The $32M Golf Club Coming to Ann Arbor: What Lodi Township & Saline Homeowners Need to Know

Official township plans were recently filed for a $32 million ultra-private golf course slated for 333 acres of agricultural land in Lodi Township—just southwest of Ann Arbor and adjacent to Saline.

Known as The Frontier Club, this ground-up championship layout is designed by world-renowned golf course architect Gil Hanse. While 99% of local residents will never set foot on the fairways, the sheer scale of this investment is dropping a major anchor into Washtenaw County's luxury real estate landscape.

If you own a home or land in Lodi Township, Saline, Dexter, or southwest Ann Arbor, here is a clear breakdown of what is actually being built, the truth about local home value impacts, and where the next wave of residential development is heading.

⚡ Quick Takeaways (TL;DR)

• The Project: The Frontier Club—an ultra-private 18-hole championship course, 12-hole short course, driving range, luxury clubhouse, and 11 private member cottages set on 333 acres in Lodi Township.

• The Architect: Designed by Gil Hanse (designer of the Rio Olympics course and lead architect behind the Oakland Hills renovation). This marks his first brand-new, ground-up course in Michigan.

• Membership & Timeline: Capped at ~300 total members (50 founding members locked in). Target groundbreaking is Fall 2026, with a planned opening in 2028.

• The Home Value Myth: Standard studies show golf community homes carry a 7% to 8% price premium. However, that rule does not apply here because zero residential homes are being built inside The Frontier Club.

• The True Market Impact: The course acts as a prestigious luxury marketing anchor for nearby Saline and Lodi Township homes and signals to residential builders that this corridor is prime territory for future high-end subdivisions.

At-a-Glance: The Frontier Club Fact Sheet

Watch: The $32M Golf Club Coming to Ann Arbor

What Is The Frontier Club?

Located on 333 acres of rolling farmland in Lodi Township, The Frontier Club is built around total exclusivity. Rather than operating as a suburban country club with local pool and tennis memberships, it is modeled as an elite national destination course.

Architect Gil Hanse is one of the most respected names in modern golf architecture. Having led the high-profile restoration of Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills and designed the 2016 Rio Olympic Golf Course, his involvement immediately elevates the international prestige of the site.

To maintain low course traffic, membership is capped at roughly 300 individuals, with 50 founding members already secured. An estimated 80% of members are expected to fly in from outside the region, utilizing the 11 on-site guest cottages for multi-day stay-and-play trips.

Myth vs. Reality: Will Nearby Property Values Spike Overnight?

When news breaks about a $32 million luxury development down the road, the immediate assumption is that surrounding neighborhood home values will automatically jump.

In real estate data, homes built inside a golf course community traditionally command a 7% to 8% price premium over comparable off-course homes. However, it is critical for local homeowners to understand why that statistical premium does not directly apply here:

1. Zero Residential Lots On-Site: The Frontier Club site plan includes no residential subdivision, no frontage lots, and no public home sites. It is a fenced, fully private golf preserve.

2. No Direct Fairway Views: Surrounding properties in Lodi Township or Saline do not gain direct golf course frontage or cart-path access.

The Verdict: If a real estate agent claims your home two miles away in Saline instantly gained 8% in equity overnight solely because of this filing, be cautious. What the course does provide is a high-end marketing anchor—being "10 minutes from a Gil Hanse championship layout" becomes an attractive selling point for future luxury listings.

The Real Estate Signal: Following the Developer Wave

The true impact of The Frontier Club isn't about immediate equity spikes—it's about where residential developers will focus their capital next.

The best real estate market precedent (or "comp") for this style of development in Michigan is The Kingsley Club near Traverse City. Built purely as an ultra-private, remote golf enclave without residential housing, the course's national reputation eventually attracted major national interest, driving surrounding land values up as development pressure expanded outward.

Unlike the remote woods of Northern Michigan, Lodi Township sits directly on the expanding suburban edge of Ann Arbor and Saline. Residential builders are already actively submitting subdivision proposals to local township boards to satisfy regional housing demand.

Dropping a multi-million dollar destination facility into Lodi Township signals to regional homebuilders that this specific pocket is prime ground for high-end residential growth over the next 3 to 10 years.

Advantages vs. Trade-Offs for Local Homeowners

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can local residents join or play The Frontier Club?

No. The Frontier Club is planned as an ultra-private facility with zero public play or day-use access. Membership is capped at approximately 300 total members, with an estimated 80% expected to come from outside the local area.

Where exactly is The Frontier Club located?

The development covers 333 acres of farmland in Lodi Township, Michigan, positioned southwest of Ann Arbor and adjacent to Saline.

Will this golf course increase my home's property taxes?

No. Municipal property taxes in Michigan are calculated based on your home's Taxable Value (capped under Proposal A) and local millage rates. A neighboring private commercial development does not trigger a direct reassessment or tax increase on existing residential properties.

While The Frontier Club won't instantly transform neighborhood property values overnight, it firmly establishes Lodi Township and the Saline border as one of Washtenaw County's key growth corridors for the decade ahead.