Saint John’s Resort and The Cardinal to Launch in Spring 2024

The long-anticipated rebuilding of the 27-hole golf property at Sheldon and Beck Roads in Plymouth – being transformed into an 18-hole championship course, 7-hole short course and two acre putting course – is set to open in the spring of 2024.

The project is the region’s first high-end public golf development of its kind in more than 20 years and is part of a $50-million-dollar resort transformation that began in 2021 under the property’s new ownership group, the non-profit Pulte Family Charitable Foundation. The property dates back to a 1940s Catholic monastery.

“It's hard to believe that a golf rich state like Michigan and the Metro-Detroit area has not had a new high-end public golf facility in so long,” said Paul Wegert, CEO of Boutique Hotel Professionals and managing director of Saint John’s Resort. “We believe the area is prime for a new high-end golf product, and we are very happy that we have elevated the golf experience to match our resort transformation. Our golfers and guests, who visit from all over the country, will be excited when they see it.”

Designed by Michigan-based architect Raymond Hearn, the new golf course, named “The Cardinal,” has undergone a complete transformation, resulting in a new 18-hole championship golf course, seven-hole Par 3 course with famous template greens and a two-acre putting course to entertain all ages and skill levels. This multi-purpose golf entertainment venue will wrap around the resort’s driving range and Carl’s Golfland, one of the highly-ranked golf retailers in the country.

“The layout of our property, with the proximity of Carl’s Golfland and the range, was a perfect location to create a pure golf entertainment venue,” Wegert said in a statement. “We have also added a new food and beverage venue near the putting course, which will be a great gathering place for golfers, corporate groups, wedding parties, families, and kids.”

Golf course construction was completed by LaBar Golf Renovations, known for its renovation work at revered private golf clubs like Merion Golf Club, Muirfield Village Golf Club, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Winged Foot Country Club and Oakland Hills Country Club (South Course).

The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort sits on 200 acres of rolling land. The golf course presents an original experience being routed in all directions factoring in elevation, wind, terrain, and natural beauty. The course also takes full advantage of the flow of the land and the majestic 100-year-old trees that were saved during the project and now frame many of the holes, providing a classic design aesthetic from the golden age of golf course architecture. 

“The land, with its natural glacier forms and beautiful hundred-year-old trees, was a great foundation to work with,” Hearn said. “We were able to save many of the old mature trees and create a routing that kept them in play around green sites and along fairways, which is a bit unique in today’s golf course architecture that focuses more on tree removal.

“This also allowed me to draw on my inspiration from previous Donald Ross, Tom Bendelow, and Willie Park Jr.  Our goal was to create a fun golf experience and I believe we have achieved that and then some with this project.”

Uniquely under the foundation’s ownership, 100 percent of the net profits from the resort are donated to educational and humanitarian initiatives in metro Detroit and around the globe. Visit www.saintjohnsresort.com.