The Classic at Madden's - hole 5
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 5
No. 5 at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 3
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 3
No. 3 at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 2
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 2
No. 2 at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 1
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 1
The dramatic first hole on The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - views
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The Classic at Madden's - views
A scenic view on The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/GolfPass
The Classic at Madden's -  clubhouse
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The Classic at Madden's - clubhouse
The clubhouse at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 17
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 17
No. 17 at The Classic at Madden's in Minnesota. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 16
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 16
No. 16 and its bridge at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 14
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 14
No. 14 at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 12
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 12
No. 12 on The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - 11th green
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The Classic at Madden's - 11th green
The 11th green at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 11
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 11
The signature 11th hole at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 10
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 10
No. 10 at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 7
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 7
No. 7 at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
The Classic at Madden's - hole 6
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The Classic at Madden's - hole 6
The 545-yard sixth hole at The Classic at Madden's. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
15 Images

The Classic at Madden's on Gull Lake: A walkable top 100 treasure in Brainerd, Minnesota

BRAINERD, Minn. - Several bridges - some covered, some not - give the The Classic at Madden's a distinct look.

They're more than just for decoration, though. They signal just how many wetlands, ponds, creeks and hazards players have to hit over to keep their ball - and their score - alive on this top 100 track, one of the anchors of Brainerd, a golf and lake destination three hours north of the Twin Cities.

Water crosses the path of players on at least eight holes. That doesn't count all the hazards and woods lurking along the fairway should you hit it crooked. Some of the large, circular white-sand bunkers look like they belong at Augusta National. It's an impressive routing done by course superintendent Scott Hoffman, who is essentially a one-hit wonder as an architect.

The Classic at Madden's sets itself apart from other top courses in one of the Midwest's 10 best golf destinations with its commitment to service. Players who want a pure golf experience can walk with a caddie. If walking isn't your thing, forecaddies are available, too. Either way, taking a caddie is a memorable way to enhance an already memorable round.

Staff rating of the The Classic at Madden's: Review by Jason Scott Deegan

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
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The Classic at Madden's on Gull Lake: A walkable top 100 treasure in Brainerd, Minnesota