Michigan's Island Resort and Casino launches $19M expansion featuring new golf course, expanded convention space

Island Resort and Casino, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, has announced a $19 million investment. The two-year project will feature the development of additional convention space and a new nine-hole golf course and golf shop.

Driven by an increased demand for golf in the region, Island Resort & Casino will add a new nine-hole course, the Cedar Course (Kishki), on the Sage Run Golf Club site. The new course – designed by Paul Albanese, who also designed Sweetgrass and Sage Run – will be inspired by Golden Age architecture focused on natural landscapes.

The course will feature template green complexes designed into the natural environment. Green complexes were inspired by C.B. Macdonald’s National Golf Links and overseas links such as Prestwick.

“We are very busy in the summer and often booked on both of our other courses in the morning,” said Tony Mancilla, General Manager for Island Resort & Casino. “We decided to add nine holes to accommodate our guests looking for early morning tee times before they head home. We are not adding to Sage Run but making these nine holes their own course.”

Golf course inspired by Potawatomi culture

The name Cedar (Kishki in Potawatomi) is derived from being one of the four sacred medicines known for its protective and purifying properties. The logo design will pay tribute to tobacco, another sacred medicine.

Cedar complements the existing courses, Sweetgrass and Sage Run, to complete the representation of medicines that, in Potawatomi culture, represent the connection to the earth.

“We are taking some great concepts from the golden age of course architecture in the early 1900s and incorporating them into the Cedar course,” said course designer Albanese. 

“The course will feature some of the game’s most popular green templates like the Punchbowl, Double Plateau, and even a Juniper hole like the famous 6th hole at Augusta National. Many Midwesterners have not experienced this kind of architecture, so we wanted to give them a flavor of what it would be like to play overseas or from that era.”

“We are also going to have a variety of different-length holes, short par-4s inspired by holes like No. 10 at Riviera, maybe a short par-3, and even church pew bunkers like Oakmont,” said Mancilla.

The new course will be routed on rolling land adjacent to the front nine of Sage Run. “The land we have for Cedar is perfect for the concept,” said Mancilla. “The course will wind through a valley with gently rolling hills and some elevation. It will be less severe land than Sage Run but have more movement than Sweetgrass – somewhere right in between.”

Expansion to feature multi-hole complex, new golf shop, convention centre

In addition to the course, Cedar will offer a multi-hole complex featuring multiple greens with varying short and mid-level par-3 shots that can be played in all directions. The complex will offer a fun golf experience for groups and golfers looking for extra golf that can be played in about an hour, the casino said.

Along with the new nine holes being developed at Sage Run, the Sweetgrass golf course will build a new golf shop. The shop will overlook the golf course’s "scenic" 9th and 18th holes, which share the same double green complex. 

The Hardy Plank traditional design includes 3,000 sq. ft. of new space, including an upper deck overlooking the golf course with a full-service pro shop, covered outdoor terraces, a full-service bar, and locker rooms with guest showers. 

In addition to the golf expansion, the resort will add to its convention center 16,900 sq. ft. of new space. The modern design includes high-volume ceilings, state-of-the-art audio and visual accommodations, a high-capacity kitchen, multiple event bars, and outdoor courtyards that complement the existing architecture, providing a "timeless design" suitable for an array of events including weddings, banquets, business conventions, and special events. 

The new grand ballroom will have the capacity to accommodate an additional 750 guests seated and up to 1,200 guests, suitable for an array of events including weddings, banquets, business conventions, and special events

“The new facility is designed to better accommodate larger events, including business conventions,” said Mancilla. “By offering expanded meeting space conveniently located between Lower Michigan and Northern Wisconsin, we will meet the increased demand from regional groups.

"Many of these groups are looking to have multiple-day events during the week. We are in the unique position to also provide hotel accommodations sufficient for these large conventions.”