The impetus for the trip was the Island Resort & Casino’s $33 million expansion that included 138 additional hotel rooms, a steakhouse, and a pool area with water park features.
I recently joined a group of golf writers on a FAM trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The impetus for the trip was the Island Resort & Casino’s $33 million expansion that included 138 additional hotel rooms, a steakhouse, a pool area with water park features, and four new elevators. Read all about it on page 12.
General Manager Tony Mancilla says the new wing and amenities were “developed out of necessity.”
“Our demand and backlog of guests who wanted to get in on the weekends had become overwhelming,” he says.
Rob Thomas, Editor
If the line at registration on a Wednesday night was any indication, I can see where Mancilla was coming from.
About the Trip
Getting to the resort isn’t easy (it took three flights from Cleveland, Ohio, for instance), but if you’re a golfer, I promise it’s worth the effort. Flying into Delta County Airport in Escanaba, Mich. is the closest route, but you can also fly into Sawyer International Airport near Marquette, Mich. or even Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, Wis.
Once at the Island Resort & Casino, try your luck at some Vegas-style gaming, go for a swim at Splash Island or enjoy a relaxing massage at the Drift Spa. I’m not much of a gambler, so I grabbed a burger and fries at The Reef while I waited for my room to be ready.
That night with the group, I saw poutine on the menu and had always wanted to try it but passed. If you’re not familiar with poutine, it traces its origin to Quebec and is basically french fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy. Sounds delicious, but very unhealthy.
Round 1 of the trip took us to Timber Stone Golf Course at Pine Mountain Resort in Iron Mountain. As mentioned, the Upper Peninsula is pretty remote, so Timber Stone and Greywalls Golf Course at the Marquette Golf Club partnered with the Island Resort to create a stay-and-play package to entice out-of-town visitors.
Designed by Jerry Matthews, who recently passed away, Timber Stone is a classic mountain course with challenging holes that weave between towering trees. As a bonus, dinner that night was at Famers Restaurant at the Pine Mountain Resort—home of the Upper Peninsula’s Sports Hall of Fame. The memorabilia was terrific, as was the poutine (I couldn’t resist)!
Round 2 took us up to Marquette for Greywalls. This Mike DeVries beauty boasts dramatic elevation changes, striking rock outcroppings and amazing views of Lake Superior and Pictured Rocks.
Back at the Island Resort & Casino for Rounds 3 and 4, it was a 36-hole day with Sage Run leading us off and Sweetgrass as the capper. Matt Sly, Sage Run’s Golf Course Superintendent, describes the pair as “two completely different styles. Sweetgrass is highly manicured, and Sage Run is rough and rugged.”
This was my first go-around on Sage Run, but I had played Sweetgrass a few times in my previous life as a PR professional. Having been unsuccessful on three different attempts to hit the signature island green (by a combined total of about three feet), I’m happy to report that my tee shot this time stayed dry … barely.
Paul Albanese of Albanese & Lutzke designed both courses and did a masterful job of provided two stunningly different experiences within a 15-minute drive.
My job as editor of C+RB has taken me to some wonderful clubs, but participating in a FAM trip is a unique experience. While I get to see behind-the-scenes on club visits—from kitchens to maintenance buildings—a FAM trip allows me to experience the properties from the eye of a member or guest. In this case, a guest in a rugged and picturesque part of the United States a lucky few from around the country get to enjoy.
Rob Thomas,
Editor
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