Ron Whitten Loves Jeff Brauer's Quarry

[Martin Del Vecchio]

Ron Whitten's review of Jeff Brauer's Quarry at Giants Ridge was posted on Golf Digest's web site this weekend:

http://www.golfdigest.com/courses/critic/index.ssf?/courses/critic/giantsridge.html

Here are a few excerpts:

"...a marvelous new creation..."

"...perhaps the most satisfying collection of sideslopes, speed slots and backboards ever to be covered with turfgrass."

"It is already hands-down the finest course in Minnesota. Hazeltine National looks like a cornfield next to it, Interlachen like a quaint museum artifact."

"It is the rarest of courses, 18 holes without a single lackluster feature."

"As for short par 4s, long a specialty of Brauer, The Quarry at Giants Ridge has three of the best ever seen."


When can we expect to see a Jeff Brauer course in New England?

[Scott_Burroughs]

And how about: "What Jeff has conceived amidst deep pits and squeezed among high piles is as fine a set of golf holes as has been produced thus far in the 21st Century."

That's high praise considering that Pacific Dunes and Friar's Head are both 21st century courses.

Congrats, Keff!  [sic]

[W.H. Cosgrove]

Who has played the Quarry?  This is some pretty high praise.  

So high in fact I find it difficult to accept.  Congrats to Jeff Brauer.  

I may even consider a golf trip to Northern Minnesota, I only need to find an airline that will allow me to check my 50 gallon drum of mosquito repellent.  

[Joel_Stewart]

Does anyone know what construction company was used?  

[Kevin_Smith]

Park Construction of MN.

[texsport]

I'm going up to play The Quarry for the 6th time on Sunday. It's a great treat.

See the earlier post on this forum.

By the way, mosquitos are not a factor unless you're playing at dusk.

Texsport

[Joel_Stewart]

How far of a drive is it from Minneapolis?

[texsport]

3-3 1/2 hours.

Jeff Brauer may have to put back a link to his "Walk the course" feature for The Quarry on his website.

Texsport

[John_Conley]

3 to 3.5?  Are you sure?  Isn't Duluth about 2 1/2 and this another hour more?  I was told 4, so three sounds great.  I might try to get up in 2004 or October of this year, but trips have been tough with the little guy at home.

I cannot wait to play these!

[texsport]

I made the drive from Minneapolis in June in 3 1/2 hours. You can bust it up Hwys. 35 & 53 but you need to slow down once you get on 2 lane roads like hwy. 169(55 mph). Also, DO NOT SPEED through Gilbert, just east of Hwys.53. The limit is 30 mph and they mean it!

If you take it casually, it might take you 4 the first time you go.

Of course, you could fly into Duluth or Hibbing. It's 70 miles from Duluth and about 30 from Hibbing to Giants Ridge.

Also, it would be a good idea to reserve a tee time. The place has been very popular and it may only get worse. Late September and early October is the peak for fall color and very busy.I'm playing again in late Sept.
 
The course may close in mid October. They don't take any chances with frost since the tees, fairways and greens are bent grass.

Texsport