Sweetgrass Golf Club

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.

If Sweetgrass was located on the ocean, it could be considered a links course. Since there is no significant amount of water nearby, we’ll call it a parkland-style layout. The course is as visually stunning as it is challenging. Beautifully manicured tee boxes and fairways lead to well-undulated greens. A lot of the long rough is wispy fescue grass; easy to find your ball but tricky to hit from.

Water or marshland comes into play on ten holes and four holes are tree-lined although the trees only come into play on one or two of them — 16 and maybe 17.

All of the holes at Sweetgrass are named, and as you play your way around the layout, you may learn something! The names are part of the rich history of the Hannahville Indian Community and come from traditional Potawatomi clans, villages, allies, medicines, and symbols.

The practice facility at Sweetgrass is located just a short walk from the first tee. There’s a full-length driving range where you can hit every club in your bag and a large practice green that offers a lot of different breaks and gets you ready for what you’re about to encounter.

Most greens are surrounded by bunkers and rough; many times, the shape and contours of these greens make hitting the ball close seemingly impossible.

Two of my favorite holes at Sweetgrass are Numbers 15 and 17. Number 15 is undoubtedly the signature hole. It’s a short par 3 that plays 141 yards from the White Tees over water to an island green that is a lot wider than it is deep. Rocks front the left side of the green. it's about the same length as #17 at Sawgrass with no bunker but lots of rocks around the front of the green. Par is a good score here.

Number 17 is named “Wisdom,” and if you use a little bit, you can score well! It’s another pretty hole at Sweetgrass, and from the White, Blue, and Black Tees, you’ll play over a marshland. Avoid the ornamental rock and fairway bunkers on either side of the landing area and you’re well on your way. A tee shot down the right side and left of the large fairway bunker will leave a short pitch shot into the green which is very elevated with a couple of bunkers front left.

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.

Sweetgrass is one of the best golf courses in the UP and in the same class as Greywalls, Pine Grove, Wild Bluff and Timberstone. This is one of the best conditioned courses I have ever played. The layout and greens have a very modern feel.

The course does not have the elevation change and the quirk of their other course Sage Run. I prefer Sage Run: I love quirk, elevation changes and believe blind shots add to a fun round. If you prefer all hazards to be evident / right in front of you and don't want quirk Sweetgrass should be your course.

If you can make the trek to Upper Michigan , Sweetgrass is worth the effort. While the facilities are nothing spectacular in the shadow of the Island Resort Casino, the staff and the course easily make up for it with friendliness and conditioning that is on par with the best Midwest courses. The course was in fine shape in spite of recent rain and colder fall temperatures. Throw in the fact they are a week from peak colors and the setting is what you want for fall golf in the UP. Great mix of length and variety in the hole designs. Contouring in the fairways and greens is what makes this a stiff test. The course plays long even from the middle, white tees at almost 6500 yards. A yardage book is a wise purchase for the first time players as you need to know where to place an approach or tee shot on these greens. The greens are well defended by elevation, bunkering and contours. Miss in one direction and you will find yourself with a potential three putt. Both finishing holes on each 9 are par 5’s that surround a pond with cascading water down the middle. Except for more advanced players, they are 3 shot par 5’s and are almost the same hole, just played on different sides of the water.
If Swwetgrass is not an annual stop on your summer golf tour, it should be.

If you can make the trek to Upper Michigan , Sweetgrass is worth the effort. While the facilities are nothing spectacular in the shadow of the Island Resort Casino, the staff and the course easily make up for it with friendliness and conditioning that is on par with the best Midwest courses. The course was in fine shape in spite of recent rain and colder fall temperatures. Throw in the fact they are a week from peak colors and the setting is what you want for fall golf in the UP. Great mix of length and variety in the hole designs. Contouring in the fairways and greens is what makes this a stiff test. The course plays long even from the middle, white tees at almost 6500 yards. A yardage book is a wise purchase for the first time players as you need to know where to place an approach or tee shot on these greens. The greens are well defended by elevation, bunkering and contours. Miss in one direction and you will find yourself with a potential three putt. Both finishing holes on each 9 are par 5’s that surround a pond with cascading water down the middle. Except for more advanced players, they are 3 shot par 5’s and are almost the same hole, just played on different sides of the water.
If Swwetgrass is not an annual stop on your summer golf tour, it should be.

Sweetgrass seems like it shouldn't be in Michigan. The water hazards and conditioning make it seem like a tropical course, which is fitting because it's at the Island Resort and Casino. While it doesn't have vast elevation changes or spectacular lake views, it has great (and challenging) hole design and flow. The staff is extremely friendly, just as you'd expect in the UP. My only minor complaint is that the green were a little too quick, and it had even rained the night before, so I can't imagine them dry. It created a challenge when my short game came into play. The round was still extremely enjoyable and I will definitely be back. I'd suggest taking a trip to the UP to try out the fantastic golf. Don't let the island green get in your head!

We have played Sweetgrass three times now and enjoy it more every time we play it. Awesome range.The conditions are always perfect, smooth greens and perfect fairways and bunkers. I like to describe it as a modern links course with 5-6 holes of northwoods forest sprinkled in the routing. Some memorable holes and some interesting shot selections make this a great golf experience. I would play a tee forward your first round at sweetgrass, the wind can make it longer than advertised. The casino and hotel make this a great value and course is worth the drive.

Course is a great course. In great condition. Would recommend. This course was challenging though.

This course was in excellent condition - on par with TPC courses that I've played in Florida. With it's multiple tees, it can be fun for and challenging for golfers of all abilities. The course had excellent drainage, as it did not play wet despite heavy rains the night before. Having the ability to call in food orders & have them waiting for you at the turn enabled us to finish in under 3 hours on a Saturday.

This golf course for the spring season was in almost perfect shape. The fairways are like playing off a carpet at home. Greens are also in good shape from the winter. Long hitters can stripe the ball long with the wide open landing areas. The approach shot into the greens are a lot tougher. Watch the green area and the features around them. Green speeds and breaks are somewhat tricky so read them carefully.

Played in Spring rates so the rate was great.

Staff was okay. I felt rushed when in the pro shop and starter. Not very talkative at all. starter seemed grumpy. But the course marshal was AWESOME!! He was so friendly and very informative about the course and the pro event that comes to the course.

The snack bar at the turn was good. They offered a wrap that was awesome and very delicious.