9 Minnesota Golf Vacations to Relax and Unplug

Kids driving you crazy?    Planning a guys/girls getaway?   Need some quality family bonding time?

Whatever your reason for needing to get away, there are plenty of great Minnesota golf resorts that fit the bill. From golf challenges that will thrill and excite you to amenities that will calm and restore you, a weekend getaway at a Minnesota golf resort is the perfect prescription.

Golf in northern Minnesota provides some of the best golf vacation opportunities you can find. Whether it is the quiet beauty of the northern woods or unsurpassed challenge on courses with conditioning found at the highest-end courses around the country, northern Minnesota will roll out the bright, “green carpet” for your next visit. Here are ten great resorts to play golf, relax, and unplug.

Arrowwood Resort

Arrowwood Resort features the newly renovated Atikwa Golf Club near the shores of lovely Lake Darling. The views are breathtaking, and the amenities at this gorgeous north woods resort — which include a spa, waterpark, and horseback riding — are worth the visit.

Black Bear Golf Course

Black Bear Golf Course is just down the road from Duluth and the land of Lake Gitchegumee, where Minnesota vacations abound. The golf course at Black Bear is a scenic walk through the northern Minnesota woods, and with tees from 5,072 yards to 6,560 (for which the slope is 138), there is a challenge for every level of golfer. You will remember the beauty of Black Bear (and its bear paw shaped sand trap) when you are relaxing at Black Bear Casino Resort after your round.

Breezy Point Resort

Breezy Point Resort is located on the shores of Pelican Lake and includes three superlative courses: The Traditional Course, Whitebirch Course, and Deacon’s Lodge. Their amenities include an indoor pool at the Breezy Inn and Suites, beach activities, fishing and boating adventures, swimming at the Rec Center/Pool (which has a Jacuzzi and kiddie pool) and tennis.

After golf at one of their three great courses, you can relax in the Serenity Spa and indulge yourself. End the night with a quiet romantic dinner at one of five restaurants, where you make plans to do it all again the next day.

Note: If you come during wintertime, the list of activities is even greater with skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and even snow golf.

Cragun’s Resort

Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake has three renowned golf courses: Dutch’s Legacy, Bobby’s Legacy, and the Reversible 9. All three are must-play members of the Brainerd Golf Trail, one of the “world’s top golf destinations.”

Brainerd has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to great golf resorts, and Cragun’s is a big part of it. From beach volleyball and biking to swimming, tennis, and hiking the Paul Bunyan Trail, the activities at Cragun’s are countless.

After dinner at any of the five restaurants, you can enjoy a relaxing and romantic bonfire on the shore of Gull Lake. The next day, rent a boat from the marina and spend a glorious summer day catching a trophy walleye or bass. Oh, and don’t forget the 27 holes of great golf — always the key to a great golf getaway.

Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort

For families seeking a true “up north” adventure, Giants Ridge in Biwabik is the place to be. The outdoors experience is as big as you want it and right out your front door – from hiking and mountain biking to fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. There is also a disc golf course, a climbing wall for the kids, indoor and outdoor pools, and a rec center. Plus, Giants Ridge is home to a luxurious spa, perfect for when you’re just coming off the hiking trail.

There are two great golf courses, The Legend and The Quarry will thrill with beauty and challenge you won’t find anywhere else. The Legend course offers unsurpassed north woods beauty with its expansive fairways surrounded by tall timbers and dense, tranquil forest. The challenge is great at The Legend, with its forced carries and occasionally long par fours, and the scenery is memorable. The Quarry offers a slightly different atmosphere. Carved out of the jagged hills and swales of a reclaimed iron mine, the Quarry’s rugged beauty prepares the intrepid traveler for a unique golf experience. The Quarry has 146 slope rating and earns every bit as this muscular track features wind, water, and elevation changes that test every shot you have in the bag.

Madden’s on Gull Lake

Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd can provide just about anything you want in a golf resort getaway weekend. Pine Beach West or East are two challenging championship tracks, and The Classic is one of Minnesota’s best courses. Plus, the Social 9 is a great course for family members of all ages. In total, there are 63 holes of golf for you to enjoy.

There are countless leisure time activities away from the course – shuffleboard, croquet, lawn bowling, and the luxurious Spa at Madden’s.

If water activities are more your style, try paddleboarding, kayaking, a rowboat excursion, or just a relaxing pontoon tour of Gull Lake. Then, check out six different restaurants on the grounds from the Classic Grill to the New Mission Point and Fairways restaurants.

There’s waterskiing school, where all the kids can learn to ski. Kids might enjoy an afternoon at the Tennis and Croquet Club or a game of lawn bowling. And if your kids are ages 4-12, they’ll want to check out Adventure Cove Day Camp, where they can experience numerous activities from board games and face painting to Wii games and swimming.

Minnesota National Golf Course

If you are looking for a golf-centric getaway in the quietude of central Minnesota, Minnesota National Golf Course in Macgregor is your answer. Just a bit west of the Brainerd/Baxter area, you will find 27-holes of excellent championship golf.

Named one of the Top 10 Minnesota golf resorts, Minnesota National features some exquisite lodging, including the Executive Log Home located on the 5th hole of the championship course. There are other townhomes on the Joel Goldstrand-designed course, which also is home to abundant wildlife. The beauty and peace of this treasure will refresh you from the moment you step on the grounds.

The Wilderness at Fortune Bay

Built along the shores of beautiful Lake Vermillion in the heart of the Iron Range, The Wilderness provides some of the most scenic panoramas of upper Midwest golf. The blues and greens of the countryside are brilliant and take on increasing beauty in the fall, as the changing hardwoods take over in seasonal finery. Architect Jeffrey Brauer has cut 18 fantastic holes through this dramatic landscape, and at more than 7,200 yards from the tips, you better bring your A game. And if you’re not done yet, try plan B inside the Fortune Bay Resort Casino, where the excitement can continue. With more than 25,000 square feet of exciting gaming space on two floors, you will surely find our next challenge.

Thumper Pond Resort

Thumper Pond Resort, located in Ottertail, Minn., is ranked among the best resorts in the state. The property is tucked away among 250 acres of swaying red pines and offers the beauty and quiet serenity of the great north. And if you are looking for a little indoor fun, the 12,000 square foot Indoor Water Entertainment Center features two 3-story water slides, an activity pool with basketball hoops and volleyball net, and an 18-person whirlpool for some serious relaxation.

So, whether you venture to the shores of the Brainerd Lakes Area or enjoy the tranquility of Central Minnesota, you can’t go wrong picking one of these northern getaways any time of year. There truly is something for the whole family year-round at these wonderful resorts. Don’t take our word for it, experience it for yourself! Nothing grants much-needed respite like a getaway at one of Minnesota’s incredible resorts.