THE FOREST DUNES CLUBHOUSE THAT SITS BEHIND THE PAR 3 9TH AND YES THE PAR 3 19TH. (Arkansas trucking maganate Lew Thompson has bought Forest Dunes)

EDITOR NOTE...from the Gog Blog Guy. This was my original story from
August 8th, 2010. But it is now updated with the sale of the course to Lew
Thompson, an Arkansas trucking magnate.

Thompson is a managing partner to, The Bridges Golf and Country Club. A
Jack Nicklaus course in Colorado. Thompson plans improvements to the
property to make the highly rated course more attractive to daily golfers
and members alike.

Plans have already been drawn up for a new 22-room hotel, that is complete
with four luxery suites. The new hotel will be attached to the clubhouse.

"A lot of our members live out of state so when they come in they will have
a nicer place to stay than a hotel room," Thompson said. "From research I've
done, for many golfers we are a stop off for players heading north or south.
That's because we have had no place to stay, so that's why we have decided
to build the hotel."

Thompson has also purchased seven model homes on the property. Thompson
will also retain Jim Bluck superintendent of grounds, and Donny Fisher the
Forest Dunes head golf professional. More improvements are expected as
time goes on.

THE FOLLOWING...is the original story.

There are times when one plays a golf course and wonders why the course
or club has the name that it does, that confusion does not exist at Forest Dunes
in Roscommon Michigan. The clubs names spells out exactly what you will get
for all 19 holes.

This Tom Weiskopf design which one national publication rates as the best
public facility in America, is a fantastic combination of holes that run through
a northern Michigan forest and a sandy dune type piece of property. They provide
a mix of classic holes that best describe both of the sport of golfs two favorite
 ways to enjoy the game.

If you like the old traditional classic course feel of, keep it between the trees and
out of the bunkers Forest Dunes has that. You like the seaside links style golf,
with sand dunes and the option to play some bump and run golf, you will find
that at Forest Dunes as well. Forest Dunes is surrounded by 400,000 acres of
wilderness in Michigan's Huron National Forest.

The course does have 19 holes not just 18, if you wonder why it's because of
and old tradition at some courses to have an extra hole. Or a Bye-hole as it's
called to settle bets or sometimes matches, in the case of Forest Dunes it's a
par 3 117 yards with a bunker in the center of the green. Kind of like the sixth
hole at Riviera in Pacific Palisades California (near LA). As a result the cold
one your waiting to have at the end of your round will be served at the 20th hole.

Weiskopf a former British Open and U.S. Senior Open Champion, calls Forest
Dunes one of the best courses he has ever designed. "I would put Forest Dunes
in the top three courses I have ever been involved with."


THE PAR 4 17TH HOLE 302 YARDS AT FOREST DUNES, BIG HITTERS SHOOT FOR THE GREEN

Forest Dunes offers a complete golf experience. In addition to 19 challenging holes of
golf, the clubhouse is one to be enjoyed many ways. Either for dining, pro shop, or just
relaxing and if scheduled getting a massage.

The practice facility is long and double sided, it also has a complete with a two-and-a-half
acre putting course that is fun for all.


THE 375 YARD PAR FOUR SIXTH HOLE CALLED GAMBLE HAS SPLIT FAIRWAYS AND OPTIONS
FOR THE PLAYERS.

The five different tee boxes provide challenges for all skill levels. The tee's are I, II, III,
IV, and V. With the V tee's being the layout for junior golfers. The tips are tee box I
playing at 7,141, with II at 6,579, III tees are 5,920, IV the front tees are 5,032.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR RORY'S INTERVIEW WITH FOREST DUNES HEAD
PROFESSIONAL DONNIE FISHER:

Download | Duration: 00:03:40

The first hole a par 4 399 yards called Eagles Perch, takes one out from the clubhouse
and heads them towards the forest. Off the tee one must carry a dune area, keeping the
tee shot right of the bunkers and wastelands. It must also play left of the trees, a good
opening hole.

Welcome to the forest part of Forest Dunes. Aspen is the par 4 451 yard second hole,
bring your driver you will need it. Be careful of a few long hanging branches from trees
down the leftside, the right side is the best approach anyway.

The golfers first par 3 of the round is Table Top, it plays 203 yards and is surrounded
by four bunkers but there is room to run the shot up. These bunkers are deep.

Lone Pine is the 402 yard par 4 fourth hole, that plays left to right. Just avoid the left
bunkers on your tee shot and your approach is good.

The par 5 602 yard fifth hole called Mason Trail is the longest hole on the course. It
starts out left to right and then just goes straight for a long way. Bunkers front left and
right guard this tricky green. 

After playing Gamble the par 4 sixth hole, that leaves the players several options on
how to gamble for their score, the next par 5 at 531 yards Goal Posts is waiting at the
upcoming tee box.


THE GOAL POSTS ON THE PAR 5 531 YARD SEVENTH HOLE AT FOREST DUNES GC

The eighth hole called Forests Edge is just that. A tee shot from the forest that takes one
back out towards the water and dunes area. Just be careful a bunker guards the right side
of the dogleg,and water sneaks in around the right side of hole by the green.

A great view of the clubhouse with a well guarded four bunker green, awaits golfers as
they head towards the ninth tee of "The Point".  A par 3 playing 203 yards, carry the water
and sand and you will be fine. If the wind is blowing have fun hitting this green.


THE PAR 4 479/439 YARD 10TH HOLE IS CALLED DECISION WITH A SPLIT FAIRWAY, THAT IS
DIVIDED BY A SANDY DUNE BUNKER AREA.

Prairie is the par 3 192 yard 11th hole. Your tee shot must clear the prairie area, and avoid
the five bunkers that guard the green. Don't go long, the forest is coming back into play.

The forest is back in full force one last time on White Tail the par 4 397 yard 12th hole. The
tee shot calls for left to right, followed by a shot to a green with water front right and a big
bunker left.

Twin trees pinch the approach shot here, at the 373 yard par 4 13th hole. Ample room to
land the drive then split the "Twins" at 90 yards and one is home free. If the well undulated
green doesn't get you.

The 14th hole a par 4, 464 yard test of your long and strategic game. Not too far off the tee
right, a big bunker awaits, aim left and the water starts to creep in. Water left and bunkers
front and back guard this narrow green.

It's time to turn for home and the 558 yard par 5 Hideaway puts you in the right direction.
There is some area to cover off the tee, bring your driver and HIT IT.

Hell's Half Acre...HA..how about Hell's (full) Acre. It's found at the par 3, 231 yard 16th hole.
Blast it long, bunkers left and right too. A real test into the wind, that normally blows right
to left.

Wild Dunes is one of the most talked about holes in Northern Michigan. A short par 4 of
302 yards has..Go For It, written all over it. Most people do from about 280, there is room
to miss it short.
 
The 18th hole called Eagle Chance does not yield many, even though it plays only 531
yards. The fairway is narrow with sand dunes and water left and right. The fairway also
angles between some bunkers, the green has water left and back. Oh yeah a sand
bunker short and right.

The Bye Hole at number 19 really needs a cooler full of cold ones. With a bunker in the
center of the green, putting gets interesting when one hits the green on the wrong side.

Forest Dunes is a full test of your golf game. It ranks in Golfweek Magazine's Modern
Course America's Greatest 100 list. The General Manager is Mark Gurnow.

For information on Forest Dunes and memberships. Please call 1-(866)-DUNES-MI. Or
visit www.forestdunesgolf.com. Forest Dunes 6376 Forest Dunes Drive Roscommon MI.