tw8966py – Great Minnesota Outdoors

I highlighted many courses in this series along highway 10 between Anoka and Little Falls, but I’d like to use this post to say (in my best infomercial voiceover tones) “But Wait! There’s More. . . .” Along Highway 10 I skipped the town of Big Lake. Why? Well, because in the city proper, there is no public golf course, but just 5 minutes SW down highway 25 is Monticello Country Club, a quaint, accessible, affordable 18 hole public course that will challenge golfers of all abilities. I happened to have played it many times this year and the greens were immaculate. The course routing winds through mature tree-lined fairways on the front nine while opening up a little on the back nine where water hazards present the main concern. Below you can see an aerial of the course as well as a few photos:

Another course not far from Territory Golf Club is Wapicada Golf course in Sauk Rapids near St. Cloud. Just about 9 minutes NE of the intersection of Highway 10 and Highway 23 sits Wapicada. If you want to drop your anchor in the St. Cloud area or even play 36 holes in a day, Wapicada would be a great follow-up to Territory, which is just 5 minutes away. While I’d recommend Territory over Wapicada based on challenge, uniqueness, condition, and visual appeal, Wapicada is a fun and challenging course at a reasonable price.

Another absolute gem a short distance from Highway 10 near St. Cloud is Blackberry Ridge Golf Course in Sartell. Keep that anchor dropped in the St. Cloud area and head over to Sartell for Blackberry Ridge. Located about halfway between Territory Golf Course and Oak Hill, this course might challenges Territory for my favorite of the whole list of courses. Conditions are always great, the routing takes players out to cornfields and winds through mature trees. If you have a weekend, link up Blackberry Ridge with Wapicada and Territory for a buddies trip in the St. Cloud Area! Finally, just a little bit of a stretch here, but I wouldn’t bring it up if is weren’t worth your time. Eagle’s Landing in Fort Ripley, Mn. If it doesn’t overextend your trip, time, or budget (Though I don’t know how it could, it’s unfairly affordable), go play Eagles Landing. 18 minutes north of Little Falls Country Club on Highway 371 (after Hwy 10 splits toward Motley) is Eagles Landing Golf Course. A real treat with wide fairways and pristine conditions. They also boast the “Biggest greens in the state” and they live up to that billing. Ranging from wind swept rolling holes to holes cut through rows of straight pines, Eagles landing might be the biggest surprise of your year. I labeled it “unfairly affordable” and by that, I mean, for the course. I can’t believe they can maintain those conditions at that price. The last time I played it, I a was prepared to pay double.

What a journey this has been! I have enjoyed writing this blogs series about one of my greatest passions. This stretch of Highway 10 allows readers of this post and players of these courses to see the variety of style and aesthetically pleasing visuals golf in Minnesota offers. The game of golf is the perfect blend of outdoor experience, challenge and competition and Minnesota’s great outdoors offer that in spades.

Finally, writing this blog has been a cathartic as mid-November approaches and courses close for the season, I’ve had an opportunity to write about and reflect on courses I played this year — many for the first time and many that were on this stretch of Highway 10 — we’ve had our bonus days to be sure, but there is a bit of melancholy that comes with the end of the season. Writing this blog has helped my process and prepare for next season.

Thanks for reading, following along and sharing in my love for this game!

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” – Jordan Baker, The Great Gatsby

Highway 10 west from Anoka, Minnesota to Little Falls, Minnesota provides a memorable, and often overlooked, stretch of golf.

First, Anoka is home to Greenhaven golf course. Visible from Highway 10, Greenhaven is a historic course that boasts tricky, yet enjoyable greens at an affordable price. As you can see from the images below, Golfers will have to navigate beautiful mature trees and lush green grass.

Just about 25 minutes north of Minneapolis in the northern metro, Greenhaven is a must play.

Next, Just 12 minutes west on Highway 10 is The Links at Northfork. This course might be the nicest and well-respected on this stretch. The Links at Northfork is the closest a Minnesotan can come to experiencing the links style in the Home of golf, Scotland. Where Greenhaven presented a Parkland style of play — lush green grass and mature trees — Northfolk will play dry and with lots of taller wispy fescue grasses. The absence of trees here allows the wind to wreak havoc which poses a unique challenge to golfers.

Next, another 16 minutes west and just 3 miles North of Highway 10 in the heart of Elk River, MN lies Elk River Golf Club. At ERGC (You’ll find these letter is a flower bed on the way to the clubhouse). Elk River Golf club is an old course with Small greens and trees that crowd the Fairways. Hit it straight or you’ll have to hit a trick shot to get clear of the trees. Take a Look!

Just a short jaunt west from Elk River lands you in Becker, Minnesota. A small town with a golf course as the centerpiece. Just 1.2 miles to the north of Highway 10 is Pebble Creek Golf Course. Between The Links at Northfork and the Next course on this list (on next week’s post), Territory Golf Club in St. Cloud, I’m hard pressed to say this, but Pebble Creek might be my favorite on this stretch. A Parkland style course with absolutely immaculate greens. The course winds through well-spaced mature trees not far from the Sherburne County Refuge Nature area. What a view!

On your highway 10 golf trip, you’ve traveled 30 miles. Just north of the metro area we saw Parkland courses, Rolling hills, and Scottish-style links golf. Minnesota has so much to offer that this trip cannot be contained in one post. There are still 50 more miles and 4 fantastic courses to go. Check back soon as I highlight the rest of the journey on Highway 10 from St. Cloud to Little Falls where we see an even more drastic landscape change that poses yet another challenge to golfers.