The Legend at Giants Ridge. measures 7,207 yards at par 72 and weaves itself through red and white pines, along Lake Vermilion, granite outcroppings and marshlands. Some holes have rock ridges that serve as dividing points between upper and lower fairways. The Wilderness, like The Quarry, was an instant award-winner, getting tabbed as one of Golf Magazine’s Top 10 Best New Places To Play in America one year later. Golf Digest named it No. 2 on its list of best casino courses and among America’s Best New Upscale Public Courses. Brauer, who makes his home in the heavily populated Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, was awed with the beauty of the terrain and Lake Vermilion, and took notice with every wildlife sighting -- from bear, fox, timber wolves, white-tailed deer, bald eagles, and even an occasional moose. The Wilderness General Manager Tom Beaudry says, “We play golf to get away from it all and there is no better place to escape than on these lush, scenic fairways. Golf here will clear your mind and Fortune Bay will facilitate your productivity.” What else can you do? Try the casino, dine, use the marina, exercise room, or pool. Brainerd, a long-standing vacation spot, is where you should head to next after getting refreshed in the backwoods. Here the golfer will find a mecca of outdoor vacations and golf. Madden’s on Gull Lake and Grand View Lodge are ideal old-time resorts with up-todate modern conveniences. I think the best course in the area is The Classic, designed by superintendent Scott Hoffmann, and part of Madden’s portfolio. Back in the mid-1990s, Madden’s already had 45 holes of entertaining golf, but decided they wanted a modern championship course. Among its many awards are No. 42 on Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses and Best New Upscale Public Courses in North America for 1997. “We wanted to offer our guests the experi-
ence that a professional golfer would have every weekend on tour,” Hoffmann said. “We wanted a championship course, but one that was very fair and a good test of golf.” Throw in one of Minnesota’s best teaching pros, Chris Foley, and The Classic would please anyone. The Classic has elevation changes up to 60 feet and covers 7,102 yards, par 72, with fairways that dip and roll. Red oaks, maples, flowering crabapple and others line the fairways and One of the many scenic greens at the Wilderness at Fortune Bay. create scenic contrast to the more than 50 bunkers filled with “Ohio’s a lofty clearing with panoramic views. The Best” white sand. Water comes in to play Pines is a totally enjoyable adventure of on 15 of 18 holes establishing a round with 27 holes – Marsh, Lakes, and Woods nines, strategic challenges. with numerous doglegs, and one green with Madden’s trail-blazed to golf in 1926 when church-pew bunkering. There’s also an exit opened Pine Beach East, the first 18-hole ecutive nine called The Garden. resort course in the state. Pine Beach West Grand View Lodge has accommodations followed along with The Social 9, an ideal that range from its Historic Main Lodge datplace for juniors and beginners with awe- ing back to 1919 to luxurious cabins with some views of Gull Lake. lake views. Six restaurants offer such speGoing on eight decades and located on cialties as walleye and Minnesota wild rice more than 1,000 acres, Madden’s has miles soup, as well as an upscale steak house, of Gull Lake shoreline with all kinds of ac- Sherwood Forest, located in a 1920s timber commodations, dining and recreational lodge. activities. Madden’s has three full-service Those of you from the Midwest probably restaurants and four casual eateries with never thought of Minnesota as a golf touran in-house bakery for breads, pastries and ist vacation. But this state has always been desserts. Walleye prepared blackened or a trail-blazer -- the first open heart surgery broiled is popular as is top sirloin with sher- and the first bone marrow transplant in the ried mushrooms and onions. United States were done at the University Old-timers might get nostalgic over the of Minnesota. Grand View Lodge. It will take you back in Now it is a leader in golf – a lot less stresstime with its classic old-time resort look, ful than surgery. but with amenities that are truly 21st century – spa, boating, fishing, and 1,500-foot (David R. Holland is a former sportswritnatural sand beach on Gull Lake. er for The Dallas Morning News and author Deacon’s Lodge, designed by Arnold of The Colorado Golf Bible). Palmer, is Brainerd’s highest ranked golf course, coming in at No. 52 on Golf Digest’s Where to golf & Stay America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses and No. 76 on Golf Magazine’s Top 100 You Giants Ridge Can Play list. This 6,934 yard, par 72 flows (800) 688-7669 through 500 acres of lakes, forest and wetwww.giantsridge.com lands with wide fairways and formidable approaches. When they tell you the second Fortune Bay Resort Casino shot is key they mean it. If your approach (800) 555-1714 doesn’t find the putting surface you might www.fortunebay.com be in trouble. Deacon’s Lodge, opened in 1999, was Madden’s on Gull Lake preceded by The Pines in 1990 and The (800) 233-2934 Preserve in 1996. The Preserve, rated 4.5 www.maddens.com stars by Golf Digest, measures 6,601 yards at par 72, and includes rising and falling Grand View Lodge terrain lined by maple, birch, ash and oak (866) 801-2951 trees and 40 acres of wetlands. There are www.grandviewlodge.com 11 elevated tees and the clubhouse sits on
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