Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Forest Dunes appoints Hanse and Wagner to design SkyFall course

Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon, Michigan, has appointed Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner to design a new course called SkyFall, with construction potentially starting in late 2025.

The club has three layouts: the original Tom Weiskopf-designed Forest Dunes course, Tom Doak’s 18-hole reversible ‘The Loop’ and a 10-hole par-three layout designed by Riley Johns and Keith Rhebb. SkyFall will be a private club, although public guests staying at Forest Dunes will have access to limited tee times.

“The opportunity to have Gil and Jim craft their first original design in Michigan on what is the most compelling property at Forest Dunes is really exciting,” said Rich Mack, who owns Forest Dunes alongside business partner Tom Sunnarborg. “I’m also pleased that we will work with Gil and Jim a second time in our career and create something really special here in Michigan.” Mack previously hired Hanse and Wagner to create the Black course at the Streamsong Resort.

Sunnarborg added: “Gil and Jim are two of the most influential golf course architects of our era and are entrusted to advance projects of golf significance across the globe. We know they will find the best of the land to work with and turn it into something unforgettable that members and guests are going to thoroughly enjoy, hopefully many times.”

Hanse and Wagner plan sees the course routed through 300 acres of forest land adjacent to the club’s existing layouts. The site has elevation changes of up to 70 feet, and Hanse says the course will feature various elements found at Ohoopee Match Club, Castle Stuart and Les Bordes.

This design is focused on the key landforms on the property,” he said. “When you look at some of the great old courses by Tillinghast or Ross, there tends to be a landform they go away from and return to. That’s also the case at SkyFall, and it is those features that are the key to creating a truly compelling design. Jim and I also really look forward to working with Rich and Tom again. They have high standards and expectations for this project, and so do we.”

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  • SkyFall Forest Dunes Hanse
    Hanse Golf Course Design

    The SkyFall routing plan from Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner for Forest Dunes in Michigan

  • SkyFall Forest Dunes Hanse
    Forest Dunes

    A sand pit at the northwest corner of the SkyFall property

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Hanse Golf Course Design
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