Go Golfing in Scenic Central Minnesota
Go Golfing in Scenic Central Minnesota
Door C.B. Bylander
The biggest golf challenge in central Minnesota is simply deciding where to play.
That’s because this region is the heart of Minnesota golf country which says a lot, given how much great golfing you'll find across the state. From small community courses to large championship courses, central Minnesota is the state’s golf mecca.
Nowhere is this truer than the Brainerd Lakes Area. This forest-and-lakes landscape features more than 450 golf holes, and has been named one of the top fifty golf destinations in the world by Golf Digest.
The Preserve golf course at Grand View Lodge is known for scenic, elevated trees and tour speed greens
The Classic at Madden's / Jeremy Jordan
Play through verdant forests on the 27-hole Pines golf course at Grand View Lodge / Peter Wong
The Classic at Madden’s
This ranking reflects quantity and quality. Robert Trent Jones Jr. and the Arnold Palmer Design Company are among those who have developed courses that rise, roll and twist through region’s picturesque pines, oaks and aspens. Noted golf course architects Joel Goldstrand and Dye Designs also have developed courses in the area.
Among the Brainerd area’s often honored championship courses are the The Classic at Madden’s Resort, which Golf Digest labeled as one of “MN’s Best Courses.” Deacon’s Lodge at Breezy Point Resort, an acclaimed Arnold Palmer design; the Legacy courses at Cragun’s Resort, and the Pines and Preserve courses at Grand View Lodge, all tourist favorites.
Yet there’s much more than these big four.
You are never far from a challenging championship course or a family-friendly links that is just right for novices or those whose swings have swung past prime.
Aerial View of Madden’s on Gull Lake / Brad Thornberg
Golf is very popular in central Minnesota, in part, because the area is so rich with nature. It is not uncommon for golfers to see bald eagles or hear the cry of loons. In fact, many courses have gone to great lengths to incorporate nature into their design. Expect to play holes that flank sprawling wetlands, require shots over water and take advantage of forest and undulating terrain.
Golf is also popular in central Minnesota because lodging and dining options are so varied and plentiful. From campgrounds with grills to motels with restaurants to luxury resorts with fancy brunches, there is a lodging and dining option for everyone.
3 Things to Consider When Planning a Golf Trip to Central Minnesota
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Value
Value
Green fees range between $95-$150 at top-end resort courses in the Brainerd area during prime tee times in June, July and August. Expect to pay $60 to $90 at other top-end courses. Still, there are ways to play these same holes for less. Most courses offer substantial green fee discounts later in the day. Twilight rates can cut green fees by a third. Similarly, “stay and play” lodging and golf packages greatly reduce green fees. Costs are less during spring and fall, too. Spring is a perfect time to dust off the clubs and play a great course for a reduced price. The same is true in autumn when oaks turn red, aspens brighten to yellow and tamaracks morph to a smoky gold.
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Quality
Quality
Golfers who seek high-quality experiences have plenty of options. In the Willmar-Spicer lakes area, Eagle Creek Golf Club and the Little Crow Country Club are challenging and beautiful courses. Just five minutes from downtown St. Cloud, the Territory Golf Club is an affordable championship course. It starts with a “links” style grassland design then shifts to an “up north” wooded style. The lakes-rich Alexandria area features the recently renovated Atikwa championship course at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center.
Golden Eagle Golf Course at Fifty Lakes and Minnesota National Golf Course at McGregor are both big beautiful courses that flow through magnificent natural surroundings. Thumper Pond Golf Course at Otter Tail is a good choice. So too are Izaty’s golf course on the south end of Mille Lacs lake, nearby Fiddlestix Golf Course and the championship course at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort at Deerwood.
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Family Experience
Family Experience
For many people, golf is a vacation tradition but not a passion. For these folks—those who are not great golfers but enjoy a great time—there are plenty of options, too. Cragun’s Resort at Brainerd, for example, offers a reversible par three course that alternates the direction of play daily. Par-three or short golf courses can be found at Crosslake, Pequot Lakes and Deerwood. Most cities have golf courses that can be enjoyed for about $35.
C.B. Bylander is a hunter, angler and outdoor enthusiast. He lives on a small lake in Crow Wing County. Now retired, he spent much of his career working for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.