Kingsley, Arcadia & Forest Dunes in August

[Eric Smith]

I had the privilege of playing Forest Dunes, Arcadia Bluffs and The Kingsley Club over the past weekend.  Down the road when I think back on this golf trip I'm sure my thoughts of each of these fine courses will evolve and settle into solid opinions. But for now, I'm just getting my feeling back in my hands (we played 99 holes in three days) and being back at work is difficult with the daydreaming.

I would like to share with you all a thought or two as they they trickle out-

1. Forest Dunes - absolutely perfect playing conditions. There could have been a WGC event played that day and the players would have raved about the course. The smoothest, slickest greens I personally have ever experienced.  Same goes for the fairways and tees. And not lost in this assessment is the course itself, it is one heckuva fun golf course.  The experience is one of solitude plus it's very laid back. You drive through the gate, the cart attendants follow your car to your house on a beautiful lake, drop off your carts in the driveway, point to the club and say have fun. We played 54 holes in a day that I'll never forget.

2. Arcadia - a setting that is absolutely magnificent. Very dramatic in it's presentation. A special property for sure. Edit*11/25/2007 - I really didn't like this course.  It seemed too artificial to me.  Too packaged, trying too hard to be something.  Wish I had liked it, but...that's life.

3. Kingsley - like nothing I've ever seen. Stayed on site in a members cottage, arriving near midnight after the drive from Arcadia. Did get to meet and briefly chat with fellow GCA'er John Kirk and his friend Jeff who shared the cabin with us. Sorry we didn't have the opportunity to hang out longer and learn more about the club from John.  Next morning, by the end of the round I was really feeling quite beat up, literally.  The highlight of this day was my crushed tee shot on 17 that took the plunge down the roller coaster fairway and ended up only 144 from the green.  I had a 20 footer for eagle to tie the leader on the 98th hole of our three day event, but, alas, I three putted and doubled eighteen to boot to limp home still with a smile on my face, because Kingsley is that good.  It crushed me and I loved it. Now that's a good golf course!! The green complexes were a little extreme on a couple holes, though I like the challenge and applaud the developers and Mike D for building them as they are presented.

This was my first trip to Northern Michigan. I believe I'll always come back in the summertime for a great golf trip with my buddies. It really is special.  Kingsley and Arcadia are discussed quite a bit on this site. Now I know why.  I'm hopeful that more folks on here have an opportunity to get over to Forest Dunes as I believe, right now, it is my favorite of the three.

[Bill_McBride]

Eric, I played those same three courses in July, plus a round at a course that has joined my top 10 pantheon, Crystal Downs    Crystal Downs has the most entertaining set of greens I've seen in years, plus the toughest par 5 on the planet, #8.  (It's especially tough if you pull your tee ball into the fescue left into a downhill lie... )

I agree that Forest Dunes is a terrific golf course but it's not in the class of Kingsley Club in my personal opinion.  Yes, super greens and good routing but not as many memorable and quirky holes as Kingsley.  I did really like the heathland-style holes in the forested back nine.  #13 reminded me more of Alwoodley that anything I've played in the U.S.

The Traverse City area is wonderful golf for sure.

[Jim Franklin]

Eric -

How far away is Forest Dunes from Kingsley? I loved the cabins at Kingsley and look forward to getting back.

Anyone know how the Peninsula Cup turned out?

[Eric Smith]

Bill,
I probably should clarify 'favorite' in my previous post. I favored the overall golf club experience more at Forest Dunes, as far as stay and play. I'm only on one, sometimes two of these golf marathons per year.  I relish seeing my best friends on this annual trip, enjoying themselves on top notch golf courses & I enjoy watching them four-putt lightning fast greens too!

Forest Dunes has it all... staying in total isolation, on site in a lakehouse, carts in the driveway, with only owls and deer and stars on a crystal clear lake at night...and a course like Forest Dunes waiting for you to tee it up in the a.m.

I don't want to compare the courses, not yet anyway, because they both make me smile ALOT when I think of the day I had at each.  And the one I really hoped would do it for me, Arcadia, I don't know what to say.

Without a doubt, there is an entire volume of design characteristics at Kingsley that I couldn't begin to decipher after only one round there. I hope to get an invite back again someday to learn more.

Would love to see The Downs next time up, it is a priority for sure.

Looking forward to the Dixie Cup.

Eric

[Eric Smith]

Jim,
It's about 55 miles between the two, took us an hour and a half.

Eric

[Bill_McBride]

Jim,
It's about 55 miles between the two, took us an hour and a half.

Eric

Watch out for construction on that main road from Grayling to Traverse City if you have a flight!

Eric, I shared your ambivalence about Arcadia.  Totally unwalkable in my opinion, due to the severely uphill and lengthy green to tee walks and choppy routing.  I understand the routing has been through a bunch of iterations.  We compounded the felony by playing the wrong set of tees for three members of our foursome.  Nothing could bother GCAer John Kirk that day as he reeled off 7 birdies including the first four holes.

I didn't know about the accommodations at Forest Dunes, that would certainly enhance the experience.  We stayed with a member in his riverfront house not far off.  How did you like (and play) the split fairway #10?  I thought that was the oddest looking hole I'd seen in years, but maybe it works.