Forest Dunes begins construction on par-three course

The planned layout for the par-three course at Forest Dunes. Photo courtesy of Kevin Frisch PR

Construction is underway on a 10-hole par-three golf course at Forest Dunes in Roscommon, Mich.

The short course is situated between The Loop and Forest Dunes and has holes measuring between 55 and 155 yards. The course will be a focal point and a hot spot for golfers of all ages and skill levels.

Forest Dunes owner Lew Thompson considered a handful of top golf course architects before entrusting the par-three course project to Riley Johns and Keith Rhebb, who previously partnered on the renovation at Orlando’s Winter Park 9 course. Johns and Rhebb have worked on design projects around the globe with architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

The duo met in 2014 while working for Coore and Crenshaw on the construction of Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia. Johns also assisted Tom Doak in the initial design and construction stages of The Loop. Joe Hancock, a Michigan-based golf construction, design and shaping expert, will also play a major role in the shaping of the course.

“We were thrilled at how quickly this project came together this year and with the huge amount of trust Lew has given us,” Johns said. “He wants a course that will be fun and playable for his grandkids and any golfer of any skill level, so that’s the main goal we’re keeping in mind as we build holes where you can play a variety of shots and trajectories and take different angles to get to the hole.” 

While not at all penal or overly-demanding, the 957-yard layout promises to be visually striking, enticing guests to play it before or after a round on The Loop or Forest Dunes or any time they’re on the resort grounds. To facilitate a firm, fast ground game, the course will feature fescues from the tees to the edges of the receptive bentgrass greens where golfers can use strategic slopes and banks to feed shots toward the hole. Rhebb says the greens will take on a variety of subtle shapes, many being bowl-shaped and some resembling catcher’s mitts or table tops. 

“When you come to Forest Dunes, we want you to have a good time,” said Thompson, who says he’ll happily allow music, bare feet and eight-somes on the new par-three course if that’s what it takes to make the game more accessible and fun. “What Keith and Riley are building is going to bring a new life and energy to the property. It’s going to bring people together and make their time more enjoyable.”

John Wessels is head golf course superintendent at Forest Dunes and Rob Falconer is head golf course superintendent at The Loop.