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Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Formerly Grand Haven GC, Nicklaus waived his fee after meeting with Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, USAF.




How an Air Force pilot teamed with Jack Nicklaus to build a golf It will be one of the most humbling walks in golf, and it will happen before you arrive at the 1st tee.
At American Dunes Golf Club, a newly reworked layout in Grand Haven, Mich., that has just about wrapped up its finishing touches, the entrance from the parking lot onto the grounds is a soon-to-be completed walkway that will double as a military tribute. As you follow it toward the clubhouse, you will pass through an open-air tunnel with unmistakable markings in your path. Embedded in the otherwise smooth cement will be the bootprints of United States service members who died in the course of duty.Consider it a fitting introduction to the day.“The entire experience here is meant to be a reverential one,” says Lt. Col. Dan Rooney of the U.S. Air Force. “It is very intentional on our part that everyone will come and leave through that memorial in recognition of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”


https://golf.com/travel/american-dunes-military-tribute-dan-rooney-jack-nicklaus/
« Last Edit: September 29, 2020, 01:08:18 PM by Steve_ Shaffer »
"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: American Dunes ( Nicklaus renovation) in Grand Haven, MI to open May, '21
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2020, 03:00:28 PM »
Looks like dedication tee shots were today.




https://twitter.com/MIgolfjournal/status/1310984363874627584










Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
If you have played the old Grand Haven GC this it bears no resemblance to the old one.


https://www.linksmagazine.com/american-dunes-jack-nicklauss-stunning-new-course-is-a-tribute-to-our-military/
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
If you have played the old Grand Haven GC this it bears no resemblance to the old one.


https://www.linksmagazine.com/american-dunes-jack-nicklauss-stunning-new-course-is-a-tribute-to-our-military/


Yes, the last several times I have been home, my dad & I have driven up to the property to see how is has been transformed. Its about 20mins from home. So much tree removal & exposed sand from LM Dunes, now. Huge upgrade from what what there, though 20yrs ago, Grand Haven was thought of as a nice public venue.
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
If you have played the old Grand Haven GC this it bears no resemblance to the old one.


https://www.linksmagazine.com/american-dunes-jack-nicklauss-stunning-new-course-is-a-tribute-to-our-military/


Yes, the last several times I have been home, my dad & I have driven up to the property to see how is has been transformed. Its about 20mins from home. So much tree removal & exposed sand from LM Dunes, now. Huge upgrade from what what there, though 20yrs ago, Grand Haven was thought of as a nice public venue.


Anthony, my family was from Muskegon so when I would visit I'd always play Grand Haven GC. I know it was heavily treed but I really enjoyed the course. I like the terrain and the fact that I had to be straight. At one time it was in GD's Top 100 public.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Peter Pallotta

My goodness: the article said that Folds of Honor has grown to "raising $20 million dollars and sending 4,000 military families to school this past year."  It's amazing what can be accomplished with care and commitment -- and touching that in his twilight years Mr. Nicklaus can contribute in this way.

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Peter, just wondering at what age twilight begins.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
I wish I could start a charity and pay myself $450thd+/year while developing golf courses.
H.P.S.

Peter Pallotta

Tom - that word came to mind because I clicked on the twitter link (above) and watched Mr. N hit the ceremonial tee shot — and it looked so different than any tee shot I’ve ever seen him hit before, even ones as recent as last year. But also it’s ‘personal’, ie in my family, my parents and grandparents all seemed to enter their twilight years at about 82; but of course I know that for others the latter years happen much later.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2020, 12:03:03 PM by Peter Pallotta »

Chris_Blakely

  • Karma: +0/-0
If you have played the old Grand Haven GC this it bears no resemblance to the old one.


https://www.linksmagazine.com/american-dunes-jack-nicklauss-stunning-new-course-is-a-tribute-to-our-military/


Ok, it may bear no resemblance to Bruce Mathews Sr's Grand Haven golf club, but 12 of the 18 holes play in the exact same direction and through the exact same corridors as the former course.  Having played Grand Haven GC and most of Mathews Sr.'s work, I thought it was one of his better designs.


Chris

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
If you have played the old Grand Haven GC this it bears no resemblance to the old one.


https://www.linksmagazine.com/american-dunes-jack-nicklauss-stunning-new-course-is-a-tribute-to-our-military/


Ok, it may bear no resemblance to Bruce Mathews Sr's Grand Haven golf club, but 12 of the 18 holes play in the exact same direction and through the exact same corridors as the former course.  Having played Grand Haven GC and most of Mathews Sr.'s work, I thought it was one of his better designs.


Chris


I thought that Grand Haven was one of Sr's better work. He lived there & family used to own it, even. I like his work at LR Kaufman the best.
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Tom - that word came to mind because I clicked on the twitter link (above) and watched Mr. N hit the ceremonial tee shot — and it looked so different than any tee shot I’ve ever seen him hit before, even ones as recent as last year. But also it’s ‘personal’, ie in my family, my parents and grandparents all seemed to enter their twilight years at about 82; but of course I know that for others the latter years happen much later.


THANK goodness. I still have 8 years to go before the twilight zone.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Chris_Blakely

  • Karma: +0/-0
If you have played the old Grand Haven GC this it bears no resemblance to the old one.


https://www.linksmagazine.com/american-dunes-jack-nicklauss-stunning-new-course-is-a-tribute-to-our-military/


Ok, it may bear no resemblance to Bruce Mathews Sr's Grand Haven golf club, but 12 of the 18 holes play in the exact same direction and through the exact same corridors as the former course.  Having played Grand Haven GC and most of Mathews Sr.'s work, I thought it was one of his better designs.


Chris


I thought that Grand Haven was one of Sr's better work. He lived there & family used to own it, even. I like his work at LR Kaufman the best.


I went back and looked at my photos from both courses (over 10 years since I played) and L.E. Kaufman is right there.  I should not have forgotten about that one.


Chris

Bernie Bell

  • Karma: +0/-0
I wish I could start a charity and pay myself $450thd+/year while developing golf courses.


What's stopping you? 

Jeff Schley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Very patriotic project and pleased such a place has come together. Anyone have any updates on this project as with it opening in May all the work I assume is done.
Does anyone know how they funded the work and other than chainsaw a bunch of trees what they did? Didn't find any specifics on that. I'm a big JN fan, but would have liked to have seen a different logo for a place dedicated to the military and such a great cause. Having the golden bear image with stars and stripes would be cool for the design credit, but the logo of the entire course and their mission not so much IMO. However big kudos to JN for waiving his $3 million design fee (wow that is pricey).


"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice your gifts."
- Steve Prefontaine

PCCraig

  • Karma: +0/-0
I wish I could start a charity and pay myself $450thd+/year while developing golf courses.


What's stopping you?


My moral compass?
H.P.S.

Jeff Schley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Opens May 2nd. Love to see the mission that combines golf with patriotism and giving back.

https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/04/14/american-dunes-course-folds-of-honor-patriotic/
"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice your gifts."
- Steve Prefontaine

Matt Glore

  • Karma: +0/-0
Has anyone teed it up at AD yet?  Got a tee time next weekend. 

Jim Tang

  • Karma: +0/-0
Hi Matt - what did you think of American Dunes?

Ben Sims

  • Karma: +1/-0
Wow. Based on that “squadron bar” setup, Viper and Phantom silhouettes everywhere, and all the military aviation lingo, I’m actually quite surprised they aren’t renting HGU-55 helmets with 20/P masks for players to get the “real” experience.


Folds of Honor does some terrific work. Hopefully the ROI is high and they can fund a bunch of scholarships. 
« Last Edit: May 09, 2021, 10:03:56 AM by Ben Sims »

Peter Flory

  • Karma: +0/-0
Looks like a big improvement.  I like anything that fills in the gaps on the drive from IL to Traverse City. 

Will Lozier

  • Karma: +0/-0
I wish I could start a charity and pay myself $450thd+/year while developing golf courses.


Ditto...but I guess you could?

Joe Bausch

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I'll have some photos of American Dunes in about a month. Stay tuned.
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Joe Bausch

  • Karma: +0/-0
A hole by hole photo tour from my recent visit to American Dunes:


http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/AmericanDunes/index.html
@jwbausch (for new photo albums)
The site for the Cobb's Creek project:  https://cobbscreek.org/
Nearly all Delaware Valley golf courses in photo albums: Bausch Collection

Carl Rogers

  • Karma: +0/-0
So, if an East coast golf tourist is making the rounds in MI, is this course worth the time relative to the other options?
I decline to accept the end of man. ... William Faulkner