Here is my abbreviated photo tour of Northland Country Club. Now that I have become familiar with the photo posting method I will continue to add to this tour.
Tee shot on the 380 yard 3rd hole. Plays up hill 95 feet but doesn't look like it! The hole originally played from a tee 25 yards further left but was moved over to accommodate a new practice range. The left side of this fairway was built up in the same renovation project. The members say this used to be the hardest hole on the course but now plays much easier.
The second shot on the 490 yard par 4 4th hole. The hole is not difficult until you get to the green where some diabolical back left to front right slope protects the hole. Apparently one of the few greens on the course, which is not original Ross.
The left and longer tee on the par three 5th hole. Plays 167 from the back and can be anywhere from a 9 iron to a 3 iron depending on the wind. Also plays up hill about 20 feet.
The same hole from the shorter right tee box. Plays about 115-130 yards from this tee. The original green used to have finger extending to the front left and back right.
Tee shot at the 360 yard 6th hole. Originally the hole played from a tee about 15-20 further right, which created more of a dogleg right. This is a classic Ross design with the fairway requiring a fade and the green more accepting of a draw.
The approach to the 6th hole. This is a very severe green with slope from the back left to front right.
Tee shot in the 436 yard 7th. The fairway originally extended 20-30 further left on this hole. This is the #1 handicap hole.
The approach to the 7th. Front left of this green is a nice false front. While appearing fairly flat, this green is once again quite severe.
230 par 3 8th. A very difficult hole on any day but its a real bear when the wind blows into you from the east, which it does just about every day until June 15th.
The 2nd shot on the 569 yard 9th hole. This is the longest hole on the course and the only hole without a view of Lake Superior. Fairway used to be audaciously wide, which offered proper angles of approach to a green that really requires it. That width has been lost near the green and makes using the proper angles from the fairway difficult. This is another green, which judging by the absence of an identifiable fill pad may not be original Ross but that is a guess.
The tee shot on the 380 yard 10th. This might be the strongest hole on the course and it plays much longer than its yardage. Strangely, the 3rd hole plays further up hill but doesn't look it or play it. Most people say the 10th plays much longer and tougher than the 3rd hole.
The approach to the 10th. Original design featured a bunker in place of the oak tree on the right. Just a great golf hole. The favorite hole on the course for many members.
The 204 yard 12th hole. Not generally thought of as a difficult hole but in the recent MN State Match-Play Championship it played as the 3rd or 4th most difficult hole with only 3 birdies during the 64 player match-play tournament. Big left to right slope on this green.
410 yard 13th. This hole begins your trip back towards Lake Superior. Most golfers, members and guest alike really feel a sense of anticipation as they come to this hole. The views on the next four holes are as good as it gets. But it is not just the view. This begins a 4-4-4-4-3-4 finishing stretch of very strong golf holes.
The approach to the 13th. Probably the most spectacular approach on the course and easily the flattest green on the course.
The approach to the 446 yard par 4 14th. This is the most brilliant green I have ever seen. Difficult to see in this photo but there are knobs on the back right and back left with a swale running through the center of the back 2/3's of the green. I have heard members say this is not an original Ross green but I would have a tough time believing it. The contours are too brilliant for anyone else to have messed with this green. You would not know it from this picture but putts from the flagstick towards the left of the green are very fast going towards the Lake.
This picture shows the 14th green from the right side of the approach. From this angle you get a better idea of the contours at the back of the green. Still hard to believe from this photo how putts race to the left side of this green.
The 446 yard 16th. Another very strong down hill par 4 with great views of Lake Superior. All of the fairways have narrowed over the years but it affects more holes than others. This is one hole it affects a lot. Old lines of play are now severely limited.
Enjoy!