Who Will Win the 2016 Ryder Cup? Our Pros Pick
And while golf fans around the world have differing predictions for who will win the 2016 Ryder Cup, some of our golf professionals in Minnesota are united in their belief.
The Prettiest Golf Course Wedding Venues in Minnesota
Destination weddings are all the rage. Young couples race all over the world to find the perfect setting in which to take their vows for a lifetime. But all the globe trekking for the perfect locale may not be necessary. You can find a great place for your big day right here in Minnesota — at a Minnesota golf course wedding venue.
Many of the golf courses of the EMGA host weddings. The brilliant greens of the fairways appointed by beautiful trees and shimmering waters provide a great wedding setting even before the decorations are set up. And since the courses are right here in Minnesota, more of your intended guests can make the drive to attend.
The Best Lakeside Golf in Minnesota
There aren’t any oceans near the state of Minnesota, but we are known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” so a good view of the water is easy to find when playing golf here. There is something calming about hitting a high approach and watching it descend to the green earth with a view of beautiful blue water as a backdrop. So if you are in the mood for some lakeside golf, your search starts in Minnesota, the land of “sky blue waters.”
From the stunning (there is plenty of private and public golf in Duluth with fantastic views of Lake Superior) to the sublime (holes constructed amidst or surrounded by one of the state’s 10,000 water hazards), Minnesota has a lot of lakeside golf.
Here are a few of the most memorable places to play on your next trip here.
- Giants Ridge in Biwabik — Hole No. 17 of The Legend course is likely the most famous water hole in the state. The beautiful setting on the shores of Lake Sabin is tranquil until you have to pull the trigger on a long iron across a corner of it. The setting is home to abundant wildlife and has hosted engagement dinners, photo shoots, and even weddings; and you will long remember your tee shot there — especially if it is a good one.
- Stonebrooke Golf Club in Shakopee — Lake O’Dowd is hard by holes 8 and 9 at Stonebrooke. The back tees of the par 3 8th require a nervy shot over the water as waverunners race by on the left. And it’s just a few steps to the tee of No. 9, where you need 180-190 yards to cross the lake and have a decent shot from the fairway to the green. Whether you make landfall or splash down, there is a short ferry ride over to the other side with some genial conversation with the ferry driver, who has cold beverages for sale on board.
- Gull Lake in Brainerd — You can find three big names of Minnesota golf in the Brainerd area of the Central Lakes region. Grand View Lodge, Madden’s on Gull Lake, and Cragun’s Resort are all located on beautiful Gull Lake, and together these three resorts provide 144 holes of magnificent and gorgeous lakeside golf. Play at any one and find a challenge for all levels of golfer in your group and countless activities and amenities that make lakeside golf the excellent excursion it is.
A Checklist for the Perfect Northern Minnesota Vacation
Minnesotans love to go up north. That phrase “up north” conjures all kinds of images of relaxation, excitement, and adventure. We have great golf, beautiful deep woods and lakes, ranging from the western border to Lake Superior, and plenty of activities to help put together a memorable northern Minnesota vacation.
Here is a handy checklist to help plan the perfect trip “up north.”
- A good portion of northern Minnesota is known as the Iron Range, because it has been the source of iron ore for steel mills to ship off in the Great Lakes to the eastern United States. The countryside still has the scars from deep pit mining of decades past and the Iron Range Research Center in Chisholm, Minn., is the place to start if you want to learn about the history of the region.
Breezy Point—a Historic Minnesota Golf Resort
Enjoy Minnesota Golf and History at Breezy Point Resort
In the center of the state of Minnesota, the heart of local golf beats where numerous excellent resort courses are located. For many decades, Minnesotans have traveled to the central region of the state to relax at the many lakes and golf at the high-end resorts. One of those resorts, historic Breezy Point, has been helping guests relax and enjoy themselves for more than 90 years.
Located in Breezy Point, Minn., the beautiful Breezy Point resort rests on the shores of Pelican Lake and is a year-round destination for vacation fun as well as weddings and conferences. Home to four different restaurants and multiple luxurious lodging options, Breezy Point attracts people from all over the Midwest.
Built in 1921 by millionaire publicist Wilfred Hamilton Fawcett, Breezy Point has attracted the rich and famous since the Roaring 20s. The likes of Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Tom Mix and Jack Dempsey have made it to Breezy. Fawcett built a large lodge using massive Norway pines (some of which were more than 70 feet in length) and the lodge has been preserved and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Three Minnesota Golf Courses that will Test your game
These Minnesota Courses are Sure to Challenge You Every week the PGA tour shows telecasts of golf courses that are designed to challenge the best players in the world, but you don’t have to leave Minnesota to find a course…
Comparing the Grandview Lodge Golf Courses
Grandview Lodge Golf Courses Offer Some of the Best Golf in Minnesota
When it comes to a one-stop golf weekend, Grand View Lodge in the central lakes area of Minnesota is the spot. With 54 holes of excellent golf under their umbrella, you can’t go wrong spending a weekend at this grand resort. But not all the holes were created equal, so here is a quick comparison Grand View Lodge golf courses.
In business for more than 90 years, Grand View Lodge is one of the first Brainerd-Baxter area golf resorts and one of the best: Gold Medal Resort–Golf Magazine 2012; Top 121 Golf Resorts in the World–Condé Nast Traveler’s 2012; Top 150 Mainland Resorts in the U.S.–Condé Nast Traveler’s 2012; 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America–Golf Digest. But the golf is pretty good, too.
The Pines
The Pines was built in 1990, and features three separate nines—The Lakes, The Woods and The Marsh—which offer some of the finest golf in the state. Designed by renowned Minnesota golf architect Joel Goldstrand, The Pines winds through dense forest and features plenty of water hazards. There is a sense of deep woods seclusion to the courses, and the placement of water on some holes makes for some very challenging shots.