Booked yesterday. Pretty pumped, similar to Bandon, it is hard to do.

For those that don't know, Bandon moved to a lottery system this year for booking.

Sand valley changed it up a little too. I registered for interest (in 2026) and got an email yesterday morning saying they opened up booking that day. You basically replied to the email to get your place in line.

Both methods are much better than the previous systems they used. In previous years you got an email a few days (at most) in advance when opening day would be. Then on that day you basically called in as early as possible and sat on hold until your turn came up. This literally took many hours. For my first trip to Bandon I was on the phone waiting for about 4 hours, then the booking is actually quite slow and alll together spent 5-6 hours

Last year I did this for sand valley but after 3+ hours I just couldn't wait any more (these are weekdays hence work days for me)

I do wish they gave you a little more time to prepare. Like it would be nice if they sent an email on one day, you got your place in line and then the booking started a few days out. Luckily I was able to make it work yesterday with my work schedule but it is a challenge

The booking agents are always very friendly and calm but quite slow. It ends up being at least a 30-45 min phone call all said and done

Anyway, in case you didn't know, that's how it works

If you are someone that is part of a group but don't do the planning, you should thank the person that books as it takes a lot of time and preparation and planning

Lastly, I'll just say we went to Cabot last year (another Bandon related property). They only have two courses and are probably a little harder to get to than Bandon or sand valley. They don't seem to be quite as hard to get so a good one to keep in mind if your first choice doesn't work out

What time did you register? I got the email at 1014 and registered at 1028 and currently still 728 in line.

Got it at 1013

Had email open so was pretty quick to respond.

I unwisely spent precious minutes filling it out with three separate dates

But I was 121

The ended up calling me when they were at number 9 though

Enjoy. I'm glad we went last last year. Booking in 2023 for 2024 was fairly easy. I called the next day after the email and still managed to get a weekend for our group of 8, though in May. It'll have to be a work trip to the area for me to snipe off Sedge sometime because our next few years are already planned on golf trips.

In case anyone else has been keeping an eye on Forest Dunes and Arcadia Bluffs as a trip: i reached out about reservations for 2026, which they aren't booking yet. Though they did say they've printed my request and are keeping it on file and will reach out once they start in the order they receive requests (even before it opens).

Currently 608 in line. Guessing it's slim pickings from here. Was hoping to play mammoth, sand valley, sedge, and lido with our group of 4 so hopefully we can still get on. Wild this is the case when registering 10 min after they opened up.

Keeping an eye on your Arcadia and Forest Dunes trip as those are in my list.

We seem to be following each other around on these trips haha.

We're looking at 4 nights: 2 nights at at Arcardia and 2 nights at Forest Dunes.

• Day 1- Fly into Traverse City. South course on arrival day
• Day 2 Bluffs and then the Dozen short course
• Day 3- Drive to Forest Dunes (2 hours). Play the Loop and bootlegger par 3
• Day 4 - Loop the other way and Forest Dunes

Could of course do Arcadia on either side of Forest, but thats how I'm imagining it for now

are both of Acadia and Forest Dunes doing it that way... taking your info and putting you at the top of the list?

This may be a good option for us in 2027, so just curious

Waiting to hear back from Arcadia on the timing of their 2026 reservations and if thats possible. Just reached out to them today. Put myself on Forest Dunes last week.

The Grinder (99) said:

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are both of Acadia and Forest Dunes doing it that way... taking your info and putting you at the top of the list?

This may be a good option for us in 2027, so just curious

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Called Arcadia. Able to make 2026 lodging reservations already and tee time requests. Tee times will get firmed up in October prior to when they go on sale to the public.

good for you.

I'm glad you brought these places up. I had seen them on the lists of top 100 golf courses but wasn't aware of how developed they were as resorts or that they are close enough together to make a single trip out of.

Looks like a good place for our group to try and make it out to

Went to Michigan last year for the first time and played Arcadia Bluffs. Absolutely worth the trip imo. I didn't get to play the South course, so I'll have to go back at some point and hopefully play both. Some of the people I spoke with said the South course play-wise was even more impressive.

I was not staying on site, but it looked like a great experience for those who had groups who did. Some of the local towns folks came out towards the end of the day and sat in the area overlooking the 18 green out towards the lake. Ya'll are going to love that place.

I stayed in Ludington and had a few good meals while there. I overlooked it at the time, but there is a course near Ludington called Hemlock that gets good reviews as well. Plus if one wanted to cross the lake the Badger ferry leaves out of there as well.

My bad for the derail, but I was just blown away by Michigan/Midwest golf. It was like discovering something that I wish I had been doing for a long time - the Pilgrims Run round was like falling in love with golf again.