Minnesota Golfers

[Mop Bucket]

I haven't seen too many Minnesotans on TST. If you guys are out there, feel free to post your whereabouts or home course. I have been looking for a place to share insight on the local hidden gems and to talk about the conditions of the season!

I've been living in the Duluth area for summers but I grew up in the metro area. My home courses have been Oneka Ridge, Majestic Oaks, and Keller. More recently though I have been playing Black Bear Resort and other northern courses.

 

[lastings]

Minnesota Golfer here!

 

My "home course" is Chaska Town course, but don't golf there significantly more than other courses.   

Big fan of Meadows at Mystic Lake, or I'm in the mood to afford it.   Ridges at Sand Creek (Jordan) is a nice hidden gem 

 

I've played Black Bear a couple times.   Nice course.   Being in Duluth, your just about an hour from Biwabik.   if you haven't played Giants Ridge. get up there ASAP.  

[rehmwa]

I'm in the southern suburbs.  Meadows is ok.  Ridges is a hidden gem.  Head south to Willingers also.  The Summit near Canon Falls is a very nice surprise.  Legends in Prior Lake.  The Jewel farther east.

I spend weekends just east of the cities and have played everything around that point and then a few course north to Rice Lake area.  (White Bear and St Croix national are great, Logger's Trail (Stillwater) is nice.  Up farther north in WI, Siren National is a gem.  Cumberland is another great public course (Chaska, and Eagle Valley in Woodbury other examples of great public courses).  I played The Refuge north of the cities and love it.  Troy Burne is way overrated.

 

Brainard area - the Classic at Maddens, Deacon's Lodge are excellent.  I very much want to travel up to Superior and Duluth and try a few.

[lastings]

1 minute ago, rehmwa said:

I'm in the southern suburbs.  Meadows is ok.  Ridges is a hidden gem.  Head south to Willingers also.  The Summit near Canon Falls is a very nice surprise.  Legends in Prior Lake.  The Jewel farther east.

I spend weekends just east of the cities and have played everything around that point and then a few course north to Rice Lake area.  (White Bear and St Croix national are great, Logger's Trail (Stillwater) is nice.  Up farther north in WI, Siren National is a gem.  Cumberland is another great public course (Chaska, and Eagle Valley in Woodbury other examples of great public courses).  I played The Refuge north of the cities and love it.  Troy Burne is way overrated.

 

Brainard area - the Classic at Maddens, Deacon's Lodge are excellent.  I very much want to travel up to Superior and Duluth and try a few.

Willinger's is great.  been down there twice this summer.   The Jewel is also great.   Never played Summit or Legends.  

while we're discussing a bit of a drive, I think my favorite course in Minnesota is Dacotah Ridge in Morton.  About 2 hours west of the cities, by Jackpot Junction casino.  definitely worth a Saturday or weekend trip.  

[amished]

Being close to Brainerd (with an erd, not ard ;) ) I've never played Any of the Maddens or Craguns courses...  I prefer the 30-50 dollar 18 hole price range.  Otherwise Blackberry Ridge is nice just north of St. Cloud, Territory Golf Club is nice just east of St. Cloud.  I've also heard good things about Pine Ridge just south of Staples in the middle of the state area.  Also, apparently Izatys has a nice course that's closer to the Mille Lacs Casino that I'll be going to later this summer (heard about great fall rates out there).

Edited August 10, 2016 by amished

[17hoffmanc]

I live just south of the cities and there are some nice courses around me. Chaska town course, island view in waconia , bluff creek in chanhassen are the only 18 holes courses I've been to but they are wonderful. I suppose they are a little out of your way though. 

[rehmwa]

2 hours ago, lastings said:

while we're discussing a bit of a drive, I think my favorite course in Minnesota is Dacotah Ridge in Morton.  About 2 hours west of the cities, by Jackpot Junction casino.  definitely worth a Saturday or weekend trip.  

Will do -

 

I try to play a different course every weekend and now have to drive a lot to get to a new one.  I just tell my navigation system to 'find a golf course', then pick a new one and go there.....

 

By default, most of mine are all around Stillwater, Hudson, Woodbury.  So for that area here's a list I made for a friend last year.

Top Level Courses:

• Troy Burne
• StoneRidge (haven't played it, heard it's also top)
• White Eagle
• St Croix National
• The Refuge
• Siren National
• Cumberland

very nice courses:

• Logger's Trail
• Prestwick
• Eagle Valley
• River Falls
• Clifton Highlands
• New Richmond
• Bristol Ridge
• Turtleback
• Spooner

Playable Averageish or easy or simply just a goat/dog track but fun and cheap

• Pheasant Hills
• River Oaks (interesting back 9)
• Badlands
• Amery
• Clifton Hollow
• Mississippi Dunes (two courses, Played the lowlands and not impressed, Highlands are supposed to be super)
• Spring Valley
• Kilkarney
• Hammond Town course (9 hole, but good for a quick few)

Someday I'll list out those we have south and southwest, I have nearly a similar sized list I've played....

MN and WI - so MANY courses everywhere......

 

1 hour ago, 17hoffmanc said:

I live just south of the cities and there are some nice courses around me. Chaska town course, island view in waconia , bluff creek in chanhassen are the only 18 holes courses I've been to but they are wonderful. I suppose they are a little out of your way though. 

Chaska is nice-more than nice - it's an amazing find (and it's a public course), a friend played this year and said it wasn't in good shape like normal.  Right next to Hazeltine

Bluff Creek is a nice track.  nothing special but the wife got her first birdie there.

Island View - I'll add it to my list.

[SG11118]

I'm currently in Hibbing.  Mostly play Mesaba CC.  But grew up in the cities and have played close to 80 courses in Minnesota / W. Wisconsin.

[Grinde6]

On ‎8‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 0:01 PM, amished said:

Being close to Brainerd (with an erd, not ard ;) ) I've never played Any of the Maddens or Craguns courses...  I prefer the 30-50 dollar 18 hole price range.  Otherwise Blackberry Ridge is nice just north of St. Cloud, Territory Golf Club is nice just east of St. Cloud.  I've also heard good things about Pine Ridge just south of Staples in the middle of the state area.  Also, apparently Izatys has a nice course that's closer to the Mille Lacs Casino that I'll be going to later this summer (heard about great fall rates out there).

I'm in Grand Forks, ND and I have a buddy that lives in Sartel, MN and his home course is Blackberry Ridge so I have played it a couple times.  Very nice course!  We did a guys weekend the end of last year and we did 18 at Blackberry Ridge, and then 18 at Albion Ridges in Annandale, MN.  Albion is a hidden gem as well.  The drive out there is all farmland until you pull up to the clubhouse.  Definitely give it a shot if your in the area!

[amished]

I will certainly check out Albion Ridges, the pictures on their website look amazing!  Annandale isn't that far, we play them in High School Football more or less every year so I've made my way down there from time to time.  Thanks for the recommendation!