clubhouse and across the road from the start of The Loop. Both two and four-bedroom villas are available The two bedrooms are actually quite spacious; each has a small kitchenette, small living area, two bathrooms and four total beds. Four-bedroom units feature the same amenities, along with 4.5 bathrooms and a mix of king and queen beds.

As you make your way around the course, you can t help but admire the beauty of the sculpted tee boxes many of which are surrounded by wild fescue rough, exhibiting traits of ocean links layout minus the water! Weiskopf has done a marvelous job of working this design into the natural surroundings; rarely does a hole look or feel out of place. What The Loop offers in a rugged Scottish feel, Forest Dunes offers golfers a beautiful nature setting.

As resort course go, the conditioning at Forest Dunes is second to none. Aesthetically, Forest Dunes is a joy to behold. Exquisitely designed white sand bunkers accentuate the fairways and green complexes, and the sparse use of water is a refreshing change of pace from many courses. For the most part, there is plenty of room around the greens; the areas in front are often accessible with a bump and run shot. Miss to either side of the green and you ll have to rely on an excellent short game, especially with a lob wedge. A good sand game is also something that will prove valuable as it s virtually impossible to get around this layout with experiencing it at least once.

Beautiful golf course, starter was very informative and friendly.

Dinner was really bad..plus the waitress was worst!! Never again..

Forest Dunes Golf Club : Tom Doak's ingenious new creation at Forest Dunes draws on similar concepts as found in the original St Andrews layout. The 18 "reversible" holes feature two links-style layouts. On alternate days, you can go round the 18-holes in a clockwise direction (Black course), while the following day you can play the same 18-holes anticlockwise (Red course).

Out of the way but what a great course and clubhouse!

It was our first time there and we plan to make it a family tradition. Everyone was so nice, the food was excellent, the rooms were cozy and comfortable and the golf and its surroundings were beautiful. My husband, son and I had a wonderful time. Thank you,Brice, Danyelle, Rachel, Steve and Rich for all that you did. You made our stay just that much better. Also, thank you for sharing the story of Lew, the owner, with us. A truly fascinating, American dream story come true. A truck and a payphone in a laundromat to this. Wow! And they all think the world of you Lew. All in all, pretty amazing. See you next year!
Mark, Catherine & Theodore Carney

Always enjoy the course. Stayed in one of the cottages. It handled all 8 of us with ease. Big enough with no cramping. Great! Doing it again in 2018.

Forest Dunes and The Loop are top-notch. Best tandem of courses in Michigan!!!

My brother and I made the 3 hour drive from Grand Rapids a couple of weeks ago and were impressed. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 was because of the conditions on the loop. I was very impressed with Forrest Dunes and would go back in a heartbeat. Perhaps during peak season to give them a chance to do more with the loop. I really like the idea but the bunkers were in awful shape and full of huge rocks that took a chunk out of one of my wedges. I can see this being a great golf destination in the future once the kinks are worked out and the new short course opens up.

Sorry, for the late review, we played 6 months ago... Every year... 4-5 years straight!

This is actually the first review from me and I should have reviewed this course a few times!

This is without a doubt Michigan's premier course. Forest Dunes Golf Club, simply put, will become the mecca of Michigan golf more so now than ever with the addition of "The Loop".

As a golf enthusiast when I review a course I have played whether it be on google, tripadvisor, or any other rating system I review exactly what I am there for; golfing.

The condition of this course is amazing. Especially for being in the ~$150 range you can tell they meticulously and methodically manicure this course. During our stay, peak season, the condition was immaculate! Our tee off was early morning each day and on arrival we watched as the grounds crew just swarm the course every morning literally touching all aspects of each hole.

Condition: A+

Difficultly of the course is pretty high if you're a casual golfer 80's is great. The concept "Forest Dunes" is unique! Front 9 in the Forest and Back 9 in the Dunes. Mentally and physically challenging as gameplay changes completely when you make the turn. Great concept.

Difficultly: A+

Although, you can tell this course was carved into the woods to create the front 9 it was done very tastefully. You can also tell that the natural landscaping of the dunes is exactly that; natural. It looks and plays incredibly. Golf is about the natural elements of life so wind, weather and bugs are a mute point in any golf review. They have successfully captured the natural beauty of northern Michigan.

All-in-all the golf here is unique, difficult, and pure. When "The Loop" opens this club will be taking it's first step to "owning" Michigan golf.

100% reversible course!? The first in the world of it's kind!

When we were talking to the pro-shop desk they told us their "Loop" Superintendent or Director was from our neck of the woods in Chicago. We were shocked they were able to get a Chicago Golf Club Director to spearhead their new course "The Loop". As the Chicago Golf Club is probably the most exclusive club in the nation. "The Loop" is going to be phenomenal in concept and play! Our week long trip will have 3 days here alone! Forest Dunes and Both plays on "The Loop" (when is opens)!!

Forest Dunes is our number 1 course in Michigan. However, it might fall to number 2 when "The Loop" opens. Regardless, Forest Dunes Golf Club respectfully owns the number 1 spot for golf destination!

Awesome Job!! See you in the Summer!

Excellent facilities, terrific employees, attention to customers needs, great golf courses and fine food.

For the hype.... not up to par sorry guys. Played almost 80 rounds this year and never was treated worse. The ranger made us feel terrible as we got lost with directions from his staff!! Tried to play all 36 for a final trip but his power trip cost them a second round and future business. Course was in nice shape I'll say that, but for the hype and $ go to Arcadia that is a true top 5 EXPERIENCE! Work on service and lay out the facilty better.. seems like enough people have made mention of this on here maybe it will sink in.

This is one of the best courses I've ever played, right up there with Trump International in Puerto Rico, Playa Paraiso in Riviera Maya and Arcadia Bluffs. Even after a driving rain storm the fairways and greens were in great condition, a bucket list must play!

Without a doubt my favorite course in Michigan. There's nothing like it. Spot on service, pristine course and greens, incredible views.