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Doug Ralston

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Sweetgrass, Michigan UP
« on: July 15, 2009, 09:07:56 PM »
I have seen virtually no comment on Sweetgrass here. It is at Island Resort Casino, owned by the Potowatame tribe. It opened last July and we went to the UP in September. They offer really awesome packages with Sweetgrass, Greywalls, and Timberstone. You can play any combination of the three you desire, and there are many little added perks. Look at their site if you consider going to the UP. [PS: This is voluntary info, not an ad]

Sweetgrass is an open course with links-style aspect. It was in really good condition for such a young course, and we found it very challenging, even from the far forward tee I must play. I emphasize that because too many nice courses have been designed considering challenges for the longer tees almost exclusively. If you want people to choose proper tees and not do the machismo, slow me down, thing, you have got to consider shot values from forward tees when designing. I am not a GCA so that is very much opinion. But I know what brings me back.

We played all three courses, and I was glad we did. All are worth a visit IMHO. I rate Greywalls as one of the very best courses I have been on. Sweetgrass and Timberstone are also a joy to play though, and I think they help sell trips to Greywalls.

Has anyone else here played Sweetgrass? If so, what did you think?

Doug
Where is everybody? Where is Tommy N? Where is John K? Where is Jay F? What has happened here? Has my absence caused this chaos? I'm sorry. All my rowdy friends have settled down ......... somewhere else!

Chris_Blakely

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sweetgrass, Michigan UP
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2009, 10:46:55 PM »
Doug,

I think Greywalls helps sells trips to Greywalls - its that good.  The Heritage course is a solid course and is also helps the trip (Langford holes are good).

What did you think of Sweetgrass?  What holes stood out?  How is the terrain?  How diverse are the par 3's or are they all the same distance?

Chris

Doug Ralston

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sweetgrass, Michigan UP
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2009, 11:46:56 AM »
Sorry Chris;

No one answered for a while, so when I had to go work, thought the thread would pass without comment. Didn't find it till it reached pg3.

As for the course, some general comments 1st. It is largely roughed with some high fescue or fescue-like grasses [you tell me] as the primary, with a fair secondary lower cut. The fairways are largely expansive, with sharp-edged bunkering. There a several strong cross bunkers [like in the second landing area of the tough par-5 #6, one of my favorites]. As I said earlier, the conditions just two months after opening was very good. The greens were fast to putt, but [like Greywalls] hard to hold, with a lot of bounce on high landings. This courses often begs a ground game.

The par-3's are quite varied, and with lot's of tee options for distance AND angle. I thought they were quite strong. #3 was defended, just like in this British I am now watching, with a high rough mound right, the left a steep bunker. Medium length. #7 by a false front gathering area in front, but the mound behind may be helpful for back pins. #11 has water left, a bunker to save you there, and it best played working r-l. #15 is a short island green [ground game not recommended here *wink*] with a lot of movement on the surface.

BTW, the greens in general are not extreme, but have a lot of general movement.

#9 and #18 look a lot like those same holes at Covered Bridge in southern Indiana. They are two par-5's coming in on opposite sides of a long pond to a wide connected double green. I think they exceed CB, and #9 was one of my favorite holes out there.

Chris, this is a course worth playing. Try it next time up there.

Enjoy.

Doug
Where is everybody? Where is Tommy N? Where is John K? Where is Jay F? What has happened here? Has my absence caused this chaos? I'm sorry. All my rowdy friends have settled down ......... somewhere else!

Chris_Blakely

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Sweetgrass, Michigan UP
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2009, 01:18:20 PM »
Doug,

Thanks for the quick description.  ARe you sure about the par 3's being varied?  The distances looked quite the same from the yardage book??  How is the terrain is it a fairly flat course or hilly?

I hope to play the course sometime in a trip coupled with Pine Grove CC in the area.  I have had the course on my radar and hope to play it later this year, we will see.  ::)

Chris

RJ_Daley

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Re: Sweetgrass, Michigan UP
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2009, 01:29:44 PM »
Infrequent poster, Paul Albanese was the architect at Sweetgrass (IIRC).  It has been on my radar as it is only about1+hour from my home.  I need to get my pals off our home course for a change.  ;) ;D  They are in deed advertising good deals for the Island Resort and Casino with golf packages that I have heard are very attractive.
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Chris_Blakely

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Re: Sweetgrass, Michigan UP
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2009, 02:50:51 PM »
Infrequent poster, Paul Albanese was the architect at Sweetgrass (IIRC).  It has been on my radar as it is only about1+hour from my home.  I need to get my pals off our home course for a change.  ;) ;D  They are in deed advertising good deals for the Island Resort and Casino with golf packages that I have heard are very attractive.

Do you live in the UP?  I was aware that Pal Abanese was the architect.  I hope to get up there later in the year when the rates drop.

Chris

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