Sugar Loaf at Sugar Loaf The Old Course

Sugar Loaf The Old Course sits in the rolling terrain of northwestern Lower Michigan, near the village of Cedar in Leelanau County. The course occupies land characterized by the region's mix of hardwood forests, elevation changes, and glacially shaped topography typical of the area between Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan. C. D. Wagstaff designed the layout, working with the natural contours and wooded corridors that define much of northern Michigan golf.

The routing takes advantage of the property's varied elevation, with holes moving through stands of mature trees and across more open ground. The design reflects the era and style of mid-twentieth century Michigan resort courses, where accessibility and scenic variety were balanced with strategic interest. Fairways generally follow the land's natural flow, and greens are positioned to make use of the terrain's slopes and ridges.

Sugar Loaf operates as part of a northern Michigan golf destination that developed during the region's growth as a recreational area. The course serves both resort visitors and local players drawn to the Leelanau Peninsula's concentration of golf facilities. The Old Course name distinguishes it from other layouts that have been added to the property over the years, marking it as the original design in what became a multi-course facility. The setting offers the forested, rolling character common to courses built in Michigan's northern lake country.