Muskegon Country Club

Overview: Muskegon Country Club occupies a rolling parcel of former dunes between Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake. The course combines Thomas Bendelow's original routing with Donald Ross's early-1920s redesign, and its fairways move through fescue, sandy ground and mature trees. At a modest length, it puts the emphasis on approach shots and Ross-influenced green contours.

History: The club was founded in 1908 on 130 acres of virgin dune and still occupies the original property. Bendelow laid out the first course, then Donald Ross redesigned and renumbered it in 1920; recent work has focused on recovering the character of that Ross setting.

Did You Know? Donald Ross reportedly told the early club leaders that the site had exceptional topography for golf. The course has since hosted U.S. Open regional qualifying and Michigan Amateur events, giving the short layout a substantial competitive history.