Riverwood Resort

Getting To Know: Riverwood Resort

An Insightful Interview With John Sommerville, Head Golf Professional

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with John Sommerville who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Hidden in the middle of the mitten, is a Golf digest "Must-Play" resort featuring 36 holes of golf, a 24 lane bowling center, eight luxurious villa accommodations on-site, the 2012 "Best Renovated" bar and grille, and so much more! Riverwood is known as one of the premiere get-away spots in the state. The course feature the beauties of the winding Chippewa River, as well as the natural surrounding forests. Tough enough for the to level golfer, but forgiving enough to make your round a memorable time, over and over again. Recently, the course expanded into 36 holes by adding The Pines Golf Course to its portfolio. Also designed by Bruce Mathews, the course brings its own challenges with fast greens and strategic hazards to test your skills. Enjoy beautiful views of Lake Isabella and the sounds of the Chippewa River throughout your round. New to 2021 is the newly renovated clubhouse and restaurant.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
The area of Mount Pleasant is full great golf courses and each has no shortage of advantages. The one thing that ties them all together is the lodging provided at Riverwood Resort. Stay and Play is the name of the game and that just what you get when you lodge with us. Play the course as well as the other courses in the area, all part of your package! Being one of the first courses in the area, the rich history and maturity of the course make Riverwood a must-play destination when visiting the Central Michigan area. You are sure to have a great time, when your visit Riverwood in the "989"!

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Most people would say to score, you have to chip and putt. Here at Riverwood, the scoring is all about keeping it on the short grass! With no shortage of hazards and distractions, finishing the round with the same ball you started with is a sure sign of a good score! Play your risk-reward on the par 5 holes and you will find a way to drop a stroke here and there. Watch out for the long par 3 holes, as a big number there can add up quick!

Any recent changes to the golf course? Or any upcoming changes?
The course sees changes each year to improve the playability and enjoyment of its golfers. In 2020, two sand hazards were filled in to ease the trouble surrounding the 11th green. The 6th hole par 5 fairway gained 10 yards on the left side to promote a better landing area for laying up to the green. Look for the new teeing areas on the front and back nine to be ready for play in the summer of 2021!

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Riverwood Resort has always been listed as a "Must Play" course by golf magazines. The resort just recently expanded its portfolio by adding another 18 hole golf course for its vacation guests to play. Services and amenities do not stop there and will be looking forward to more exciting improvements in the coming year!

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
The signature hole is the 9th hole on the White Course. This front nine finishing hole features picture-perfect moments from tee to green. The pond that guards the left side of the hole can be distracting with the fountain providing a unique look at the green. Behind the putting surface, 3 bunkers hold errant shots from getting too far out of play and contrast well with the water in front.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
From the professional staff, our favorite hole is number 18 on the Red Course. This finishing hole boasts a big risk reward for any golfer. The hole itself is drivable for big hitters with water right and left. If you can carry the ball up the hill, you will get a big bounce and take advantage of the extra room to the right and left of the fairway. Keep the ball short of the hole and let it release if you can. This green is severely sloped from back to front and can get extra quick when in the heat of summer. Play your shots carefully to ensure you end your round with a good score!

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
The food served at 989 Bar and Grille is sure to impress any apatite. The burger is the signature dish that is served on a locally made bun, fresh angus beef, locally sourced vegetables and homemade burger sauce. The second option is the pizza which is fast-fired to create quality and consistency each and every time.

For the traveling golfer, do you have lodging onsite or partner with any area hotels?
Riverwood Resort features luxury villa accommodations on site. Each villa has two rooms with two queen beds in them, a full kitchen, dining area, living room and balcony. The resort can hold up to 32 guests at a time and is perfect for the summer getaways.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
The course record is held by local touring professional Dan Pohl of 67. From Riverwood alone, Dan joins the likes of Cindy Figg-Currier, Betsy Rawls, Kelly Robbins and Ryan Brehem as the local stars turned Tour player.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 6546
Slope: 135
Rating: 72.4

More Information
Riverwood Resort 1313 E. Broomfield RD Mount Pleasant, Mi, 48858 989-772-5726

More Information »

Revised: 03/01/2021 - Article Viewed 10,610 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.