Arcadia Bluffs is adding another course, too By Len Ziehm

Arcadia Bluffs is adding another course, too

By Len Ziehm

Arcadia Bluffs and Forest Dunes have battled for the status of Michigan's best public course for several years, so it should come as no surprise that construction of a second course will begin on Nov. 1 at Arcadia. And there's no better place to begin another round of our "offseason" travel-related golf reports.

Forest Dunes, in Roscommon, had a soft opening for its unique Tom Doak-designed reversible course - a layout that can be played both clockwise and counter clockwise - this season and it'll be in full swing in 2017 to provide an alternative to the respected Tom Weiskopf-designed main 18-holer.

Arcadia's second course will be on the unusual side as well. Called the South Course at Arcadia Bluffs, it'll be located about a mile from the present 18-holer and - unlike its companion layout - it won't be on the water.

Architect Dana Fry is planning an inland course that will be noted for its huge putting surfaces that will be either square or rectangular-shaped. Planned opening is in the summer of 2018.

Revised: 10/25/2016 - Article Viewed 30,725 Times - View Course Profile

About: Len Ziehm

My 41-year career on the Chicago Sun-Times sports staff ended with my retirement on June 30, 2010. During that stint I covered a wide variety of sports, but golf was a constant. I was the paper's golf writer for 40 years, during which time I covered 27 U.S. Opens, 10 Masters, 17 PGA Championships, four U.S. Women's Opens and the last 34 Western Opens in addition to a heavy load of Chicago area events.

For 20 years I was a columnist for Chicagoland Golf, a newspaper that suspended publication following the death of founder and good friend Phil Kosin in 2009. (This is not to be confused with the publication of the same name which was introduced in 2013 after being known as Chicago Area Golf for three years). I also contributed a chapter to a history book on the Solheim Cup and have been a member of the selection committee for the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.

As a player I remain just an avid hacker with a handicap that never has dipped below 16.