Northfield Golf Club in Minnesota

[ed_getka]

Anyone know anything about this course? I will be in the area this weekend and was thinking of taking a look.

[Tommy Williamsen]

My daughter teaches at Carleton College in Northfield and I have played the course a few times. It is on some nice  rolling terrain
and is generally in good shape. It is pretty fun but nothing special. Willinger's is about a ten minute drive from Northfield and is a better
choice.

[PCCraig]

Ed,

It's fine. Unless you're confined to the southern suburbs you would probably be better off taking the 30-40 min drive north to see one of the many more interesting Twin Cities area courses.

[Jeff Shelman]

Ed,

I played there last summer with a friend of mine who is the women's golf coach at Carleton. It's a fine golf course. It's not going to make anybody's top list, but it also isn't bad at all.

20 years ago or so, it was a short 18 hole course with a par of 69 or something like that. They added some holes on east end of the golf course and it's now 6700 yards or so from the back tees. There are some good holes there and some holes where they could lose some trees and a couple of holes that make you shake your head.

If you play there, I have one tip: Don't hit driver on No. 1

[Jason Topp]

Ed:

I have played Northfield many times because it was our home course for my college golf team.  It used to be a very a quirky short course with significantly undulating greens.  They added a few holes several years back that have expanded its length and taken away a bit of its unique character.  Nonetheless it is worth a play.

If you want to come up to the city and play my club this weekend, shoot me a message.  

[Jason Topp]

If you play there, I have one tip: Don't hit driver on No. 1

Baloney!  Hit it over the corner and reach it in two.

[Rick Shefchik]

Ed, I think you'd enjoy playing Northfield, particularly if you don't want to spend extra time driving north to the Twin Cities. (I'm not a huge fan of Willinger's -- a big, modern wetlands course -- but I acknowledge that others prefer it to Northfield). I've played Northfield several times and enjoy the quirks. Jeff and Jason have accurately described the course; the choice of what to hit on the first hole really is the first thing that comes to mind, as the fairway doglegs nearly 90 degrees left off an elevated tee. It's a kind of cape hole over pine trees, except that you can't see the fairway around the corner, so you don't really know how much to cut off. I'd side with Jeff about keeping the driver in the bag the first time you play it; after you've played it once, blast away.

[Dan Kelly]

... Willinger's -- a big, modern wetlands course...

"Wetlands course" is the phrase of the day, or the week, or longer.

[Buck Wolter]

I seem to remember asking Rick if he was going to include Northfield GC in his book as I nearly moved in next door. I enjoyed it when I played last year and agree it's more interesting than Willinger's. One very strange par 5 hole 16 or 17 I think where you lay up short of a creek and then hit a semi-blind shot up a very steep hill where all you can see are bunkers and trees. After playing I was disappointed the bank wouldn't respond to our short sale offer as I would have enjoyed being a  member -- lot's of walkers and push-carts -- probably some interesting discussions in the bar with all the prof's in town.

Nothing to go out of your way for but I like New Prague GC down the road and the Legacy in Fairbault as well -- nobody's top 10 but good walkable courses with some character. I prefer the Legends to Willingers in the CCFAD category but it's close, similar wetlands style. I've also heard good things about Owatonna CC but haven't played it.

Buck

[Tommy Williamsen]

I am curious why folks are not crazy about Willinger's.  I found it fun, scenic, and challenging.  I felt Northfield was tree choked, albeit with some interesting holes, and not that challenging.  Granted it has been more than a dozen years since I played Northfield, so my memory is fuzzy about individual holes.  I remember enjoying the course but didn't feel it was all that interesting.

[Jason Topp]

One very strange par 5 hole 16 or 17 I think where you lay up short of a creek and then hit a semi-blind shot up a very steep hill where all you can see are bunkers and trees.

Buck - that hole used to be the 18th and was a good home field advantage hole.  It looks as if they cut out a lot of trees and replaced them with bunkers on the right side.  http://course.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/course/course/northfieldgc1/aerial.htm

I also know they moved the first tee right of the clubhouse, significantly reducing the angle.  The tee used to be on the left making it a true 90 degree dogleg.

[Rick Shefchik]

I am curious why folks are not crazy about Willinger's.  I found it fun, scenic, and challenging.  I felt Northfield was tree choked, albeit with some interesting holes, and not that challenging.  Granted it has been more than a dozen years since I played Northfield, so my memory is fuzzy about individual holes.  I remember enjoying the course but didn't feel it was all that interesting.

Tommy, for me Willinger's has too many "thread-the-needle" holes, where one shot is dictated, and it's often an uncomfortable shot. Take the wrong angle and you run out of fairway on #1, #2, #5, #9, #10 and possibly one or two others on the back nine. If you like options, Willingers isn't your course.

[John_Conley]

Buck, Owatonna is awesome.  One of my favorites.

Northfield is quite solid.  I'm surprised it is being dismissed by some in favor of more modern Willinger's.  Haven't seen Northfield since holes were added or modified, but it certainly is a fine place to play if you enjoy golf.

[Jason Topp]

I am curious why folks are not crazy about Willinger's.  I found it fun, scenic, and challenging.  I felt Northfield was tree choked, albeit with some interesting holes, and not that challenging.  Granted it has been more than a dozen years since I played Northfield, so my memory is fuzzy about individual holes.  I remember enjoying the course but didn't feel it was all that interesting.

Tommy - I enjoy Willinger's but not enough to drive 45 miles to play there very often.   The course is definitely unique with a front nine containing a lot of water but playing much easier than it looks.   The back nine is on fairly severe terrain, has a number of awkward shots and plays much more difficult than the front.  

Now that I think about it, I would like to go back there and see what I think.  It probably has been ten years.  

[Tommy Williamsen]

I am curious why folks are not crazy about Willinger's.  I found it fun, scenic, and challenging.  I felt Northfield was tree choked, albeit with some interesting holes, and not that challenging.  Granted it has been more than a dozen years since I played Northfield, so my memory is fuzzy about individual holes.  I remember enjoying the course but didn't feel it was all that interesting.

Tommy - I enjoy Willinger's but not enough to drive 45 miles to play there very often.   The course is definitely unique with a front nine containing a lot of water but playing much easier than it looks.   The back nine is on fairly severe terrain, has a number of awkward shots and plays much more difficult than the front.  

Now that I think about it, I would like to go back there and see what I think.  It probably has been ten years.  

I only play Williinger's on the rare occasion I bring my clubs when I visit my daughter in Northfield.  I will be in MN to visit both my kids in Sept.  My son lives near Lake Harriet.  I'll probably play in MSP at my son's club but may have to look at Northfield again.

[Buck Wolter]

I am curious why folks are not crazy about Willinger's.  I found it fun, scenic, and challenging.  I felt Northfield was tree choked, albeit with some interesting holes, and not that challenging.  Granted it has been more than a dozen years since I played Northfield, so my memory is fuzzy about individual holes.  I remember enjoying the course but didn't feel it was all that interesting.

Tommy - I enjoy Willinger's but not enough to drive 45 miles to play there very often.   The course is definitely unique with a front nine containing a lot of water but playing much easier than it looks.   The back nine is on fairly severe terrain, has a number of awkward shots and plays much more difficult than the front.  

Now that I think about it, I would like to go back there and see what I think.  It probably has been ten years.  

I only play Williinger's on the rare occasion I bring my clubs when I visit my daughter in Northfield.  I will be in MN to visit both my kids in Sept.  My son lives near Lake Harriet.  I'll probably play in MSP at my son's club but may have to look at Northfield again.

Sounds like the makings of a Southern Minnesota Outing

[ed_getka]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. I didn't have time to play on this trip anyway, but it is good info for future trips up. I did make it to Taliesin on the way home yesterday and that was very enjoyable.