Tom Doak’s “The Loop” – Reversible Golf Course – Opens at Forest Dunes on June 27
New Design Will Challenge Conventional Thinking of Golf Course Architecture
Roscommon, MI – It has been over 20-years since world renowned golf course designer Tom Doak has designed a course in his home state of Michigan. This summer marks his much-anticipated return with a design concept that challenges the conventional thinking of golf course architecture.
The Loop, an 18-hole reversible design, the first of its kind in the U.S., will open at Forest Dunes in Northern Michigan on June 27.
“It’s sure got a lot of people talking about Forest Dunes,” Doak said. “I get asked about the reversible course everywhere I go, and probably half the people just think I’m crazy and are hoping for proof!”
Golf Channel travel expert Matt Ginella toured the layout last fall with Tom Doak and sat down with the architect and owner Lew Thompson to discuss the concept. If you missed the seven-minute Architecture Week segment, click on the link to view it here: How and Why? Reversible Course at Forest Dunes.
“One of our goals with creating this new golf course was to make Forest Dunes a golf destination where golfers from around the country would want to come and stay for multiple nights and have a unique golf experience versus just passing through,” said general manager Chad Maveus. “What we have now with The Loop is in essence three golf courses and a golf package that will allow golfers to stay for two-nights to play all three courses.”
Doak hopes the first reaction of golfers to The Loop is that the golf course is fun, regardless of which direction they played.
“The second reaction; we want them to be curious,” he said. “We want them to wonder how could it be just as good playing it backwards. Then if they play it the next day, I’m not sure they will be able to remember exactly which hole was which the other way round. The hope is that people are fascinated to play it some more so they can understand how it fits together.”
The Loop, with its revolutionary reversible design concept, will be a walking only experience featuring the option of professional caddies. The two different layouts will alternate directions on a daily basis allowing golfers to experience a unique 54-hole golf vacation package unlike any other.
About Forest Dunes
Nestled on 1,300 acres of heavily wooded land within the Huron National Forest, Forest Dunes has become one of the country's premier golf experiences. In this pristine setting, 1973 Open Champion Tom Weiskopf designed one of his top layouts featuring rugged native dunes, scruffy sand areas and water features. The course has been consistently ranked among the best courses by the leading golf publications. Golf Digest, which ranked it the Best New Course in the Country when it opened in 2002, currently ranks it No. 23 among its top public courses, and GOLF Magazine and Golfweek have also ranked it among their Top 100 courses. Joining the Forest Dunes course in 2016 is The Loop, a Tom Doak design featuring an innovative reversible routing that will be played in two directions giving the resort 54-holes of golf.
In addition to the award winning Forest Dunes course and The Loop, the property features the beautiful Adirondack style Clubhouse with the recently remodeled Sangomore’s restaurant, Lake AuSable Lodge with 14-rooms, golf villas, and six cottages.
For more visit www.forestdunesgolf.com or follow them on Twitter @forestdunesgolf.
