Plan Early: Your 2025 Golfing Adventure in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Sweetgrass, Sage Run, Greywalls and Timberstone shine together as a must-play golf destination.
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has long been an adventurous travel destination. Its miles of scenic terrain, lakes, and rivers, along with the shorelines of Lake Superior to the north and Lake Michigan to the south, make it a great destination for anyone – and the western side of this region boasts several high-quality golf options that rival those in the Midwest.
The economics of golf are at an all-time high, with golf trips booked earlier and earlier each year; waiting until the last minute or even a few months out does not guarantee the best tee times.
This is especially true at Island Resort & Casino, which also recently announced that a new nine-hole course called Cedar Course – Kishki on the Sage Run Golf Course site – and a short course will break ground and open for the 2026 season.
The resort is also expanding with a new golf shop and convention center. The golf shop will overlook the golf course's scenic 9th and 18th holes, which share the same double green complex, and the new convention space will feature 16,900 square feet of meeting and event space.
“We are very busy in the summer and often booked on both of our other courses in the morning,” said 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. Demand has been at an all-time high. Many of our golf packages are booked 6-9 months in advance. If golfers want the best tee times and room options, they must plan early.”
This golfing road trip takes Lower Michigan golfers over the scenic Mackinac Bridge and west across beautiful US-2, one of the most visually breathtaking drives along Lake Michigan bringing you west of Escanaba to Island Resort & Casino in Harris, MI, one of the Midwest’s largest golf, casino, and resort destinations, the anchor to this premier golf destination. Together with Greywalls in Marquette and Timberstone in nearby Iron Mountain, the “Perfect 4-Some” package is Michigan’s great golfing adventure – and at a dollar rate so good its unlike almost any other.
Golf in this region has been described as “unforgettable” and “underrated.” The resort’s original course, the exceptional Sweetgrass, designed by Paul Albanese, opened in 2008 and consistently ranks among the top 10 courses in the state. It was also named the 2022 National Golf Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), and is home to the Island Resort Championship, one of the premier stops on the EPSON Tour – the official “Road to the LPGA.”
The resort’s second course, Sage Run, also designed by Albanese, was inspired by the “rough and rugged” appeal of Northern Ireland’s Royal County Down. The course, which was named to Golf Digest’s prestigious list of “Best New Courses, 2019,” features a stunning ridge running through it with scenic views that stretch for 30-40 miles and plays down to an open area with wide fairways and rugged fescue grasses.
Greywalls Golf Club, designed by Mike DeVries, is part of the popular Marquette Country Club and is a truly unique golf experience. Spanning 230+ acres, it combines views of Lake Superior with several natural rock outcroppings. Located west of Escanaba in Iron Mountain -- home to legendary Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo and former NFL coach Steve Mariucci -- Timberstone spans up and down a mountainside showcasing scenic vistas, wetlands, and tall pines.
Fully customized packages offer 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-night lodging options with up to four golf rounds, which can also include Greywalls and Timberstone. The very competitive package price options range from $95-$758 depending on time of year. Compare these rates with those from other noteworthy golf destinations and you'll have yet another convincing reason to choose the Upper Peninsula because of the high quality and diverse array of golf.
For more information and to book your Perfect 4-Some, visit www.islandresortgolf.com or call 877-475-4733.
