Frontier Club: Gil Hanse's 'Minimalist' Masterpiece in Michigan's Backyard

When Gil Hanse – one of the world's leading golf course architects – stated that 17 of the 18 holes of his new project were simply 'waiting to be discovered', golf enthusiasts immediately took notice. Instead of moving millions of cubic meters of earth and forcing the terrain to conform to human ideas, the vast 350-acre farmland just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan, seemed to hold the answer to a future masterpiece. This is the beginning of the story of Frontier Club, an ambitious destination club where the land speaks and the architect is merely the listener. To me, after nearly half a century of observing golf course projects around the world, the phrase '17 holes discovered' is one of the most valuable design signals I have ever heard. It is not merely a marketing gimmick but a declaration of the minimalist philosophy Gil Hanse has pursued throughout his career, placing nature above all technical details. The two developers, James Housler and Scott Kovanda, longtime friends and Michigan natives, recognized a major void in the private club market of southern Michigan. They did not simply want to build an ordinary 18-hole course but a true 'destination' where members would not just visit for the day but plan extended trips to enjoy the full space and premium services. Their idea was quickly realized by recruiting Gil Hanse – the designer of the 2026 Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro, as well as Ohoopee Match Club and The Fall Line – two destination clubs that have become icons of this model. Hanse was the one who saw the extraordinary potential in an old farmland site with rolling hills and a valley crossed by a natural waterway. And the strategic location just ten minutes from the Big House – the holy ground of University of Michigan football – opened an unprecedented opportunity to reach one of America's wealthiest and most powerful alumni communities. In fact, the private golf club market in southern Michigan is not short of prestigious names. Crystal Downs – designed by legends Alister MacKenzie and Perry Maxwell – consistently ranks in the top 15 courses in America, a clear testament to the region's quality. Oakland Hills has also hosted several major championships. However, Frontier Club's difference lies in its operating model. Traditional clubs typically serve the local residential community, while Frontier Club targets a travel membership model, allowing golfers from across America – and even internationally – to experience the course during concentrated periods of the year. The arrival of Fred Perpall – former President of the United States Golf Association (USGA) – to design the cottages and clubhouse through his company Beck Group, serves as an incredibly powerful boost to credibility and governance. The core allure of the Frontier Club project lies in the original topography that nature has bestowed. Two large ridges with soft 'folds' of old farmland create a beautifully undulating canvas, very similar to the landscape of Crystal Downs or Old Elm Club – a classic private club in Illinois. Gil Hanse's use of the natural waterway as a routing feature is a notable technical detail. Typically, on flat farmland, water is more of a drainage challenge than a strategic asset. But for Hanse, the water becomes a powerful spice, separating holes and adding strategic and visual interest to each shot. He is not trying to turn this land into a lavish resort-style course but remains faithful to the minimalist school – where the course is merely a celebration of the ground's pre-existing beauty. The involvement of Russ Myers – an experienced director of agronomy – from the layout stage also hints at the intention to create firm-and-fast playing conditions with reduced water usage – a modern, sustainable trend in a state historically accustomed to lush, expensive green fairways. I have had the opportunity to review many of Hanse's works, from Boston Golf Club to Ohoopee Match Club, and I find the comparison of Frontier Club to a 'smaller-scale Crystal Downs' not to be idle talk. Hanse and his partner Jim Wagner have described this as one of the most special places they have ever created. The combination of a smaller course scale, natural hole structures, and proximity to the University of Michigan campus creates a unique ecosystem. Looking at the map of American destination clubs, most are concentrated in the temperate Southeast – Georgia (The Fall Line, Ohoopee) or Florida – where golf can be played year-round. Frontier Club will be a major experiment in bringing this model to the Midwest, where the golf season shrinks to 5-6 months. However, the proximity to the Big House is a strategic masterstroke. On weekends with Wolverines football games, wealthy alumni and sports industry executives can easily combine watching the game with playing golf – a product no Southern club can offer. Economically, destination clubs like Frontier Club typically have initiation fees in the six-to-seven-figure range, plus annual dues to run full-service operations. This relies heavily on the list of founding members – described as 'impressive'. The involvement of former USGA president Fred Perpall in designing the facilities elevates the project to another level, positioning it not just as a mere golf course but as a comprehensive sports resort. Choosing Beck Group – a renowned construction and design firm – also sends the message that the quality of architecture must match the quality of Hanse's golf course. If everything succeeds, Frontier Club will not just be a good golf course in Michigan but could be ranked among the best in America within 2 to 3 years of opening, much like The Fall Line just won Golf Digest's Best New Course award. The impact of Frontier Club extends beyond the boundaries of a single golf course construction project. It is sending a clear signal to investors that private capital is still flowing strongly into the luxury golf real estate segment. The participation of a former USGA president in the project even attracts the attention of institutional investment funds seeking valuable alternative assets. With the growth of golf tourism, should Frontier Club enter the top 100 American courses, it could become a new stop on the global golf tourism map, bringing significant revenue to the Ann Arbor area. The course structure will thus feel more like 'a walk through nature' than 'a battle against artificial obstacles'. This further affirms a reality: the push from Hanse, combined with the reputation of Michigan, is the strongest catalyst for a model being tested in a land full of climatic challenges. However, behind the glamorous veil lies systemic risk. Housler and Kovanda, despite their passionate love for their homeland, are first-time developers entering golf real estate. A project like this requires capital sustained over many years, construction management capabilities, and membership sales expertise – none of which the article mentions. Regulatory hurdles for converting farmland into a golf course in Michigan are considered very strict, especially concerning wetlands. The natural waterway used by Hanse for routing could become the biggest point of contention with environmental agencies. Without water rights and construction permits, the 'construction by end of year' milestone could be delayed by a whole year. The Crystal Downs comparison is a double-edged sword. It affirms ambition but simultaneously sets an incredibly difficult standard to reach in the eyes of golf architecture critics. Hanse's emphasis on 'the most special place' further heightens expectations. Can a 'smaller-scale version' truly match a world-renowned masterpiece? Frontier Club stands at a historic crossroads for North American golf. If the project completes on schedule, overcomes legal barriers, and wins over enthusiasts, it will pave the way for a wave of new destination clubs in cold climates like Wisconsin, Minnesota, or New England – regions craving world-class golf experiences. But if Frontier Club fails, the lessons about seasonal operating costs and the harshness of the land will leave a lasting scar on the entire market. The golf course cannot lie, and time will be the ultimate judge of these first-time developers' patience. Let's wait and see if they can truly create a raw gem in the land of the Wolverines. I stand from afar and believe in the power of nature, because Rohan runs with his legs, but he wins with his breath. For Frontier Club, that breath is precisely the terrain Gil Hanse felt from the very first days he stepped onto this land. And when the first holes open, I hope the Vietnamese golf community will also learn to listen to the voice rising from their own ground.