A drought-driven decision in July becomes permanent — two years ahead of the Lodge’s 2028 timeline
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge has made the decision to move its historic 9-hole wilderness golf course to walking only, effective immediately and going forward. The change arrives ahead of the 2028 date the Lodge had previously set for itself.
The Lodge suspended riding carts in early July 2026 in response to a lack of rain and water on the property. A month of walked rounds settled the question. Walking is the game of golf. Riding is not.
“We set 2028 as our deadline and then the weather made the decision for us in July. Watching people walk this course for a month confirmed what we suspected: walking is the game. We are not going back.” — John Mueller, Owner, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
The decision is part of a set of decision the Lodge has been working toward for several years: hickory | natural fairways | walking. Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is currently the only hickory-only golf course in the United States. Hickory clubs are available to rent for players who do not own a set, and pull carts are available to help players carry their bag around the course.
The course was built in 1934 as part of a Depression-era public works project, on land that has never been asked to look like anything other than what it is. When no one is playing it, it reads as a natural area. When it is played, it plays as a round of golf from the 1930s. Removing riding carts is less a change to the course than a removal of something that was added to it later.
Accessibility
Players with a permanent disability may use a golf cart to play the course. Documentation from an accredited medical doctor indicating the permanent disability must be provided more than 14 days ahead of the tee time.
Practical notes for players
- The course is 9 holes and walkable.
- Tee times are by advance reservation, as is everything else at the Lodge.
- Hickory club rentals and pull carts are available on site.
- Golfers who last played the course before 2024 should expect a different experience than they remember.
The Lodge’s aim in publishing this is information, not persuasion. Some golfers will read this and book a tee time. Some will read it and decide the course is not for them. Both are the right outcome. Make a decision, not a comparison.
More on the hickory and walking course project: https://keweenawmountainlodge.com/projects/hickory-sticks-and-walking-golf-course/
Contact: media@keweenawresort.com
About: The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is a historic wilderness lodging establishment at the top of the Keweenaw, supported by outdoor activities, rustic worldly food, and education. The four-season resort has been a fixture in the Keweenaw since breaking ground on the project in 1934 as part of a WPA program. The Lodge is the headquarters for the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park. As a Certified B Corp™ and an Audubon International Green Lodging establishment, the Lodge practices sustainability, education, and environmental respect in all aspects of operation. Amenities provide guests with the opportunity to enjoy a fun, joyous, and adventuresome experience among the pristine natural beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — helping guests get closer to nature.
Web Site: https://keweenawmountainlodge.com
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