Lost Dunes

By Mike Morse

Nestled in the heart of The Beach Coast, between the wine trail and Lake Michigan, is one of the most beautiful spots any serious golfer could wish for. The Lost Dunes Golf Club is just 90 minutes from the heart of downtown Chicago, yet it feels like the noise and congestion of the city are a thousand miles away.

Upon entering the property, you can feel the weight of the city life slipping off your shoulders. The spacious open areas of this private course beckon you to embrace its serenity and beauty for one of the most relaxing golf experiences you will ever have. Members need not fight for a tee time, just call ahead and let the staff know you’re coming and what time you’d like to play and they will be ready for you. Play your round at your pace without any pressure or time constraints.

Now in its 12^th Season
Opened in April 1999, this Tom Doak designed course, is now in its 12^th season. It has had plenty of time to mature into the world-class course that it is. Doak has skillfully and artistically crafted a course design that has taken advantage of the natural features of the site, rather than carving the landscape to meet the needs of the course.  Although busy Interstate 94 goes through the center of the property, you are hardly aware that it is even there. Starting with the first tee on the east side of the expressway, you play seven holes and then cross only one time to the west side to finish the round. Holes are laid out so that very seldom do you pass another fairway going the opposite direction, thus eliminating the crowded feeling that other courses sometimes have.

The quality of this course has gained it national recognition. Golfweek Magazine has rated it #58 in its top 100 courses and Golf Digest has it ranked at #63. As General Manager Bill Korbel states “We’re not here to make these lists, but it’s nice when you do.”

This par 71, 6905-yard course is laid out with fairways that don’t close in on you. With ample landing zones for tee shots, you will have to carefully plan your second shot with that days’ pin placement in mind. The large undulating greens allow plenty of pin placement options so that every round is different on the greens. This is a course that will hold your interest for each additional round that you play.

A First-Class, Full-Service Golf Club
Although membership in Lost Dunes is limited, this Golf Club has all the amenities necessary to suit the needs of its members. In addition to the centerpiece of the Club, the golf course, the clubhouse is also first-class. The lounge and dining room are spacious, yet still intimate. Beautiful men’s and women’s locker rooms have a homey rather than institutional feeling. This is a clubhouse that welcomes its members without a stuffy, overly formal feeling. As Bill Korbel explained, “We want people to be comfortable and relaxed.” The Club is not overburdened with rules. As Bill says “We have one rule: common sense, be courteous and polite.”

In addition to golf, there is an outdoor swimming pool and a fishing dock. The fire pit area is a wonderful place to swap golf stories on a crisp autumn evening. A unique feature of the club is the group of five four-bedroom cabins that are available to members. Whether for a large family gathering or a business outing, these cabins offer modern amenities for groups right on the property.

Lost Dunes embraces family activities and encourages younger members with two weeklong golf camps each summer under the direction of Teaching Professional Mike Longyer. He and Head Professional Pete Han have also developed a Sunday afternoon program that allows Junior Golfers to qualify at different levels of achievement which are signified with different color golf hats awarded for each level reached. This encourages the younger golfers to continue to improve their game with instruction from an expert teacher.

Lost Dunes Golf Club is the perfect retreat for the golfer who wants the finest facility in the area combined with a relaxing atmosphere and first-class service. As they say at Lost Dunes, this is a course where you can “Experience golf the way it should be.”

Lost Dunes
9300 Red Arrow Highway
Bridgeman, MI
(269) 465-9300
www.lostdunes.com