Island Resort & Casino Expansion Coming with New Golf Course, Golf Shop and Convention Center
Upper Peninsula resort destination continues to grow to serve golfers
Provided by Island Resort
The leading golf and casino resort option in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is growing – again – just announcing a $19 million capital investment as the Island continues to expand and prepare for future growth. The two-year project will feature the development of a new nine-hole golf course, golf shop, and additional convention space.
New Nine-Hole Golf Course
With the increased demand for golf, Island Resort will add a new nine-hole course, the Cedar Course (Kishki), on the Sage Run Golf Course site. The new course, designed by Paul Albanese, who also designed Sweetgrass and Sage Run, will be inspired by golden age architecture focused on natural landscapes and featuring popular template green complexes designed into the natural environment while offering beauty and strategic play. Green complexes were inspired by C.B. Macdonald's great National Golf Links and overseas links such as Prestwick.
“We are very busy in the summer and often booked on both of our other courses in the morning,” says Tony Mancilla, General Manager for Island Resort & Casino. “We decided to add nine holes to accommodate our guests looking for early morning tee times before they head home. We are not adding to Sage Run but making these nine holes their own course.”
The name Cedar (Kishki in Potawatomi) is derived from being one of the four sacred medicines known for its protective and purifying properties. The logo design will pay tribute to tobacco, another sacred medicine. Cedar complements the existing courses, Sweetgrass and Sage Run, to complete the representation of medicines that, in Potawatomi culture, represent the connection to the earth.
“We are taking some great concepts from the golden age of course architecture in the early 1900s and incorporating them into the Cedar course,” Albanese said. “The course will feature some of the game’s most popular green templates like the Punchbowl, Double Plateau, and even a Juniper hole like the famous 6th hole at Augusta National. Many Midwesterners have not experienced this kind of architecture, so we wanted to give them a flavor of what it would be like to play overseas or from that era.”
Mancilla added: “We are also going to have a variety of different-length holes, short par-4s inspired by holes like No. 10 at Riviera, maybe a short par-3, and even church pew bunkers like Oakmont.”
The new course will be routed on some great rolling land adjacent to the front nine of Sage Run – as shown in Albanese’s initial rendering.
“The land we have for Cedar is perfect for the concept,” Mancilla said. “The course will wind through a valley with gently rolling hills and some elevation. It will be less severe land than Sage Run but have more movement than Sweetgrass – somewhere right in-between.”
In addition to the course, Cedar will offer a multi-hole complex featuring multiple greens with varying short and mid-level par 3 shots that can be played in all directions. This will be a fun golf experience for groups and golfers looking for extra golf that can be played in about an hour.
Sweetgrass adds a new golf shop
Along with the new nine holes being developed at Sage Run, the Sweetgrass golf course will build a new golf shop. The shop will overlook the golf course's scenic 9th and 18th holes, which share the same double green complex. The Hardy Plank traditional design includes 3,000 square feet of new space, including an upper deck overlooking the golf course with a full-service pro shop, covered outdoor terraces, a full-service bar, and locker rooms with guest showers.
More meetings and conventions are coming to the Island
In addition to the golf expansion, the resort will add to its convention center featuring 16,900 square feet of new convention space. The modern design includes high-volume ceilings, state-of-the-art audio and visual accommodations, a high-capacity kitchen, multiple event bars, and outdoor courtyards that complement the existing architecture, providing a timeless design suitable for an array of events, including weddings, banquets, business conventions, special events and more. The new grand ballroom will have the capacity to accommodate an additional 750 guests seated and up to 1200 guests for larger expos and events, adding a much-needed large event space to the area.
“The new facility is designed to better accommodate larger events, including business conventions,” Mancilla said. “By offering expanded meeting space conveniently located between Lower Michigan and Northern Wisconsin we will meet the increased demand from regional groups. Many of these groups are looking to have multiple day events during the week. We are in the unique position to also provide hotel accommodations sufficient for these large conventions.”
This expansion comes on the heels of the recently completed $33 million hotel tower in 2022. The newer hotel tower – connected to the south end of the resort’s Palm Tower – features 138 guest rooms and suites, with some special attention for golfers with expansive golf suites. Each 675 sq ft suites are complete with a King bed, a double queen and a common area, all with incredible views of the Sweetgrass Golf Course – perfect for foursomes looking for added space and a fun environment.
Located in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula 15 minutes west of Escanaba, Island Resort & Casino is one of the Midwest's largest golf, casino and entertainment resort destinations. The resort features over 450 guest rooms, more than 1,200 of the latest slots, a poker room, various gaming tables and a bingo hall, two championship 18-hole golf courses, the luxurious Drift Spa, an RV Park, a headline entertainment showroom, a dedicated Sportsbook space, a pool with waterpark features, a customizable, expansive convention space and enough dining choices to please every palette. The Island Resort and Casino is easily accessible via two regional airports in Escanaba and Marquette connecting through Detroit, Saginaw, Lansing or Grand Rapids.
