Dunes Golf Club

The Dunes Golf Club sits along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Empire, Michigan, a small community in the northwestern Lower Peninsula near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Designed by Dean and Tonya Wall, the course occupies terrain characteristic of this region: rolling dunes topography, sandy soils, and native grasses shaped by glacial activity and proximity to the Great Lakes. The setting places golfers within one of Michigan's most scenic coastal areas, where dramatic elevation changes and open vistas are common features of the landscape. The routing takes advantage of the natural dune formations, with holes moving through corridors of sand, scrub vegetation, and windswept grasses. Players encounter significant elevation variation and exposed conditions typical of lakeside courses in northern Michigan. The design emphasizes ground game options and strategic choices shaped by wind direction and firmness of turf, reflecting the characteristics of links-style golf adapted to the Great Lakes environment. Empire serves as a gateway to outdoor recreation in the Sleeping Bear region, and the course attracts golfers seeking a northern Michigan experience that combines natural beauty with challenging terrain. The club operates in a seasonal window dictated by the area's climate, with peak play during summer and early fall months when weather conditions are most favorable.