Tom Doak brings the challenge at Black Forest, one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses
GAYLORD, Mich. -- Tom Doak's Black Forest Course at Wilderness Valley is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses, and that says a lot, considering it's considered the Midwest's best summer hot spot. It's also the most difficult. Tom Doak isn't catering to the resort golfer here, he's out to challenge you.
What's visually intimidating is the dark trees that line each hole. While fairways are a little on the generous side, O.B. is a constant threat. But the true difficultly lies in the greens, which are small and difficult to read.
Black Forest shares the facility with Wilderness Valley, an older course that is walker friendly.
Carts are required at Black Forest G.C., largely in part to the long drive it takes just to get to the first hole.
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest Golf Course in Gaylord
The Black Forest golf course at Wilderness Valley is no walk in the park. Tom Doak wasn't catering to the resort golfer here.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Black Forest G.C. in Gaylord, Mich.
Tom Doak's Black Forest is one of the Gaylord area's finest golf courses -- and that says a lot.
Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com
Related Links
- Destination Guide: Great golf and more in northwest Michigan
- N. Michigan golf's most scenic drives (from the tee, of course)
- Bring your thinking cap to Tom Doak's Black Forest in Gaylord, Mich.
- Northern Michigan's upscale courses stack up with top hot spots