Dunham Hills in Hartland may soon be redesigned by a world-class golf course architect and with a new identify as Proving Ground Golf Club.
Traverse City-based golf course architect Mike DeVries will design the course, which was purchased six months ago by a group of investors that includes Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Brian Cairns.
DeVries designed The Kingsley Club in Kingsley, south of Traverse City, as well as Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club in the Upper Peninsula.
The new club will be patterned after those in the United Kingdom where an annual season-pass membership base takes a block of play in part to lower fees and hopefully take better care of the golf course. It’s the setup used by the Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix.
For the 2025 season, upgrades at Dunham Hills include doubling the staff for better service, improved food offerings, removing overgrown trees, and moving the second tee to a safer location. Depending on funding, the 2026 season might be when the transformation from Dunham Hills to Proving Ground takes place.
Reports are that DeVries is planning to redesign the course to a par 70 with some significant routing changes.
Check out this video about Proving Ground:
