Michigan golfers are increasingly drawn to a captivating golf region in the Upper Peninsula, a destination characterized by long summer days, refreshing breezes, and a landscape transitioning from rolling farmland to wild northern terrain. This trend, which began decades ago in northern lower Michigan with the emergence of major golf resorts, has steadily expanded. Today, this momentum extends across the Mackinac Bridge into the central Upper Peninsula, marking a new era for Midwest golf.
At the forefront of this evolution is Island Resort & Casino near Escanaba, now recognized as a leading multi-course golf destination. The journey itself, crossing the Straits of Mackinac and enjoying scenic views along U.S. 2, creates a sense of arrival. The location feels remote, pristine, and deeply connected to the purest traditions of the game.
A Destination Defined by Architectural Vision
Island Resort’s growth from a single acclaimed course to a multi-course experience is a testament to its variety, strategic challenges, and commitment to thoughtful design. This identity is further enhanced with the introduction of the Cedar Course, a new nine-hole layout slated for preview play in Fall 2026.
The name “Cedar” (Kishki in Potawatomi) signifies its cultural importance as one of the four sacred medicines, representing protection and purification. Beyond its cultural resonance, Cedar embodies a design philosophy rooted in the Golden Age of golf architecture, emphasizing strategy, angles, and creativity over sheer length.
Sweetgrass: The Signature Experience
To fully appreciate Cedar’s role, it’s essential to understand Sweetgrass, the resort’s original course designed by Paul Albanese. Since its opening in 2008, Sweetgrass has become the resort’s signature attraction and was honored as the 2023 National Golf Course of the Year, a significant achievement within 15 years of its debut.
Situated across open, prairie-style terrain, Sweetgrass hosts the Island Resort Championship, a prominent event on the EPSON Tour, the official “Road to the LPGA.” Its broad fairways, native grasses, and sweeping vistas give it a distinct Midwestern character, yet its design possesses underlying architectural sophistication.
The green complexes are Sweetgrass’s most defining characteristic. Albanese incorporated Golden Age templates—including a Redan, a Biarritz, and a double green—subtly referencing early design traditions. The par-3 12th, with its striking Biarritz swale, and the island-green 15th remain two of the region’s most iconic and memorable holes.
Sage Run: Bold, Rugged, and Distinctly Different
A decade later, Albanese returned with a significantly different vision. Sage Run, which opened in 2018, provides a rugged contrast to Sweetgrass. Routed through hardwood forests and along exposed ridgelines, it features elevation changes seldom seen in Midwestern golf.
Bold, challenging, and visually impressive, Sage Run evokes the windswept traditions of the British Isles more than the flatter courses often associated with the region. Its design garnered national acclaim, including a spot on Golf Digest’s list of “Best New Courses, 2019.”
Together, Sweetgrass and Sage Run offer a deliberate contrast: open versus enclosed, flowing versus robust, traditional versus dramatic. Cedar introduces a third dimension to this diverse offering.
Cedar: A Strategic Nine-Hole Masterclass
“We experience high demand during the summer, with both of our existing courses often fully booked in the mornings,” states Tony Mancilla, General Manager of Island Resort & Casino. “We decided to add nine holes to better accommodate our guests seeking early morning tee times before their departure. These nine holes are designed as their own distinct course, not an extension of Sage Run.”
Cedar is not merely an expansion; it is a focused architectural statement. This nine-hole course is meticulously crafted around strategy, angles, and the enduring principles of early 20th-century golf design.
“We are integrating some exceptional concepts from the golden age of course architecture from the early 1900s into the Cedar course,” explains Albanese. “The course will feature some of the game’s most celebrated green templates, such as the Punchbowl, Double Plateau, and even a Juniper hole reminiscent of the renowned 6th at Augusta National.”
From the very first tee shot, Cedar’s intent is clear. The opening hole, dubbed “The Bottle,” narrows as it progresses away from the tee—a departure from modern design trends. Inspired by the National Golf Links of America, it immediately challenges golfers to balance aggression with risk.
The course’s centerpiece, the par-5 sixth, offers a layered, three-shot journey that skillfully blends multiple Golden Age concepts. A deep Himalaya bunker guards the tee shot, while a substantial Sahara hazard dominates the landing zone. The boomerang-shaped green, inspired by Alister MacKenzie, rewards both imagination and precision.
Two holes later, Cedar shifts its character with a short par-4 modeled after Riviera’s iconic 10th hole. Enticing yet perilous, it prompts players to decide on their level of boldness, punishing imprecision around a sharply contoured green.
For golf architecture aficionados, Cedar promises a curated exploration of design history. For the everyday golfer, it offers an experience that is simply fun, strategic, and refreshingly unique.
A $19 Million Investment in the Future
The Cedar Course is part of a larger $19 million expansion, reflecting Island Resort’s strong confidence in the future of golf and group travel. The resort has recently added nearly 17,000 square feet of convention space, including a grand ballroom capable of hosting up to 1,200 guests. This enhancement has already significantly boosted midweek occupancy and strengthened its appeal for corporate events and weddings.
A new 3,000-square-foot Sweetgrass golf shop, constructed in a traditional Hardy Plank style, overlooks the finishing holes. It serves as both a retail hub and a social gathering space, complete with terraces, locker rooms, and communal areas.
A Five-Course Summer Golf Adventure
Island Resort’s popular “Perfect Foursome” package has long enabled guests to combine rounds at Sweetgrass and Sage Run with play at two of the Upper Peninsula’s most acclaimed courses: Greywalls and Timberstone. Greywalls, with its dramatic rock formations and vistas of Lake Superior, offers a rugged, almost surreal experience. Timberstone, situated near Iron Mountain, winds through forests and wetlands, featuring significant elevation changes.
With the debut of Cedar, this foursome effectively expands into a five-course rotation, adding a strategic, Golden Age-inspired dimension to an already diverse golf lineup.
The resort provides customizable packages ranging from 1 to 4 nights, including up to four rounds of golf, with prices varying from $136 to $772 depending on the season.
A Destination Worth the Journey
Golfers are drawn to Island Resort for numerous reasons: the excellent value, the variety of experiences, the distinctive architecture, the crisp northern air, and the long summer evenings that seem to stretch endlessly. However, most visitors return for a simpler reason—the feeling that this secluded corner of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula offers an authentic, unspoiled golf experience.
Here, exceptional courses, thoughtful design, and genuine hospitality converge to create one memorable round after another.
Plan your visit now, whether for this summer or the upcoming fall. You are sure to be impressed. Book your golf getaway today to secure exceptional savings on an out-of-this-world golf experience.
