Deep in the heart of Michigan's Huron National Forest, Forest Dunes Golf Resort is rewriting the rules of American golf destinations. This isn't just another resort—it's a golf laboratory where innovation meets tradition across 500 acres of pristine wilderness. The original Forest Dunes course, a Tom Weiskopf parkland beauty, transitions from towering pines on the front nine to glacial sand dunes on the back, earning consistent top-25 national rankings. But the real magic happens at The Loop, Tom Doak's reversible masterpiece that plays as two completely different courses—Black on odd days, Red on even days—using the same 18 greens. It's a mind-bending experience that had golfers buzzing when it opened in 2016, and it's still the only truly reversible course in North America.
This is a pure golf destination where accommodations sit just 35 yards from the first tee, where you can settle 18-hole matches on a quirky 19th hole with a bunker in the middle of the green, and where the 10-hole Bootlegger short course lets you kick off your shoes, grab a cold one, and keep the fun rolling as the sun sets. The Loop is walking-only with caddies available, delivering a links-style experience with concrete-firm fescue fairways that reward creativity and ground game. Meanwhile, the original course demands precision through tree-lined corridors and strategic bunkering. Groups love the variety—you're essentially playing four distinct courses over two days, with the Bootlegger as your victory lap. The remoteness isn't a bug, it's a feature: no distractions, just golf, camaraderie, and some of the best course conditioning in the Midwest.
Tom Weiskopf's 7,116-yard parkland masterpiece with a forested front nine and dramatic dunes-studded back nine, plus a bonus 19th hole
Tom Doak's clockwise routing of the reversible layout, playing 6,704 yards with firm, fast fescue conditions
The counterclockwise version of The Loop playing 6,806 yards, offering a completely different strategic challenge using the same greens
A fun 1,100-yard par-3 course where you can play shoeless with a beverage, designed for post-round relaxation
Lake AuSable Lodge features 14 rooms (12 standard rooms plus two 2-bedroom suites with full kitchens) located just 35 yards from the first tee. The resort also offers six rental cottages ranging from 2 to 4 bedrooms, with some on Lake AuSable and others along the 7th fairway. All feature modern amenities, and The Loop is reserved exclusively for overnight guests.