MANITOBA GOLF GUIDE 2014 • 11
Places to Play: Courses in Minnesota, North Dakota Offer Great Value for Your Golfing Dollar
By Todd Lewys For the Winnipeg Free Press
Hole 12 (par 3) at the Dutch Legacy, one of the Cragun Legacy Courses that inhabits a 1,000-acre Audubon Signature Sanctuary. PHOTO CREDIT: Cragun’s Legacy Courses
the wide range of lodging options, great food (in four distinctly different restaurants) and, of course, our wonderful location on the shores of crystal clear Pelican Lake.” Johnson said the goal at Breezy Point is the same each and every year. “We want to provide you with the best possible experience from the time you arrive until the time you leave. We’ll customize your stay and play package, which means we’ll make all the calls to arrange your tee times, exactly at the time you want, and at the course you want to play, whether it’s the Deacon’s Lodge course (which was designed by Arnold Palmer), or our Traditional or Whitebirch courses,” he said. “And if you enjoy fishing, boating, swimming or biking, we’ve got that, too.” The other half of the Brainerd Golf Trail is Cragun’s Resort & Hotel on Gull Lake, which offers not only incredible lakeside lodgings, but great golf. Designed by golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., the Dutch Legacy – a 6,872-yard, par-72 layout - and Bobby’s Legacy, a 6,807-yard, par-72 design – inhabit a 1,000-acre Audubon Signature Sanctuary that’s surrounded by towering trees and spectacular lake views. Last but not least is Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minnesota, about a six hour drive from Winnipeg. Its two courses, The Legend and The Quarry, offer different personalities. Playing from 5,084 yards to 6,930 yards, The Legend winds through trees, plays alongside or over water, and requires that approach shots avoid well-placed greenside bunkers. The Quarry, at 7,201 yards from its back tees, is the brawnier of the two courses, demanding a well-balanced blend of power and precision to shoot a good score. However, like The Legend, The Quarry offers four different tee boxes, making it user-friendly for every level of golfer. Each of these eight courses is an easy drive from Manitoba. There may be no easier way to experience a great American golf destination than by visiting Bully Pulpit Golf Course, the Brainerd Golf Trail (Breezy Point, Cragun’s) or Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort.
When golfers in Manitoba think about golf in the United States, they tend to think about courses in Arizona, Florida, California and other warm weather states. While that’s entirely understandable, it may be time to think of other courses south of the border that can be accessed without spending $500 or more on airfare. After all, courses in Minnesota and North Dakota are anywhere from a three to six-hour drive away. And, make no mistake about it; like their counterparts further south, the courses are genuine golfing meccas. “We’re about four-and-a-half hours from Fargo,” said Kathy Solga, golf shop manager for Bully Pulpit Golf Course, which is located in Medora, North Dakota. “The golf course (which is ranked as one of America’s top-100 public courses) is in an area that’s basically the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It’s a unique golf course, to say the least.” Her co-worker at Bully Pulpit, head golf professional Casey Moen, agreed. “It’s a ruggedly beautiful course that’s really like no other you may have played before,” he said. “It’s surrounded by the bluffs of the Badlands, featuring undulating terrain that winds through meadows, woodlands and along the Little Missouri River. One of the best things about the course is that it’s designed for every level of player. There are five tees – the forward tees play 4,750 yards, while the course is 7,166 yards from the tips. It’s a course everyone can enjoy, and we offer great stay and play packages.” Meanwhile, in Minnesota, the Brainerd Golf Trail is a five-and-a-half to six-hour drive from Winnipeg – a drive that features two resorts and eight golf courses, including a nine-hole layout. “The drive from Winnipeg is easy and well worthwhile,” said Mark C. Johnson, director of golf at Breezy Point Resort, which is home to three golf courses including Deacon’s Lodge, considered the premiere championship course in the Brainerd Lakes area. “Not only is the golf exceptional, but so is
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Brainerd Golf Trail, www.BrainerdGolfTrail.com Breezy Point Resort, www.breezypointresort.com Bully Pulpit Golf Course, www.medora.com Cragun’s Resort & Hotel on Gull Lake, www.craguns.com Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort, www.giantsridge.com
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