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Like clockwork, golfers emerge from hibernation around the same time they're peppered with images of blooming azaleas and lush green fairways emenating from Augusta National in early April. If you have spring golf fever, and you're planning a trip to the Midwest once the snow melts and the temperatures warm, here are five "must play" golf courses you may have never heard of.
Forest Dunes Golf Club (Roscommon, Michigan)
Forest Dunes Golf Club was voted as the No. 1 Public Golf Course in Golf World's 2010 Readers' Choice Awards.
 Located in Northern Michigan's Huron National Forest, Forest Dunes Golf Club blends the beauty of a wild setting featuring sand dunes, native grasses and pine forests with classic design elements created by Tom Weiskopf to create a truly remarkable and uniquely memorable golf experience.
This is truly a spectacular piece of golf course property and I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to create a special golf experience for those who have opportunity to play," Weiskopf said of his work. "I consider this golf course to be one of the best which I have ever been involved in the U.S."
Golf Digest's Architectural Editor Ron Whitten also heaped high praise upon Forest Dunes.
"Half the holes at Forest Dunes are Augusta National style rolling down majestic corridors of red and jack pines, with elaborate bunkering of gleaming white sand," Whitten wrote. "The remaining holes bring to mind Pine Valley, with dark exposed native sand littered with scruffy underbrush. The mix is artfully blended on both nines."
The challenge to players of all experience levels is as varied as the golf and lake views enjoyed from woodland homes that are barely visible from the course. As a true test for professionals in the Michigan PGA Senior Championship in 2009, but on an everyday basis, the generous landing areas and grassy greenside bailouts at Forest Dunes invite even beginners to succeed here.
In addition to the recently Golf World honor, Forest Dunes was ranked No. 37 by Golf Digest in the magazine's list of "100 Greatest Public Courses in the U.S."
Online: www.forestdunesgolf.com
Spring/Summer Rates: $80-150
Sultan's Run Golf Club (Jasper, Indiana)
As a whole, golfers are a resourceful and resilient group, trekking through unfamiliar territory in order to discover the next hidden gem and then enduring round after round even if moments of glory are fleeting and frustration reigns.
Undoubtedly the “if you build it they will come” moniker made famous by “Field of Dreams” captures the spirit of the golfing ilk.
In tiny Jasper, once heralded as one of the best small towns in America, the aesthetically brilliant and somewhat addicting Sultan's Run Golf Club is exhibiting an almost gravitational pull on golfers from across the Midwest, drawing crowds from Chicago, St. Louis, Michigan, Wisconsin, Kentucky and every corner of Indiana.
Designed by Tim Liddy, an understudy of world-renowned golf course architect Pete Dye who has created golf courses from St. Andrews to Hilton Head Island, Sultan’s Run was described as a “killer scenic layout,” by Golf Digest in the publication’s “Places to Play Guide.”
Featuring 224 rolling acres of woods, water and wildlife, this picturesque layout is situated two hours southeast of Indianapolis and an hour and 15 minutes from Louisville, Kentucky. The course’s proximity to French Lick Resort (less than a half hour), which is quickly becoming one of America’s most acclaimed golf destinations, not to mention attractive pricing, make it an ideal addition to any golf vacation to French Lick.
Sultan’s Run’s ever present elevation changes combined with tee shots that must carry across ravines and water that comes into play on at least 11 holes make it a considerable challenge. It’s also one of the most beautiful courses in the region, if not the state.
That’s especially true of the 429-yard par-4 18th, Sultan’s Run’s signature hole. Tabbed by Golf Digest as one of the best finishing holes in Indiana, the 18th requires a tee shot across a lake and a ravine, then a middle to long iron approach shot to the green. The views from every angle are breathtaking.
“The nice thing is we don’t have any development, and the beauty of the routing is that you’re not playing holes that are side-by-side,” said Sultan’s Run General Manager Glenn Krodel. “Dense wooded areas divide a lot of these holes; we actually have a lot of requests from people who want to get out here for deer hunting in the off season. With the wildlife and elevation changes, it’s just a naturally beautiful course. We feel that it’s still a hidden gem to some degree.”
The land used to build the course has a unique claim to fame. In the 1960s the area now occupied by Sultan’s Run was home to Supreme Sultan, a historic horse and literally a legend in his own time. It was over these hills and valleys of picturesque beauty that Supreme Sultan sired a record number of World Champion American Saddlebred horses. No place on earth can lay claim to this record. Today each engraved stone tee box is a tribute to one of these world champions.
Sultan’s Run first opened in 1992 to rave reviews; Golf Digest gave it 4.5 Stars. The course quickly became a local favorite and earned attention across Indiana and the surrounding area. A series of improvements were made to the course in the mid-1990s, lifting the layout to the pinnacle of public golf. After a period of stagnation, new ownership took over in February 2009. Significant funds were spent on returning the course to peak condition and those improvements have made a significant difference. Building on the momentum of last year, Sultan’s Run will enter a new era this season.
Online: www.sultansrun.com
Spring/Summer Rates: $30-52
Aldeen Golf Club (Rockford, Illinois)
 Acclaimed layouts like Upstate New York’s Bethpage Black, Tacoma’s Chamber’s Bay and San Francisco’s Harding Park have made municipal golf sexy again and put a majority of the negative connotations surrounding the term “muni” out to pasture. Economic conditions and changing sentiment among public golfers could very well make this the decade of upscale municipal golf, and that would be just fine with Rockford’s Aldeen Golf Club, an acclaimed golf facility that’s earned numerous national and regional awards and hosted a plethora of prestigious events.
Located about an hour from the Chicago suburbs, the Dick Nugent-designed layout offers golfers a fantastic challenge on well-manicured grounds. The course features challenging water hazards on 12 of 18 holes, and 62 sand bunkers including three of Nugent’s signature “beach bunkers.”
In 2009, Golf Digest magazine ranked Aldeen Golf Club as the best municipal golf course in the state of Illinois. The publication also rated the course 4.5 Stars in its 2008 “Places to Play” guide. Another impressive honor came from Golf Magazine, who listed Aldeen as one of the top 50 courses in the U.S. with fees under $50 in its ode to frugal yet fantastic golf entitled “Thrifty Fifty” that was released in 2007.
“With all of the acclaimed public courses in the Chicagoland area, you’d have to have rocks in your head to drive 85 miles to play golf, right?” the well-known publication asked. “Yet Chicago-ans do it all the time to get a crack at the pride of Rockford, a Dick Nugent gem that compares favorably to his Kemper Lakes layout, for a quarter of the price. High-lipped bunkers, easy-to-lose-a-ball-in rough, scattered mounding and the island green 8th hole add up to trouble for wayward hitters.”
The quality and challenge present at Aldeen is evident in the various top-tier events the course has hosted, which include the 2008 Illinois State Men’s Senior Amateur Championship, the 2004 Illinois State Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2001 Illinois State Men’s Amateur Championship. The course has also been selected to again host the 2013 Illinois State Men’s Amateur and as a sectional qualifying site for the 2014 Men’s U.S. Open Championship.
According to Duncan Geddes, head professional and general manager at Aldeen, it was foresight and a steadfast commitment to excellence that pushed the club to the pinnacle of public golf.
“I think part of it was the commitment that the Aldeen family and the Rockford Park District jointly made,” he said. “Aldeen opened in 1992 when the upscale public course boom was just beginning. What they did was be ahead of the curve. We didn’t have a lot of upscale public golf in the 1980s and 1990s and Mr. Aldeen saw that trend. We were at the forefront of upscale public course development as that trend emerged in the 90s. The Aldeen’s put in the seed money in and made a commitment to the facilities, which are as nice as private clubs. That’s how we got the ball rolling.”
Geddes also said the making the course available for Chicago District Golf Association, Illinois Junior Golf Association as well as United States Golf Association for a few days each year has greatly helped to raise the profile of the course and cemented its reputation as a championship-caliber layout.
“Our marketing plan was to bring the best from around the state, men, women, seniors and juniors, here and let them spread the word about the course,” said Geddes.
Aldeen is a straightforward layout that unfolds right in front of the golfer. The course doesn’t have any blind shots and is considered a modern Midwestern design. While the layout does feature an island green, it’s by no means tricky.
Overall Aldeen Golf Club is a good test of golf with subtle elevation changes, fairly large greens and plenty of water hazards, but nothing artificial like waterfalls or fountains. There are plenty of trees throughout the course and as is customary of a Nugent design, a suffi cient amount of mounding.
“Placement on the greens is important,” said Geddes. “You have to play it all the way from tee to green, and be considerate of where you put the ball on the green. You’ll be penalized when you hit bad shots, but rewarded if you make good ones. There are several holes where you need to make decisions. I always say, if you can stand on the tee and not worry about where you hit it, it’s not a good hole. To me that’s why this is such a good golf course. It’s very subtle, yet very dramatic. I like that there are holes you have to think about.”
Online: www.aldeengolfclub.com
Spring/Summer Rates: $40-75
The Course at Aberdeen (Valparaiso, Indiana)
The only golf course in northwest Indiana to receive a Five-Star rating from Chicagoland Golf Magazine, The Course at Aberdeen beckons golfers from the Windy City and beyond to make the trip to Valparaiso and experience a championship-caliber layout highlighted by stunning natural aesthetics and a most serene atmosphere.
On a good day The Course at Aberdeen is less than an hour’s drive from Chicago, and what awaits golfers who make the short trek is a course with all of the perks of a layout located closer to the city that offers Indiana prices and Indiana peace of mind.
“When you’re out here you feel like you’re the only group,” said General Manager Mike Higdon.” “No holes are located side-by-side. They all intertwine through a maze of ponds, creeks, mature trees and environmental areas. You really don’t see any other golfers during the round. You’re out there by yourself. Our course enables you to be out there and relax; really enjoy the scenery.”
Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, who has worked on acclaimed layouts such as Wisconsin’s Erin Hills and Peoria’s WeaverRidge, as well as the expansion of the historic 18-hole course at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, The Course at Aberdeen is cut out of the former Tim-berlake Horse Farm’s rolling hills and provides a beautiful natural habitat to surrounding wildlife. The tees, fairways and greens are all Bent grass and provide for an enjoyable golfing experience.
“Hurdzan’s number one thing as an architect from everything I’ve read and seen is that he doesn’t like to move a lot of dirt,” said Higdon.
“He takes the natural lay of the land and let’s that be by and large the way the course is routed. This course was originally an old horse farm. He didn’t move a lot of dirt, and left all that intact, which is what makes it so beautiful and so peaceful. You’ll probably see deer, foxes, rabbits...all sorts of wildlife; things you wouldn’t encounter at a city or municipal course.”
The most difficult stretch at The Course at Aberdeen is from 10-12; call it northwest Indiana’s version of Amen Corner. The 514-yard 10th hole is a relatively easy par 5 that is there for the taking, but plenty of players have walked off the green disappointed. The 195-yard par-3 11th is the most difficult par 3 on the course. Finally, the 418-yard par 4 12th features a carry over two environmentally-sensitive areas, one to the initial landing area and another before the green, creating an island fairway effect.
“If you get through those three at even par you’ve done an amazing job,” said Higdon.
Every hole at The Course at Aberdeen is strategically placed to enhance its individual character and provide a pleasurable golfing experience to every golfer, no matter what skill level. With an excellent facility and an experienced professional staff, The Course at Aberdeen is guaranteed to provide the total golf experience that every player is looking for. Rated Four Stars by Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” guide, The Course at Aberdeen offers a golf experience amid the beautiful Indiana countryside.
“The Course at Aberdeen was a golfing treat like no other,” said a recent visitor from Chicago. “The natural aesthetics of the land will make any day at this course a peaceful one. The course was in great shape and the staff was very accommodating. The Course at Aberdeen is by far the best golf course in the area. You are guaranteed to have a great time no matter your skill level. You will not be disappointed with making this trip.”
Online: www.golfataberdeen.com
Spring/Summer Rates: Call (219) 462-5050
WeaverRidge Golf Club (Peoria, Illinois)
Golf’s history is filled with stories about innovators and visionaries, trailblazers and trendsetters, who have left the game better than they found it.
Recent recipient of the PGA Distinguished Service Award Bill Powell, who passed away at the age of 93 this past New Year’s Eve, was honored for his stick-to-itiveness in becoming the only African American to build, own and operate a golf course in the United States. Creator of Hilton Head’s Sea Pines Resort Charles Fraser is often referred to as the founder of the modern American resort, now home to annual PGA Tour stop at Harbour Town Golf Links. And who could forget Arnold Palmer, who won over a legion of fans with his charisma and class, literally driving golf into the mainstream.
Peoria has its own pioneer – Jerry Weaver, who despite never taking up the game of golf himself possessed the foresight to develop a championship golf course on more than 300 acres that was once the site of his family’s Weaver Angus Farms.
“ I just have felt for a long time that these farms were more conducive to golf or a recreational theme along with housing,” Weaver told the Peoria Journal Star in 1994 prior to construction. “I think it will draw people to Peoria from all over. Golf is entertainment, and I feel this can make a positive impact for Peoria.”
The gamble has paid off handsomely. Today you’ll rarely read a bad review about WeaverRidge, and it’s currently ranked among the top 20 golf courses in the state of Illinois by Golf Digest, public or private. Among public facilities, Golf Digest rates WeaverRidge No. 4, behind mainstays on the Chicagoland golf scene Cog Hill, TPC Deere Run and The Glen Club – all of which have hosted top-level professional tournaments.
WeaverRidge has been a recipient of national praise since it first opened in 1998. That year, Golf Digest positioned the Hurdzan-Fry layout No. 2 on its list of “Best New Upscale Public Courses.” You may have heard of the winner that year, which barely edged out WeaverRidge by 0.04 points. It was Pete Dye’s Bulle Rock Golf Club in Havre de Grace, Maryland which played host to the LPGA Championship for a number of years.
WeaverRidge has also been ranked as one of the best public-access courses in the state of Illinois by Golfweek (2006), 37th among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses (2005) by Golf Digest and as the No. 1 course in Illinois by Zagat Survey.
Stretching to a length of more than 7,000 yards from the championship tees, WeaverRidge is an exciting blend of beautiful scenery and substance. The layout itself is outstanding – a traditional course dotted with sand bunkers where the land can rise and fall as much as 140 feet.
The Hurdzan-Fry team was supplied with a gorgeous natural landscape to work with. Cut from a fairly dense forest, WeaverRidge is nestled between deep ravines and picturesque valleys above the scenic Illinois River in an area that was created by glaciers.
While the nines nicely complement each other, each has its own defining elements. The front nine is accented by the beauty of indigenous prairie grass and flowers, while the back nine offers a picturesque view of the surrounding area.
The design team of Hurdzan-Fry called WeaverRidge “one of the finest sites they’ve ever worked with.”
Weaver once remarked that it was his Laissez-faire attitude that enabled his architects to create such a masterpiece.
With men’s tees ranging from 7,030 to 5,487 yards, the course can accommodate golfers of all skill levels.
“This course is awesome,” said a golfer who recently teed it up at WeaverRidge. “You can play from the green tees for a nice relaxing day at the course or you can move back to the black tees for one of the most challenging courses you can play.”
Online: www.weaverridge.com
Spring/Summer Rates: $55-93
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