Forest Dunes

[StudentGolfer4]

I am taking a group of 8 to Forest Dunes in a couple of weeks and just wanted to hear from people that have been before. We are staying 3 nights on property and have rounds booked at FD, Loop both ways, and bootlegger. I have made dinner reservations for all 3 nights as a precaution. 

I’m assuming the resort will handle bags so we never need to take them to our rooms and they will be on carts for us each morning? 
 

Bootlegger. Has anyone played it with a big group before? How long would you say it takes to play? I know a lot of this depends on the format we play and who is in front of us. Just wanting to hear what your experience has been. The website indicates free replays if available. Was this the case when you were there? If so, did anyone go around more than once? 
 

Putting Course. What are your thoughts? My group loved the one at Pinehurst and people rave about the one at Bandon. This seems to be a little different setup and not as many crazy pin positions and undulations. 

 

Bugs. What’s the situation? Some say they aren’t an issue and others have said they make them they never want to return. I am thinking/hoping this late in the year they may not be as bad? If you have found a remedy or any sort of spray to keep them at bay let’s here it. 
 

Alcohol, I understand you can’t take your own booze on course, but is it allowed in rooms? I have been assuming it would be ok, but know a group that stays at Spirit Hallow in Iowa and their rule is you can’t even bring it in property. 
 

We are finally getting close and the count down is officially on. I’d love to hear any and all advice you guys may have. I’ve been reading a few others threads that mention Forest Dunes and just wanted to get some up to date information all in one place. Thanks. 

[knickerbocker]

Bootlegger is really fun and casual.  You could easily do it twice.  I haven't done the putting course.

 

They will store your bags during your stay. 

 

You can bring your own booze to the rooms. 

 

The location is in the middle of nowhere, so make sure you have everything you need when you arrive. 

[eagle2838]

Re: bugs, I'm not sure what the situation in the Roscommon area has been this year, but you're going to be Up North in the summer. Expect to get eaten without your choice of repellent, although cooler night temps by the time you are there might or might not make evenings a bit calmer. I don't think you will be late enough to truly be past them. I like Off Deep Woods, and the individually packed wipes are a nice, more portable option that won't leak. You won't be in bug net season, thankfully. 

[macteago]

I would think bugs will most likely be gone, it's getting down to 50s at night now.  I'll be up there in 7 days and will report back.  I've spent a fair amount of time in Michigan in late August and bugs are rarely a problem during that period.   

 

[N8dogg2669]

Just buy the bug spray they have in the proshop. I played it last year and I was the only one in the group to buy it and use it. The other three decided to use their own bug spray and the bugs never bothered me once. They were all over the other three. I keep that spray in my bag and use it around my local courses also. Stuff is magic. Like stated before, course is in no man's land, so bring everything you need for your stay (food, booze, cigars, etc). 

[StudentGolfer4]

Thanks guys! I’m familiar with northern Wisconsin insects. Just trying to figure out what I should mentally prepare for. 
 

I understand it’s in the middle of nowhere but were you guys able to get cell service up there? Any wifi in the clubhouse or lodge? Is it the type of remote where we won’t see a gas station for an hour before getting to the resort or what? 
 

At Pinehurst everyone staying on resort gets a card that allows you to charge food, drink, merch, etc to your room and it gets added to your bill at checkout. Is there a similar system in place? The card came in handy to ensure it was going on the correct tab when multiple people were cottage. 
 

@N8dogg2669 I’ll be curious to hear your review. Enjoy the trip!

Edited August 19, 2022 by StudentGolfer4

[SnowbirdTom]

There are two largish towns within 15 minutes of the course.  Roscommon is just 8ish miles south and Grayling is 20 minutes NW!  Cell service with the major carriers is available too.  
 

Use google maps and actually look at the area.  Its full on civilized with electricity and running water even.

Edited August 19, 2022 by SnowbirdTom

[StudentGolfer4]

@knickerbocker do you recall where they stored the bags? I sent an email with a few questions and was told they do not have anywhere to store bags. They advised keeping them in your room or locked in a vehicle at night. 

[knickerbocker]

19 hours ago, StudentGolfer4 said:

@knickerbocker do you recall where they stored the bags? I sent an email with a few questions and was told they do not have anywhere to store bags. They advised keeping them in your room or locked in a vehicle at night. 

 

They kept them in the cart barn from what I remember.  That was a few years ago. 

[reperna]

You guys will have a blast. Staying there is so much fun, just a golf haven. I think we took our clubs back to the room with us. Bootlegger takes an hour or so with 8 guys. Bugs weren’t great earlier this year, but I think you’ll be good by this time. Bring whatever you want into the room, hell, throw a couple in your bag before the round. They don’t check. I love the place, my only beef is how slow the bar is. Takes forever to get a couple beers at the turn or before. 

[reperna]

Sorry, forgot about the putting course. It’s not as cool as the others you mentioned. It’s just a huge putting green with a lot of pins. Nothing really special. But still fun to screw around with when you’re done playing 

[StudentGolfer4]

Headed up next weekend. Thanks for the insight!

[macteago]

Large group (16) just returned from Forest Dunes.  We were only there for 2 days / 1 night and all agreed 1 additional night would be welcome.  Playing 18 and then relaxing with rounds on the Bootlegger was a big hit versus doing 36.  So having one day of mid morning 18 and 2-3 hours messing around on the short course would be a lot of fun.  

We also did the putting course, while we enjoyed it i have some reservations about it.  The greens are extremely slow compared to either courses so putting on there will just mess up your putting gauge.  

One other note, we had a mix of handicaps from 2-20.  People with handicaps in the 12-20 range loved the loop, favorite experience on the trip over (Arcadia Bluffs, Treetops).  I would say the 10 and under crew preferred Forest Dunes but respected The Loop for the different challenge it brought.  It's definitely a nice mix of a course to play intermixed with large elevation change courses. 

 

Overall the facility is really well run, and they are extremely chill.  Pace of play was great.  

[klebs01]

54 minutes ago, macteago said:

One other note, we had a mix of handicaps from 2-20.  People with handicaps in the 12-20 range loved the loop, favorite experience on the trip over (Arcadia Bluffs, Treetops).  I would say the 10 and under crew preferred Forest Dunes but respected The Loop for the different challenge it brought.  It's definitely a nice mix of a course to play intermixed with large elevation change courses. 

That’s interesting. The opposite of what I would have expected.  Did they soften the greens a lot at the loop. It’s been a couple of years since I was there, but would have expected the high cappers to be frustrated because an iron needed to be well struck to hold the green and lower caps would have liked the opportunity to actually play slopes on the greens. Very disappointing if the conditions changed so much the isn’t the case anymore. 

[StudentGolfer4]

34 minutes ago, klebs01 said:

That’s interesting. The opposite of what I would have expected.  Did they soften the greens a lot at the loop. It’s been a couple of years since I was there, but would have expected the high cappers to be frustrated because an iron needed to be well struck to hold the green and lower caps would have liked the opportunity to actually play slopes on the greens. Very disappointing if the conditions changed so much the isn’t the case anymore. 

I’ll be happy to add my groups opinion when we get back. A common statement I’ve heard is that high handicappers enjoy it because there aren’t as many traditional hazards to be found and lost balls are less common. I know this isn’t true for everyone but a lot of higher handicaps tend to lack distance/height and tend to bounce up shots around the green. They’re more likely to putt from off the green instead of playing something with spin. 
 

A complaint I keep seeing from low handicaps is not being able to hold the greens. Sounds like the course is so firm that a lot of full shots just refuse to stop. 
 

I’m excited to play it because I know it’ll be unlike the type of courses we usually play. 

[cwb12]

Was there back in 2020 and headed again in a few weeks with a large group. Looking forward to it.

 

Bootlegger had opened 3 days before we were there last so looking forward to seeing it as its grown in more. $50 unlimited play is fun and allows some good in between rounds time.

 

Hilltop seems to get some negative feedback here but I think the opposite. Yes the speed is slower but anything is slower than Loop greens. Also some say its basic, we had 16 guys play and only 1 hole-out the entire time. So it may not be the Punchbowl at Bandon, but for a free feature, time to drink and gamble I think its pretty good.

 

I rarely let places store my clubs. Too many horror stories of things going missing. The rooms are 50 yards from cart drop so easy to take them back with you.

 

Hope you enjoy your trip as I'm ready for mine.

[tlknight]

Was there last year. I liked The Loop but not sure I have ever played a course where all good shots go punished like they did. 

[klebs01]

13 hours ago, tlknight said:

Was there last year. I liked The Loop but not sure I have ever played a course where all good shots go punished like they did. 

if it was punished, was it a good shot?  I didn’t see a single good shot get punished when I was there, just have to recognize flying it at the hole isn’t the right play. 

[ten8suited]

If they had the green speeds on bootlegger or hilltop anywhere near the speeds of the loop they would have serious pace of play issues. I played in the dual on wednesday and words cannot describe the firmness of that place. Pushing tees into the ground was a painful endeavor for the palm of your hand. Drives would take these trampoline like hops on the fairway as if it had hit a sprinkler head. The wind was intense (20mph with gusts to 30mph) and stopping a ball on a green required total control of your ball flight and the willingness to land it 15-20 yards short of the green or use slopes with the ground game. The winning gross score was the highest winning score in any of the 15 Dual events they've held. Zach Johnson thinks they lost the golf course...i thought it was the coolest golf experience i've ever had.

 

To all those people that think the loop punishes "good" shots...the loop just has a more rigid definition of good then you do.

[StudentGolfer4]

Wow! Everyone in my group was impressed by the resort. We stayed in the lodge and it was comfortable. The location was the best part. 

Forest dunes is just a really solid traditional golf course. The mix between forest and dunes is what makes it stand out and a few holes perfectly blend the two styles. 2 really good short par 4s. I didn’t love that the par 3s were all playing similar in length and style. Not a blade of grass was out of place. Perfectly manicured golf course. 
 

The loop was polarizing in our group. 5 of the 8 preferred the original course. 2 didn’t have a strong opinion and 1 loved it. We all agreed that it felt like a different course and not that it was just being played in reverse. Didn’t have anyone dislike it. Some just loved FD which is a very good golf course. 
 

The people that didn’t love the loop complained about not being able to hit shots close and felt like decent shots too many times ended up with poor outcomes. I wonder if opinions would change in we moved up a set of tees. Didn’t help that the wind changed on hole 11 so it was into our face going out and coming back 🤦‍♂️. With that said the green complexes and conditions were what made it difficult. Not the distances. 
 

With all the talk about how firm it was I actually thought it would have been more firm. Yes it’s firm, but you could still hit an normal iron into the green and have it hold. I was still hitting standard wedges from 70-130 yards like I did on FD. The ball just rolled out 10-12 yards instead of stopping or spinning. When 6-7 irons hit the green it still behaved like you had hit a green. After everything I read I wasn’t sure it would. This would be a fantastic match play course with players of similar abilities. Par doesn’t matter, just get it in the hole. 

We loved the bootlegger and the putting course. Greens were definitely slower but it wasn’t an issue. Made several laps around the bootlegger on multiple occasions. 

 

My one downside was the food. The quality was good and everything we ate was fine but I think the selection of their dinner menu left a lot to be desired. We agreed the lunch menu was preferred because it had more options. Grab and go breakfast was fast and tasty. 
 

TLDR, FD in great shape. Loop concept is great fun. If we went again the majority would split 3 rounds 2 at FD and 1 at Loop. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a golf trip. 

[Chanceman]

Why does a course have to reward all good shots? It would not be golf! As a caddie in Scotland once said to me in his scottish burr  "Nice shot laddie, but I dont think you'll like the result."

[N8dogg2669]

20 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Why does a course have to reward all good shots? It would not be golf! As a caddie in Scotland once said to me in his scottish burr  "Nice shot laddie, but I dont think you'll like the result."

 

I think that's why I liked the Loop so much. You could hit a good shot and you were screwed, and you could hit a bad shot and it ended up good. I thought that was fun. 

[StudentGolfer4]

3 hours ago, N8dogg2669 said:

 

I think that's why I liked the Loop so much. You could hit a good shot and you were screwed, and you could hit a bad shot and it ended up good. I thought that was fun. 

I think the loop requires a different mindset. Just because I hit a shot the way I wanted to doesn’t make it a good shot. 
 

I would argue if the ball does not end up in a good spot when it comes to rest that it wasn’t a good shot. If the ball landed by the pin and rolled around 20 yards off a hill then it wasn’t a good shot. 

 

At forest dunes from 100 yards I would hit a stock wedge right at the flag and the ball would roll forward or spin back 2 feet give or take. At the loop from 100 yards that approach wouldn’t work.  
 

Generally, the result of the ball tells you if it was a good or bad shot. 

[El Gringo]

Three of us spent two days on the Loop back in August. The course was firm, but not overly so, just about perfect. Good players could hold greens if they played to larger sections. Higher cappers could bounce shots in. The reverse concept was pulled off magnificently. The Loop ain't pretty and the terrain is average, but it's a top notch design. Miles beyond Arcadia South and that place has very cool greens. I wasn't as impressed with the resort, but The Loop is special. 

[BROD3]

On 8/17/2022 at 12:48 PM, StudentGolfer4 said:

I am taking a group of 8 to Forest Dunes in a couple of weeks and just wanted to hear from people that have been before. We are staying 3 nights on property and have rounds booked at FD, Loop both ways, and bootlegger. I have made dinner reservations for all 3 nights as a precaution. 

I’m assuming the resort will handle bags so we never need to take them to our rooms and they will be on carts for us each morning? 
 

Bootlegger. Has anyone played it with a big group before? How long would you say it takes to play? I know a lot of this depends on the format we play and who is in front of us. Just wanting to hear what your experience has been. The website indicates free replays if available. Was this the case when you were there? If so, did anyone go around more than once? 
 

Putting Course. What are your thoughts? My group loved the one at Pinehurst and people rave about the one at Bandon. This seems to be a little different setup and not as many crazy pin positions and undulations. 

 

Bugs. What’s the situation? Some say they aren’t an issue and others have said they make them they never want to return. I am thinking/hoping this late in the year they may not be as bad? If you have found a remedy or any sort of spray to keep them at bay let’s here it. 
 

Alcohol, I understand you can’t take your own booze on course, but is it allowed in rooms? I have been assuming it would be ok, but know a group that stays at Spirit Hallow in Iowa and their rule is you can’t even bring it in property. 
 

We are finally getting close and the count down is officially on. I’d love to hear any and all advice you guys may have. I’ve been reading a few others threads that mention Forest Dunes and just wanted to get some up to date information all in one place. Thanks. 

If you don't mind me asking would like to hear price breakdown on the trip as a whole. Looking to do the same w 8 guys and a 3 night stay w lots of golf.

[Pepetito]

On 12/12/2023 at 1:46 PM, BROD3 said:

If you don't mind me asking would like to hear price breakdown on the trip as a whole. Looking to do the same w 8 guys and a 3 night stay w lots of golf.

We are heading to FD June 30-July 3rd 2024 with a group of 16, staying 3 nights in 4 four-person villas.

 

For three nights (June 30, July 1, July 2) and the following golf:

July 1: 18 at FD, 18 at Loop

July 2: 18 at Loop

 

Our all-in price was $1,070.  I think staying at the on-site inn was slightly cheaper but I'd have to go back thru emails to confirm that.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Pepetito
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