Michigan golf trip - Arcadia and Forest Dunes?

Is a golf trip that incorporates both Arcadia courses and Forest Dunes courses feasible?

Kingsley Club could be in play also

Yes, it’s feasible and you’ll be playing the best Michigan has to offer. If you add Kingsley then you hit a grand slam.

I have played Arcadia Bluffs and Forest Dunes on the same day (would not recommend it) and I believe the drive was around 2-2 1/2 drive.

Bottom line is make it happen and make sure you play both the South Course and The Loop as well.

Pure Michigan

We did it last year. We got a little VRBO Cabin in Interlochen, nicely located.

Anyone stay at Forest Dunes?

> @nandoal said:

> Anyone stay at Forest Dunes?

About 10 years ago my wife and I stayed at one of the houses bordering the 7th hole. It was a stay one night and all you can play deal. My sis-inlaw was going to join us but ended up not going. We had dinner at the club and sat ouside next to the firepits watching the sun go down. We literally had the place to ourselves. An epic trip that can never be duplicated.

I did a trip with both last year. Highly suggest it. Arcadia is the most beautiful course I have ever played, even over places like Pebble, Bandon, Whistling etc. And the original Forest Dunes course is an awesome/fun layout and the facilities are really great as well. Forest Dunes has a great atmosphere. We went and it was chilly at night and they had camp fires, lawn games etc set up. I'd love to go there for a few more days next time.

I do this trip every year. Have stayed on site at both places and have done it out of a home base in Traverse City and added in Grand Traverse as well. Forest Dunes accommodations are everything you need. Arcadia's new rooms blew me away. That might have been the nicest hotel room I've stayed at in quite a while. Any way you do it, you will love the experience. Strongly suggest do it in the Fall to grab lower rates and ridiculous scenery with the Fall colors.

Quick little 3 day trip has turned into these 4 beauties. Cant wait!

* The Loop

* Forest Dunes

* Arcadia Bluffs

* Kingsley Club

When this Covid thing is done, me and some buddies are coming from Australia to the Midwest via Chicago to play the Wisconsin round of EH/LL/SV/WS but given what's happened we thought we might extend the trip to do some Michigan as well, as suggested on this forum a while back.

Is this feasible over say 10 days  driving North from Kohler?

Marquette/Greywalls

Mackinaw/ Wawashkamo

Forest Dunes (is this a 2 day stop?)

Arcadia Bluffs (2 days?)

Tullymore

Thousand Oaks (not sure about this)

Warren at ND

and back to Chicago.

Any changes you would suggest? eg Kingsley.

If you do decide to go to Greywalls, I'd suggest Sweetgrass and/or Sage Run.  You will pass right by on the way up.

In reference to Chanceman’s question, “Is Forest Dunes a two day stop?”

I’d say yes. My group rescheduled Bandon Dunes from Aug, 2020 to Aug, 2021 due to the current COVID stuff, as a result, we did Arcadian Buffs, Arcadian Buffs South, Grand Traverse, the Loop (Red) and Forest Dunes in late August after having played Tullymore, Hawkshead and Harbour Shores in late July/early Aug. at it’s farthest, it’s a drive of about 8-8.5 hrs. At its shortest, some of these are about 5 hours away.

In the fall of ‘19, we did Erin Hills, Whistling Straits (Irish), both Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valley and River) courses and Whistling Straits. 
 

In ‘18 we hit Cog Hill, the Warren Course at Notre Dame and  Whittaker Woods. 

Knowing what we know now, the one change we would have made is to skip Grand Traverse. No one in our group thought all that much of the course. Had we skipped GT, this would have allowed us play Forest Dunes and the Loop (Red) on a 36-hole day and then come back and play the Loop (Black) the next day.
 

Many, many great tracks in those parts of the county. Obviously my experience is several trips over a period of a few years. Others will likely have far better input as to sequencing an up upper Michigan trip along with a Wisconsin trip than I. 

On 7/30/2019 at 10:51 AM, nandoal said:

Quick little 3 day trip has turned into these 4 beauties. Cant wait!

* The Loop

* Forest Dunes

* Arcadia Bluffs

* Kingsley Club

Loop Red, Loop Black or both?

4 hours ago, Cwing said:

In reference to Chanceman’s question, “Is Forest Dunes a two day stop?”

 

I’d say yes. My group rescheduled Bandon Dunes from Aug, 2020 to Aug, 2021 due to the current COVID stuff, as a result, we did Arcadian Buffs, Arcadian Buffs South, Grand Traverse, the Loop (Red) and Forest Dunes in late August after having played Tullymore, Hawkshead and Harbour Shores in late July/early Aug. at it’s farthest, it’s a drive of about 8-8.5 hrs. At its shortest, some of these are about 5 hours away.

 

In the fall of ‘19, we did Erin Hills, Whistling Straits (Irish), both Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valley and River) courses and Whistling Straits. 
 

In ‘18 we hit Cog Hill, the Warren Course at Notre Dame and  Whittaker Woods. 

Knowing what we know now, the one change we would have made is to skip Grand Traverse. No one in our group thought all that much of the course. Had we skipped GT, this would have allowed us play Forest Dunes and the Loop (Red) on a 36-hole day and then come back and play the Loop (Black) the next day.
 

Many, many great tracks in those parts of the county. Obviously my experience is several trips over a period of a few years. Others will likely have far better input as to sequencing an up upper Michigan trip along with a Wisconsin trip than I. 

Very interesting, thanks Cwing. Obviously some pretty darn good golf around there. How do you think Hawkshead, Harbor Shores and Tullymore compare, also with say Stoatin Brae? I like Jim Engh's stuff which is why I picked Tullymore.

I enjoy Hawkshead but it’s not really in the same category. Tullymore is a top 100 rated public course per Golf Digest ratings and a Harbour Shores hosts a major event (senior PGA) on the Champions Tour every few years.

For some reason, I really struggled two of the three different times I’ve played Harbor Shores. Gorgeous course but ....... as a result it is my least favorite as it simply owns me.

Of the three, Harbor Shores has the best views.  I enjoyed Tullymore the most and Hawkshead is very nice but not in the same league as Harbor and Tully.

I haven't played Thousand Oaks in quite a few years and have no idea how hard it is to get on now that it's private (or at least mostly private).  If that proves to be an obstacle, you may be interested in pairing Pilgrim's Run with your stop at Tullymore.  Play Tullymore, stay overnight, play Pilgrim's the next day on your way to South Bend.  I enjoy Tullymore's sibling course St. Ives but Pilgrim's is definitely better.

play Pilgrim's Run over Thousand Oaks.  Every time. 

How do Tullymore, St. Ives, and Pilgrims Run compare to Forest Dunes and the Loop?

Forest Dunes is the best of the bunch by quite a bit. Tullymore and St Ives are very nice, but have some crazy greens. 

5 hours ago, icegator337 said:

How do Tullymore, St. Ives, and Pilgrims Run compare to Forest Dunes and the Loop?

My buddies and I were pretty unimpressed with Tullymore the time we went. Not one primary thing, just a multitude of little things from conditions to how we were treated, just a disappointment of an experience. Haven't been back, nobody has suggested we do.

Haven't played FD/Loop, but Pilgrims is simply one of my favorite courses around. 

I've played Tullymore several times and I also just don't love it.  It's fine, it's just not special in my book.  St. Ives is quirky and kinda fun but also not special.

Big fan of Pilgrim's Run.  I'd rather play there than Tully any day of the week.

Haven't been to FD/Loop, would be nice to remedy that this year but probably won't.