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NWO Golf Links

FALL IS THE PERFECT TIME

to head to the extreme

northern part of the United States for the turning

of the leaves and golf. If you want to travel off the

beaten path to find an oasis of golf, gambling,

entertainment, superb spa facilities and exceptional

dining, check out the

Island Resort and Casino i

n

Harris, Michigan (near Escanaba).

Escanaba is geographically located between the

Mackinaw Bridge and Green Bay, Wisconsin in

the Upper Peninsula. Once you cross the bridge

and head west you will find several opportunities

to catch panoramic views along Lake Michigan,

but don’t forget to stop in Mackinaw City for some

fudge to enjoy on your drive. Direct flights into the

area are also available from Detroit, Chicago and

Milwaukee.

Island Resort and Casino

is owned and managed

by the Hannahville Indian Community and began

with a bingo hall used to raise money for a local

baseball team in 1981. In 1985, the first attempt to

operate a casino was initiated on a small scale and

expanded to the current site in 1991. Now, 24 years

later the resort has 300 rooms, 14 suites and even

an RV park to meet every traveler’s demands.

Sweetgrass Golf Club offers 18 holes of

championship golf and annually hosts the Island

Resort Championship, a Symetra Tour “Road to

the LPGA” event. Dani Holmqvist won the 2015

tournament in June. The course is somewhat unusual

to northern Michigan as it has few trees in play and

more resembles a links-style course.

The overall routing and green complexes are

exceptional. Be sure to catch the two eagles that

guard the back of the 13th green.

Sweetgrass was designed by golf course architect

Paul Albanese, opened for play in 2008 and is

consistently ranked in the top-20 Michigan courses.

It can be stretched to over 7,000 yards for the low

handicapper and the undulating greens are well

maintained and slick. It is challenging to the best

player, but also provides an enjoyable day on the

links for the average or novice golfer. Five sets of tees

offer a variety of choices with the course measuring

slightly over 5,000 yards from the forward tees.

Several features make Sweetgrass standout,

including a variety of green types – Biarritz, Redan

and a shared green on nos. 9 and 18. “Rescued”

metal bridges formerly used by the Michigan

Department of Transportation add a unique “patina”

to the setting while serving a purpose. The bridge

leading to the course’s testy little island green hole –

No. 15 – is a signature statement and a memorable

hole.

Island Resort and Casino is currently building a

second golf course, which will rank among the best

in the state when completed in 2017. Albanese

designed the course around and over a 120-

foot ridge that bisects the property. It will feature

elevated tees, heavily wooded fairways and hilly

terrain to create that “Up North” feeling and unique

golf challenge.

FALL GOLF IN THE U.P. AT

SWEETGRASS ISLAND

RESORT AND CASINO