The Island Resort & Casino announced that David Douglas was named director of golf at Sweetgrass Golf Club. A 22-year veteran of the golf industry and native of the area, Douglas brings a wealth of experience and local knowledge to the position.
With a grand opening tentatively scheduled for July 1, Douglas will oversee the day-to-day operations of the golf course, hiring and training employees and ordering merchandise. Starting from scratch, he’ll also be furnishing the pro shop with display units, arranging the food and beverage operation, and ordering signage for the course.
Owned and operated by the Hannahville Band of the Potawatomi Nation, the course’s name Sweetgrass refers to an aromatic herb, a sacred plant, used in Indian peace and healing rituals, and is found along the course. Tribal customs go much deeper than the name as Michigan-based architect Paul Albanese incorporated legend, directly and indirectly, throughout the design. An island green – which jibed with the resort's name and fit within the parameters of the land's dictated design – meshes with Potawatomi legend, which holds the turtle and its wisdom in high esteem. The challenging par-3 island green is surrounded by a bed of rock outcroppings and resembles the renowned creature.
“It’s an honor to join Sweetgrass Golf Club and the Island Resort and I’m extremely excited about the opportunity in front of me,” says Douglas. “People in the community have been talking about this project for quite some time and the buzz continues to grow.”
A graduate of the San Diego Golf Academy, Douglas began his career as the assistant golf professional at the Butte des Morts Golf Club in Appleton, Wisc., before spending the last 18 years as the club professional at Terrace Bluff Golf Club in nearby Gladstone, Mich.
“We had the pleasure of interviewing quite a few highly qualified applicants during our search for a Director of Golf,” says Island Resort & Casino General Manager Tom McChesney. “Dave excelled throughout the process and we’re anxious to have him on our team.”
Sweetgrass features beautifully crafted rockwork, cedar posts and fescue-lined fairways throughout the design. In addition to the island green, the course boasts a pair of breathtaking waterfalls to greet golfers as they walk up the ninth and 18th holes to a uniquely shared green. The course will stretch to approximately 7,300 yards from the tips, but shrinks to near 5,000 yards thanks to multiple teeing areas to accommodate every player's unique skill level.
Off the golf course, the resort introduced the luxurious Palm Tower that adds 162 spacious, well-appointed rooms and luxurious penthouse suites to the existing Sun Tower’s 113 rooms. Additionally, the Island Showroom hosts national acts, Club Four One nightclub and the Beachcomber Restaurant & Bar welcome guests looking to dine or quench their thirst, and the Las Vegas-style gaming floor was expanded with an additional 500 slot machines.
Located in the unspoiled beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Sweetgrass Golf Club is easily accessible via a pair of regional airports in Escanaba and Marquette.
For more information on Sweetgrass Golf Club, visit www.islandresortandcasino.com or call 800-682-6040, ext. 2125.