Tucked away in the charming town of Plymouth, Saint John’s Resort completely surprised me in the best possible way. What I expected to be a beautiful golf resort quickly turned into a full luxury experience that blended relaxation, wellness, incredible dining, meaningful philanthropy, and one of the most thoughtfully designed properties I’ve visited in the Midwest.
From the moment I arrived, there was this peaceful energy woven throughout the property. The resort somehow manages to feel luxurious and elevated while still remaining warm, welcoming, and grounded in purpose. Whether you are planning a golf getaway, wellness retreat, romantic weekend, girls trip, or staycation-style escape, St. John’s Resort truly offers something for everyone.
St. John’s Resort — Plymouth, Michigan
The Rooms: Modern Luxury With A Relaxing Atmosphere
Upon arriving to St. John’s Resort, I checked in and went straight to my room to unpack. Instantly, when I entered the room, I felt a sense of calm and arrival. The refined rooms were designed perfectly with a sense of balanced modern luxury and soft inviting details, the space instantly felt relaxing after a long day of travel.
The rooms feature plush bedding, sleek finishes, spacious bathrooms, oversized windows for natural light, and thoughtful touches that made the stay feel elevated without feeling overly formal. The beds were extremely comfortable, the double shower head feature made it possible to customize your shower preferences, and the mood lighting helped to transform the energy from a day to night setting when winding down.
I especially loved the subtle amenities that elevated the experience such as Molton Brown, a high-end line of hair and body products, an in room robe, and a snack/drink bar complete with local goodies and craft cocktail mixers for a cozy late night turn-in.
The rooms at St. John’s Resort created the perfect environment to unwind, recharge, and fully settle into the experience.
The Golf Experience Is On Another Level
Even if you are not an avid golfer, the golf atmosphere at St. John’s Resort is incredibly impressive. The resort has become a major destination for golf enthusiasts thanks to its world-class facilities, beautiful courses, and immersive golf experiences.
The property is home to multiple golf experiences and activities, including the highly renowned LIV Golf Team Championship that has brought even more national attention to the resort.
The Cardinal Par 72
1You can play The Cardinal which is a par 72 course spanning 7,002 acres. This is where the LIV Golf Team Championship takes place and is most certainly for the avid golfer. St John’s touts that this “18-hole championship golf course combines strategic hazards and century-old trees with meticulously maintained greens, offering a unique experience where no two holes are alike in appearance or play.” And, it truly is a sight to behold.
Little Cardinal Par 21
For the beginners, you can play the Little Cardinal par 21, 7.5 acre course. I personally loved this one. For someone like me who is not an expert, but had gotten out on the green a few times, I felt super comfortable on the Little Cardinal and had a fantastic time brushing up on my game.
Cardinal Putting Course
St. John’s also offers the Cardinal Putting Course, an engaging and unique putting experience across two acres, designed to accommodate golfers of all ages and skill levels. They even host monthly family, charitable events on the Cardinal Putting Course.
What makes St. John’s unique is that it does not just cater to serious golfers, it creates an experience that feels welcoming and engaging for everyone. Between the beautifully maintained courses, practice areas, golf entertainment experiences, and the overall luxury atmosphere, the golf culture here feels elevated and social rather than intimidating.
Because the grounds themselves are stunning, they make even a casual walk around the property feel relaxing and scenic.
The Restaurants: Elevated Dining
One thing I genuinely did not expect was how good the food scene would be throughout the resort. Every dining experience felt intentional, elevated, and beautifully curated. I have to admit, this is some of the BEST food I have ever had at a resort. Every restaurant on site offered a unique, curated menu making the dining experiences different, yet equally elevated at each venue.
Doyles Irish Pub
As someone who has lived for a time in Ireland, I can attest that Doyles Irish Pub truly captures the essence of Ireland. With traditional Irish fare and even a customizable pint of Guinness where you can have your image etched into the head of this Irish classic beer, Doyles nails it for bringing the full Irish experience. They even offer trivia night and our team, The Smarty Pints, came in 3rd place.
Five Steakhouse
Five Steakhouse is perfect for both lunch and dinner. By day, you can enjoy a light lunch and cocktails in the casual bar atmosphere. By night, the restaurant becomes more lively and upscale. We had a delicious seafood tower, 40 oz steak for the table, and several unique chef recommended sides in the dining room for dinner. The luxury, lively atmosphere and hearty food is perfect for groups or a fun filled date-night.
The Wine Grotto
This was by far my favorite. Not only is The Wine Grotto located in the old crypt of the seminary (no that is not why it’s my favorite, but a close second), but it gives luxury speak easy vibes, unlike any restaurant on site. The sanctuary of wine offerings and culinary sharables made for an unforgettable evening of great wine, interesting chats, and lite bites that quickly filled us for dinner with a full palette of delightful tastes. Featuring a Wine Spectator Award-winning selection of fine wines and premium spirits, and a sommelier to help you select the perfect glass or bottle, this is truly an unforgettable experience.
Whether you are enjoying brunch, cocktails, dinner, or lighter wellness-focused options, the restaurants at St. John’s Resort create an upscale dining atmosphere without feeling stuffy or overly formal. I especially appreciated how the culinary experiences complemented the overall vibe of the resort. Everything felt refined yet approachable, exactly the kind of luxury experience I personally love.
The Pool And Wellness Atmosphere
The pool area at St. John’s Resort feels more like a private wellness retreat than a standard hotel pool. It has an upscale, relaxing atmosphere and mini-lazy river layout that encourages you to slow down and actually enjoy your surroundings. Which makes time lounging poolside and taking in the peaceful environment an added moment of serenity during your stay.
The resort also incorporates wellness experiences like yoga, which adds another layer to the overall guest experience. We spent some time stretching and reconnecting in the Garden Pavilion. The Garden Pavilion has retractable glass walls and heated floors, and opens up to a serene patio garden overlooking the golf course.
I loved seeing how the property embraces wellness in a way that feels approachable and restorative rather than overly structured or intimidating. Afternoon yoga at a luxury resort surrounded by beautiful grounds and fresh air (when they open up the Nana Glass walls) just hits differently.
More Than A Luxury Resort: The Humanitarian Mission Behind St. John’s
One of the most meaningful parts of learning about St. John’s Resort was discovering the humanitarian and philanthropic impact connected to the property. The resort is connected to a much larger mission focused on community, giving back, and supporting meaningful initiatives through their Humanitarian Hotel charity. There is something incredibly refreshing about experiencing luxury hospitality that feels rooted in purpose and service beyond the guest experience and profit.
In a world where many luxury destinations focus only on aesthetics or exclusivity, St. John’s Resort feels different. There is heart behind the experience. That deeper sense of purpose added an entirely new level of appreciation to my stay because it made the resort feel like more than just a beautiful destination, it felt like a property genuinely trying to make a positive impact.
Why I Would Return To St. John’s Resort
What stood out to me most about St. John’s Resort was how versatile the experience felt. It works equally well for:
- Romantic getaways
- Golf weekends
- Wellness escapes
- Girls trips
- Business retreats
- Local staycations
- Luxury weekend travel
The property successfully combines luxury, wellness, dining, recreation, and purpose in a way that feels cohesive and intentional. There are very few places in the Midwest that truly feel like an immersive resort experience where you can spend an entire weekend without needing to leave the property, and St. John’s absolutely delivers that.
Between the beautiful rooms, relaxing pool, majestic event spaces, incredible restaurants, golf culture, and humanitarian mission, my experience at Saint John’s Resort ended up being far more memorable than I expected.
If you are looking for a luxury Midwest escape that blends sophistication with relaxation and purpose, this resort absolutely deserves a spot on your travel list.
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