Golf in the Wild North is, well, wild. The farther north you go, the wilder it gets. Wild North Golf is a group of ten courses in northeastern Minnesota that cooperatively promote golf in this Arrowhead region. These beautiful courses offer great golf with a North Woods backdrop.
Superior Views
The Superior National at Lutsen is a golf experience with some wild surprises. On any given day, golfers at this course in the hills above Lake Superior may see moose, hawks, eagles, and even bear. During a recent golf round there, a group was treated to a spellbinding show by an osprey, which held the air for several seconds before dropping to the surface of a pond to snare its prey. These wilderness treats, and great championship golf, keep golfers coming back.
The River, Mountain and Canyon nines at Superior National are each superior golf experiences. This golf course is always dramatic, especially with Lake Superior vistas looming over treetops.
Particularly dramatic is the Canyon #6, par-3. It's a severe elevation drop from tee to green, and if your shot falls short, your ball plummets into the Poplar River and is ferried one mile to Lake Superior. On Sept. 30, Superior National begins its fall green fee of $50, including a cart.
Besides golf, Lusten's recreation options include an Alpine slide, a scenic tramway ride, mountain biking, and horseback riding. There's also a range of lodging choices in the Lutsen-Tofte area--luxury lakeshore resorts, cozy log cabins and convenient motels.
Driving inland from Lutsen to the Iron Range through Superior National Forest, hone in on the roadside wetlands and shrubbery where moose linger in the early morning and evening.
Golf on the Range
Biwabik has become a golf destination favored by serious players, and it soon will have even more to offer them. The Legend at Giants Ridge is already considered one of the state's top public golf courses. Its conditions are exemplary from tee to green. This beautifully manicured golf course gets a fraternal twin next spring when The Quarry at Giants Ridge debuts. But for now The Legend's golf operation is top shelf, thanks to the renowned golf management outfit Troon Golf.
Fall golfers should take advantage of the $45 fall green fee at The Legend at Giants Ridge, offered when staying at local lodgings. A hotel and villas provide on-site accommodations, and there are several motels in nearby Virginia.
Golf visitors to this area don't need to take on the challenge of The Legend or Superior National. For easier golf diversions, there are four nine-hole courses in the wooded countryside within 25 miles of Virginia: the Hoyt Lakes Municipal, Vermilion Fairways at Cook, Wolfridge in Angora or the Eveleth Municipal Golf Club.
The Eveleth track is well regarded for its excellent condition as well as its challenges. It's a woodsy nine with a second hole, par 5 that goes 552 yards, and the fifth hole adds some water to the woods as it sides St. Mary's Lake.
Grand Rapids Golf
The southern leg of Wild North Golf is Grand Rapids, known for its Grand Slam of Golf. While not quite as wooded as the courses in the Superior National Forest, all four championship courses assert natural qualities.
Sugarbrooke, at Sugar Lake Lodge, is a slick 18 holes on the site of the former nine called Sugar Hills. Its ninth hole is a hilly par four with terrain reminiscent of the ski hill that once graced nearby slopes. The creekside 18th is a pretty par-4 finishing hole that plays to a green on Sugar Lake's shoreline.
Pokegama Golf Course is a track that throws some pesky challenges at all players, with rolling fairways, mature trees, lots of sand and undulating greens, all embellished by the gorgeous views of Lake Pokegama.
Eagle Ridge in Coleraine overlooks Trout Lake, and has become a course of choice because it plays friendly from each set of tees. Voted "most unique hole" is its par-5, dogleg sixth hole. Driving from a tee box carved out of the forest, players hit second shots onto a lower peninsula fairway with water on both sides. From there it's an approach shot to a skinny green. Happy landing.
The fourth in the Grand Slam is Wendigo, gradually becoming known as a very quality golf value. Rated eighth on Golf Digest's best public course list in 1996, Wendigo offers abundant everything: water, elevation drops, huge stands of pine and many, many bunkers. The golf course, neat clubhouse and impressive conditioning will keep golfers coming back for more.
Grand Rapids is a bustling town with plenty of shops, restaurants and motels. There are a bounty of lakeside resorts in the woods surrounding Grand Rapids, making it easy to top off a round of golf with a bit of fishing.
Autumn is a great time to check out the pleasures of golf in the Wild North. There are fall bonuses to playing any of the Wild North golf courses: a backdrop of blazing fall colors, and fewer other players on the courses, especially on weekdays.
See www.wildnorthgolf.com for more information on these courses. Or, click below for more info on vacations in these areas: