Michigan · Mid-Michigan & the Thumb
The Fortress Golf Course
Dick Nugent built it in 1992 with early Scottish golf in mind: bentgrass wall to wall, heavy bunkering and huge greens that average 7,500 square feet.
- 18Holes
- 72Par
- 6,813Yards
- MichiganLocation
- Designed 1992Opened
- Dick NugentArchitect
About The Fortress Golf Course
The Fortress is Zehnder's golf course, the one you can walk to from downtown Frankenmuth: the tourism bureau puts it 435 yards from the front porch of Zehnder's Restaurant. It's 18 holes and par 72, 6,813 yards, with bentgrass tees, greens and fairways.
Dick Nugent designed it in 1992 with a nod to golf's early Scottish origins, and the things you notice are the bunkers and the greens. There's a lot of sand, and the greens are big, averaging 7,500 square feet, so hitting one isn't the same as being close. Lag putting matters here.
The map survey adds some texture: trees line 11 holes, water comes into play near five (two of them along a river), and there are only five real doglegs, so most holes are laid out in front of you. Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data.
It's one of 27 courses Yoink watches in the Mid-Michigan & the Thumb area, and the closest alternative is Timbers Golf Club, about 4 miles away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.
What it's like to play The Fortress Golf Course
It's a sand-heavy layout, with about 89 bunkers. There's real elevation change: some holes rise or fall about 50 feet from tee to green. A creek or river runs through the property and comes into play on 2 holes.
Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data (ODbL).
Booking a tee time at The Fortress Golf Course
Book tee times online through the course's booking page on the Zehnder's site, or call the Pro Shop at (989) 652-0460 for rates, which aren't posted online. Hours are seasonal and weather dependent; as of September 2026 the course lists 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
How to get a tee time at The Fortress Golf Course
Yoink
If The Fortress Golf Course looks full for the day you want, it usually isn't for long: groups drop, rounds get moved and times reopen at all hours.
Yoink checks the sheet for you. Set a watch for the date, window and group size you want, and you'll get a push notification as soon as a spot opens — then book it directly with The Fortress Golf Course.
- Pick The Fortress Golf Course in Yoink.
- Choose your day, time window and number of players.
- Get an alert when a matching tee time opens — then book it directly with the course.
Golf courses near The Fortress Golf Course
- Timbers Golf Club · 4 mi
- Green Acres Golf Course · Bridgeport · 4 mi
- Clio Country Club · Clio · 10 mi
- Willow Springs Golf and Country Club · Vassar · 12 mi
- Briar Ridge Golf Course · 15 mi
- The Sawmill Golf Club · Saginaw · 17 mi
- Flushing Valley Golf Club · 18 mi
- Bay Valley Resort & Conference Center · 19 mi
All 27 Mid-Michigan & the Thumb courses in Michigan · Michigan golf courses
The Fortress Golf Course FAQ
Where is The Fortress Golf Course?
The Fortress Golf Course is in Michigan, in the Mid-Michigan & the Thumb area — about 4 miles from Timbers Golf Club.
Who designed The Fortress Golf Course, and when did it open?
The Fortress Golf Course was designed by Dick Nugent and opened in Designed 1992.
Is The Fortress Golf Course open to the public?
The Fortress Golf Course is run by Zehnder's of Frankenmuth (the course is part of Zehnder's; "our course" on zehnders.com).
Can you walk The Fortress Golf Course?
A short walk from downtown Frankenmuth.
How many holes is The Fortress Golf Course, and what's par?
The Fortress Golf Course is an 18-hole regulation course: 18 holes, par 72, 6,813 yards.
How do I get a tee time at The Fortress Golf Course when it's booked up?
Set a watch for The Fortress Golf Course in Yoink with your date, time window and group size. Yoink monitors the course's tee sheet and alerts you the moment a matching time opens, including cancellations. You book directly with the course.
What golf courses are near The Fortress Golf Course?
Nearby options include Timbers Golf Club, Green Acres Golf Course and Clio Country Club. Yoink watches 27 courses in the Mid-Michigan & the Thumb area.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these pages, checked 2026-09-28. Rates and booking rules change, so confirm with the course.
- frankenmuth.org · tourism
- zehnders.com · official
- zehnders.com · official
- zehnders.com · official
- zehnders.com · official
- · map_survey
Never miss a tee time at The Fortress Golf Course
Yoink watches the tee sheet so you don't have to. When a time you want opens up, your phone buzzes — you book direct.