Text: Greg Johnson
Paul Albanese, golf course architect, and Tony Mancilla, general manager at Island Resort & Casino in Harris, Michigan, took a trip to Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Northern Ireland and came back to the Escanaba area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the Hannahville Indian Community inspired.
Albanese had created Island Resort’s first golf layout, Sweetgrass Golf Club, and would soon be asked to prepare plans for a second course, Sage Run Golf Club.
“Sage Run is exactly what we wanted – something different from the other courses in the region,” Mancilla said. “It has a rugged feel, including tee-boxes that are natural to the group on simple landforms; similar to how they all were built back in the late 1800s.”
Sage Run opened in 2018 to rave reviews, and indeed offered the golfer something different than any other course in the Upper Peninsula.
“It was an inspiring project to work on,” Albanese said. “We spent months on the different routings allowing us to experience the different landscapes, including the natural drumlin that is really the main feature of the course.”
A drumlin is an elongated hill or ridge formed in the glacial ice. Albanese designed holes that loop over and around the hill offering some dramatic elevation changes, various scenic views, and challenges that require a wide variety of shots from golfers.
“Sage Run has a very rough and tumble feel to it,” Albanese admitted. “As [Mancilla] indicated, our trip to Royal County Down was very inspirational in this design and we incorporated some of the rugged design philosophy into it. Golfers will experience great holes through the trees, some in open areas and just a lot of variety in terms of landscape and feel.”
Sweetgrass and Sage Run contrast greatly. Sweetgrass is a gentle rolling course through hardwoods and beautiful Northern Michigan land. Sage Run reflects the tougher terrain it was built on at a site Albanese found about eight miles from Sweetgrass.
“Take away the flags and tee markers and the clubhouse, it doesn’t look like a golf course; just natural rugged land out there,” Albanese said. “We integrated it with the natural terrain beautifully; as much as possible I think.”
The drumlin, which rises to 50- or 60-yards-high in some spots, was covered by thousands of trees. Many remain, but enough were taken to create golf pathways that now look like natural meadows.
“When Tony and I went on our trip to Ireland we played all the great courses,” Albanese said. “We played Royal County Down, which has a rugged look and Tony wanted the rough looking bunkers. Sage Run’s site fit what Tony wanted. It all worked together. I told Tony we could make Sage Run rugged like Royal County Down.”
Sage Run has the promised jagged bunkers edged with fescue and fairways that blend with natural areas, but opens up from the tees. Albanese also said he designed the longer holes going down the drumlin and the shorter holes going up.
“We have some dramatic climbs out there, and a few blind shots I think are very fair and rewarding if the golfer pulls them off,” Albanese said. “It can be intimidating out there, but it is visually more difficult than it is for playability. I think players will be better at it the more times they play the course. I know it has worked that way for me.”
Mancilla said he loves the contrast his resort now offers with Sweetgrass and Sage Run.
“The property is much different than the property where Sweetgrass is located even though it’s a short few miles on a shuttle away. The only thing that will be similar is that it fits well with the land it is on like Sweetgrass, but it just so happens this property is very different. There is no water on Sage Run, and it looks nothing like Sweetgrass. It has smaller greens, but on the shorter holes where the green complexes are maybe more playable than Sweetgrass,” Mancilla said.
“People love the difference between the two courses. Two days, two rounds at our courses, and you get dramatically different experiences. [Albanese] gave us exactly what we wanted in the end – two different courses to make for one great visit for golf to Island Resort,” Mancilla added.
“People love the difference between the two courses. Two days, two rounds at our courses, and you get dramatically different experiences. [Albanese] gave us exactly what we wanted in the end – two different courses to make for one great visit for golf to Island Resort,” Mancilla added.
Photography by Kevin Frisch
