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The Fortress Golf Course
Rating Snapshot
About
The Fortress was inspired by classic Scottish golf courses, incorporating fescue-covered mounds and a liberal smattering of bunkers, 75 to be exact, around the large, sectioned greens. The expansive greens average 7,500 feet, providing golfers with some challenging putts. Patches of rough that are several inches thick and strategic mounding separate the winding fairways. The back nine holes are where the course really shines. It becomes especially interesting by the time you reach the par-4 13th hole, a dogleg left that is bordered by two large ponds. It is hard to decide which is worse: landing in one of the four bunkers or the deep gorse on the mounds behind the green, but both are better than losing your ball to the water. The signature hole of the golf course though is the 17th, known for its challenging island green. There is little room for error on the long, narrow green.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 6813 yards | 73.8 | 140 |
| Maroon | 72 | 6271 yards | 71.3 | 135 |
| Gold | 72 | 4837 yards | 69.2 | 128 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 74.2/142 W: 80.3/150 | 522 | 167 | 456 | 149 | 353 | 501 | 437 | 409 | 453 | 3447 | 369 | 391 | 209 | 443 | 523 | 350 | 380 | 172 | 529 | 3366 | 6813 |
| Maroon M: 71.4/139 W: 77.4/145 | 494 | 140 | 431 | 119 | 324 | 467 | 390 | 378 | 437 | 3180 | 336 | 363 | 181 | 410 | 496 | 309 | 333 | 153 | 510 | 3091 | 6271 |
| Combo M: 67.1/127 W: 72.7/137 | 415 | 140 | 342 | 119 | 324 | 390 | 288 | 278 | 325 | 2621 | 336 | 363 | 181 | 315 | 398 | 309 | 333 | 153 | 436 | 2824 | 5445 |
| Gold M: 64.3/115 W: 69.4/129 | 415 | 82 | 342 | 83 | 275 | 390 | 288 | 278 | 325 | 2478 | 272 | 254 | 109 | 315 | 398 | 239 | 247 | 89 | 436 | 2359 | 4837 |
| Handicap | 6 | 12 | 2 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 3 | |||
| Par | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
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Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by Blake5355960 on 10/13/2024
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17th hole an absolute beautiful hole Photo submitted by Michael6064109 on 10/15/2021
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Photo submitted by thomaskvincent1 on 09/27/2021
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Photo submitted by Simpson85 on 06/19/2021
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Photo submitted by Kathy6050012 on 10/04/2020
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#17 Photo submitted by RG2341 on 06/09/2020
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Photo submitted by u314160118166 on 06/01/2020
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Photo submitted by jasonhoy on 08/19/2019
Fantastic layout and condition.
The club house still seems to be setting up for the season. The bar area had no alcoholic beverages or warm food. This is my only bad thing about the course. The actual course is in great condition especially for it being the first week in April. The bunkers are real sand and challenging unlike the ones I’m used to playing out of in Cleveland, OH. The layout is like nothing I would expect from Michigan. Has a PGA feel to it. Very fun to play and it makes you use your clubs properly. Not for beginners in my opinion.
Must Play
Really great course. Layout is awesome and exceptionally manicured. Definitely worth a stop off 75 to/from up North or make a day trip into Frankenmuth for the day.
All about golf, not the Off-Course Amenities
Off-Course Amenities need a little help, but it may be the time of year. The course is awesome. Greens had been dressed, but were still playable. This course is one to go back to.
Late season play
Very nice course over all. The only drawback was greens were airiated a couple of weeks earlier. Nice sized fairways, very playable off the tee box. Practice your sand bunker plays before you play this course- there are plenty guarding the greens for those mid- hits approach shots.
Course is also very walkable if desired.
Must play.
Very late in the season, but was visiting family and wanted to sneak in a round while I was here. Played here about 20 years ago and it was memorable then. It's still memorable. Great layout. Fair, but very challenging. Greens were punched, but still rolled pretty well and doesnt affect my rating of fantasic conditions.
Quick!
Great staff allowed me to tee off early because of light play. Only one group in front and was waved thru. After that was no one ahead. Greens are still recuperating from aeration. All though it was a bit cool and windy was still a great time to play this time of year. Round was under 3 hours.
Difficult course but worth the work!
Have heard great things about The Fortress and it didn’t disappoint. We played on a bad weather day - cart path only. Course was fairly well marked so wasn’t too challenging to select the right club. But the course was in great shape, hazards and all. Would definitely recommend.
Fantastic!!!
superb course with some of the best greens you'll find.
Great Experience
Awesome course that I played today. I will be back to play it again.
Great Experience
Had a great time playing the Fortress. I will definitely coming back to play again.
Tight course
Beautifully manicured but the holes are right next to each other. Had multiple balls come at us from other holes even in the tee boxes at times.. Each hole itself is beautiful, but it was so packed that the pace of play was slow.
challenging course
The course was in great shape and the greens were perfect but fast.
Great course
The Fortress is ALWAYS in great condition! The driving range is a real treat to warm up prior to the round (the practice is area is as good as hitting from the fairways). The staff is always friendly. The pace of play was a bit slower than normal however the ranger made three different passes prompting the slow 4-some to speed it up. You will not regret playing The Fortress!
The Fortress
Course was in pretty good shape, a few fairways were aerated. Main issue was the 3 4somes in front of us were playing their own scramble and were very slow. Round took 5:15, cart path only adds some time, but they had lost a hole to the course after their 4th. Did not see a ranger on the course, maybe pace of play is not a concern for them looked like they were a few hole behind by the time we finished.
Fantastic Gem !!
I don’t know where to start, there are so many great things about this golf course.
Driving Range - the grounds were perfect. Large area to warm up and the grass was PRISTINE. I have not seen a nicer driving range.
The course is a championship caliber course with many options for fun and challenge. The fescue or rough areas are very punishing if you don’t hit them straight but that’s what’s fun about this course. You can’t just pull out your driver on every par4 and par5.
Hole #13 lived up to billing. It’s very intimidating but actually not tough if you’re smart off the tee. I was tempted in hitting driver and put it in the drink twice. Hey why not go for it right ?.
Overall pace was great and will definitely come back. The town is also vibrant with many places for relaxation and great food.
Best course I have played in Michigan.
Destination Kohler - Champions' Trail Golf Package
