By Scott Kramer
Two weeks ago, I had the chance to play Tom Doak’s new Northern Michigan course called The Loop. Located at Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon, it’s two courses in one. That is, the holes play clockwise one day and then counter-clockwise the next. To figure out the beauty and cleverness of the design, you really need to play it and see it firsthand. But I’ll do my best to express it in words.
There are still 18 greens and fairways. And 36 unassuming tee box sets — each located within 50 yards or so of the greens. The tee boxes that aren’t being used on any day blend in so perfectly with the terrain that you won’t see them unless you’re looking for them. And if you do find them, you’ll notice they’re really just flattened out areas of the fairway. Wonderfully camouflaged.
It’s a phenomenal links-style, walking-only layout. Fairways are wide — up to about 80 yards in some parts. Many of the bunkers are steep. Punishing vegetation in the rough meanders inward at times, becoming very reachable for wayward shots. That said, the terrain often bows upward toward those patches, helping balls stay in play. And the fairway grass is kept short enough that you can putt from way out. I attempted an 85-yard putt at one point and damn near got it close…to the green, that is.
Speaking of the greens, they’re still immature at this point. After all, the course just officially opened for play June 28. There’s also plenty of terrain on each green, let alone all around the aprons. Thus, it’s difficult to get putts to stop at the hole. I personally had plenty of putts roll up near the hole at a good speed, skim the cup edge, and then wind up several feet away. But remember, I was playing in the fall over two dry days. So I expected fast greens. I truly believe that as each year passes, these greens will mature to more conventional speeds until they’re about perfect in a few years.
The overall personality throughout the property is that it has a wide-open feel to it. I see elements of Scotland, Bandon Dunes and Pinehurst all wrapped into one. The courses are a blast to play. Playing in each direction feels similar yet different — each has several memorable aspects. And in case you’re wondering, the counterclockwise layout — dubbed the Red Course (6,805 yards from the tips) — plays about 100 yards longer than the clockwise, 6,704-yard Black Course. One of the nicest aspects of the experience is how you feel like you’re the only group on the course — even when it’s packed. The staff does such a great job spacing out the groups, and the layout is such that you rarely see anyone else out there.
Obviously to play the course in both directions on one trip, you want to stay on-property overnight. I stayed at the quaint Lake AuSable Lodge — located just off the first tee of the property’s renowned Forest Dunes course that’s a Tom Weiskopf design currently ranked 23rd among Golf Digest’s Greatest Public Courses in America.
Scott Kramer is veteran, Southern California-based writer primarily versed in golf and personal technology. Studying Computer Sciences in college, and then working as a programmer/software engineer for about a decade, triggered my passion for today’s high-end, high-tech gadgets. I can’t help myself whenever I see any kind of cool new personal technology. I feel compelled to further check it out and see what it’s all about. And even if I have no use for it personally, I’m always thinking who it might best suit. There are exciting new innovations emerging daily that are shaping the future and simplifying life. And I hope to be your eyes to that world, through the words of this column.