Sage Run Golf Club

Finally got over to Sage Run yesterday and all I can say it kicked my butt. As a Senior mid-handicapper, I played the gold tees which seemed about right for my abilities. Tee boxes are defined by a single colored stake and are fairly level as compared to certain Iron County MI courses I play. Fairways are nicely manicured and there is no intermediate rough which is very penal for even slightly off-line balls. The primary rough is very thick fescue that hides balls and makes advancing the ball difficult. I like the flow and feel of the course and the extreme elevation changes - the native areas have rocks and clumps of grass; there are trees but they don't really come into play. I'm not a huge fan of blind shots but there are certainly many on this course. The bunkers are rustic and numerous and strategically placed to test your skills. Pace of play on the back 9 got really slow with some rank beginners and cart-path only holes forcing long walks and people obsessed with finding their lost balls. Staff are efficient and friendly with a decent driving range with balls provided.

The newer course at Island Resort is a short drive from the hotel and is a great compliment to Sweetgrass. Sage run is a rugged routing with everything from flat holes to dramatic uphill climbs and steep dropoffs. Sage is tougher than its sister course down the street, but is every bit as fun of a track. With room to expand on the property I am looking forward to seeing what else the resort will add to its portfolio of golf courses.

Get ready for a tough test off the bat with a couple of difficult and long par 4s before getting a slight reprieve on the gettable par 5 3rd. The par 3 5th is one of the steepest uphill holes I’ve ever played with a towering flagstick to help get a visual from the teeing area. The uphill trend continues on the drivable par 4 8th that dares you to hit all you have at the green.

The par 5 9th is a serene experience sitting at the top of the property heading back down to the clubhouse. It is a great view up there, take a few minutes to enjoy it before making the turn! 9 was one of my favorite holes of the trip.

I found the back nine on this course slightly less interesting than the front side, but it is no less a tough test with some very good golf holes. Get ready for the wacky par 4 16th that plays dramatically uphill, and the finishing hole is a good par 5 with a steep drop to the landing zone from the tee box.

Conditions at Sage were very good. The greens were in good shape and rolled well.

My main concern with the round was the pace of play. We easily got around the front 9 in about 2:15, but it took us over 3 hours to get through the back 9. A fun day at the course turned into a brutal slow slog. There were no marshals out there trying to move play along, so the pace never improved. I hope they will do some work to fix that. There are some tough tee shots on this course and I think a lot of players end up re-teeing, then ending up in a drop area. It was just too slow on the day we played.

Besides the pace I really enjoyed the course. It is a tough test with major elevation changes. I look forward to playing again in the future, and playing a lot faster.

Played this course after a marathon Wisconsin dream golf trip of 72 holes in 3 days. I was for sure a rather tired golfer by that point. I played on a hotel one night golf package, so I am not sure how much was for the golf only, so I estimated $65 which is a bargain. The course was in great condition as well and the weather was nice but windy..

However, it was extremely difficult especially from the Blue Tees for someone who drives the ball with a 240 to 250 carry.. On most every hole, it seemed like the bunkers, penalties or dog legs were all at the exact same 235 to 245 yard carry distances. This required either a "great not just good" drive or laying up well short of "hazards" and taking a 200+ yard shot into the every green.

If perhaps they could update and move forward the tee markers on some holes with more challenging greens if could make the playing experience much better. Or perhaps they could create a hybrid of Blue and White "Island Tees" that 8 to 16 handicappers can play. Some configuration changes could lead to dramatic improvements in the golf experience.

It think due to the difficulty of the course, pace of play was very, very tough. After 4 holes, we became the 3rd or 4th group on each hole waiting for 1 or 2 groups to tee off before us. Starting on hole 15 the pace picked up but by then it was too late.

The two groups ahead and two people I was paired with, attempted to complain to a Ranger with his response of sorry the course was full and nothing could be done.

On the 17th tee, another "bigger" ranger drove to us and parked right next to my pairing partners cart on the tee box. He argued with them in a rather menacing way with his arms crossed that the course was full and to get over it.

I had never seen anything like that before from an on course ranger. Then I noticed some of the similar review responses.

The 8 people we saw on each tee and my 2 pairing partners all said they would not be back due to the slow play and attitudes.

While I would play this course again with friends, this review is to "know before your go" to set expectations.

Ask anyone that’s familiar with golf in Michigan where you can find the best courses in the state and you may be surprised at the answers you get. Gaylord is always near the top of the list as is Kalamazoo – home to Gull Lakeview Resort and its six courses. But if you really want to play the best Michigan has to offer, you’ll have to go north, past Gaylord and Traverse City, over the Mackinac Bridge. Once you go over the bridge, take Route 2 West until you hit Harris, MI. Follow the signs to The Island Resort & Casino and you’re at the home of two golf courses you won’t soon forget: Sweetgrass and Sage Run.

The Island Resort and Casino is part of the Hannahville Indian Community. Both Sweetgrass and Sage Run were designed by Michigan native Paul Albanese and are constantly ranked among Golfweek’s Best Courses and recognized by GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest as a part of their Best in State ranking. In 2021, Sweetgrass was named Michigan’s Golf Course of the Year by the Michigan Golf Course Association.

Sage Run is located less than 10 miles from the main property. Sage Run offers a contrast in style and design to its sister course, Sweetgrass. Whereas Sweetgrass is characterized by soft, flowing terrain populated with wispy fescue grasses, well-manicured areas, and a lot of water, Sage Run is more rugged and raw, with rough-looking bunkers and large native waste areas. The course is consistently ranked among Golf Digest’s Places to Play.

The primary feature of the land at Sage Run is a natural drumlin - an elongated hill or ridge formed by glacial ice. The drumlin at Sage Run runs through the center of the 300-acre property and reaches heights of 200 feet in some places. A number of holes work their way on, off, and around the drumlin offering a variety of scenic views and creating a roller coaster ride for golfers. Elevation changes vary from hole to hole and range from rolling terrain to dramatic drops and rises.

Although most of the holes are considered tree-lined, you have to be well wide of the fairway for them to come into play. The course typically plays firm and fast, something to remember when you hit those approach shots, but it’s the greens that make the course stand out. Most are gently raised and average in size. They roll quick and smooth with modest undulation. That’s not to say you’ll find many straight putts; they just aren’t there. It takes a skilled greens reader to master the subtle breaks. Another interesting feature of Sage Run is that there is only one tee marker on each hole, giving you a lot of options for placing your ball. And Sage Run aims to help directionally challenged golfers by placing a painted rock behind the bunker which can be used as an aiming point on the 2nd hole.

My favorite holes at Sage Run make full use of the drumlin. Number 5 is a 156-yard par 3 that plays considerably longer than its stated yardage of 156 yards and is handicapped #5 on the layout. For most players, it takes at least two extra clubs to get up the hill. The greenside slope on the right-side funnels balls back to the green and the slope behind acts as a backstop. It’s a fun and interesting tee shot!

Number 14 is a behemoth par 3 that would play 201 yards if it were on flat ground. Unfortunately, it plays dramatically uphill and considerably longer. You tee off over wetlands towards what is the largest green on the course, although you can’t tell from the tee box! I hit 3-wood because as I looked over the prospect of being short, I realized I was not part mountain goat, which is necessary to navigate the hilly terrain. The next time I play the hole, I’ll remember the large collection area around the green.

Number 16 is a 298-yard par 4 that proves holes don’t need to be long to be a tough par. It too plays up a steep hill and a good drive that finds the fairways at the top of the hill will leave a short pitch shot into the green. This is where things get interesting because what Number 16 lacks in length it makes up for with a green that slopes front to back, lots of undulation, and a crown that runs through the middle.

The Island Resort & Casino property features a variety of accommodations and dining opportunities and a full-scale casino. When you’re not busy exercising your index finger pushing buttons on the slot machine, you can get some physical exercise at the indoor pool and small gym. Islands Resort & Casino is also a great place to hold a business meeting or small event.

The Island Resort and Casino had already made a name for itself with the opening of Sweetgrass Golf Course, which is located directly behind the casino and hotel. With the opening of Sage Run in 2019, Islands has established itself as a premiere golf destination for those looking for a great golf experience. They have some pretty incredible stay-and-play packages that also include two other stellar Upper Peninsula courses – TimberStone and Greywalls. For more information or to book your next stay at the Island Resort and Casino, visit them online

The good: Like the layout, challenging, don't mind the blind shots because after you play a few times, you'll know the lines. Uphill holes are interesting. If you hit the ball well, you'll be fine. Some tough par fours with a nice mix of short par fours. Greens are tough but fair. Rolled smooth, were fast, yet receptive.

The bad: Tee boxes are un level....all of them. We were not playing the back tees, but some of those boxes were leaning so severely downhill not sure how you'd tee off--even two club lengths back. Basically all day you had a ball above or below your feet off the tee boxes from every set of markers. To me, it doesn't seem like it would take that much to fix these.

Other commenters have commented about the rocks in the rough. Someone seems to respond rather sarcastically that rocks in the rough are normal and that somehow these rocks are way off the fairways/greens. In some cases maybe, but not in others. I drove the ball on a short par four, pin high, a foot behind a greenside bunker--about 15 feet from the pin. It was sparse grass and gravel. Tha'ts really not how a golf course should play. I'm not nicking up clubs playing from the rocks because I pulled a tee shot 15 feet left of the green. If they went 20 feet around and cleaned those up, I"d be ok with that. Its just really not acceptable.

Would I play again, sure. Like the design, holes are fair. But they need to level the tee boxes and clean up the rocks. I'd give it four and half stars if they did that. I see a lot of people playing this once and not coming back. That's too bad.

1st time playing this great track! Very challenging, with a number of blind tee shots starting with number 1. But not just blind, some have dramatic elevation changes as well. We played on a day where there wasn't any pace-of-play issues, so we drove up to have a look on a few holes before teeing off. That, along with the course information available, made things a bit easier. There are a lot of risk/reward decisions to be made with bunkers, blind shots, elevation changes, slopes, etc. so, it tests the mind as well. Yes, the rough after the 1st cut has rocks; when we were in there and it was an issue we just moved our ball. No sense damaging club or body for a recreational round of golf. Scenery is beautiful, with splendid fall colors, wide vistas, and nice overlooks.

Course was in excellent condition, tee-to-green. Some have complained about uneven tee boxes. Well, first, there are no tee boxes. Usually just a short, fairway-like mowed area with a single marker at the side edge. You can tee anywhere in the area behind your marker (within 2 club lengths), so it's easy enough to find a suitable spot. Fairways and greens were immaculate. Greens were a bit tricky with undulations and pretty fast, but rolled true. Our approach shots did not hold the green as well as we would have liked/expected for us higher handicappers (read: we don't spin the ball), but it had been dry the previous week, so playing shots landing short and running up on the putting surface was the order of the day for us. No bunker rakes (covid) so we played lift-smooth with your foot-place if you ended up in a footprint or other bad bunker lie.

Clubhouse is minimal but adequate with quick food at the turn. Electric carts with GPS are really nice. Nice on-course restrooms with real plumbing, not outhouses or portable toilets. Carts are stationed in a section of the parking lot with an attendant there. They brought carts right to our car when we parked, so a quick and easy operation to load the carts and head to the clubhouse to check in. Then it was off to the range (balls included!) to warm up. At the end of the round, we went straight to the parking lot and off-loaded and the attendant took the cart. Not much reason to stay at the clubhouse after, no seating area (in- or outdoors); thinking that they expect you are heading back to the Island Resort & Casino and all the fun there.

The staff was exceptionally nice and helpful. Cart attendants in the parking lot were really nice, letting us know where to go, etc. Check-in was quick and easy. The Starter was very helpful giving us a quick overview, especially of #1 as it is a blind tee shot. The gal working the food and drink area was fun, asking how it was going at the turn. The was no beverage cart service although it is fall golf on a day when it barely hit 50°F.

All in all we had a great day, and we'll definitely be back. It's the type of course where you have to play it a few times to get the "lay of the land". If you like a fun challenge instead of your typical back-and-forth golf course, you've got to try Sage Run.

Might have been the hardest course I ever played. The change in elevation on some holes was like nothing I played before. Fairways were adequate size, the greens were tough. The tee boxes were not flat but they were built that way. I normally shoot in the 90's and I was 20 more than that here.

This is a top course in all of Michigan. Playing from the tips, it's incredibly challenging as you face many inclined, blind and just flat out difficult shots and terrain. Many uphill drives and tough lies in the fairways and regular rough. The front nine showcases the extreme challenges the course offers, while the back nine changes pace to more of a pure play layout that will be a lot of fun for beginner to intermediate players. The deep rough is extremely difficult, made up entirely of rock, hardened sand, steep hills, and deep fescue, so you must hit the fairways or your score will suffer and so will your wallet after losing all of your balls. lol. The greens are generally large, but all have tricky curves and undulations. Many times I have been in the position for birdie but came out of the hole with a bogey or double bogey simply because the greens are so challenging. Great rates as well, $59 w/cart for county residents, $85 w/cart for non-residents. A beautiful and unique course to enjoy in the UP.

Sage Run is in great shape for only being a few years old. Its conditions are nearing the level of its sister course. The rough is very penal, but the fairways are generally pretty easy to hit. You need to stay sharp on and around the greens because your ball will roll forever (which creates a lot of fun and thought-provoking putts and approaches). There are a few uphill shots that might be difficult if you don't hit the ball very high, but other than that, it's pretty playable for the average resort guest. The vistas are gorgeous and it's a very fun round. This course is well on its way to maturing into a real gem.

Got rained out at Sweet Grass and wasn't notified. They were able to get us on Sage Run. After a unique little drive to the middle of nowhere. The course was great and the staff was friendly. The have a nice range to get started. The course was pounded with rain the day before and all morning. but it had great drainage and played well. I am glad I had my laser to find distances and the cart GPS was accurate as well to help navigate the course.The greens were the best I have played in Michigan. Only complaint was no transfusions in the club house.

I’m shocked by all of the negative reviews. Yes the course is new. Yes the rough has rocks in it. The fairways do not. The course has a ton of character: from the big elevation changes, to the bold greens, to the strategic bunkering, and to the unique layout. The course is highly recommended. If you want a unique course with great fairways and greens and big elevation changes. If you want flat greens, flat fairways, manicured rough and no character goto Myrtle Besch!

I am shocked by the numerous extensive negative reviews. Yes the course has a lot of rocks in the deep rough, but not the fairway. Yes there are some blind shots and large elevation changes. These are what give the course tons of character. If you want flat, bland, characterless course goto Myrtle Beach.

I am shocked by the extensive negative reviews. Cons: course does have a fair amount of rocks that have been removed from the fairways but nor rough, there are some blind shots and are associated with the bold elevation changes. Pros: fairways and greens in great shape, greens have a lot of character and I love the elevation changes. If you want flat fairways, flat greens, manicured rough and no character goto Myrtle Beach . If you want elevation changes, tons of character and a great course play here.

Shocked by some of the extensive negative reviews!! I had no problems with the tee boxes and yes portions of the far off the fairway rough were rocky. However, the goal is not to hit it there. I loved the elevation changes and use of the drumlin to give the course some distinctive character. If you want flat fairways, flat greens and everything being right in front of you without blind shots or charm goto Myrtle Beach. If you want a bold unique layout that has elevation changes, some blind shots, undulating greens and a ton of character seek out Sage. Run!

We were hoping to finish up our trip playing Sage Run as something new and interesting that was of the caliber of Timberstone and Grey Walls the days before, a reasonable expectation considering it is in the same price tier and where Sweetgrass is rated as well. Our expectations were quickly dashed upon teeing up on hole 1, having to search for a reasonably flat spot on what was shaped as slightly more than and extended section of fairway with tees marked by wherever the summer help seemed to think was a good spot to stick the different colored markers. Good luck finding a decent tee box that isn’t sloping one way or another throughout the entire round. The rustic natural layout i get, but basic formed tee boxes are a must have for any mediocre or better course. Hopefully there are plans to bring the bulldozers back out along with some fill to shape some decent tees.

The fairways and greens were in excellent shape for a course this young, and very nicely shaped with challenging but fair contours. It’s everything else that unfortunately takes away from the excellent worksmanship on these features. Lacking available GPS course data online or any decent course maps, other than the cart onboard gps system, it is very difficult to navigate the blind uphill shots and doglegs not knowing where a poorly designed and placed fairway bunker is lying to swallow up what appeared to be an excellent shot off the misshapen back 40 tee box. If you have decent length off the tees, you will find yourself hitting off clumping fescue and native plants amongst the coarse quarry gravel pit that lies just off the first cut rough. I enjoy the challenge of hitting out of fescue and appreciate the penalty it costs for misplaced shots, but in this stuff you’re more likely to hit a nice shot on a rock before or below your ball than making good contact with a decent release out of fescue. Unless your shot is aligned with the direction of the dozer tracks, which there is way too much unfinished grading right up into in bounds areas, you’re going to wish you left that club fitting tape on the bottom and face of your wedges and irons to absorb some of the rock dings you’re sure to a accumulate as a lasting reminder of playing in this rock pit. The same goes for just outside where they dumped the sand that probably cost a fortune and then failed to finish shaping the bunker edges and raking out the quarry rocks.

Regarding the layout, why the fairway bunkers protruding prominently into the landing zones on the par 5’s? I guess for a bro’s weekend to see who can jack their tee shots over and clear them as a bit of a side game to provide some additional entertainment on the less intriguing holes, they provide that dynamic. But hole 12, seriously just bring the bulldozers back out and try again. It’s as though someone measured wrong and tried to turn this remaining bit of hillside that runs the length of the fairway into the impossible fairway to land a decent shot on. The uphill par 3’s and 4’s, yes Greywalls pulls it off beautifully, but they should have stuck with downhill bluff shots to make the most out of the natural geology in the course layout. I personally don’t get a whole lot of enjoyment out of smacking a driver up in between a couple fairway hills and watching my ball ricochet between them and back down like a pin ball machine.

Bottom line, the course has potential and is very well kept on the fairways and greens, but they need to bring the dozers back out and do it right and finish the job for it to be at the price point being charged in this area.

Wow, where to begin. First off, I try to stay positive about new courses that have just opened recently. I don't know if I'd call this a golf course or a glorified gravel pit with good greens. If you are a high handicap, do yourself a favor and stay away from Sage Run. I'm a 3 handicap and I shot 78 here and still didn't enjoy it. There are endless sand traps in the middle of tight fairways that are also surrounded by another ring of fescue and gravel rocks which make finding a fairway even with a decent tee shot mission impossible. I thought I hit a few decent tee shots and ended up in fairway bunkers or the fescue that surrounds them. You'll also spend a LOT of time looking for golf balls just off the edge of the fairways in the fescue.

Rocks, Rocks, and more Rocks!

Put gorilla tape on your clubs or bring an old set.

Even if you are a solid plus hcp or scratch golfer, I would say avoid this course at all costs. The fescue that lines almost all of the fairways is filled with rocks. If you value your thousand dollar irons or new wedges don't bring them to this course. You will ding, dent, and scratch them at this course.

Layout:

Very scenic piece of property. However, you end up with lots of blind tee shots uphill, around blind doglegs, and the fairways are very hard to hit on many holes. Hole 3 is an impossible par 5 with a green that needs to be bulldozed. It's a huge mounded turtleback green, and the greens are so fast you can't even get a ball close to the hole, and even if you do you'll probably 3 putt or roll it off the green back into the fairway. The greens were impeccable, very very fast/firm, but rolled true. However, there is far too much undulation to have greens rolling at an 11-12 on the stimp. Expect to 3 putt more than you think, even if you are inside of 10 feet on your approach shots. All of rocks in the fescue lining the fairways are very annoying. You should never have that many rocks at a golf course. Whoever the architect is for this course, must not be a true golfer.

Recommendation:

Go play Sweetgrass or Timberstone and save yourself the headache of Sage "No Fun" Run. At least those courses are both super scenic and super fun to play for all handicaps and you won't damage your clubs hitting rocks.

One of the best, most challenging, beautiful courses in Michigan. Be curious about the course before you play, it’s rough and rugged, young, unique, and how it’s integrated into the natural terrain is incredible. I can’t overstate how much fun it was to play Sage Run, a contrast to the other 3 connected courses Sweetgrass, TimberStone in Iron Mountain and Greywalls in Marquette (played them all). The staff at Sage Run was friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating. Our starter,Dwayne, the very best, he went out of the way- friendly, knowledge, patience! Lucky to have him! Highly recommended and we can’t wait to return

Afeter reading the reviews of Sage Run I was thinking that we should have played elsewhere, however it was a great experience. Are there blind shots - yes (some of the best courses in Ireland have blind shots - Can you say Ballybunion?). Is it flat and boring - no! There are rocks in the rough - so do courses in Hawaii - lava!

Course is in great shape and a very friendly staff. The layout is very different from Sweetgrass as there are elevation changes. The only criticism is the tee boxes are not very flat. If you are looking for a boring, down and back course, play elsewhere. If you want to have fun play Sage Run.

Played Sweetgrass Saturday Sage Run today. Loved Sweetgrass. Hated Sage Run. It began at the clubhouse when my Garmin had nothing so had to rely on the course GPS which was not accurate. Hit several clubs over greens believing distance. Then the starter told us how to play number 5 uphill blind par 3. Said stick to the cart path. Did so. Came up pin high 25 yards right of the green.

From there, I would tell you this is the largest rock quarry to ever allow golfers. 3 yards off the fairways was 12 inch grass and the largest rock collection I have ever seen on a golf course. Every hole. And then there was hole 16 designed by a complete moron. Cart path only. Up- hill par 4 of 280 or so. Walked up the path where my playing partner hit his drive, then up another 200 yards of 45 degree slant to my ball carrying 5 clubs, all because of the design of the hole. No- zero yardage markers in the fairway. Not on sprinkler heads. No 100/150/200 yard markers not even the cart path.

This is a glorified cow pasture new or not. I see very little in the way of improving the course. If you are doing a weekend at the Island (nice place) do yourself a favor and play Sweetgrass twice. I will not play this course again!!!