We have made the decision to move to being a hickory-only golf course at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge at this time and going forward. This is earlier than our previously announced 2028 deadline.
Simply put, there is no reason to wait any longer. Earlier this season we made the golf course permanently walking only, also ahead of our 2028 deadline. Walking the course this summer confirmed for us that walking is the game of golf. Moving to hickory only now is the natural next step, and it completes our hickory | natural fairways | walking focus for the course — the way golf was meant to be played, in line with getting people closer to nature, which is why we exist.
What this means for the rest of the 2026 season
We are honoring bookings already on the calendar. Here is how the transition works:
If you are a cabin guest with a cabin booking already in place as of August 31, 2026, you may still play with modern-day golf clubs for the remainder of the 2026 season.
If you make a lodging reservation after August 31, 2026, you will play with hickory clubs.
You are welcome to play with your own hickory clubs, or you can rent a set from us. We keep both right-handed and left-handed hickory rental sets from Louisville Golf on hand. We recommend reserving your rental clubs ahead of time, as we have a limited number of sets. For those walking, we provide pull carts if you would like one.
As a reminder, since we are a lodging establishment, one must be a cabin guest to play the golf course.
Why hickory
Playing with hickory sticks motivates golfers to think more strategically about each shot. Golf at the Lodge is not about muscle — it is about accuracy and course management, while enjoying the natural surroundings and walking the course. It is a slower, more thoughtful, more historic round, and it fits the character of a historic wilderness golf course built into the top of the Keweenaw.
If you are new to hickory golf and want to learn more, the Society of Hickory Golfers is a great place to start.
A Closing Note on this Announcement: We fully understand that this decision will not appeal to everyone, and we are fine with that. The Lodge is a unique place focused on a niche market, and by focusing on that niche we are able to better get people closer to nature — which is why we exist. For those who would rather play with modern clubs, there are other golf courses to play in the Keweenaw and many courses around that cater to the masses, and you will enjoy those courses fully. For us, we will continue to focus on being a unique place focused on nature at the top of the Keweenaw.