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Minnesota Golf

Though it’s called the Land of 10,000 Lakes, that’s selling Minnesota short by another twenty percent; the North Star State actually has 12,000 lakes… and nearly 600 golf courses in the beautiful places between them. We all know how important water is to a golf course. The mighty Mississippi River itself begins amidst the waters of Minnesota. Just imagine the splendor such land would produce, the courses it would inspire men to create!

Pick a road, any road, as you drive through this wonderland, and you’ll find courses on it. We’ll start with the Brainerd Golf Trail. Designated one of the Top 50 Golf Destinations In The World by Golf Digest, this region has 450 lakes and the entire Golf Trail is within a 45 minute drive! Treat yourself to such incomparable destinations as Craguns Resort. Actually a collection of courses, one has FIFTY-FOUR holes! Comprised of 43 courses in all, Brainerd Golf Trail is a golf vacation destination all by itself!

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul hold a nearly overwhelming golfer’s delight -- well over 150 golf clubs in the same small town metro area!

The Minneapolis Golf Club is ranked #7 in the state. Back in 1916, five men began the club as the third in the the city, coincidentally the same year that started the PGA. Designed by two Scottish architects in two separate stages, the course maintains its classic beauty and influences even today. Willie Park Jr. performed the initial sculpting, based on his philosophy that the course should give the player a chance to warm up a bit before pressing him. Four years later, Donald J. Ross would contribute, revising the routing to accommodate the relocation of the clubhouse and adding a bit more danger to overshooting. In 1959, the MGC hosted the PGA Championship. A delightful course, build upon a long line of private tradition, the charm of this course is reserved for the decidedly affluent and their guests, yet it distinguishes the state and sets a high standard for aspirations.

It would be impossible to cover golf within Minnesota without bringing up the #1 spot in the state, Interlochen. In fact, Minnesota has 5 of the top 100 in the country within its own top 10! Interlachen Country Club, the Hazeltine National Golf Course, and The Quarry at Giants Ridge make up the top three. Yet again, those three courses could be a golf vacation in their own right.

Though the top three volley for position amongst themselves, Giants Ridge deserves special recognition. Golf Digest’s Ron Whitten dubbed The Quarry “The Best Golf of the 21st Century.” Golf World calls Giants Ridge one of the top six golf destinations in the entire world. The Legends received 4.5 star ratings from Golf Digest two years in a row. Credentials like that speak for themselves, words of promise that just can’t be ignored or denied.

The entire state is truly spectacular, bestowed with a natural state that’s nearly surreal in its pristine beauty. Wetlands nurture both fairway and green as they provide a challenge all their own. The azure beauty of the lakes themselves also hold a double-edge to your game. Minnesota’s woodlands redefine the concept of sylvan grace, and the courses are carved into that splendor by masterful, loving hands. Make Minnesota your golf vacation destination this summer. Once is all it takes to keep you coming back.