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John Kavanaugh

Minikahda Club, Minn.
« on: July 28, 2008, 12:21:58 PM »
What can people tell me about this course and where it stands today.  The history as described in the following link is matched by few: http://www.minikahdaclub.org/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=235223&ssid=88202&vnf=1

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2008, 12:38:08 PM »
John, I played it a couple of years ago.  I thought they did a very good job of restoration, although I have nothing to compare it to, since I had not played it before the work.  It is on an excellent piece of ground, rolling hills.  I especially like the greens and the surrounds.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

John_Conley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2008, 12:51:27 PM »
Don't know where to begin.  Minikahda is wonderful.  Great bunker work recently.  Par dropped from 73 to 72.  Very similar in terrain and character to Interlachen a few miles away.

Jason Topp

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2008, 02:14:15 PM »
If you click on course search after going to this link you can see an aerial. It looks like it was taken during the Prichard renovations.


http://www.mngolf.org/coursedetail.cfm


Carl Nichols

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2008, 03:04:57 PM »
Trying to figure out how much to bid?

Sandy Smith

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2008, 05:25:08 PM »
I played there last month when I was at the Ladies US Open . I would put  in the must play department if you are in the area . Every thing from the grass tennis court behind the first tee to the the old clubhouse and great course makes this a wonderful place to play golf.
Firm greens, firmer fairways.

John Kavanaugh

Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #6 on: July 28, 2008, 05:48:49 PM »
Trying to figure out how much to bid?

Already the high bidder.  Trying to get someone to bid it up so I am not embarrassed at getting it at a steal.

ANTHONYPIOPPI

Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2008, 05:55:48 PM »
Sandy

I think that area behind the first tee is for croquet.

A fantastic place that hosted a U.S. Open won by Chick Evans and a U.S. Open won by Bobby Jones over Chick Evans.

The club has the original Ross drawings and Prichard's work was an attempt to reclaim much of the original bunkering and features. I played Minikahda, White Bear and Interlachen in a two-day period and Minikahda is certainly in the same pantheon as the others.

You'll enjoy the place if you are high bidder, but I was hoping it would go for a little more. Frankly, Bob Labbance can use the money.


Anthony

Sandy Smith

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2008, 01:15:34 AM »
Hey Anthony, unless they play croquet  over a net I think it was a tennis court .
Firm greens, firmer fairways.

Doug Wright

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2008, 10:51:49 AM »
John,

I've played Minikahda every July since 2000 in firm outings and have seen it pre- and post-restoration.  I posted photos on a 2003 thread but when I found that thread the photos don't show up. This is  an outstanding course made much better by Ron Prichard's thoughtful restoration, which included massive tree removal that opened up the course a lot. The fairway bunkering alone, which features fescue borders, is worth the price of admission. Prichard also returned the greens to their original sizes, which added a number of pin positions. Minikahda is a really fine study of Ross's ability to locate green sites. Examples are the par 3 3rd and skyline green on the par 5 9th. The par 4 10th is one of the best holes I've played in the Twin Cities.  Also interesting is the routing that has ridges bisecting fairways.

There are some weak holes, especially the 15-17 stretch that isn't Ross but was created later due to highway construction and the long par 3 8th, which has a green that seems out of character; however, it's a really fine course that I think you'd enjoy playing.
Twitter: @Deneuchre

ANTHONYPIOPPI

Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2008, 11:29:05 AM »
Sandy:

Croquet without a net is not croquet. Let me guess, who don't allow tackling in croquet either.


Anthony


Jeff Shelman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2008, 11:35:34 AM »
I echo much of what has been written. Minikahda is very good and the Prichard work was great.

There are subtle challenges like with most Ross courses. There are challenging greens. But it is no longer choked with trees like it was before.

It's a very good golf course and one of the best in the Twin Cities.

Tiger_Bernhardt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2008, 01:54:46 PM »
Barny I too played it a few years ago and loved the restoration work done there. It is a wonderful place to play.

Dan Boerger

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2008, 04:03:32 PM »
When I lived in Edina (many years ago) I wanted to play this course in the worst way. Now that I'm a member of a Ross course restored by Prichard, I REALLY want to play it! :)
"Man should practice moderation in all things, including moderation."  Mark Twain

Dan Kelly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #14 on: July 29, 2008, 04:07:00 PM »
When I lived in Edina (many years ago) I wanted to play this course in the worst way. Now that I'm a member of a Ross course restored by Prichard, I REALLY want to play it! :)

Quite a coincidence: When I lived in Edina (many, many years ago), I played this course in the worst way.

Now that thousands of the trees have opened things up a bit (or a lot), I want to play it in a considerably better way (with any luck).

One of these fine days, maybe.
"There's no money in doing less." -- Joe Hancock, 11/25/2010
"Rankings are silly and subjective..." -- Tom Doak, 3/12/2016

Adam_Messix

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #15 on: August 08, 2008, 04:04:48 PM »
Doug--

I had the good fortune of visiting and playing Minikahda this past Monday.  The course was the pleasant surprise of the trip.  I was surprised to hear about 15-17 across the street not being Ross.  That 17th greens looks a lot like #5 at Rolling Rock.  Overall, the property lends itself well to golf, the trees on #9 seems to be a little tight to the corner of the dogleg, but that did not detract from the cool uphill shots to the green.  We had a hard time with whether Minikahda or Interlachen was the best course we played on the trip, I could split ten rounds up 5 to 5 between them and be very happy.

ANTHONYPIOPPI

Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #16 on: August 08, 2008, 04:27:53 PM »
Who designed 15 through 17?

Anthony

« Last Edit: August 08, 2008, 04:35:03 PM by Anthony Pioppi »

Bruce Leland

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Minikahda Club, Minn.
« Reply #17 on: September 10, 2008, 11:49:48 PM »
I played Minikahda this past Monday in the MN Golf Course Superintendents Championship.  I had not played it since the renovation by Prichard.  I must say that it is a much improved course due to the current bunkering, restored greens, squared up tees and tree management undertaken during the renovation.  There were rumblings and rumors that the membership is not altogether happy with the fescue faces of the bunkers at the ball tends to get caught up in it. 

I did notice that the fairway bunkers were framed by a first cut of rough at the errant shot lines from the tees which would allow balls to run into the bunkers.  This is as it should play, IMO. 

The greens were rolling between 11 - 12 for the event and there were a few scramble hole locations which made putting from above the hole quite interesting.  Notably, the hole locations on numbers 7, 9, 16, and 18 were challenging.  On number 9 the hole was front right and cut over the bunker.  Anything short of the hole with spin required a 20 - 30 yard pitch shot recovery after the ball trundled off the false front and back down the fairway.  Missing long made for a very delicate lag putt.

You've got to love Ross greens!  All in all it was a memorable day of Fall golf in MN on one of the State's best venues.
"The mystique of Muirfield lingers on. So does the memory of Carnoustie's foreboding. So does the scenic wonder of Turnberry and the haunting incredibility of Prestwick, and the pleasant deception of Troon. But put them altogether and St. Andrew's can play their low ball for atmosphere." Dan Jenkins

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