Bucks Run, Forest Dunes, The Nightmare

OneBowTie · August 30, 2011

Awesome weather this past weekend in North Central Michigan for Golf

Down here in Carolina we were having a bit of a wind and rain issue this past weekend with Irene coming to town. So what better way to go golfing then have a buddy call on the last minute and ask me If I wanted to join his group for a weekend outing, as two of the guys had to drop out.

Naturally I said yes and headed to Michigan and stopped off in Toledo at Tony Paco's on the way....and then after lunch there met up with a few buddies in Dearborn that evening where we then went to Miller's Bar for burgers .......I should have stopped off at The Bone Yard on the way up, but they were closed!

We played Friday at Bucks Run in Mt Pleasant. I will say that the course is a fine course, I cant really complain about anything, as the conditions were very good, the greens were very nice, other then being a touch on the slow side. I thought the course was a bit on the pricey side when comparing it to some other courses not just in that area, but also just north of there. The 18th hole at Bucks Run sure seemed to play long and I can't remember the other hole, but there was another hole that I recall being very challenging both rounds. Overall, a very nice course.

Saturday we played Forest Dunes. The wind was up in the morning round and halfway through the afternoon round, the wind laid right down. The course was in fantastic shape, and the greens were some of the best to be putted on. As slow as they seemed at Bucks Run, they were very speedy at Forest Dunes, especially after the morning dew was gone. They did slow down a bit in the afternoon round. There are so many fun holes at Forest Dunes, starting with number one, cut as much as you can off and from the II tee box, you can get to the green if your a big hitter, otherwise you can set yourself up for a nice chip and putt for birdie. I like the front nine finish with 8 being a hole that for some plays tough, and for others was nothing more then a driver short iron. Then I really like that number 9 par three. It was playing into a stiff wind in the morning round and played 2 clubs longer then the afternoon round.

Hole number 10 seemed to play hard for our group of 12 both rounds. With all 12 players playing a skins game, a par won a skin both rounds on that hole. the pin was about in the very middle for us, with everyone either 3 putting from the right or left of that hole, I two putted from the right side in the afternoon round to win a skin with par.

I love the 17th hole, I wasn't able to drive the green, but sure had a riot going for it both rounds. It was a really tough up and down from anywhere on that green as the flag was tucked all the way up to the left. We had 4 guys drive that green and none of them made par. It was either drop in for eagle/birdie or the comeback was going to be from the fringe.

The 18th hole, I am not sure what I think of that hole yet. Not that there is anything really tricky or trumped up about it....... but being a par 5 it sure seemed to play tough for our group. We had two pars in each round on that hole. And that was with two guys reaching it in two.

On Sunday we only had 8 guys left and we went cheap and local to where a few of the guys had cottages, so we played The Nightmare. I have to say, for a course that got no real billing as a premier type golf course, it was in excellent shape. The greens seemed slow after playing 36 the day before at Forest Dunes, but the course was in great shape from tee to green. The pro or shop attendant asked me after 18 what I thought of the course as I was paying for the replay round. I told him the truth, the course was in great shape and was fun to play, but that I probably wouldn't be coming back very often. He asked me why not and I told him for what he was charing me to play the first and replay round I could go play Forest Dunes, True North or several other courses that I probably would enjoy a tad bit more. I have to give it to the guy, he then asked me what would make his course more worth my while, and I told him that If my total days investment was $70 bucks I would probably put it back on my to do list. He then offered me a refund to make my price equal that amount, but I felt guilty at that point and said that I would remind him on my next trip. So overall, I thought that the course was a very fun course, and that the management were good people and concerned about their course and perceptions.

Oh ya, The one thing I found very different at The Nightmare was that you could bring in your own beer, booze or soda or whatever you wanted. They would provide you with coolers and ice, and they were quick to get you a clean cooler and filled with ice. Another thing that happed to our group was that one of our group had his cooler full of beer (5 beers) somehow swapped out with another carts cooler. When the guys got to the first tee and opened their cooler, they found a couple gatorades instead of their beer!!! They went back to the cart attendant and told him, and asked if he had another cooler with their beer in it. The attendant said he was sorry for the mix up and went in and brought out 5 beers of the same brand the guys had. Ironically, as they were heading back to the tee, another group came back to the attendant looking for their gatorade, so the switch was made and all were happy.

The weather was perfect all weekend, started in the high 50's or low 60's each morning and went to about a cool 80 degrees each day, with no humidity.

I really don't know of anywhere that offers the caliber of golf that Michigan offers, statewide it is hard to beat Michigan.

StevenF · August 31, 2011

Mmm millers. Michigan is pretty sweet.

teamarctic · August 31, 2011

the 18th at bucks run plays pretty long. i will agree with the greens, they are running a little slow. earlier in the year they were perfect.

if you stopped at the grill at the turn, that was me working in there lol

chickenpotpie · August 31, 2011

[quote name='OneBowTie' timestamp='1314756317' post='3530959']
Down here in Carolina we were having a bit of a wind and rain issue this past weekend with Irene coming to town. So what better way to go golfing then have a buddy call on the last minute and ask me If I wanted to join his group for a weekend outing, as two of the guys had to drop out.

Naturally I said yes and headed to Michigan and stopped off in Toledo at Tony Paco's on the way....and then after lunch there met up with a few buddies in Dearborn that evening where we then went to Miller's Bar for burgers .......I should have stopped off at The Bone Yard on the way up, but they were closed!

We played Friday at Bucks Run in Mt Pleasant. I will say that the course is a fine course, I cant really complain about anything, as the conditions were very good, the greens were very nice, other then being a touch on the slow side. I thought the course was a bit on the pricey side when comparing it to some other courses not just in that area, but also just north of there. The 18th hole at Bucks Run sure seemed to play long and I can't remember the other hole, but there was another hole that I recall being very challenging both rounds. Overall, a very nice course.

Saturday we played Forest Dunes. The wind was up in the morning round and halfway through the afternoon round, the wind laid right down. The course was in fantastic shape, and the greens were some of the best to be putted on. As slow as they seemed at Bucks Run, they were very speedy at Forest Dunes, especially after the morning dew was gone. They did slow down a bit in the afternoon round. There are so many fun holes at Forest Dunes, starting with number one, cut as much as you can off and from the II tee box, you can get to the green if your a big hitter, otherwise you can set yourself up for a nice chip and putt for birdie. I like the front nine finish with 8 being a hole that for some plays tough, and for others was nothing more then a driver short iron. Then I really like that number 9 par three. It was playing into a stiff wind in the morning round and played 2 clubs longer then the afternoon round.

Hole number 10 seemed to play hard for our group of 12 both rounds. With all 12 players playing a skins game, a par won a skin both rounds on that hole. the pin was about in the very middle for us, with everyone either 3 putting from the right or left of that hole, I two putted from the right side in the afternoon round to win a skin with par.

I love the 17th hole, I wasn't able to drive the green, but sure had a riot going for it both rounds. It was a really tough up and down from anywhere on that green as the flag was tucked all the way up to the left. We had 4 guys drive that green and none of them made par. It was either drop in for eagle/birdie or the comeback was going to be from the fringe.

The 18th hole, I am not sure what I think of that hole yet. Not that there is anything really tricky or trumped up about it....... but being a par 5 it sure seemed to play tough for our group. We had two pars in each round on that hole. And that was with two guys reaching it in two.

On Sunday we only had 8 guys left and we went cheap and local to where a few of the guys had cottages, so we played The Nightmare. I have to say, for a course that got no real billing as a premier type golf course, it was in excellent shape. The greens seemed slow after playing 36 the day before at Forest Dunes, but the course was in great shape from tee to green. The pro or shop attendant asked me after 18 what I thought of the course as I was paying for the replay round. I told him the truth, the course was in great shape and was fun to play, but that I probably wouldn't be coming back very often. He asked me why not and I told him for what he was charing me to play the first and replay round I could go play Forest Dunes, True North or several other courses that I probably would enjoy a tad bit more. I have to give it to the guy, he then asked me what would make his course more worth my while, and I told him that If my total days investment was $70 bucks I would probably put it back on my to do list. He then offered me a refund to make my price equal that amount, but I felt guilty at that point and said that I would remind him on my next trip. So overall, I thought that the course was a very fun course, and that the management were good people and concerned about their course and perceptions.

Oh ya, The one thing I found very different at The Nightmare was that you could bring in your own beer, booze or soda or whatever you wanted. They would provide you with coolers and ice, and they were quick to get you a clean cooler and filled with ice. Another thing that happed to our group was that one of our group had his cooler full of beer (5 beers) somehow swapped out with another carts cooler. When the guys got to the first tee and opened their cooler, they found a couple gatorades instead of their beer!!! They went back to the cart attendant and told him, and asked if he had another cooler with their beer in it. The attendant said he was sorry for the mix up and went in and brought out 5 beers of the same brand the guys had. Ironically, as they were heading back to the tee, another group came back to the attendant looking for their gatorade, so the switch was made and all were happy.

The weather was perfect all weekend, started in the high 50's or low 60's each morning and went to about a cool 80 degrees each day, with no humidity.

I really don't know of anywhere that offers the caliber of golf that Michigan offers, statewide it is hard to beat Michigan.
[/quote]

You were right near me! Bucks is a good course.... I can get on there for about half price with my club membership, so I've been getting out there more this year. 18 is long depending on the tee. #2 is a b**** too, since the drive is tight. A lot of fun holes, though generally short.

Nightmare and Dream lost their liquor license....thus the BYOB policy. Kinda strange, and the fact that the nearest place to buy (a gas station) is about 5 miles away makes it challenging to get your drink of choice.