Forest Dunes Golf Club – Roscommon, MI

Course Details

• Course Type: Resort
• Architect: Tom Weiskopf
• Par: 72
• Yardage: 7,116
• Rating: 75.2
• Slope: 146

Course Accolades

• Golf Digest: #1 Best New Upscale Public Course (2003), #146 in USA, #25 in Public USA & #5 in Michigan
• Golf Magazine: #21 in Public USA & #1 in Michigan
• Golf Week: #16 Best New Course (2006), #154 Modern USA, #52 Public USA, #41 Resort USA & #4 in Michigan
• Golf World: #1 Readers’ Choice Public USA & Michigan Course of Recognition
• Top100Courses: #8 in Michigan
• Zagat: Top-Rated Facilities & America’s Top Golf Courses (2012)

Course Score

• Course Conditions: 10
• Green Complexes: 9
• Amenities: 8
• Practice Facilities: 8
• Service: 8
• Course Design: 9
• Value: 7

Total Score: 8.48

Course Review

The Good: Forest Dunes in Roscommon, MI (about 30 minutes south of Gaylord) is an impeccably conditioned Tom Weiskopf design with beautiful contrasting nines that wind through woodlands on the front and sand dunes on the closing nine. What this Northwoods course lacks in lake views and elevation change makes up with fun, strategic holes with several interesting doglegs, excellent Par-3’s, and a super closing Par-5. Now a full-fledged resort with the additional of many great lodging options, it has a huge, immaculate clubhouse with full restaurant and very nice outdoor dining area with views of the 9th & 18th. Great service and very accommodating staff. Very solid amenities including expansive practice area and several comfort stations throughout the course. Decent value at $160 peak season considering the conditioning and overall experience.

The Bad: The golf carts lacking GPS is a little bit of a bummer. The greens putt very true but the complexes aren’t as interesting as the Loop and many of the other courses in the area. If you’re staying at one of the houses off-site from the course, make sure to not try to find it at night and after several dinner drinks.

The Verdict: Forest Dunes might be the best-conditioned public course I’ve played in a long time. Just a fun, pleasant walk (cart drive) in the park and a joy to play. A Top 5 public golf course I’ve played in the Midwest.

Best Hole: The Par-4 8th is an awesome dogleg right with a drive that must needle through trees left and a large fairway bunker on the right, unveiling an open approach to a downhill, peninsula green guarded by water right. The huge clubhouse in the distance is a nice touch.