Island Resort runs a 36-hole property -- Sweetgrass and Sage Run -- at a conditioning standard most resort markets don't sustain. Greywalls adds Mike DeVries's granite-and-boreal routing in Marquette. TimberStone fills the fourth round with a Jerry Matthews hardwood design that holds up without needing to be the headline. The UP's remoteness is the point, not the obstacle. Groups that commit to the drive or the flight get a four-course rotation without a weak round in it.
Courses included
The trip experience
Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a commitment before it's a golf trip. The courses at the center of it -- Sweetgrass, Sage Run, Greywalls, and TimberStone -- are genuinely excellent and priced well below what the same design and conditioning would command in a more competitive market. The tradeoff is real: the season runs late May through early October, the airport connections are limited, and the driving corridor that links all four courses is 90 minutes end to end. Groups that accept those terms get a rotation where there is no weak round.
Sweetgrass at Island Resort and Casino in Harris is the anchor. Paul Albanese and Chris Lutzke designed it in 2008, and the course has accumulated the rankings that follow quality conditioning: Golfweek has recognized it consistently, Golf Digest places it among Michigan's best, and it won the 2022 Jemsek National Course of the Year. The routing moves through wooded corridors and open meadows on a layout that rewards shot-shaping without penalizing average golfers off the tee. It is the course captains put on Day One to set the tone for the week.
"Sweetgrass earned the 2022 Jemsek National Course of the Year -- at a rate structure that doesn't reflect that recognition, which is the short version of why the UP keeps coming up when captains run the math on a Midwest golf trip."
Sage Run opened in 2018 on the same Island Resort property, also designed by Albanese. The terrain is different: a natural drumlin -- a glacial ridge -- runs through the property and creates dramatic elevation changes that make Sage Run a harder and more vertical experience than Sweetgrass. Tighter corridors, more exposure, views that open unexpectedly over the ridge. It plays like a course on completely different land from its neighbor, which is essentially the case. Two rounds at Island Resort without repeating anything is an asset most resort properties can't offer.
Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club is the trip's road-trip extension, 55 minutes east on US-2. Mike DeVries designed it in 2005 on land that doesn't let you forget where you are -- granite outcroppings edge several holes, boreal forest frames the routing, and Lake Superior views open from multiple tee shots. Golfweek has it at number two among Michigan public courses. The club is semi-private with public tee times available online; groups should book well in advance and confirm the window directly with the club. The drive is worth making.
TimberStone in Iron Mountain is the fourth round, 35 minutes southwest on US-2. Jerry Matthews designed it in 1997 through northern hardwoods on mature terrain -- different in character from the Albanese designs at Island Resort and different again from DeVries's granite work at Greywalls. The routing uses the trees and the topography without overcomplicating the strategy. Golfweek has it consistently in the top ten Michigan public courses, and the conditioning holds up through the season. It earns its place in the rotation without needing to be the headline.
"The UP corridor links Sweetgrass, Sage Run, Greywalls, and TimberStone across 90 minutes of driving -- four rounds where each course earns its place without the others carrying it."
Island Resort's casino is a genuine logistical asset. Groups that include non-serious golfers or members who want an option after dinner have one on-property, no drive required. Room blocks accommodate larger groups without the negotiation that golf-specific resort properties typically require. The property handles the operational side of a buddy trip efficiently, which is an underrated quality when the captain is coordinating eight or more people.
Fly into Sawyer International Airport (MQT) in Marquette or drive from the Mackinac Bridge -- roughly 50 minutes from the bridge to Island Resort on US-2. July and August are peak season with the most reliable conditions and the longest daylight. September is the honest value window: fall foliage at Greywalls, shorter lines at Island Resort, and shoulder-season rates without meaningful conditioning tradeoffs.
Side trips & bonus golf
The one golf add-on that costs no extra driving is Marquette (Heritage), which shares Greywalls' property. The move is to stack them on the Marquette day: Greywalls in the morning while the group is fresh for its exposure and severity, Heritage in the afternoon when a gentler par 71 is the right speed. It turns a single Marquette stop into 36 holes without backtracking and is the cheapest round on the itinerary. Skip it only if the group would rather spend the Marquette afternoon on the Lake Superior shoreline than on a second course.
The non-golf layer splits by how far the group wants to roam. Closest in is Bays de Noc charter fishing, the natural pick for non-golfers or anyone who wants a morning on the water before an afternoon round. Two stops pair with golf days rather than competing with them: Fayette Historic State Park, a preserved 1880s iron-smelting town on the cliffs of Big Bay de Noc about 45 minutes from the resort, and the Pine Mountain ski jump next to TimberStone in Iron Mountain, a quick stop on the way in or out of that round.
For groups willing to give a full day to the landscape, the bigger nature sits east and west of the golf corridor. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Lake Superior cliff country reached by boat cruise out of Munising, is about 50 minutes east of Marquette and the best non-golf day in the region. Farther afield, the Porcupine Mountains rise two hours west and Tahquamenon Falls anchors the eastern UP, both worth the drive only if the trip stretches beyond its four rounds.
Is this trip right for your group?
- ✓Book this trip if you are a Midwest golfer who has already done Traverse City and wants the next level.
- ✓Book this trip if you care about course conditions and are willing to pay $85 for pristine fairways rather than $50 for mediocre ones.
- ✓Book this trip if a top-100 public course (Greywalls, #55 Golf Digest) is on your bucket list and you want to pair it with three more courses in the same region.
- ✓Book this trip if you enjoy road-trip golf where the drive is part of the experience.
- ✓Book this trip if you want on-property convenience: Sweetgrass and Sage Run are steps from your hotel room at Island Resort.
- ✓Book this trip if value matters and you are willing to stay at a casino resort to get it.
- ✓Book this trip if four rounds over three to four days is your preferred pace.
- ✗Skip this trip if you need a city or nightlife scene beyond a casino floor and a handful of bars.
- ✗Skip this trip if you are flying commercial and expect the airport to be close: Escanaba and Marquette airports have limited service, and most people drive five-plus hours from Detroit, Milwaukee, or Green Bay.
- ✗Skip this trip if you plan to visit in October through April, as all four courses are closed.
- ✗Skip this trip if dramatic elevation and blind shots at Greywalls and Sage Run will frustrate rather than excite you.
- ✗Skip this trip if one top-ranked course plus three good ones does not justify the travel distance for your group.
When to go
- July and August are the prime months with the longest days: sunset in the UP is close to 9:30 PM, allowing late tee times.
- Course conditions at Sweetgrass and Sage Run are at their best in July, when the fescue is fully established and the greens are fastest.
- Package rates at Island Resort are at their highest in peak season but still represent strong value relative to course quality.
- Greywalls books up fastest in July and August; tee times should be secured at least three to four weeks out.
- The UP is genuinely remote; bring what you need because the nearest large city with full shopping is Green Bay or Marquette.
- June and September offer lighter crowds and reduced rates at Greywalls ($145 versus $235 in summer) without a meaningful drop in course quality.
- Sage Run and Sweetgrass shoulder rates fall to $75 per round, making the value case even stronger.
- June can still run cool with overnight lows in the 40s; an extra layer for morning rounds is worth the space in the bag.
- September is arguably the prettiest month for a UP golf trip, with the hardwoods turning color around Sage Run and Greywalls by mid-month.
- Course closures start in mid to late October depending on weather; confirm opening and closing dates before booking a late September or early October trip.
- All four courses close for the winter, typically from mid to late October through late April or early May.
- Island Resort and Casino stays open year-round for gaming and entertainment, so the hotel is available, but there is no golf.
- Greywalls closes after the Heritage Course leaf-season window ends; exact dates vary by weather year to year.
- Spring opening dates at Sweetgrass and Sage Run depend on ground conditions; confirm with Island Resort before booking a May trip.
What a Upper Peninsula trip costs
| Item | Peak | Shoulder | Off-Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee fees (4 rounds) | $180–$280 | $150–$240 | $110–$190 |
| Lodging (3 nights) | $140–$240 | $110–$180 | $80–$140 |
| Food & drink on property | $50–$90 | $40–$70 | $35–$60 |
| Rental car (3 days) | $45–$75 | $40–$65 | $35–$60 |
| Total (est.) | $415–$685 | $340–$555 | $260–$450 |
| Item | Peak |
|---|---|
| Tee fees (4 rounds) | $180–$280 |
| Lodging (3 nights) | $140–$240 |
| Food & drink on property | $50–$90 |
| Rental car (3 days) | $45–$75 |
| Total (est.) | $415–$685 |
How tee times and lodging actually work
- 1Book Island Resort packages as early as possiblethe stay-and-play bundles sell out in July and August, and booking piecemeal costs significantly more.
- 2Greywalls summer rates are $235 per person with cart; Spring and fall drop to $145, making those shoulder months a meaningful savings if conditions are acceptable.
- 3Sweetgrass and Sage Run peak rates are $85 per person, making them among the lowest-priced top-tier courses in the Midwest.
- 4The Perfect 4-Some package through Island Resort covers Sweetgrass, Sage Run, Greywalls, and TimberStone with lodging; The premium add-on for Greywalls is $55 per round per person on top of the base package.
- 5Tee times at Greywalls book up on summer weekends; Call the Marquette Golf Club pro shop at 906-225-0721 or book online at least three to four weeks ahead.
- 6TimberStone is the least crowded of the four and typically has same-week availability, making it the easiest to add on.
- 7All four courses have walking options; Sweetgrass in particular plays well on foot given its flat, links-style terrain.
Common mistakes
- !Underestimating the driveGreen Bay to Harris is three hours, Milwaukee is five, and Detroit is over six. Build travel days into the itinerary or you will be rushing.
- !Playing all four courses in three daysFour rounds in three days is doable but leaves you flat for Greywalls. Four rounds over four days is the better pace.
- !Booking Greywalls last-minute in JulyTee times on peak summer weekends go quickly. Secure Greywalls first, then build the rest of the trip around it.
- !Skipping Sage Run for a second Sweetgrass roundSage Run is a fundamentally different course, the drumlin terrain and wooded routing contrast well with the open prairie feel of Sweetgrass. Play both.
- !Not packing for windSweetgrass sits on flat, open land and can play completely differently in wind. Club selection matters more here than almost anywhere in the Midwest.
- !Expecting resort food variety in HarrisIsland Resort has multiple dining options but Harris itself has nothing nearby. If you want to explore local restaurants, plan a Marquette overnight.
- !Arriving without cash or knowing casino policiesIsland Resort is an active casino resort. If that environment is not for your group, factor it into lodging decisions.
What to pack
Sample itinerary
- Day 1Arrive + SweetgrassAfternoon Sweetgrass. Casino evening at Island Resort.
- Day 2Greywalls in MarquetteFull day at Greywalls. Dinner in downtown Marquette before driving back.
- Day 3TimberStone + Sage RunMorning TimberStone in Iron Mountain (35 min). Afternoon Sage Run back at Island Resort.
- Day 4DepartLeisurely breakfast, drive south.
Where to stay & eat
Know before you book.
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