5Mike113

The Signature Course at Majestic Oaks Golf Club is a beast from the tips, 7,330 yards long with a 140 slope and 75.2 rating. The standard men’s tees are at a more reasonable 6,472 yards, 135 slope and 71.3 rating, and there are three other sets of tees to choose from so the course may be played by golfers of various skill levels. The course is set on a very interesting tract of land meandering between higher ground with stands of oaks and lower ground where the fairways are bordered by marshy penalty areas. There are no severe elevation changes, but the rolling terrain does allow for some elevated tees and a few holes where the approach to the green is definitely uphill. Since we played the course during the second week of December, a real bonus in Minnesota, this review will not deal with course conditions, which were obviously different than they would be in mid-summer. One of the things that struck us about the course was the tendency for the architect to favor left doglegs over right doglegs. A right handed golfer with good control of a draw off the tee will definitely have an advantage here. Another thing that stood out was the similarity of several of the holes. Holes 3 and 11, for example, are 398 and 399 yards long from the Gold tees, turn slightly left, and have fairway bunkers on the left side at about 250 yards from the tee. Holes 4 and 12 are par 3’s set at 183 and 176 yards from the Gold tees and both have well-bunkered elevated greens. Also interesting is that both pairs of holes run adjacent to each other. As noted earlier, the ability to draw the ball is a real advantage on this course, and this is especially true on holes 1 and 9. On both of these holes a long hitter who goes too far straight or slightly right may end up going through the fairway and not have a shot to the green. If you’re not comfortable drawing the driver, it might be better to take a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee. I had not played this course during the regular season, coming here only when it was one of the few open in December. However, I will definitely plan to include it in my schedule next year.

Legends Club is an upscale golf course located on a rolling tract of land with ponds and marsh areas along with wooded areas at the higher elevations. The variety of terrain is reflected in the design of the golf course, with about half of the holes laid out in a semi-lnks style with marshy areas lining the fairways and lots of mounding along the fairways and around the greens. Other holes are more parkland-style, with dense stands of trees along one or both sides of the fairways. Fairways are generously wide, smooth and in very good condition. Greens are enormous, smooth and fairly fast, undulating, with ridges or humps separating them into distinct putting areas. Place your approach shot in the wrong area and your putt will be an adventure. On the day we played the rough was not very high, so not very punitive. The only trouble came when a ball ventured into higher native grass areas or the marshy areas along many fairways. Water is definitely in play on at least half of the holes. The course has six sets of tees ranging from 7,126 yards to 5,310 yards, and slope ratings from 142 to 125. The forward men’s tees (White) are set at 6,046 yards, 69.7 rating, 131 slope. The course is surrounded by million dollar houses, but for the most part they are set far enough away that they really don’t intrude, except for the par 5 11th hole where a sliced tee shot may go OB into someone’s back yard. The course offers a variety of looks, semi-straight holes, right and left doglegs, elevation changes, and playing from the White tees we didn’t need driver on every hole, which made for a truly entertaining round. One of the more striking holes visually is the 350 yard par 4 eighth. From a slightly elevated tee the fairway resembles a straight chute flanked by tall trees on both sides. The trees run along the fairway until about 70 yards short of the green, which resembles an amphitheater, protected by bunkers on the front right and left, and mounds all the way around. The four par 3 holes as a set are one of the best features of the course. They all require a long carry to reach the green, and on numbers 13 (159 yards) and 17 (155 yards) if you’re short you’ll be wet. About the only shortcoming of the course was the condition of a few of the greens, which were full of old unrepaired pitch marks and dry spots. This may have been due to the lateness of the golf season in Minnesota combined with our late tee time. However, all in our foursome enjoyed the course and will welcome an opportunity to come back. The course is somewhat pricey, but for an occasional splurge offers a great golf experience.

I’ve played the Links at Northfork at least four or five times a year ever since my first round there and feel like I’m still learning the subtleties of the course. To begin with, there are five sets of tees ranging from 6,989 yards down to 5,236 yards and course ratings from 74.1 to 66.1, giving you a wide choice of the level of challenge you want on your round. From the elevated tee of the opening hole, you get a good preview of what the front nine will be like- wide fairways, lots of fairway bunkers, and knee high grass waiting to swallow your ball if you get too far off the fairway. No trees. The prevailing wind is directly in your face on the first tee, so it’s good to remember the old adage “When it’s breezy, swing easy.” Several dogleg holes on the first nine dare you to cut the corner to set up a shorter approach shot, but if you miss your target on the tee shot you might end up in a fairway bunker or in rough so deep the only way you’ll find the ball is by stepping on it. One of the more interesting features of the course is the par 3 seventh hole, which has two greens. The one in use the day we played was the shorter (115 yards from the middle tees) green on the left, which is smaller than the one on the right (125 yards). The greens are separated by a marshy hazard that is definitely in play regardless of which green is being used. Pay attention to the wind and land your ball short of the pin because long is no good. In a bit of a twist, the par 3 twelfth hole has two sets of tees separated by about fifty yards. The tees on the left (184 yards) are elevated and provide a good view of the kidney shaped green that is very wide. The right hand tees (188 yards) are on the same level as the green, and for most pin placements the tee shot will have to clear a large bunker that protects the front of the green. The most iconic hole on the course is the dogleg left 362 yard par 4 fifteenth, which happens to be the number one handicap hole. Unlike most of the rest of the course, this hole does have trees that must be contended with. The tee shot to a fairway that slopes from right to left must be placed between bunkers and OB right and a hazard that runs all the way along the left side. Driver may be kept in the bag, because a drive that goes farther than about 225 yards may be partially blocked from a direct approach to the green, or may run all the way through the fairway into the junk. Best strategy is to aim for the 150 yard marker in the middle of the fairway and try to hit it no more than about 10 yards past that point. From there you’ll have an uphill approach shot to a green that slopes quite a bit from back to front. A two putt on this green will give you a well-earned par. The 381 yard par 4 sixteenth hole doesn’t have two greens or two sets of tees- it has two fairways. The left fairway is quite a bit below the level of the tee, so you have a semi-blind tee shot. You might want to drive up to get a look at the landing area, because there are three bunkers on the right side of the fairway that must be avoided. After a good tee shot you’ll have an uphill approach to a long but fairly narrow green. The right fairway is wider and easier to hit, and the approach shot may be longer, but will be easier by not having to account for the elevation difference. Choosing where to place tee shots and approach shots is only part of what makes Northfork interesting. There’s also a lot of fun on the greens, which are always smooth and fairly fast. Subtle undulations place a premium on being able to read the breaks and hitting putts with the right speed. Skills that I’m still trying to improve. And I’ll keep coming back to the Links at Northfork to test those skills.

Inver Wood Golf Course is a parkland style course situated on a tree covered rolling tract of land with significant elevation changes. On almost every hole your drive is from an elevated tee or your approach shot is uphill from the fairway to an elevated green, and often both. Stands of mature trees line most of the well-conditioned, smooth and moderately wide fairways. The course is not excessively long, 6,724 yards from the back tees, but it is fairly challenging, evidenced by the 72.8 rating and 142 slope for those back tees. Three other tees range down to 5,175 yards, but the course is definitely not for beginners. However, there is an executive nine hole course available that is suitable for less experienced golfers. On the day we played the rough was not very high, barely ball height, but very thick so hitting more than a short iron out was problematic. Greens are on the large side, smooth and undulating, and moderately fast. We soon found out that some of the greens didn’t have the simple back to front slope that is found on most courses. Instead, some had a ridge midway up the green from which the slope was toward the back, and some simply sloped from front to back. Of course, this meant that some approaches we thought would be perfectly pin high ended up on the fringe at the back of the green. The opening hole, a 526 yard (from the middle tees) par 5 sets the tone for what is to come. The fairway slopes fairly straight uphill for the first two shots, and then the green is offset to the left. If your second shot doesn’t reach the crest of the hill, you’ll have to hit a nice draw on your approach to reach the green, which you might not be able to see. The back nine opens with a 484 yard par 5 that looks very similar to the first hole. However, the fairway sits almost on the crest of a ridge so that a ball hit a little left will go down the slope into the woods where you’ll be lucky to find it. This slope goes all the way to green, so you must favor the right on you second shot as well. Similar to the first hole, the fairway doglegs to the left for your approach shot. Probably the highlight of the round was the 176 yard par 3 12th hole, which features a dramatically elevated tee shot down to a green that looks quite small from that height, but is actually fairly large. Take less club than you normally would for the distance and you might be looking at birdie. I would not recommend trying to walk this course unless you’re in really good shape, but there were quite a few walkers on the course the day we played. And the condition of the trails for walkers from greens to tees indicated that they had a lot of use. Our foursome enjoyed playing this course, and its convenient location in the south part of the metro area makes me want to come play it again.

Braemar Golf Course was completely renovated and redesigned from a 27 hole (three 9s) to an 18 hole course that opened in 2019. Therefore, any reviews of Braemar before then are describing a totally different venue. The course sits on an interesting tract of land encompassing wetlands and ponds as well as higher ground with rolling hills dotted with stands of oak trees. However, for the most part the trees don’t intrude into the playing area. Semi-links style is probably a good description for Braemar, as there are numerous fairway bunkers, including some that force the golfer to choose to go right or left to set up an approach to the green, and marsh grass everywhere waiting to swallow up an errant ball. The course has six sets of tees ranging from 6,884 yards (72.7 rating, 128 slope) to 4,234 yards, so an appropriate length course to play should be available for a wide range of golfers. The fairways are generously wide, very smooth, many with definite contours that will push a ball right or left. Rough is high enough to be punitive, so it’s difficult to hit more than a short iron back to the fairway. Many fairway bunkers and greenside bunkers place a premium on knowing where to place your tee shots and approaches. Greens are quite large, undulating with some very subtle breaks, and relatively fast. Local knowledge is always an advantage in playing a course, and this is especially true of Braemar. Choosing the right or left side of the fairway on a tee shot can make the difference between an easy approach shot or a blind shot over greenside bunkers. Luckily, one member of our foursome was a Braemar member and was very generous with tips. The first time his advice was helpful was on the par 4 second hole, 365 yards from the middle men’s tees (D tees), which doglegs sharply to the right across a water hazard that runs all the way along the right side of the fairway. The key is to hit a 200 to 220 yard drive straight down the first fairway, leaving a mid or short iron approach. Trying to stay close to the creek runs the risk of going into the hazard without gaining any significant advantage on the approach. Similar tips helped us to negotiate the rest of the course, including several par fives that offer at least two ways to play the hole. Probably the highlight of the round was the 178 yard par 3 thirteenth hole, with tees set on the highest point of the course playing down to a large green about 75 feet below the tee. From the tees you can see at least parts of six holes of the course. Allow for the wind and the drop in elevation and choose your club! In addition to the championship course, Braemar has a par 3 course and ample practice facilities, including a short game area, making it a great place to spend a day tuning up your game. It’s a bit pricey compared to the Minneapolis and St. Paul muni's, but truly worth the occasional splurge.

Superior National Golf Course is nestled between the ski slopes of the Lutsen Mountains and the shore of Lake Superior, providing spectacular views of mountains or lake on almost every hole. The course was renovated three years ago and the former three nines that played interchangeably were reconfigured into the “Premier 18” hole track (the River and Canyon nines), and the old Mountain 9 used for nine hole play or for FootGolf. This review covers the Premier 18. The course features expansively wide fairways and dramatic elevation changes on many holes. Rough is not very high, so losing a ball that wanders a little off the short grass is unlikely, but balls that go farther astray will almost surely be lost in the deep woods that lie beyond. There are five sets of tees ranging from 6,763 yards to 4,238 yards. Based on our average drive and the scorecard recommendation, we played the middle (Blue) tees at 5,857 yards (68.9 rating, 127 slope) and found this to be a wise choice, providing some moderately easy holes and a few real challenges. Greens were large and undulating, with some breaks that were very difficult to read. However, one major disappointment was the speed of these greens- definitely on the slow side. Every member of our foursome left many putts short and many chips from off the green failed to get anywhere close to the hole. We speculated that winter kill may have led the greenskeepers to leave them longer than usual in order to help them heal. Nevertheless, our overall experience of the course was very positive, and the views were amazing. The course starts with an easy par 4 that gives no hint of what is to come. The fun begins on the second hole, a 135 yard par 3 that is all carry over a whitewater canyon of the Poplar River. A 135 yard shot is usually no big deal, but the canyon and the whitewater can definitely get in your head, and two of our group failed to make it across and onto the green. From there the course provides right and left dogleg holes, more forced carries over canyons and many elevation changes. Well-placed fairway bunkers caught many otherwise good drives, and the many greenside bunkers ruined a few approach shots. The par 4 eleventh hole is 399 yards from the blue tees, with a canyon running across the fairway about 300 yards out. From there it’s almost all carry to the green, so following your drive you must assess your ability to carry the hazard or choose to lay up. Only one of our group managed to par this hole. Probably the most spectacular hole on the course is the short (110 yards from the blue tees) par 3 fifteenth. From a severely elevated tee you must choose the right club to carry the river canyon. If you’re long, you’ll find yourself chipping back from a slope that serves as a backstop past the green that is wide, but not very deep. Once again, one member of our group lost a ball in the river. And there was no drop zone.
As stated earlier, the only shortcoming of this course was the speed of the greens. The variety of holes and the challenges presented by the many different looks of the fairways and greens made the experience very enjoyable. Every member of our group took at least a few pictures of the views. I will definitely plan to come back.

The golf course at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club is a parkland style track set on a beautiful parcel of gently rolling terrain. The course features seven rated tees or combos ranging from 7,152 yards (75.1 rating, 142 slope) to 5,088 yards (65.9 rating, 121 slope), so can accommodate highly skilled long hitters as well as beginners and weekend recreational golfers. Fairways were moderately wide and in excellent condition on the day we played. The rolling terrain allowed for elevated tees and then uphill approach shots to elevated greens. We could not recall any hole where the tee, fairway, and green were all on a relatively flat plane. The rough was just high enough to cover the ball, making it challenging to hit anything more than a mid iron to advance the ball. Trees were scattered throughout the course, but for the most part were set far enough away from the fairways that they didn’t present any problems. Similarly, the homes that bordered the course were set far enough away that they really didn’t intrude on play. An interesting aspect of a long course like this is that there were very few fairway bunkers to be found. There was no fairway where two bunkers pinched the fairway in the landing area or guarded both sides of a dogleg. On the other hand, water was a feature to be avoided on at least a third of the holes, with several forced carries to the green. The greens were fairly large, undulating and fast. They were in excellent condition, with hardly any unrepaired pitch marks to be found. This was my first time to play the course, and I found most of the holes to be interesting and challenging, but several did stand out. The par 5 third is a 505 yard (from the middle tees) dogleg right with a pond guarding the inside of the dogleg. A large oak tree flanks the right side of the fairway about 220 yards out. Your tee shot must be long enough to pass the tree, or you must end up short of the tree and hit your second shot over the pond to the fairway. The tenth hole is a 379 yard par 4 that plays from an elevated tee to a fairway that narrows in the landing area with water on the left and OB on the right. There is another, smaller water hazard short and right of the green. Two members of our group found the water on their tee shots and a third found the water on his approach. The par 5 fourteenth is 474 yards on the card, but plays longer because of the severely elevated green that can’t be seen from the fairway. The club has posted a flagpole with their flag behind the green on this hole, so golfers can know approximately where to aim their approach shots. As you leave the green, be sure to take in the view of this truly attractive course. Brackett’s Crossing is a private club, so not accessible except by member invitation or by participating in an event. I highly recommend looking for these opportunities, because this is really a fun and challenging course to play.

Bluff Creek Golf Course is situated on a beautiful tract of land with rolling hills and lots of mature trees. The course must have been reconfigured or re-rated recently because the current scorecard does not show course ratings or slopes for any of the tees, and there are five tees instead of the previous four, ranging from 6,580 yards (Platinum) to 5,355 yards (Bronze) with an additional tee for juniors or beginners at 3,465 yards (Green). The fairways are generously wide, and despite the surrounding terrain you won’t find many uneven lies with the ball much below or above your feet. Rough was fairly low and manageable, unless a ball strayed too far and ventured into the deeper native grass between some fairways. About the only disappointment with the course was the greens, which were fairly large, smooth, and undulating. They were also slow. Our foursome was composed of golfers who play all over the Twin Cities, and all agreed that these were probably the slowest greens they’d played all year. The round starts off with a dogleg left par 5. A draw shot with a hybrid may be a wise choice here, because a straight shot with a driver may go through the fairway and down the side of a hill. Another option for longer hitters would be to go over the trees on the inside of the dogleg, which one of our group was able to do. The par 4 7th hole, 412 yards from the middle men’s tees, features a shallow grassy ravine about 220 yards out from the tee. The fairway also narrows down at this point, with trees on the left that will impede an approach shot, so playing short of the ravine may be a good choice. Similarly, the 357 yard par 4 12th has a ravine crossing the fairway in front of the green. A shot that doesn’t go much father than the 150 yard marker is called for here, because the fairway slopes down to the ravine from that point and a longer shot will leave you with a downhill stance. The course features many holes with tees or greens that are below the level of the fairway, complicating club selection on windy days. This was my first time playing this course, but I will be back to try it again.

I can’t believe that I’ve lived in this area for about 30 years and had never played Bunker Hills Golf Course. The course is famous as the location of the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame and has been the venue of many state and national tournaments and qualifiers. But I finally played it, and am glad I did. The course comprises three separate nines called North, East and West. The eighteen I played was East-West, so this review does not address the North nine. There are five tees ranging from 6,991 yards down to 5,517 yards. Choose the appropriate tee and hit away! The parkland style course is set on gently rolling terrain with no major elevation changes. Fairways are wide and tree-lined, with a mix of mature evergreens and hardwoods. Most of the greens are fairly large, undulating, moderately fast, and well-protected by at least two bunkers. Right and left doglegs, with only a few relatively straight fairways, will test your shotmaking skills. There are a few fairway bunkers, but those are strategically well-placed. The par 3 third hole on the East nine features a green that is 52 yards deep, so you may find yourself with a 100 foot putt if you don’t choose the right club off the tee. An interesting feature of our round was the similarity of the final holes of each nine. These are both left doglegs. The East 9th hole is 361 yards from the white tee. A small pond guards the inside of the dogleg, and two bunkers will find balls that go straight and through the fairway. Similarly, the 9th hole on the West nine is 351 yards from the white tee. Here, a bunker guards the inside of the dogleg, and a really well-placed bunker caught two balls from our foursome that went a little too far and a little too straight. I really enjoyed playing this course and will try to make up for not having played it before by returning in the near future to try the North nine!

Mission Del Lago Golf Course is a municipal course set at the edge of the South Texas plains about 10 miles south of downtown San Antonio. Long hitters will enjoy playing the back tees at 7,044 yards, while other golfers have three options running down to 5,371 yards. The middle men’s tees at 6,378 yards have a 71.0 rating and 128 slope, so the course is moderately difficult. The terrain is flat with very little tree cover, most of which is near the creek that meanders through the course. There are a few small ponds scattered throughout the course, but they don’t really present a threat to scoring. We played during the second week of December, so the grass was mostly dormant and the creek bed was dry. The dry conditions had a positive impact on my game because my drives seemed to end up about 20 yards farther than I would expect at my usual Upper Midwest courses. The course is fairly wide open, and when we played the dormant Bermuda in the rough was less than two inches high, so no wayward balls were lost. The greens were surprisingly fast, some of them with subtle contouring and definitely sloping compared to the surrounding terrain. The opening holes are fairly straight and ordinary. On the 530 yard par 5 2nd hole, a creek crosses the fairway about 240 yards out from the middle men’s tee. As previously noted, some golfers may be surprised when they reach that creek. At 467 yards, the par 5 9th hole presents an eagle opportunity for long hitters using the middle men’s tee. A fairway bunker on the right about 200 yards out encourages a drive favoring the left side of the fairway, but a badly pulled shot here may end up OB. A long drive will leave a hybrid or fairway wood over a pond to the green. The safer option will be a layup over the creek bed that is about 100 yards short of the green to set up a lob or sand wedge approach to the green. The par 5 11th hole at 450 yards from the middle tees is another opportunity for eagle or birdie. A pond on the right pinches the fairway in at about 320 yards from the tee, and the fairway doglegs to the right at that point. You’ll want to favor the left anyway, because one of the largest trees on the course guards the green on the right side for those who want to go for the green and try carrying the pond on their second shot. The 175 yard par 3 16th has one of the more interesting greens, somewhat saddle-shaped with a high point in the middle that slopes right and left. A pond is situated short and right, but it shouldn’t catch anything but a really mis-hit tee shot. Coming from Minnesota, we really enjoyed December golf at this course and will include it in our plans for a future vacation.

Cedar Creek Golf Course is situated on the southern edge of the Texas Hill Country, about 18 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio. The course is carved through interconnecting valleys, with dramatic elevation changes in places and many fairways set between steep rising hills. The Bermuda fairways are hard and fast, so drives roll quite a bit. Missing the fairway on most holes can be quite punitive, because if you get too far off track your ball will come to rest on hardpan and limestone rock ledges in between thick stands of juniper bushes and small live oak trees. The middle men’s tees run to 6,660 yards with a rating of 73.4 and 139 slope. This is not an easy course. The greens are large and undulating, many of them with two or more distinct levels, and surprisingly fast even in the first week of December. The first hole gives a good preview of what is to come on subsequent holes. From an elevated tee, your drive should favor the right side of the fairway, where the slope will funnel your ball toward the middle of the short grass. A drive on the left may bounce into a long fairway bunker that is well placed along the landing area or, worse, in the brush that lies farther left. The same kind of strategy may be used on many subsequent tee shots, where the slopes on either side of the fairway will funnel the ball back toward the middle. But don’t go too far off line or you’ll find the junk! The second hole is a 315 yard par 4 that looks deceptively easy from the tee box. But the fairway runs out about 240 yards away, and drives that are too far right will find trees blocking an approach shot to the green. Best play is probably 200 yards favoring the left side of the fairway, setting up a wedge or short iron to one of the more severely sloped greens on the course. A putt from above the hole on this green may easily scoot a long way past. The back nine starts with a 360 yard par 4 with an elevated tee that provides a beautiful view and photo opportunity. Two members of our group tried to hit power fades that didn’t fade into the slightly doglegged right fairway and found themselves in the no man’s land between the rough and the driving range. The other two found the fairway and had easy approaches to the unprotected green. The finishing hole is a 540 yard par 5 that plays shorter than that distance due to the elevated tee box and the hardness of the fairway that produces a lot of run on the tee shot. Avoid the water short and left of the green and you have a par or birdie to celebrate at the end of the day. Cedar Creek is comparable in terms of golf values to the nearby La Cantera courses, but at about one half to one third the price. The off course amenities are not as nice, but did you come to dine or golf? All things considered, this is hands down my favorite course in San Antonio.

Northern Hills Golf Course is part of the Alamo City Golf Trail, the municipal golf courses of San Antonio, Texas. The course is set in the northern part of the city, but there aren’t any real hills on the course, although the terrain does have rolling slopes in some areas. The course has four sets of tees ranging from 6,602 yards to 4,987 yards. The middle men’s tees have slope of 121 and rating of 70.1, so the course is moderately challenging. We played the course the first week of December, and conditions were quite dry, with mostly dormant grass on the fairways and greens and no leaves to speak of on the sparse tree cover. Despite this, the greens were moderately fast and rolled true. The biggest problem for a golfer from the Upper Midwest was making the adjustment to the Bermuda grass that seemed to be everywhere on the course, especially gnarly around the greens and making chipping a real guessing game. The round begins with a real risk-reward par 5, 475 yard dogleg left hole with a pond forming the inside edge of the dogleg. Hit a long shot hugging the right edge of the pond and you’ll have a long iron or fairway wood to reach the green. A shorter, safer tee shot may require a second shot over the pond to the fairway, but you’ll have a good chance of being on the green in three putting for birdie. Subsequent holes have fairly straight or slightly bent fairways to moderate size greens, most of which have at least one or two easily avoided bunkers placed around them. The back nine begins with a dogleg right 494 yard par 5. Staying left on the tee shot is imperative in order to have a decent second shot to set up a short iron or wedge approach. The 343 yard par 4 12th hole requires a decision to either lay up short of a water hazard that lies about 200 yards from the middle men’s tees or to risk carrying the hazard in order to set up a short iron or wedge approach. The long green was one of the more difficult greens on the course. The course is unusual in that both nines end with a long par 3 hole. The 18th is 190 yards from the middle men’s tee. Carry the lone bunker on the front right and you’ll have a good chance of ending your round with a birdie. Northern Hills was established as a private country club, and the course still maintains a country club vibe, especially the clubhouse and pro shop. The course is a good value and we’ll be playing there again when we return next winter.

Olmos Basin Golf Course is part of the Alamo City Golf Trail, the eight municipal golf courses of San Antonio, Texas. The course is set on a fairly flat tract of ground about seven miles north of downtown. Four sets of tees ranging from 6,846 to 4,612 yards allow a wide range of golfer age and skill levels to enjoy the course. We played the course the first week of December, so there were no leaves on the small trees scattered alongside the fairways, and the grass was dormant for the most part. The rough was less than two inches high, which on most holes made it easy to swing away with no fear. No doubt conditions would be much more difficult during the warm season. A creek meanders through the property and comes into play on several holes, but it was mostly dry bed when we played. Being from the Upper Midwest and accustomed to playing bent grass, ryegrass, and bluegrass, it was difficult to adjust to the Bermuda grass on the course, especially when trying to chip from just off the greens. The ball sometimes sank all the way to the ground in a gnarly mess, and other times it seemed to stay suspended in midair on top of the grass. This led to chunky chips some times while at other times the wedge went completely under the ball, leaving it in the same, or a more difficult lie. The front nine holes were fairly straightforward and not terribly difficult, although it was necessary to study the layout to determine where best to aim the tee shot on the doglegs. The back nine was much more interesting, especially starting on the 11th, a 460 yard par 5 that turns sharply to the right. The inside of the dogleg is protected by a thick stand of trees and a small pond, but long hitters are still tempted to try to carry the trees in order to have a wedge to the green. For most of us, the more prudent shot is on the left side of the fairway, in order to have a third shot wedge approach. The 377 yard par 4 13th sets up in a similar fashion, with the fairway ending about 270 yards out and a second fairway and the green set at a 90 degree angle to the first fairway. The difficulty here is that the creek runs all along the right side of the fairway, so a little too much fade on the tee shot may lead to a lost ball and penalty shot. The finishing hole is a surprisingly reachable 493 yard par 5. Playing to the middle of the fairway leaves a wide open second shot to set up an eagle putt. (The dry weather may have left the fairway a little hard so the ball may have rolled more than normal.) While not comparable to a top tier resort course, Olmos Basin is fun to play and a good value for a winter getaway.

Fox Hollow Golf Club is set on a visually appealing, gently rolling tract of land adjacent to the Crow River about 30 miles northwest of downtown Minneapolis. Four sets of tees ranging from 6,728 to 5,112 yards and moderate slope ratings (131 to 123) make the course playable for a broad range of golfing abilities. Fairways are generously wide and, except for a few holes that run along the river, there is very little tree coverage. Greens are subtly contoured and run fast but true. The major obstacles to scoring well on the course are the rough, which is thick and gnarly and will cost you at least one stroke if you leave the fairway, and the many bunkers, especially the fairway bunkers which seem to be placed exactly in the landing area of my drives. The course is anything but boring- short holes, long holes, right and left doglegs, uphill and downhill shots- you’ll use every club in the bag. One tee shot that will definitely get your attention, after two relatively easy opening holes, is the 156 yard (from the middle men’s tees) par 3 third hole. The problem is that you’re hitting from an elevated tee to an island green in the middle of the Crow River. The psychology of the hole is great- you’ve hit this shot on many other courses, but without the river setting. The water definitely got in our foursome’s heads, as only one hit the green and two put their tee shots in the river. Luckily, there is a drop zone on the island behind the green. The par 4, 397 yard seventh hole is very difficult. Your tee shot is hit to a fairway that slopes right to left toward a penalty area. The tendency is therefore to favor the right side. Unfortunately, landing too far right will put you behind a large tree that will prevent you from going directly for the green. A par on this hole is really well-earned. The 16th hole, a 315 yard par 4, runs along the river so that a right-handed pull will be lost in the water. But playing too far right runs the risk of going OB. If you find the proper landing area, you’ll have a wedge or short iron to another island green. Don’t go long of the flag or you’ll have a difficult downhill putt that may not stay on the green. Only one of our foursome had played this course prior to our round. For all of us, it will not be the last time we play here.

Bulrush Golf Club is aptly named. Set on a mostly flat marshy tract of land with a creek running through it, the course features abundant bulrushes on all but a few holes. Pull or slice your drive too far off the fairway and you’ll be dropping another ball where you last saw the one off the tee. Driving in to the gravel-surfaced parking lot and entering the modest clubhouse, your expectations for the upcoming golf experience might not be very high. That perception will change as soon as you walk or ride up to your first drive and notice that the fairway is smooth and in excellent condition. It will change some more when you arrive on the green, which is fast, subtly undulated, and rolls really true. The rest of the course is more of the same- really well-conditioned fairways and greens, and well maintained bunkers that are almost a pleasure to land in because you know it’ll be easy to hit a good shot out of them. For added variety, several of the holes are lined with moderately heavy tree cover instead of the bulrushes, making it feel like you’re playing a totally different course. The course is a bit of bear from the back tees, playing to a 74.3 rating with a 139 slope and featuring a 625 yard par 5 hole. The middle combo (white/green) tees are a more playable 6,137 yards, 70.6 and 133 slope. There are several very interesting and challenging par 4 and 5 holes on the course, but I really liked the set of par 3 holes. You start out easy on the second hole with a 135 yard tee shot that might play over water depending on the pin placement. The green is quite long and slopes severely from back to front, so if you’re above the hole a three-putt is a definite possibility. The eighth hole requires carrying the creek and marsh and, depending on pin placement, a bunker on the left front of the green. For some reason, this hole seemed to play long and so it’s easy to find yourself short of the green or in the bunker. The green on the fifteenth hole slants away from front right to back left, and is all carry over a marsh and a bunker that again protects the front left. I really enjoyed the round, and the only thing I could find wrong with the course is the location, about an hour north of downtown Minneapolis. However, it is well worth the drive and I will be back.

Having played many of the courses around Red Wing, I feel like an idiot for not having played the Lowlands Course at Mississippi National Golf Links before now. With tree-lined fairways set in between the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley, the course is downright beautiful. As a first time player you’ll see what’s in store when you head out to the driving range, a 400 yard cart ride up a narrow cart path that wends through a forest on the side of one of those bluffs. Arriving at the range, you won’t see the standard flat, wide, former cow pasture. Instead, the range is a valley that runs uphill and doglegs slightly to the right! That’s good, because it’s a taste of what you’ll be seeing all day. Starting your round you’ll have a choice of four tees ranging from 6,489 to 5,284 yards. The middle (White) men’s tees run to 6,195 yards with a slope of 131. Most of the fairways were in great condition when we played, despite the winter frost kill that affected many other Minnesota courses this year. Similarly, the greens were smooth and moderately fast, although there was some inconsistency so that a few were surprisingly slow compared to the rest. The rough was high enough to hide a ball but you could still hit out of it with relative ease, except for some areas close to water features where the grass was about a foot high. Following a fairly benign opening hole, you’ll face your first real challenge on the 529 yard par 5 second hole. The fairway curls to the left hugging a red penalty area that runs all the way to the green. Even with a fairly long tee shot, trying to reach the green in two is dicey because the approach shot will be all carry over that water. Better to play safe and try for a birdie the conventional way. The 322 yard par 4 seventh doglegs to the left. Three players in our group played to the right, and all drove through the fairway into deep rough. Two tried to hack all the way to the green and one found the water that runs all the way in front of the green. The third never found his ball. The last hole on the front half is a 501 yard par 5 that doglegs sharply to the left. A bunker guards the inside corner, so it’s best to simply aim for the fattest part of the fairway. On your second (or third) shot, be aware of a pond that lies about sixty yards short and to the left of the green. There is no barber pole marking this water, but you should be able to see the shower from an aerator in the pond. Avoid the water and you should have a par or better to end this nine. The back nine follows the pattern of the first but with more elevation changes as the holes get closer to the bluffs. The 386 yard par 4 sixteenth exemplifies this as it doglegs sharply right and uphill. Trying to cut the corner runs the risk of having your approach blocked if you don’t clear the trees. Be sure to account for the elevation in choosing your club for the approach shot. One of the prettiest looks at a green comes on the next hole, the 172 yard par 3 seventeenth. You’ll have a great view of the green and the surrounding terrain from the elevated tee box. Take a little less club and secure a par on this hole. Now that I’ve played the Lowlands Course and thoroughly enjoyed it, I definitely want to try the Highlands Course at Mississippi National. I will be back!

A serious golfer planning to play the Minnesota Valley Country Club for the first time should first read some articles about Seth Raynor’s template holes in order to fully appreciate the experience. Raynor, an associate of C.B. MacDonald, designed or remodeled some of the most iconic courses in the U.S., including Greenbrier, Shinnecock Hills, Chicago Golf Club, and the Country Club of Charleston (site of the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open). Many of the famous template holes seen at those courses- Redan, Biarritz, Cape, Eden, etc.- can be found and enjoyed at Minnesota Valley. The course is absolutely gorgeous with large mature trees lining gently rolling and sloping fairways, rough that will swallow any ball that leaves the fairway, enormous undulating greens that are among the fastest in the Twin Cities, and bunkers- lots of bunkers. The scorecard allows for the use of seven sets of tees or combos ranging from 6,812 to 4,985 yards, so both long and short hitters can find an appropriate length to play. From the back tees the course has a rating of 73.1 and slope of 141, and it is definitely not an easy course from any set of tees. The middle men’s tees (Blue) run to 6,392 yards with a 137 slope. The second hole provides the first recognizable template hole, a 172 yard par 3 Redan with the iconic green sloping from front right to back left, a bunker on the front right and a really deep bunker guarding the front left. If you happen to find one of the bunkers you might note that they are cut somewhat differently from what you’ll see at most other courses, in that they are mostly rectangular in shape with squared off corners. You won’t see bunkers cut like jigsaw puzzle pieces around the greens on this course. The Valley hole, number 6, is a dogleg left 344 yard par 4 that runs sharply downhill from the dogleg. A tee shot that is too short will leave a downhill approach shot to an elevated green with a false front and a steep dropoff on the left to a deep bunker. Bailing out to the right may leave an easy chip to the green for an up and own par. One of the longest greens in the Twin Cities will be found on the 11th hole, the 206 yard par 3 Biarritz. Paying attention to the pin placement is important here because the green is about 60 yards long, so a front pin placement may mean that the hole is only 185 yards from the tee, while a back placement may require a tee shot of 235 yards. There’s also the Biarritz swale to consider, because being on the wrong side of the swale from the hole means that you’ll have to putt down and then up a three foot depression. Good luck! The 363 yard par 4 13th hole, called Prize Dogleg, is a great example of Raynor’s genius for placement of both fairway and greenside bunkers. Three of our foursome managed to find at least one of these enroute to our bogeys. This course is truly a gem and a great golfing experience. Unfortunately, like almost all Raynor courses it is private, so outings and member invitations provide the only opportunities for most golfers to enjoy it.

The Whitebirch golf course at Breezy Point Resort is a moderately challenging course that can be enjoyed by golfers of all skill levels. The course features five sets of tees ranging from 6,680 to 4,718 yards. The topography varies from relatively flat to gently rolling, with no extreme elevation changes. Tree coverage on the flatter holes is fairly light and mostly evergreens, while the more rolling fairways are lined with denser tree coverage, primarily hardwoods. Fairways are fairly generous, but a few get quite narrow in strategic locations. Greens are large and gently undulating, and several slope sharply from back to front, so staying below the hole is a must. Having played Deacon’s Lodge the day before, our foursome found these greens to be slower, but not by much. They were smooth and rolled true, with several lengthy putts successfully holed. The opening hole is a 322 yard (from the middle men’s tees) par 4 that doglegs to the left toward a significantly elevated tee. Tee shots that are short or too far left will have to go over a tree that guards the left side of the green. On the other hand, tee shots on the right may have to carry a bunker when the pin is set on the right side of the green. The sixth hole is a visually attractive 349 yard par 4 with an elevated tee shot to a valley from which you’ll be hitting your approach shot to an elevated green that slopes quite a bit from back to front. The number one handicap hole is the par 5 seventh, which seems short at 483 yards from the middle tees. However, danger lurks on a blind second shot, where the fairway narrows at about 330 yards out from the tee with a pond on the right and woods on the left. If you’re riding, take the time to drive up to see exactly what lies in front of you on this hole. Choosing the right club to use for your tee shot on the 16th hole, a 354 yard par 4 will require some thought. From an elevated tee you’ll face a tee shot that must carry a pond to a fairway that doglegs slightly to the right and has several bunkers lining the right side of the fairway. Being long over the water may seem like the safe choice until you notice OB all along the left side of the fairway. A par here will be well-earned. The finishing par 5 hole plays a lot longer than the posted 523 yards because it’s all uphill. The fairway is wide open and the only trouble is that a severely pulled or hooked ball may find OB on the right. Finish with a par and enjoy a cold beverage and lunch or dinner at Antlers Restaurant which is located in the clubhouse.

Playing Bent Creek Golf Club golfers will experience two very different styles of golf course. The front nine is classic parkland-style, with rolling terrain, elevated greens and tees, tree-lined fairways, and sloping greens with subtle undulations, with an almost total absence of water to negotiate. The back nine is set in a low-lying area of fairly flat ground with a creek meandering through it, ponds seemingly everywhere, relatively light tree cover, and sloped flattish greens with less undulation than on the front. The course runs to 6,579 yards from the back (Black) tees, while the middle (White) and forward (Red) tees are set at 6,110 and 5,405 yards. The scorecard also provides for two additional combo tees. Your round begins with a 500 yard (from the White tees) par 5 that doglegs sharply to the right about 200 yards out. Trying to cut the dogleg is risky because if your tee shot isn’t long enough or too far right you’ll find yourself in trees or on a hillside that runs along the right side of the fairway. Play to the middle and you’ll have a decent chance at par or better. This is the only par 5 on the front nine, resulting in a course par of 71. The subsequent seven holes are fairly straightforward, with no real doglegs or severe elevation changes. We played following several days of rain, so the fairways and greens hadn’t been mowed recently. As a result, the greens weren’t really fast. However, some downhill putts still ran past the hole and we could tell that under normal conditions these greens would be faster than on most courses in the area. Fairways were quite variable in width, and it was necessary on several holes to take sideways slope into account before aiming the tee shot. The ninth hole, a 355 yard par 4 is the mirror image of, and runs parallel to, the first hole. The sharp dogleg to the left is guarded by trees on the inside corner and there are several bunkers starting at about 190 yards on the outside corner. Challenge the trees and you’ll have a short to mid iron into the green and another chance at par or better. Following the ninth hole, you’ll take a tunnel under and across a busy street to the tenth tee. Here you’ll be faced a par 5, 493 yards from the White tee, that curves gently to the left with OB and some marshy areas on the left. Long hitters may reach a marshy area right of the fairway that cannot be seen from the tee box. Care must be taken on the approach shot to favor a right miss in order to avoid going OB on the left. It’s important on subsequent holes to study the edges of the fairway before hitting a tee shot, looking for short stakes marking watery penalty areas that may not be readily apparent from the tee box. Some ponds are marked by taller “barber poles,” but others have only the short red stakes. The fifteenth hole is a 400 yard par 4 that doglegs to the left about 210 yards from the White tees, at which point a creek runs across the fairway. Unless your tee shot can carry about 240 yards, it’s better to lay up short of the creek and take a long iron or fairway wood into the green. Water lurks left and long, so any miss should be right or short. None of our foursome had played Bent Creek before, but all agreed that it was an excellent course and would like to play it again. Unfortunately, as a private club that might be difficult except for member invitations or special events.

Dwan Golf Club is a pretty little parkland style suburban course. The course is short and not very difficult, with the tips measuring 5,485 yards with a par of 68 and a 119 slope. Three other sets of tees run down to 4,033 yards, with the two shorter (women’s) tees being a par 72. The course property is gently sloping and undulating, but with no extreme elevation changes, making the course easy to walk. Fairways are smooth and generously wide and are lined with moderate tree cover. The rough was cut low enough that errant shots were fairly easy to find within the three minute time limit. The greens were smooth with no significant undulations, moderately fast, and rolled true. One off-putting characteristic of the course is that many of the fairways run parallel to each other, and without heavy tree cover separating them it is very possible for errant shots from one hole to threaten golfers on an adjacent hole. The number one handicap hole is the par 4 fifth, straightaway 380 yards. The fairway slopes significantly from left to right, which is good because the slope may keep some balls from going OB if they are pulled to the left. The dogleg right 480 yard par 5 twelfth hole features a large bunker on the inside corner which will penalize some golfers who try to cut the corner. Longer hitters can carry the bunker, but if they go too far they may find water which runs farther along the right side. Playing a safe tee shot to the left of the bunker is the best choice and should lead to a reasonable chance at par or even birdie. Probably the prettiest hole on the course is the 410 yard par 4 seventeenth. The fairway makes an almost ninety degree turn to the left at about 300 yards away from the tee, leading to an elevated green. Small trees and a pond run along the left side of the fairway so that trying to shorten the hole by hugging the left side can be risky. Taking this risk isn’t really necessary, because an average tee shot will leave a mid to long iron shot over the pond to the green. The light rough and short length of most holes leaves the course with only one defense- bunkers guarding the greens. Every green on the course has at least two bunkers, usually flanking the right and left front, and several greens also have bunkers around the back to deter those who would play it safe by going long. Single digit handicappers may not find Dwan to be their cup of tea, but for most average golfers it should provide a fun, interesting, and not too stressful round of golf. Try it!