Michigan Golf Journal July 2019

There are a host of reasons why people take the 20-minute boat ride from Mackinac City, or St. Ignace to the island every year, May through October. Mackinac Island is a lot more than just the Grand Hotel. Every day during the summer, up to 15,000 visitors shop at the intimate stores, dine at one of the many intriguing restaurants, bike around the island, enjoy a peaceful carriage or horseback ride and explore the historical attractions, most notably Fort Mackinac.  Very few consider playing golf on Mackinac Island a high priority, but maybe they should. The Wawashkamo 9-holer is one of the very few unvarnished courses left from the pre-1900 era, when American golf got its start. Golf historians say there are only about a half dozen courses throughout the entire U.S. that have been preserved as close to the original, as Wawashkamo. The course that aficionados simply call Wawa, was built in 1898 on a historical site, over which a battle from the War of 1812 was waged. A group from Chicago, who owned summer cottages on the Island were looking for additional outdoor Mackinac Island, the Jewell of the Great Lakes, Has Golf Too By Len Ziehm Michigan Golf Journal Course Review