Our golf/travel writing trips were rarely like our latest one.
This basically swing through the Midwest took us to a variety of courses in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. We didn’t play every one that we visited. Some we just toured, but we finished off the journey playing for five straight days. That’s rare for us, so we thought we’d touch on some highlights from our three-week journey.
While we did elude the daily 95-degree type Florida heat during our trip, we did have to deal with the troublesome smoke emanating from widespread fires in Canada.
PFAU COURSE, Bloomington, Indiana — Indiana University needed a new golf course. The old one on campus, the IU Championship Course, had opened in 1957 and measured only 6,813 yards. It was in bad need of updating.
The Pfau Family, long major philanthropic supporters of their state university, triggered a $12 million renovation for the new course. It was built on the same 265 acres as the old one and opened on May 1, 2020.
Our round here was shortened by rain, but the course was obviously a big upgrade from the old one. Architects Steve Smyers and Fuzzy Zoeller created a challenging layout that can play anywhere from 4,648 yards to 7,908 with a par of 71 . With lots of elevation changes and 147 bunkers, it’s a tough track that’s already established as a big-time tournament venue.
But, the Pfau Course also has seven tee placements and two practice areas so that all levels of players can enjoy the facility. Maybe a few too many blind shots, but there are some notable holes. The double dogleg No. 6 was my favorite and No. 18 will be memorable with water fronting the green and the George L. Thomas Clubhouse looming in the background.
CEDAR COURSE, Harris, Michigan – Cedar isn’t open yet but will complement the two other Paul Albanese designs that are already part of the Island Resort & Casino.
“It’ll be a hybrid — more challenging than Sweetgrass, but not as much as Sage Run,’’ said Matt Sly, the course superintendent.
Cedar’s opening remains in limbo. Nine holes will be available first and they’re almost ready for play. The other nine holes will be weaved into the existing holes starting at No. 5. The course will be re-routed then, and it’ll take a while before 18 are playable.
The No. 2 hole will be an early eye-catcher when the Cedar opens. It has the longest stretch of railroad ties fronting the green that I’ve ever seen.
“Two truckloads were brought in,’’ said Sly, “and, while some went to Sweetgrass, most of it went here. All the holes (on Cedar) are replicas from holes around the world.’’
A couple notables from famous courses: No. 7 will be a par-3 patterned after No. 6 at Augusta National in Georgia and No. 8 will resemble the drive-able par-4 tenth hole at Riviera in California.
I’m a big fan of Sweetgrass, the first course to be completed here. It adjoins the casino and lodging while Sage Run and Cedar are about eight miles away. The Sage Run-Cedar section, though, will get a bigger golf following eventually, and not just because it’ll have two 18-holers.
Sage Run-Cedar will soon have a walking-only six hole short course with two double greens. Lots of golfers will be attracted to this one before or after playing one of the other courses.
BELVEDERE, Charlevoix, Michigan – This one is much different than the relatively new or still unfinished courses at Indiana and Sage Run. Belvedere is old and private.
William Watson, a Scotsman, designed Belvedere in 1925 and it opened in 1927. While it may be on the brink of 100 years old, Belvedere welcomes guests with qualifications listed on its website. The guests should “appreciate its timeless design and love the game as it was meant to be played.’’
A Michigan friend has urged us to visit Belvedere for several years. I’m glad our schedule permitted it this year because it was everything a golf course should be – strategic, walk-able, playable, fun.
The Michigan Amateur was played there over 40 times. That should tell you something.
