Michelle Wie West is back in the headlines, not just swinging clubs at the Mizuho Americas Open and preparing for this summer’s U.S. Open, but now tackling golf-course design at Candyroot Lodge in the Carolina Sandhills with architect Mike Koprowski, creating a compact par-3 experience called Sweet Tooth that aims to welcome families, juniors and serious players alike.
Michelle’s return to competitive play has grabbed attention, but this new design project feels like a different kind of comeback — one that ties her playing past to a public-facing future in golf. Candyroot Lodge is positioning Sweet Tooth as part of a modern, walkable public golf destination in the Sandhills, a region already rich with golf history thanks to places like Pinehurst. The plan is to lean into accessibility while offering a course that still asks players to think creatively about shot-making.
Sweet Tooth is a par-3 concept, but it’s built to be flexible. The layout will use elastic tee boxes and greens shaped to allow multiple pin positions, so the same hole can play dramatically differently from day to day and accommodate a wide range of abilities. Two scorecards are planned: one that keeps a classic par-3 structure for experienced players and another that converts certain holes into short par-4s or par-5s so beginners and young players can enjoy varied challenges without feeling outmatched.
“My golf journey began on par-3 courses, so this project feels incredibly personal to me,” said Michelle Wie West. “I grew up playing on a public course, and that shaped my love for the game. With Sweet Tooth, I want to create that same kind of environment, where families can connect, kids can discover golf for the first time, and players of all levels feel welcome and excited to play.”
The design will reward creativity, emphasizing a firm-and-fast ground game that encourages low skippers and bump-and-run shots in addition to full iron play. By doing so, Sweet Tooth aims to teach players how to handle different surfaces and trajectories, skills often overlooked on longer resort courses. That kind of variety makes the course both a training ground and a casual destination, where a round can sharpen short-game instincts or simply provide quick, social golf for a family outing.
Michelle’s ties to the Sandhills go beyond the build — her 2014 U.S. Women’s Open win at Pinehurst gave her firsthand respect for the region’s feel and texture, and that influence shows up in the course philosophy. The plan for Sweet Tooth is to reflect local character while remaining walkable and community-focused, part of Candyroot’s wider vision for an inviting public golf spot. The goal is straightforward: make a place golfers want to visit often, not just once for the novelty.
Short par-3 courses are gaining momentum across the United States as fun, visitor-friendly options that still offer depth for serious players, and Sweet Tooth fits right into that trend. Think of places like Cliffhangers at Big Cedar, where compact designs turn into memorable golf experiences without a huge time commitment. With Michelle’s name attached, Sweet Tooth gets an extra draw for fans who want to see how a top player translates on-course instincts into holes and strategy.
Construction is slated to begin in late 2027, which gives the team time to fine-tune the routing and make sure it fits Candyroot’s community-minded goals. For golfers who remember Michelle from television or who caught her recent return at the Mizuho, Sweet Tooth offers a front-row seat to a new chapter of her involvement in the game. Who’s ready?
