By: Fred Altvater
While most people are thinking about snowmobiling or skiing in Michigan’s U.P, winter may be the perfect time to plan a golf trip to the Upper Peninsula. There are several great golf courses across the Mackinac Bridge, in the land of the Yooper.
Mike Devries received numerous accolades for his design at Greywalls, Timberstone and Wild Bluffs are also must-plays in the U.P.
Sweetgrass at the Island Resort & Casino in Escanaba is a treat, plus the new Paul Albanese designed, Sage Run will open for play in June, 2018.
Sage Run, along with “The Loop” at Forest Dunes and “Stoatin Brae” at Gull Lake Resort, will be the third new course opening in Michigan in the last three years. They reinforce the fact that the state is one of most golf-rich destinations in the country.
Tony Mancilla, Island Casino’s General Manager told us,
“When we first built the Sweetgrass course, we wanted to have golf as an amenity for our resort guests. But over the years we have had more and more golfers coming to the resort and have evolved into a top golf destination. Adding a second golf course was a natural move for us and something that our golfing guests were demanding.”
The Sage Run course at Island Resort is part of an $8 million renovation, which includes a full-service spa, bingo hall and sports bar, aimed at enticing visitors to extend their stay at the resort.
Sweetgrass, which hosts a stop on the Symetra Tour every summer, is a flowing prairie links style course. It features gentle rolling hills, challenging greens and beautiful fescue grasses.
Albanese said his company’s design philosophy is to never try to force a design.
“The Sage Run property is much different than Sweetgrass, even though it’s a short few miles away by shuttle. The only thing that will be similar is that it fits well with the land it sits on.”
A natural drumlin, or elongated ridge formed by glacial ice, is the primary feature in the Sage Run design.
Albanese continued.
“The holes go around, over and through the drumlin. Golfers will experience great holes through the trees, some in open areas and just a lot of variety in terms of landscape and feel.”
Natural long grasses edge the bunkers, and some of the short par-4s have blind shots to the greens. Albanese said famed Royal County Down in Northern Ireland served as his inspiration.
Island Resort & Casino is one of the Midwest’s largest golf, casino and entertainment destinations, featuring 314 guest rooms, plus an RV Park. The casino offers an award-winning poker room, craps, blackjack, Spanish 21, three card poker, let-it-ride, roulette, and bingo.
The resort’s amenities include the luxurious Drift Spa, a salt water pool, steam rooms and sauna. Multiple dining options include the signature, 5 Bridges Steak and Seafood House, 5 Bridges Pub, Firekeepers Restaurant, T. McC’s Sports Bar, Mexican Express, Coral Reef Grille, Signature Subs & Pizza, as well as, an ice cream and bake shop.
To learn more and to book your trip to Michigan’s U.P. next summer visit: www.islandresortandcasino.com.
