Island Resort's Golf Expansion By Brian Weis

Island Resort's Golf Expansion

The Cedar Course and a New Sweetgrass Golf Shop

By Brian Weis

Island Resort & Casino is setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in golf with the addition of the Cedar Course and a brand-new Sweetgrass Golf Shop. These updates promise to elevate the golfing experience, blending thoughtful design with cultural heritage and modern amenities.

Introducing the Cedar Course (Kishki)

Golfers seeking a fresh challenge will soon find it at the Cedar Course, a nine-hole addition designed by Paul Albanese, whose previous work on Sweetgrass and Sage Run has been widely celebrated. Nestled on the Sage Run site, the Cedar Course draws inspiration from the golden age of golf architecture. Its design incorporates iconic green complexes like the Punchbowl, Double Plateau, and Juniper, offering a taste of classic courses such as National Golf Links and Prestwick.

Tony Mancilla, General Manager of Island Resort & Casino, notes that the Cedar Course was conceived to meet rising demand. "Our mornings are often fully booked during peak season. This nine-hole course is perfect for guests looking for an early tee time before heading home."

The Cedar Course is not merely a physical extension; it's a cultural tribute. Its name, Kishki, meaning "cedar" in Potawatomi, honors one of the four sacred medicines revered for its protective and purifying properties. The course's logo will also incorporate tobacco, another sacred medicine, completing a trio of representations alongside Sweetgrass and Sage Run.

The terrain promises to be a standout feature. Mancilla describes the layout as rolling gently through a valley, offering a middle ground between the bold elevation changes of Sage Run and the smoother contours of Sweetgrass. Golfers can expect a course that balances beauty and strategy with a mix of hole lengths and unique features, such as short par-4s inspired by Riviera's 10th hole and church pew bunkers reminiscent of Oakmont.

Adding to its charm, Cedar will also feature a multi-hole complex with greens designed for short and mid-level par-3 shots, playable in multiple directions. Perfect for groups or a quick game, this addition offers a versatile, hour-long golf experience.

A New Era for Sweetgrass Golf Shop

While Cedar expands the resort's offerings, Sweetgrass is stepping up its game with a new golf shop. This 3,000-square-foot facility will overlook the scenic double green shared by the 9th and 18th holes. Designed with a Hardy Plank traditional aesthetic, the shop will include a full-service pro shop, locker rooms with guest showers, and a full-service bar.

Golfers can unwind on the upper deck or covered outdoor terraces, soaking in views of one of the Upper Peninsula's most celebrated courses. Mancilla sees this addition as an essential upgrade, solidifying Sweetgrass's position among the region's top golf destinations.

An Elevated Golf Destination

With these additions, Island Resort & Casino is shaping itself as a premier golf destination. The Cedar Course offers a thoughtfully designed experience steeped in history and culture, while the upgraded Sweetgrass Golf Shop enhances convenience and comfort for every visitor. Together, they promise to make every swing, every hole, and every visit unforgettable.

Whether you're chasing a quick nine holes before breakfast or enjoying the serenity of Sweetgrass's terraces, Island Resort is redefining what a great day on the course looks like.

To learn more about the Cedar Course, the new Sweetgrass Golf Shop, and the exciting $19 million capital investment in our resort, including expanded conference facilities, visit the Island Resort & Casino website's expansion page for full details on these transformative projects.

Revised: 11/24/2024 - Article Viewed 363 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.