PLYMOUTH, MI – A popular Michigan resort will soon offer expanded golf opportunities that will attract players of all ages and skill levels.
In addition to the championship golf course, The Cardinal, opening on June 22, Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth will also open The Little Cardinal, a 7-hole par 3 course, and The Cardinal Putting Course, on July 1.
The resort will also debut Doyles, its latest dining concept, and the Monarch Ballroom as part of a $50 million transformation of the resort that began in 2021 by the nonprofit Pulte Family Charitable Foundation.
“The short course is fantastic,” said Stan Witko, executive director of golf. “It’s a trend for the right reasons. Many resorts are doing this and this one is right up there with the best. “It’s good for someone who wants to play for 45 minutes to an hour, but it’s also quite challenging. On the other hand, you don’t have to be a great golfer to play it, so there’s something for everyone.”
Like its larger predecessor, the Little Cardinal was designed by Michigan-based architect Ray Hearn. Located among 7.5 acres of hills in a beautiful green setting, holes range from 44 to 112 yards. Rounds are available for between $15 and $25.
The short course features greens that run at speeds like the long course, but with complexes modeled after those seen on iconic courses around the world.
Examples include punch, redan, reverse redan, Sahara, volcano, postage, which will be seen when the Open comes to Royal Troon next month, and Biarritz. The course has also incorporated innovative synthetic grass tee boxes with a shock-absorbing rubber base, replicating natural grass tees and providing a more forgiving surface for hitting shots.
The putting course, “the icing on the cake,” Witko said, features a digital scoreboard for friendly competition and several different options for pin placement on the 18 greens spread across two acres. It is inspired by the famous Himalayan golf course in St. Andrews. The cost to play is between $10 and $15.
“These exciting golf attractions provide a relaxed, fun-focused environment and offer a less intimidating introduction to the game, encouraging newcomers to want to participate, learn and improve,” Witko said.
Eric Djordjevic, general manager of Saint John’s Resort, added that the addition of a short course and putting complex is “a missing link” that was not previously available.
There’s also a new place for after golf
Finally, Doyles, which fuses Irish warmth with the ambiance of a contemporary courseside pub, is designed to pay homage to the history of golf.
It features dark wood furniture, green accents, plush leather seating, paneled walls and tartan wall coverings, and details like classic black and white tile designs and a moody black ceiling in the bar area.
Family crests, vintage artwork and street photography by Irish photographers are seen throughout the space, while an outdoor patio offers picturesque views of the golf course.
Doyles Backyard,” a 3,750-square-foot lawn adjacent to Doyles and fronting Five Mile Road, will host various outdoor activities. Summer events include cornhole tournaments, horseshoes, whiskey barrel ring toss, and Irish bowling with Guinness bottles as pins. Winter brings live entertainment, beer pairings, pub shots, beer dinners, trivia nights, and euchre tournaments.
“Our goal was to create a welcoming space that combined warm hospitality with a vibrant dining experience,” said Djordjevic. “Doyles sets itself apart from our other restaurants by providing a relaxed atmosphere where guests can enjoy a variety of modern tavern favorites and lighter, fresher dishes, all within the friendly atmosphere of a traditional Irish pub.”
Dishes include Fish & Chips and the daily Pot Pie, Celtic Benedict, shrimp and grits, and lemon, blueberry, and goat cheese pancakes.
Cheese curds, wings, nachos, and Irish staples like bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, and Irish stew are available, as are Lake Superior whitefish and locally sourced roast chicken.
The sandwich lineup includes Cluck of the Irish, Doyles Paddy Melt and Cliffs of Moher Reuben, perfectly paired with creative cocktails, a festive green beer and a signature Irish Stout.
Doyles joins FIVE Steakhouse and The Wine Grotto as Saint John’s Resort’s top dining options.
“The vision was to really build Saint John’s to be the legitimate property throughout Michigan and the Midwest to work toward national recognition,” Djordjevic said. “I don’t think there’s a square inch of the property that hasn’t been touched.”
100% of the resort’s profits, including golf, go to charity through the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, which supports humanitarian initiatives led by nearly 200 nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.
Keynote USA
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