Golf In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Golf In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Summer is here, and most of the people I know are headed “Up North” sometime in the next few weeks.

If you get a chance to cross the Mackinac Bridge to visit Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, here are a few courses you should put on your list: Greywalls, Sage Run, Sweetgrass, Wild Bluff and Timberstone

Greywalls
Marquette, Michigan

Built on a spectacular piece of property overlooking Lake Superior, Greywalls is an experience a golfer won’t soon forget. Greywalls is one of two courses at Marquette Golf Club, and regularly makes the “best of” lists ranking Michigan golf courses.

Greywalls is located in Marquette, Michigan. I’d like to return to play the Marquette Golf Club’s original course as well as this one.

Read GolfBlogger’s Greywalls Golf Course Review

Sage Run
Harris, Michigan

Sage Run opened in 2018 to national acclaim. Designed by Paul Albanese, the course travels up, down and across a large drumlin — an elongated hill left behind by glacial activity. I was completely wowed by the design. This is a course that I think is in the conversation for “Top Ten” in Michigan.

Sage Run is one of two courses owned by the Island Resort and Casino in Harris. It is a short drive from the casino itself.

Read GolfBlogger’s Sage Run Golf Course Review. I’d really like to return to see how it has matured two years later.

Sweetgrass
Harris, Michigan

Sweetgrass is located directly adjacent to the Island Resort and Casino in Harris. It is one of two courses owned by the casino (the other is Sage Run — see above).

Unlike the hilly and wooded Sage Run, Sweetgrass is routed through open prairie. Some would call it a links-style course, but that sells Sage Run short. Architect Paul Albanese did not create a course-by-the-sea imitation. Instead, he let the existing topography define the layout. This is a Prairie Course, with prairie grasses, the occasional marsh, and stands of trees. It is in its own category.

Sweetgrass is also one of the best-conditioned courses I’ve ever encountered.

Read The GolfBlogger’s Sweetgrass Golf Course Review

Timberstone
Iron Mountain, Michigan

It is a testament to Timberstone that although I played in a driving rain that made me change shoes, socks, shorts — and rainsuit — at the turn, I had a terrific time.

Timberstone is the creation of famed Michigan architect Jerry Matthews. It cuts through thick woods, over hills and past marsh. In short, it is classic Up North golf.

I’d really like to return to get a chance to play it is some better weather.

Read GolfBlogger’s Timberstone Golf Course Review

Wild Bluff
Brimley, Michigan

Owned by the Bay Mills Indian Community, Wild Bluff is routed along the eponymous bluff above Waiska Bay off Lake Superior.

The bluff only comes into play on three holes (all downhill). The remainder of the course is surprisingly flat, with wide fairways cut through forest. Twelve doglegs of varying degrees provide much of the interest.

Read GolfBlogger’s Wild Bluff golf course review.