Sweetgrass & Sage Run: Best Golf Courses in the Upper Peninsula
The Island Resort & Casino is proud to house two of the top golf courses in Upper Michigan: Sweetgrass and Sage Run. Both of our courses are award-winning golf destinations perfect for a weekend getaway or a weeklong vacation.
Check out our media below to learn more about what’s happening on the green at two of the best golf resorts in Michigan. Also, be sure to check out what previous visitors have to say about our courses. See what the experts are saying about Sweetgrass & Sage Run Golf Courses, two of the best golf courses in Northern Michigan.
Sweetgrass Honors
Golf Digest – “America’s Best New Courses” of 2009
Golfweek – America’s “Best Courses You Can Play” State-by-State
Golfweek – “Best Casino Courses” of 2009
Golfweek – “Best New Courses” of 2009
Midwest Gaming & Travel – Reader’s Choice “Best Casino Golf Course” in Michigan 2011
Golfweek – “2010 Best Casino Courses”
Golf Magazine – #13 “Best Courses You Can Play” in Michigan 2010
Golfweek – #14 Best Courses You Can Play in Michigan 2011
Golfweek – $20 Best Casino Courses 2015
Golfweek – #11 Best Courses You Can Play, Michigan 2016
Golfweek – #13 Best Courses You Can Play, Michigan 2017
GolfDigest – #7 Most Picturesque Courses for Instagrammers 2018
GolfDigest – The Ulimate Michigan Buddies’ Trip, “The Wilderness Trip” 2018
Golfweek – #19 Top 50 Casino Golf Courses in the U.S. 2018
Michigan Golf Course Association – Michigan Golf Course of the Year 2021
National Golf Course Association – 2022 Jemsek National Golf Course of the Year
Golfweek – #10 Best Courses You Can Play, Michigan 2022
Sage Run Honors
GolfDigest – #4 America’s Best New Public Courses 2019
Golfweek – #20 Best Courses You Can Play, Michigan 2022
Google Reviews
Sage Run
Greg Martinson
Great Time and Great Golf Course
Gregg Delmet
My new favorite course in the Yoop! Very challenging, yet fair. The drumlin gives you a great reference around the course. I’ve read a lot of “I don’t get it reviews”. If you like flat out great golf without all the bells and whistles, this is it!
Ron Racette
Recommend this to all levels of golfer’s.
Jay Petri
This course is awesome. So much fun to play. I’m a 17 HDCP and had an awesome time. I read the less than appealing reviews and decided to check it out for myself anyways. I’m so glad I played it and I will play it again. This is not your grip it and rip it course. Fairways, greens and bunkers were in awesome shape. There are no rocks in the bunkers itself but there are rocks around the perimeter of the traps that are in the long grass but I don’t feel it is anything to complain about. There are some blind shots, and some long par 3s, some up hill shots and some down hill shots which makes it a great play. Check it out for yourself, because if you read the negative you will miss out on a great course.
Melissa Kramer
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, patient! Lucky to have him! Highly recommended and we can’t wait to return
Garry Wilcox
I had a great time at this course very challenging. The color change was underway and it was beautiful. I would recommend playing this course if you make the trip to play sweetgrass make sure you give this a ride.Great staff ,very playable.
Aaron Seiser
Excellent course! Elevation changes, distance, view, all were great! People were great too!
Bill Conn
Really enjoyed Sage Run. Course was in great shape and the staff was friendly. Layout has elevation changes and a couple of blind shots which make it fun to play. GPS on the carts is a big help for the first time player. It is a good partner to Sweetgrass as it is a very different type of course! Definately going back.
Sweetgrass
Doug Neracher
Wonderful course. Ample fairways and good rolling greens.
Jill Lallensack
Course is in great shape. Well maintained. Snack shop was quick and pkesant.
Jeffrey Hopkins
Great people, unbelievable golf course conditions.
Paul Foegen
Great golf course, excellent condition and layout.
Steven Mccoy
Very well kept course. Wide open, but still challenging with water, sand and pin locations! A course you must experience!
Andrew Butterfield
Great place to golf and to get away for the day.
David Meyer
Beautiful golfing and greens. Had a great time and looking forward to get back again sometime soon.
Tom Kirkconnell
Go every year. Worth a stop. A jewel
Golf Chicago Magazine published an article on the Island Resort and Sweetgrass Golf Club in Fall of 2023.
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In 2022, Sweetgrass was featured on the cover of Golf Central magazine.
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Sweetgrass Golf Course was named the 2022 Jemsek National Golf Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association.
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Starting in 2019, the Symetra Tour’s Island Resort Championship has been designated as the official United States qualifier for The Evian Championship.
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In 2019, Sage Run Golf Club was named No. 4 in GolfDigest Magazine 2019 ‘Best New Public Course’.
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In its first year of eligibility, Sweetgrass Golf Club, was named No. 20 in Golfweek Magazine’s 2009 ‘Best Courses You Can Play’ state-by-state rankings; besting nearly 700 Michigan facilities.
Sweetgrass, TimberStone and Greywalls Golf Courses were featured in the Fall 2008 Midwest Golfing Magazine.
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