Despite already having 10 courses as part of its portfolio, Boyne Golf was still missing something. Come this summer, the Northern Michigan resort destination will add it’s 11th course — and first short course.
The nine-hole Doon Brae, part of the The Highlands, is designed by Michigan native Ray Hearn and is routed on the former site of Cuff Links, a nine-hole par-3 course that was along the hillside that doubles as a ski slope during the resort’s winter months. Holes will be between 57 yards and 134 yards, and the course will max out at 993 total yards.
The fitting name Doon Brae comes from Scottish roots. Doon represents going down into a valley and Brae means a steep bank or hillside. In addition to the course, Boyne is also unveiling the Back Yaird, a 1.5-acre 27-hole putting course featuring three nine-hole combinations.
For Hearn, from a design standpoint, the best part of the project was creating the green complexes.
“Drawing on our inspiration from the British Isles allowed us to create scaled-down versions of famous template greens highlighted by The Short at National Golf Links,” he said. “Other inspirations include Eden, Punch Bowl, Redan, Reverse Redan, Whinny Brae, Steep Slope, Postage Stamp and Biarritz.”
With the addition of an 11th course, Boyne Golf now touts itself as Michigan’s Magnificent 11.
Doon Brae is now accepting tee times in advance of its opening.
HOME ON THE RANGE
For the 13th year, the Golf Range Association of America has awarded its Top 50 rankings for the best ranges in the country. The association’s categories include the best stand alone, public and private facilities.
What makes for a quality practice facility? Well, use the Atlanta Athletic Club, in John’s Creek, Georgia, as an example. In addition to two championship courses that have hosted four majors, two women’s majors and a Ryder Cup, the club, founded in 1898, has a sprawling practice facility.
The 62-tee driving range features dual-sided hitting stations sited not to face the sun, two practice putting greens, eight heated practice bays, four practice pitching and chipping greens, four practice bunker greens and a practice fairway bunker. Oh, and it also has a 965-yard, par-3 course with small greens and nine holes that range from 75 to 125 yards.
A LITTLE ZEN WITH YOUR GOLF
What do you get when you cross meditation with social functions with golf in an exotic setting? The answer is Wellness Golf, a concept created by outside-the-box-thinking course architect Agustin Piza.
And he may be onto something, for the Wellness Golf concept won the Global Future Award and was featured at the USGA Innovative Symposium in Japan and MIPIM in France. “It invites both golf enthusiasts and beginners to engage in this activity with a relaxed and appreciative mindset,” said Piza, founder and director of Piza Golf.
Piza has been commissioned to design a nine-hole Wellness Golf course for the five-star Residences at The St. Regis Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica. “Our goal is to provide spaces that inspire connection — with nature, with each other, and with oneself,” said Alberto Halabe, partner at Solana, the developer of the property. Golfers are encouraged to play the relaxed course as they see fit — even barefoot.
Piza previously created a nine-hole Wellness Golf course at the five-star Chable Resort in Yucatan, Mexico.