What You Need To Know: Sage Run Golf Club

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 Nathan Rousseau, PGA 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
Located in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula, 15 minutes west of Escanaba, he Island Resort & Casino is one of the Midwest's largest golf, casino, and entertainment resort destinations. The expansive Vegas-style casino offers over 1150 slots, a poker room, various table games, a bingo hall and a sportsbook

Resort amenities include over 450 guest rooms featuring spacious suites, a 42-site RV Park, a family waterpark and saltwater adult-only pool, the luxurious full-service Drift spa, a gift shop, and two award-winning championship golf courses: Sweetgrass and Sage Run.

Sage Run Golf Club, designed by Paul Albanese, is built through one of the Upper Peninsula's most beautiful hardwood ridges and open vistas. The natural hardwood ridge formed by glacial ice long ago creates dramatic views and a variety of scenic shots creating a thrilling round. The combination of long holes and creative short par 4s lines with fescue grasses and strategic bunkering will challenge golfers of all abilities.

Dining options range from 12th-floor fine dining to quick bites. The Island hosts headline entertainment in its state-of-the-art showroom and free weekly bands and comedians in Club 41. Our large convention center is the perfect venue for special events, meetings, and weddings.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
With its scenic views, beautiful course undulation, and course yardages ranging from 7272 yards down to 5146 yards, Sage run can be a fantastic golf experience for golfers at any skill level. The serenity of Sage Run's location creates the feeling of privacy on each hole and allows the golfers to deeply appreciate the beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
With Sage Run's fairways lined with fescue grasses, the course demands full concentration off of the tee and precision when approaching the undulated greens. Missing greens on the low side of the hole here is a recipe for lower scores. Playing Sage Run multiple times will assist in scoring better as you will remember specific nuances on each hole.

Any recent changes to the golf course? Or any upcoming changes?
With the increased demand for golf, the Island Resort and Casino is excited to announce the addition of a new nine-hole course, the Cedar Course (Kishki), on the Sage Run property. 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 and featuring popular template green complexes designed into the natural environment while offering beauty and strategic play. Green complexes were inspired by C.B. Macdonald's great National Golf Links and overseas links such as Prestwick.

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. This will be a fun golf experience for groups and golfers looking for extra golf that can be played in about an hour.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Golfweek - #T12 Best Public-Access Courses, Michigan 2024

Golfweek - #20 Best Courses You Can Play, Michigan 2022

GolfDigest - #4 America's Best New Public Courses 2019

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
It is difficult to decide between hole #8 and hole #16 as Sage Run's signature hole or most talked about/photographed hole.

Hole #8 is a reachable par-4 protected by strategic bunkering when laying up or going for the green. This uphill par-4 tests the golfer's risk-reward tolerance as the split fairway offers a green-reaching blind shot up the left side or a controlled layup on the right. Either way the hole is played, the well-bunkered green demands concentration when hitting your approach shot.

This hole has an incredibly picturesque overhead look and visual from the green back to the tee.

Hole #16 is short, uphill par-4 featuring dramatic elevation change off the tee box. There is more room in the fairway than what can be seen from the tee. An aggressive drive over the right-side bunker will slope toward the bunker-less green creating a great chance for birdie or eagle. A safer drive short of the right-side bunker leaves a tricky approach shot to a narrow, undulated green.

This hole features a mesmerizing visual from the tee box, and an elevated visual looking back toward the tee box from the fairways showing golfers the beautiful Upper Peninsula hardwoods.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My favorite hole at Sage Run is hole #15. This is a long, downhill par-4 that demands strategic shot placement off the tee and with your approach. The downhill tee shot shortens the holes length, but is still a challenge around the well-bunkered green.

This is my favorite hole because along with mesmerizing scenery, the hole forces you to hit two precise shots to have a chance at making birdie. With its strategic fairway and green bunkering, this hole separates a recreational golfer from a player.

Keeping your tee shot left of the center of the fairway gives you a better angle at the bunkered green.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
After spending the day golfing on one of our championship golf courses or enjoying our expansive gaming floor, entertainment, and vibrant nightlife. Be sure to dine with us at Horizons Steakhouse, our menu consists of a roundup of mouth-watering steaks, seafood, and sides brought to you by our in-house executive chefs.

While you dine, you'll experience a scenic view of beautiful Michigan from our highest level. Rain or shine, afternoon or evening, the view is spectacular and one you shouldn't miss.

For the traveling golfer, do you have lodging onsite or partner with any area hotels?
Here at the Island Resort and Casino, our resort amenities include over 450 guest rooms including spacious suites, a 42-site RV Park, a family waterpark and saltwater adult-only pool, and the luxurious full-service Drift spa.

With this, we offer Stay & Play golf packages here at our resort that include Sweetgrass Golf Club, Sage Run Golf Club, Timberstone Golf Course, and Greywalls Golf Club. For more information and rate for our golf packages, please visit the following link: https://islandresortgolf.com/packages-stay-and-play/

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Hunter Eichorn, a Carney, MI native, is the course record holder here at Sage Run Golf Club with a score of 64 from our back tees.

Hunter is a decorated golfer who played four years of college golf at Marquette University breaking several school records. After graduating from Marquette, Hunter turned professional and has played in several Korn Ferry Tour events and All Pro Tour events.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 7272
Slope: 143
Rating: 76.5

More Information
Sage Run Golf Club
W1824 Co. Rd. 400
Bark River, MI, 49807
(906) 723-2254
https://islandresortgolf.com/