golf course design

Official Opening of the Wee Course at Harbor Shores

Kevin Frisch July 8, 2026

Golf News

Two Swings, Two Aces: Fireworks from Colin Montgomerie Headline Official Opening of the Wee Course at Harbor Shores Resort.

The new golf entertainment venue is open to everyone and designed to make golf more accessible, affordable, and enjoyable for players of all ages and skill levels.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. Harbor Shores Resort celebrated the official opening of the Wee Course today in incomparable fashion. Course designer and World Golf Hall of Famer Colin Montgomerie took two swings and made back-to-back holes-in-one to celebrate the innovative nine-hole short course that is quickly becoming a centerpiece for golf, recreation, and community connection in Southwest Michigan.

Montgomerie spent the day at Harbor Shores, playing the course, walking it with guests and media, and playing alongside local youngsters from the area’s PGA Junior League and First Tee Benton Harbor programs. “I am blown away by everything to do with this and the details and vision involved with Jeff Fettig and his group to put this together and to ask me to help in the design, I am very honored and humbled,” Montgomerie said. “I have designed courses around the world, and to see this now in working order, the quality of everything is the big Harbor Shores course quality. It also gives opportunity to everybody, and without opportunity we don’t know the next Tiger Woods; where are they? Are they out there somewhere? Without opportunity, you don’t know. That is what the Wee Course is all about.” Montgomerie aced the third (43 yards) and the fifth (60 yards) holes as he walked with the media, talking about his vision and the ideas he incorporated into the course’s design.

“It was rather strange. We walked the first couple of holes and decided to hit a few shots. I grabbed one of Mr. Fettig’s clubs—a chipper—and figured I’d give it a try from about 60 yards. Somehow it found the hole. Then, incredibly, I did it again on the very next hole we played. Two hole-in-ones in the same day—it’s just unbelievable. When I arrived, 51 aces had been recorded on this course. Now there are 53.”

The five-acre, nine-hole pitch-and-putt course encourages fun and imagination for players of all levels.

The Wee Course is open to the public and is the latest addition to Harbor Shores Resort’s growing collection of golf experiences. The five-acre, nine-hole pitch-and-putt course encourages fun and imagination for players of all levels while remaining approachable for beginners, all in a relaxed environment that can be completed in under an hour. The Wee Course, which features nine holes ranging from 20 to 80 yards and a total yardage between 275 and 500 yards depending on tee selection, blends creativity, playability, and design inspiration from some of the most memorable green complexes found on Harbor Shores’ acclaimed Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course. Two sets of tee markers allow players to tailor the experience to their ability level. Longer tees introduce additional angles and strategic challenges, while forward tees create an inviting environment for juniors, families, and first-time golfers. Players can even choose to use only a putter from the forward tees, creating a unique and highly social experience. While golf is at the heart of the project, the vision for the Wee Course extends beyond the game itself. It was designed to be a gathering place where families, youth, friends, resort guests, and community members can connect through shared experiences in an environment that reflects the welcoming culture found in many golf communities across Scotland.

Two hole-in-ones in the same day—it’s just unbelievable.

Jeff Fettig, former chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation, a leading contributor through the Fettig Family Foundation, and the visionary behind the Harbor Shores expansion, said the project is already delivering on its original mission. “The Harbor Shores vision has always been to create a positive place for all in our community to enjoy. The Wee Course is the next part of realizing that vision,” says Fettig. “The goal of the Wee Course is to make golf accessible and affordable to everyone. The model is for golf to be the social gathering spot similar to most towns and communities in Scotland, and although it’s only been open for a short time, we are already seeing that happen.” That vision is evident throughout the broader golf entertainment experience surrounding the Wee Course. Adjacent to the short course is Highland Greens, a 15,000-square-foot putting course inspired by legendary putting venues at St. Andrews and Pinehurst. With lighting, music, gathering spaces, and food-and-beverage service from Monty’s Place, the area has quickly become a popular destination for both golfers and non-golfers, extending activity well into the evening. According to Harbor Shores Golf Club PGA, General Manager Joshua Doxtator, the response since the facility’s soft opening has exceeded expectations.

“Since the project was fully completed this spring, the Wee Course continues to gain momentum in the community,” says Doxtator. “The demand has been significant with leagues, Ladies Nights, private events, and most importantly, grandparents, parents, and kids enjoying time together. The response from our resort guests staying in our on-site villas has also been overwhelming. They have access to the course, the putting green, and the firepits, right out their front door.” Community engagement remains a central component of the project. Programs such as First Tee Benton Harbor, PGA Junior League and local youth golf initiatives already use the facility, reinforcing Harbor Shores’ long-standing commitment to creating opportunities through golf.

“We’ve seen a tremendous number of kids playing the course,” continues Doxtator. “Our PGA Junior League has weekly practices, and The First Tee of Benton Harbor utilizes the facility in its programming. In our short time open this season, our commitment to being accessible and affordable to all has held true, and I’m excited about the many events we have planned this year.” Affordability has also been a key consideration from the outset. Pricing begins at $30 for nine holes, $40 for 18 holes, and $50 for all-day access, including use of the putting course. Children under 12 play free with a paying adult, while juniors ages 13-17 receive discounted rates. Season pass options are also available. The opening of the Wee Course represents another milestone in Harbor Shores’ ongoing mission to expand access to golf while creating meaningful community experiences. By combining recreation, hospitality, and youth engagement, the project continues to advance the resort’s vision of using golf as a catalyst for connection and positive community impact.

About Harbor Shores Resort

Harbor Shores Resort is Southwest Michigan’s premier golf destination, anchored by its nationally acclaimed Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf course along the shores of Lake Michigan. One of the country’s most notable examples of golf-driven community revitalization, Harbor Shores was developed through more than $900 million in strategic investment, transforming former industrial and environmentally challenged land into a vibrant destination for recreation, tourism, and economic growth. The championship course has hosted the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship six times between 2012 and 2024. Complemented by The Wee Course, the Inn at Harbor Shores, golf villas, and a variety of stay-and-play experiences, Harbor Shores delivers one of the Midwest’s most distinctive golf resort experiences. Visit https://www.harborshoresresort.com.

Cap Cana: Luxury, Leisure, and Legendary Golf

Robert Kaufman June 17, 2026

Travel

Inside the Jewel of the Dominican Republic’s Luxury Coast.

Have you ever been green with envy how an artist can magically transform a blank canvas in to an instant masterpiece? For decades, golfing legend Jack Nicklaus executed strokes of genius on fairways and greens but as his focus shifted to drafting blueprints outlining his vision for 18 holes, the results produced some of the most sought-after venues (400-plus around the world) to tee up a golf ball.

Such is the case with Nicklaus’ achievement at Punta Espada when it opened in 2006, his second course design (first was Hard Rock Golf Club at Cana Bay) in the Dominican Republic. Situated on prime shoreline acreage butting up against Caribbean’s turquoise waters, Nicklaus fashioned superb use of the setting by shaping eight holes where land meets the sea. Now, as Punta Espada celebrates its 25th anniversary, the Nicklaus touch will again be on display when the neighboring Las Iguanas Golf Course opens late 2026.

Ariel view of Punta Espada Dominican Republic

Both courses are located within the confines of Cap Cana, a sprawling 30,000-acre exclusive master-planned residential development and luxury destination that is double the size of Manhattan.

“At this time, approximately 35-40% of the property has been developed with hotels (there are nine and at least two more due to open within the next couple years), private housing, and condos, says Alexis Santana, Managing Director at Punta Espada. “Currently, there are roughly 5,000 people living in Cap Cana full time and depending on the season, flocks of snowbirds visit from the Northeast and Canada.”

Though not even halfway developed, there is no shortage of all the necessary infrastructure at Cap Cana, including power plant and water treatment facilities and, in addition to golf, a wealth of activities with eco-adventure and water parks, plus one of the Caribbean’s largest marinas serving as a gateway to some world’s best fishing. Once passing through the gate, according to Santana, “there’s no reason to go anywhere else.”

Especially, if they’re to experience golf.

Just one of many ocean views at Punta Espada in the Dominican Republic

I’d heard plenty about Punta Espada prior my visit – dramatic ocean holes, immaculate conditioning, one of the best in the Caribbean, if not the world – but none of that quite prepares you for the first glimpse of the coastline weaving in and out of the layout. The sea isn’t just a backdrop here. It’s a core element of the game.

Punta Espada – One of the best in the Caribbean, if not the world

Standing on the first tee, there was a breeze just strong enough forcing you to second-guess your club. That would become a theme as every hole seemed to beg the question: Are you sure about that shot? Eventually, I caught on to the notion that the best approach to playing the course is listen to your caddy.

The front nine of the 7,366-yard course eases you in, but not in a forgiving way – more like a conversation where the course is sizing you up. Fairways are generous until they’re not. Greens look receptive until you realize how subtly they repel anything less than a committed shot.

Holes along the ocean offer breathtaking views

As for the holes along the ocean, there’s one standout where the fairway runs parallel to water so clear it acts as a major distraction before and during your swing. I stood mesmerized longer than I should have, not because I was deciding on a club, but because I couldn’t quite believe a golf hole could look like that and still demand precision. Unfair? Maybe. Thrilling to play? No question.

The back nine is where the course shows more teeth. Longer carries. Tighter approaches and greens that seem to hover near the ocean’s edge as if they might slip away if you’re not careful. Of note, the par-three, 13th demands a shot from an elevated tee to the ocean stretching endlessly behind the green with wind swirling from somewhere you couldn’t quite pin down.

Las Iguanas GC will differ a bit from its sister course, somewhat more challenging than Punta Espada

With holes 10-18 currently open for play, the nearby Las Iguanas GC will differ a bit from its sister course in that it offers more movement on the fairways along with elevated compact greens. When totally complete, the overall length will be shorter but somewhat more challenging than Punta Espada. Either way, both Nicklaus adventures at Cap Cana can have the tendency to suck the handicap out of your game but it will be in the most enjoyable way possible.

To accompany Nicklaus’ masterful efforts, overlooking the Caribbean and just steps away from the first tee at Punta Espada is the five-star St. Regis Cap Cana Resort that raises the luxury bar for any golf trip to the D.R. Opened in 2025, the elegant architecture is complimented with extensive local artwork woven throughout the property, along with 200 guest rooms, swim-out suites and swanky residences, dining options, full-service spa, multiple pools, and direct beach access.

St. Regis Cap Cana Resort – Palm Suite with in-out pool

Serving as a showcase for Dominican culture, the St. Regis prides itself on tradition, exemplified by guests gathering every evening for the signature Champagne sabering ceremony, a ritual dating back to the days of Napoleon Bonaparte, celebrating the art of living well.

There are places built to impress and there are places built to tell the story of their destination. The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort was created to do both.