Every great golf course starts with the land. And according to architect Paul Albanese, the site for Cedar Course (Kishki) might be the best he’s worked with at Island Resort.
“This may be my favorite site of all three courses we’ve done up here,” Albanese said. “It just sets up really well for some good golf.”
That’s saying something, given that Albanese also designed both of Island’s award-winning championship layouts: Sweetgrass and Sage Run.
✦ A Natural Combination of Two Championship Courses
Unlike Sage Run, which was built on a dramatic drumlin (a long, sloping geological feature) and features rugged elevation changes, and unlike Sweetgrass, which flows low and wide across flatland, Cedar finds its place in between.
“This course is kind of a combination of the two,” Albanese explained. “You get a lot of great views from the tee boxes. There’s a lot of undulation—but it’s not as much as Sage Run, and it’s more than Sweetgrass.”
The result is a layout with balance. Playable, scenic, and strategic—without being overly punishing. Players can expect elevation shifts, sightlines, and movement that bring character to each hole without overwhelming the experience.
✦ Why This Matters for Golfers
Cedar’s routing and shaping were guided not by forced features, but by the natural contours of the land itself. That gives the course a rhythm and visual appeal that golfers will feel throughout the round.
It also adds diversity to Island’s golf offering. Between the bold challenge of Sage Run, the walkable elegance of Sweetgrass, and now the terrain-driven flow of Cedar, players can now experience three distinct styles without leaving the property.
“It kind of turned out by chance,” Albanese added, “but this site really has the best of both worlds.”
With Cedar Course set to open in time for the 2026 golf season, the stage is set for Island Resort to offer one of the most complete destination golf experiences in the Midwest.
