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cary lichtenstein

North Dakota to Minn
« on: November 08, 2004, 08:08:48 PM »
After I play the courses in North Dakota, and head to Minn, what are the must plays there both private and public.

Also, if possible, could you put them in driving order as I am geographically challenged ;D
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Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

John_Conley

Re:North Dakota to Minn
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2004, 10:31:19 AM »
Cary:

Nearly all of the great golf in Minnesota is in the Twin Towns.  Exceptions being: Winona, Northland (Duluth), and some of the stuff you can find in the Brainerd lakes region.  Best in the Twins?

1. Golden Valley
2. Interlachen
3. Minikahda
4. North Oaks
5. Minneapolis
6. Somerset
7. possibly Windsong Farms (have not yet seen)
8. Hazeltine
9. Woodhill

in no particular order.

Others I like that don't get recognition?  Owatonna is a lot of fun to play.  And you've probably seen my posts on Eau Claire, 90 minutes E of downtown Mpls.  Not much daily-fee stuff worth seeing in the Twins.  I do, however, recommend the Wilds.
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W.H. Cosgrove

Re:North Dakota to Minn
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2004, 12:44:49 PM »
Add in White Bear Lake and Spring Hill!

John, I find it interesting that you place G.V. at the top of your list!  Is it that good since the renovation?
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John_Conley

Re:North Dakota to Minn
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2004, 01:48:38 PM »
Cos:

I did forget White Bear, which is obviously included in any listing of great Minnesota golf.

I really like Golden Valley and always have.  Fun to play.  Last I saw it was about four years ago after some rebunkering.  Renovations like that have little to do with my affection for the place.  I just think there are a lot of good golf holes there.
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texsport

Re:North Dakota to Minn
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2004, 04:34:03 PM »
Quote from: John_Conley on November 09, 2004, 10:31:19 AM
Cary:

Nearly all of the great golf in Minnesota is in the Twin Towns.  Exceptions being: Winona, Northland (Duluth), and some of the stuff you can find in the Brainerd lakes region.  Best in the Twins?

1. Golden Valley
2. Interlachen
3. Minikahda
4. North Oaks
5. Minneapolis
6. Somerset
7. possibly Windsong Farms (have not yet seen)
8. Hazeltine
9. Woodhill

in no particular order.

Others I like that don't get recognition?  Owatonna is a lot of fun to play.  And you've probably seen my posts on Eau Claire, 90 minutes E of downtown Mpls.  Not much daily-fee stuff worth seeing in the Twins.  I do, however, recommend the Wilds.


Things have changed in Minnesota!

The best course in the state by a long way is The Quarry@Giants Ridge in Biwabik.
« Last Edit: November 09, 2004, 04:34:32 PM by John Kendall,Sr. »
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Rick Shefchik

Re:North Dakota to Minn
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2004, 05:51:01 PM »
Well, that depends on your preferences. I like The Quarry very much, but best in Minn. by a long way? Not in my opinion.

It ought to be on John's list, and I won't specify where, but if you need to maximize your golfing time and minimize your driving time, John's advice is sound: Do the Twin Cities.

Working west to east, since you're coming from the Dakotas (hopefully from Sutton Bay), a good plan of attack might be Hazeltine, Interlachen, Minikahda, Golden Valley, Somerset and White Bear Yacht Club.

On your next trip to Minnesota, go north and play The Classic in Brainerd, Northland in Duluth, the Quarry in Biwabik and The Wilderness in Tower.

That's ten of the best.
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"Golf is 20 percent mechanics and technique. The other 80 percent is philosophy, humor, tragedy, romance, melodrama, companionship, camaraderie, cussedness and conversation." - Grantland Rice

Tony Petersen

Re:North Dakota to Minn
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2004, 07:59:07 PM »
 ;D Being a home-town boy, Alexandria Golf Club in Alexandria is a fun, traditional lay-out, pretty tight, more than a few driveable par-4's, 7 par 4's on the front, and really slick greens with LOTS of slope back to front. Plus, it's on the way from Fargo to the Twin Cities.

As far as the Twin Cities, don't forget about Wayzata CC, a FUN old course with lots of options around the greens. Played Minikahda this summer after the restoration, and it's FANTASTIC!!! Definitely a reminder of the golden age. White Bear has some of the best Ross greens that I've played and Somerset is classy, ultra-private (only 90 playing members) and a fine example of Raynor (with a touch of S. Thompson)

For that matter, Osakis CC (9 holes of quirky old-school), Double Eagle (a J. Conley favorite) and sooo many small town 9 holers that are more than a little fun!!!

Living and working at Desert Mountain in AZ, the desert can get a little old, so it's always nice to go back to the land of small greens, nary a fairway bunker, water and trees with leaves ;D
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Ski - U - Mah... University of Minnesota... "Seven beers followed by two Scotches and a thimble of marijuana and it's funny how sleep comes all on it's own.”

John_Conley

Re:North Dakota to Minn
« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2004, 10:48:25 AM »
That comment about Alex is spot-on, becuase it truly is on the road from ND to MN.  Double Eagle is worth the trip.  Eagle Bend? Minnesota if I remember.  Saw it once.  Joel Goldstrand's seminal "reversible" nine.  Splendid.
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Jeff_Brauer

Re:North Dakota to Minn
« Reply #8 on: November 10, 2004, 11:01:43 AM »
Cary,

FYI, the Giants Ridge and Fortune Bay courses closed a few weeks ago for the season. I'm not sure if the MSP courses would still be open, but in the Iron Range, they need to blow out the irrigation systems by the end of October, and even then, they haven't always beaten the snow.  
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Jeff Shelman

Re:North Dakota to Minn
« Reply #9 on: November 10, 2004, 11:33:54 AM »
If you're coming from SD, it would be worth checking out Dakotah Ridge, a good Rees at the casino in Morton, MN.

In the metro, if you're going to do anything, play Windsong Farm. It is awesome. Beyond that there are a lot of very good courses that Conley has talked about. Interlachen, Hazeltine, Golden Valley, Minikahda, Minneapolis, Somerset, Oak Ridge are all great. I agree that Wayzata is pretty darn good.

On the daily fee side, I like The Legends and Troy Burne (in Hudson, Wis.). I have not played StoneRidge. Rush Creek and the The Wilds to me aren't as good of values.

If you go non-metro, you must play at Northland, one of my top two or three favorite courses in the state. I personally like Jeff's course at The Wilderness more than The Quarry, but both are very good. In the Brainerd area, there's only one course to play imho, The Classic.
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