The Links of North Dakota at Red Mike Resort is a place that is clearly remote and if you have the time / passion a place to play. Just keep in mind it is not in the same league as Sand Hills, but a worthy substitute for people who may never get on the C&C layout in Mullen.
I played the course during a summer visit 2 1/2 years ago during the height of summer in August.
The name Red Mike Resort is really not an indicator of what is at the facility. The only resort is the course and a matter-of-fact clubhouse that serves basic goodies. Don't expect Club Med by any stretch. In the distance from the course is Lake Sakakawea which presents a scenic backdrop (although it never comes directly in play) to the sensational isolation you encounter throughout the round.
The course is located in Williston, ND (really the course is about 28 miles east of town off of Hwy 1804 and Williams County Hwy 17A) and the closest other city of note is Regina, the capital city in Saskatchewan / Canada. For those interested Williston does have a McDonald's and a 7-11 store so you won't have to bring your wagon trail!
The course is designed by Stephen Kay (based in Bronxville, NY and the designer of such other good courses as The Architect's Club in Philipsburg, NJ, Blue Heron Pines West in Absecon, NJ, Scotland Run in Williamstown, NJ and the Links at UnionVale near Poughkeepsie, NY, to name just three). Links of ND at Red Mike did finish second in the best new affordable category by GD in 1996 and from what I was told is the only 18-hole course within 90 miles. The season is short given the location and the renown frosty weather. If the course gets more than 25,000 rounds I'd be very surprised. The fees are also quite reasonable as already stated in this thread.
During a conversation with another golfer I was told that all water pipes in the vicinity are placed no less than 3 feet below surface to prevent freezing. Wind chills can be as low as -80 fahrenheit so bring your mittens if you're there in winter!
However, when I played the course in the middle of August the temperature was about 85-90 and absolutely delightful. Given I'm from the northeast the humidity levels were also not a factor. The natural prairie grass colors were brilliantly brown colored in contrast to the closely cropped fairways and greens. The layout has all the appearances of being located in Scotland and Ireland or even eastern Long Island.
The course plays the following distances:
7,092 yards (Tee #5) 73.5 CR / 126 Slope
6,639 yards (Tee #4) 71.5 CR / 122 Slope
6,242 yards (Tee #3) 69.7 CR / 118 Slope
There are also two other forward tee boxes.
In my visit the turf was not as "fast n' firm" as Sand Hills, but you'll need the ground game in your arsenal since the wind blows (almost always often and many times fierce).
Kay did a solid job in keeping the holes from being predictable and only in two particular instances do the holes go in the same general direction (the 1st / 2nd and the 16th / 17th).
The fairways have plenty of room to provide for the general windy conditions and the turf quality was good as were the greens (although they were medium in speed). Anyone going to Red Mike expecting a Sand Hills replica will be in for a let down. That does not mean the course isn't challenging -- it is!!!
Among the better holes is the fine quartert of par-3's they all vary in length and only two of them follow a somewhat same direction. The par-3 8th at 185 yards is really something when the pin is placed dead right. The green sits high on a natural ridge and unless you have total confidence in your iron play you best not miss right if the pin is on that side.
The 17th, is another par-3 and one of the best holes on the course. At 232 yards from Tee #5 you can hit just about any club to get to the green. The hole has a somewhat elevated tee and the green features a somewhat Redan characteristic with a frontal bunker that swallows balls in the same manner as Jaws did in the movies. Too many golf courses fail to provide a long par-3 with teeth -- the 17th at Red Mike has FANGS!
To Kay's credit he also balanced the layout so that not all the long holes play a particular way when the wind comes from a certain direction. The long par-4's (there are four of them at 445 yards or more) are all interesting holes. Tee boxes have also been angled on a number of holes to make the player shape the shot off the tee.
I also liked what Kay did at the 7th, a long par-5 of 560 yards that has a number of wonderfully placed bunkers along the preferred right side of the fairway. The hole clearly looks like it comes from the UK / Ireland. Big hitters can reach the green in two, but the second shot must reach a target that sits slightly above the fairway.
Throughout the round the general pacing of holes is done well. You never get the feeling of predictability or boredom when at Red Mike. I'm not saying this is a place you absolutely have to play (primarily because it is so tough to get to), but the utter tranquility and solid golf will keep you focused. When you finish a round and sit out on the porch by the clubhouse and watch the sun sink slowly in the sky and see the amazing color contrasts the first beer goes down reeeeeaaaallll goooood!
For those interested the phone number I have is (701) 568-2600. I truly hope they find a buyer, but the issue of building courses in such remote locations will always be tested by its ability to develop a continuous strong base of support. I hope a buyer can be found because golf is so much fun in such a special place like Red Mike.
