5Mike113

The Pines at Grand View Lodge includes three nine-hole tracks named Lakes, Woods, and Marsh. We played Lakes and Woods, so this review is limited to those nines. I should start by noting that there weren't any real lakes evident on the course, but there were woods all over, and there were probably more oaks than pines. That's about the only thing we found to object to on this course. The fairways were adequately wide, gently rolling, and in great condition. And, of course, they were lined with trees. So many trees that in order to speed up play the course has adopted a local rule that a ball lost in the woods is to be played as a ball lost in a lateral hazard. Take a one stroke penalty, but don't go back to the original spot and hit another ball. Although we didn't really get a feeling of great elevation changes, the rolling terrain results in several blind tee shots. Happily, the GPS provided on the electric carts shows the position of the carts in the group ahead, including yardage to each cart so you won't tee off until they are out of range. The greens were fast, but not excessively so. They were mostly large and slightly undulating. You can play a run-up shot to many of the greens. Having played a spectacular northern Minnesota course the day before, I wasn't really overwhelmed by the Pines. However, the course really is a very attractive track and stands on its own with several truly memorable holes. Two of these are among the shortest holes on the course. The par 3 7th hole on the Lakes nine plays to 148 yards from the white tees. There is water all along the left side from just in front of the tee all the way to the side of the long narrow green, and a steep hill borders the green on the right. A bailout to the right may hit a grassy part of the hill and run down to the green, setting up a birdie putt. However, part of the hillside is lined with timbers so if your ball happens to hit these there is no telling where your ball may end up. On the same nine, the 320 yard (from the white tees) par 4 5th is a little gem. You have a blind tee shot over a ridge and it's all downhill past the ridge. A water hazard lies at the bottom of the hill only about 220 yards away. Because of the elevation change your ball will go much farther, so a long iron or hybrid is all you should need to lay up to wedge distance to the green that is nicely sloped from back to front. On the Woods nine, the par 5 9th with water on the front left of the green is a visually appealing hole, but my favorite on this nine was the par 4 7th that plays 347 yards from the white tees. A deep ravine requiring a 180 yard carry covers the right half of what should be fairway, leaving only a narrow strip of fairway on the left. One member of our group failed to carry the ravine by only about three yards, which left him with a steep uphill lie and a precarious stance. Happily, he managed to make contact with the ball and not lose his balance. On the approach shot, you're faced with the big ravine's little brother protecting the right front of the green and a bunker just short of the green. It's probably better to be long than short, but if you're too long you'll have some work to get down in two. This was the first time I'd played this course, but next time I'm in the Brainerd Lakes area, it will definitely be on the agenda.

The Preserve at Grand View Lodge is a classic northern Minnesota golf course, with rolling hills, lush tree-lined fairways, and the occasional marsh or water hazard. The course is downright gorgeous, with many elevated tees looking down at undulating fairways and views that will knock your socks off. A preview of what lies in store may be seen from the patio off the clubhouse pub. From here you can see parts of four holes, and get an impression of the rolling terrain and tree coverage you will encounter. Most of the greens are elevated above the fairway with false fronts so your approach shots need to land on the green in order to be putting in regulation. The greens are large, undulating, and difficult to read with surprising subtle breaks. And they are fast! Everyone in our group had at least one downhill putt go screaming past the hole, with several putts going clear off the green. We were playing a two-man team format, but even with two players reading putts there were many four-footers (and even some two-footers) missed. Our group consisted of seniors, so we played the white tees at 6,177 yards, but longer hitters might want to play the back (green) tees at 6,611 yards or the blue tees at 6,408 yards. With such a uniformly beautiful course, it's difficult to pick favorites, but one three-hole stretch does stand out. The par 3 13th hole plays to 148 yards from the white tees. The tee is significantly elevated above the smallish green that is protected by a bunker on the right. If you pull your tee shot slightly, it might be caught by a large tree that overlooks the left side of the green. You'll be taking less club than indicated by the yardage, but be sure to check the wind before choosing your club. The 276 yard par 4 14th is a pretty little hole with a nice view from the elevated tee. You won't need to hit driver here, just hit a long iron or fairway wood to a good yardage and (if you can read your putt and control the speed) secure your par. The dogleg right par 4 15th is 385 yards from the white tees, but plays shorter than that, especially if you can cut the corner with your drive. It's not an easy hole, but that just makes a par feel more satisfying. This was my first time playing the Preserve, but it certainly won't be the last.

During the past few years Anoka County has invested quite a bit of money making improvements to Chomonix Golf Course. Cart paths have been added and all the bunkers were renewed about three years ago. The bunkers are now in beautiful condition, allowing you to thump the ball out with a good degree of control. This year the course has unveiled two new greens, the par 3 6th and the par 4 17th, both of which previously were plagued by problems with water creating puddles and leaving bare spots that made it impossible to putt. The 6th has been raised, set up with two tiers (the higher tier at the back), and enlarged. The green is set at an angle to the tees, so it may be difficult to see how deep the green is from the tee. But depending on pin placement and tee placement, your club choice could easily be one of four different irons/wedges. The 17th has also been raised and enlarged. This 365 yard (from the back tees) dogleg left with lateral hazards both right and left is a real challenge. If you try to cut the corner and fall short you'll either be in the hazard or blocked out by trees. If you go too far right you'll either be in the hazard or leave yourself with a fairly long shot to the green. Par is a very good score on this hole. In a previous review I noted that Chomonix is one of my favorite courses and I'm pleased to see these improvements to the course. Hopefully, Anoka County will continue to make improvements, by addressing the water issue at the front of the 10th and 11th greens. Another possible improvement would be to add a fourth set of tees to bridge the gap between the white tees (6,221 yards) and the red tees (5,300 yards). The course is very walkable and the greens fees are very reasonable.

Albion Ridges Golf Course comprises three nine-hole tracks called Boulder, Rock and Granite. This review is based on playing Rock and Granite. The course is a no frills rural operation. The first clue is that when you drive into the parking lot you notice the small building next to the pro shop. That’s where the restrooms are located. Based on this information, you might expect that the fairways and greens would be less than well cared for. You’d be wrong. The rolling fairways are lush and healthy, smooth with lots of roll. The greens are also in top shape, slightly contoured, and moderately fast. Putts roll true. The course is set in the middle of farm country, so cornfields lie along the periphery, and you can imagine the course as it must have been twenty years ago when it was cornfields as well. Tree coverage is very sparse and there are very few water hazards on the course. The primary difficulty you’ll find is the rough. There is no intermediate cut, so if you get even a foot or two off the fairway you might have trouble finding your ball. One of the most interesting holes on the Rock Nine is the dogleg left par 4 5th hole, 352 yards from the back tees. A pond lies along the inside corner of the dogleg, looming large from the elevated tee. A tee shot to the right of the 150 yard marker will leave a short iron to the green that slopes from back to front. A challenging hole on the Granite Nine is the 149 yard par 3 6th. From the elevated tee you can see no bail-out, as a marshy area lies to the right of the green and a cornfield (OB) is only about 10 paces from the left side of the green. Make a confident stroke and hope for a par. Our foursome all enjoyed playing the course and wish that it was closer to the Twin Cities so we could play it more often.

Dakota Pines Golf Club has made the transition from being a private country club to its new identity as a somewhat upscale public course. The old clubhouse is still there, with its private club-style locker room and a really nice 19th hole with a patio overlooking the 9th hole so you can heckle your friends as they make the turn. The course itself is a traditional style layout, with moderately wide fairways lined with mature trees, well-bunkered greens, and a few ponds that for the most part don’t come into play. The course is set in an older housing development, but the houses that line the periphery of the course are mostly set back far enough that they aren’t a distraction. The course is moderately challenging, starting with the opening hole, a 400 yard (from the middle, white, tees) par 4. From the elevated tee you see a pond looming on the right, but it’s mostly a distraction that may lure you into aiming left and going into the fairway bunker on the left side of the fairway. If you find the rough, you’ll notice that it is at least 3 ½ inches tall, deep enough to swallow your ball and totally gnarly. Try to hit anything longer than a short iron and you may be hitting a second shot out of that rough. The greens on the course are quite firm, smooth, and moderately fast. Everyone in our group commented favorably on their condition. One of the most memorable holes on the course is the 380 yard (from the white tees) dogleg left par 4 14th. A large pond lies on the inside of the dogleg and the fairway narrows at that point. If you’ve placed your tee shot correctly, you can confidently go for the green. Otherwise you must take care to avoid the pond and the bunkers that protect the green both right and left. Par is a very good score on this hole. The downhill par 3 holes, numbers 6 and 15, are visually quite appealing. At 174 and 180 yards from the white tees they are also very challenging. Your tee shot on 15 must go through what looks like a chute of trees on both sides. The elevation change on these holes makes club selection critical. I enjoyed playing this course and hope that it will be successful under its new ownership.

Pioneer Creek Golf Course is aptly named. Your golf ball will have to cross the creek seven times during your round, off the tee, on the second shot, or on the approach to the green. Water comes into play on a few other holes as well, so if your ball stays dry for the full eighteen holes you are probably a very good golfer. The course is set on very nicely rolling terrain. There are no dramatic elevation changes, but you will have to add or subtract a club several times on your approach shots. The fairways are very wide and generally smooth, although there were a few places where water issues have resulted in dead spots which were appropriately marked as ground under repair. Tree coverage is fairly sparse, so you won’t generally have to worry about avoiding wood. The major hazards to avoid are the natural grass areas or marsh areas that abound along the fairways or that have to be carried off the tee. The greens are top dressed with sand and very firm. Our group wasn’t able to find many ball marks even after lofting wedges in to the green. Despite the firmness, the greens did not play very fast. Speed was moderate and comfortable. Two members of our group had played the course before, while two hadn’t. It quickly became obvious that familiarity with the course is a definite advantage. Many of the greens are offset at an angle to the fairway and raised with a false front so that run-up shots are not an option. There were also a few blind tee shots. GPS units on the electric carts helped a little, but there is no substitute for experience. The course is visually appealing and fun to play. One of the most scenic views is on the tee of the second hole. A picturesque old barn sits in the distance off to the left, recalling the past of the land you’re playing on. In the far western suburbs of Minneapolis, Pioneer Creek may be a bit of drive, but it’s really worth the effort to get out to this course.

Southern Hills Golf Course features wide open fairways that challenge you to pull out the driver and let her rip. This is fine if you hit the fairways, which are generally smooth, gently undulating, and fast rolling. Miss a fairway and you run the risk of losing your ball in the rough, which is just high enough to swallow the ball, or in the “natural” grass areas which will make your ball disappear. At least twice when a member of our group hit a ball in the rough we were able to find three or four other balls, but not the right one. The greens are fast (when we played, a course employee told us that they were stimping at about 11½), most of them are slightly elevated above the fairway level, and most of them slope from back to front. The course employee warned us to leave our approach shots below the hole, and he was right. Downhill putts that missed the hole were almost impossible to stop until several feet past the hole. The course was designed by Joel Goldstrand, so there were blind tee shots, blind approach shots, and forced carries on several of the holes. The stage is set by the first hole, a 504 yard (from the back tees) par 5 that requires an approach shot to carry over a creek separating the green from the fairway. Complicating the shot is a bunker guarding the front of the green that must also be carried if the pin is anywhere near the center of the green. The second hole is a par 3, 194 yards from the back tees, that also requires you to carry the same creek you saw on the first hole as it meanders through the course. You'll see the creek for the last time on hole eighteen, a 514 yard par 5 that will require you to carry the creek on the second shot, leaving a mid to short iron to the green. Leave the approach below the hole and you might finish your round with a par. If you like a links-style course with little tree coverage and a wide open feel to it, you will want to give this course a try.

Golf has its ups and downs, and that is definitely the case at Golden Eagle Golf Club. This course is HILLY! You'll see signs reading “Caution- Steep Grade- Use Brakes” about a half-dozen times going down steep cart paths, and the corresponding signs warning of “Danger- No stopping on hill” on the ascending paths. I wouldn't recommend playing this course after a rain storm until the cart paths are thoroughly dry. The positive side is that with all the hills and valleys, the course is a true visual treat. Elevated tees look over majestic sweeping fairways lined with trees or marsh areas. Standing on many greens you look back with appreciation at the fairway you just navigated. We played this course early in the season, so green was the dominant color, but the course must be truly spectacular toward the end of the season when the trees start showing their fall colors. The fairways are generously wide and very forgiving because on many holes a tee shot that goes wide will hit a slope that brings the ball back into play. Unfortunately, the fairways were not as well maintained as one might expect of a northwoods Minnesota course. We found a number of very thin lies even in the middle of the fairway. This might have been due to the early season date. A major disappointment was the inconsistent speed of the greens. Some were moderately fast, others medium, and several downright slow. This resulted in some downhill putts being left woefully short while on other greens a downhill put went rolling past the hole. The first person to putt in our group started feeling like the group's guinea pig for speed. The course starts out dramatically, with a 401 yard (from the blue or middle men's tees) dogleg left par 4 that requires a forced carry to reach the fairway, but also gives longer hitters the opportunity to cut the dogleg and set up a wedge or short iron to the green. There isn't a boring hole on the course, with right and left doglegs, forced carries, well-placed fairway bunkers and lateral hazards all demanding your attention. The par 4 12th and par 3 17th were among the favorite holes for our group. The 12th is a 388 yard (from the blue tees) almost 90 degree dogleg left. A bunker at the inside of the dogleg will make longer hitters consider whether they want to risk cutting the corner. The second shot is downhill to a green with no greenside bunkers protecting it, but a shot that misses right will leave a difficult up and down. The 17th is only 140 yards from a significantly elevated tee. It's a long way down to a fairly deep green. Depending on wind and pin placement, your club choice could easily vary by three clubs. It's a good idea to be short of the pin, because the green slopes quite a bit from back to front. I really liked this course, and my 4 star rating (instead of 5) is based mostly on the inconsistent green speed. It's not a course that I would choose as a “destination course” from the Twin Cities. But if you're traveling to the Brainerd Lakes area staying at a resort or playing other courses, it would be well worth it to stay an extra day and play the Golden Eagle.

What is there to say in reviewing a course that consistently ranks among the top courses in Minnesota and that has been rated among the top 100 public courses in the country by national golf publications? Perhaps just that in the case of Deacon's Lodge, the reality of the course is totally equal to the hype. The course is downright gorgeous, a true Northwoods Minnesota gem set among lakes and trees, so that every hole could be a cover illustration for a golf magazine. The fairways are firm and pristine, rolling, sloping, and undulating. You may not find a level lie during your entire round. The greens are generally large, moderately fast, with significant undulations and subtle breaks. Six sets of tees (including a combo) range from 6,943 yards to 4,766 yards. The course plays long, so you should swallow your pride and play from an appropriate length for your game. For the first time player, the starting hole is a true pleasure for the eye. Sweeping majestically from left to right, the 399 yard (from the white tees) par 4 requires a forced carry tee shot to reach the fairway. When you see what the sloped fairway does to your ball, you'll be better prepared for the holes to come. Almost every review of this course that I've read singles out the par 3 17th as one of the best holes on the course and notes that it was one of Arnold Palmer's personal favorite designs. While I agree that 17 is a beautiful hole, I think the deceptively short (91 yards from the white tees!) par 3 6th deserves some notice. The uphill shot to a slanted green protected on the front left by a complex of bunkers has to be precise, long enough to carry to the putting surface but not so long that it runs off the back or left. I could go on describing holes on this gem of a course, but probably the best thing for a prospective golfer to do is to check out the course tour on their website. The pictures and descriptions should convince you that this course is worth making the trip to play it.

Crystal Lake Golf Club is a very attractive suburban course built within a housing development, so that houses line one side or the other of most fairways. We played the course in late May, and the fairways were in surprisingly good condition, smooth and well manicured. Tree coverage on most fairways is fairly sparse, but there are well-placed fairway bunkers on several holes and water or marshy lateral hazards on at least half of the fairways. The rough is high enough to be punitive, but you can still get a wedge on the ball to steer you back to the fairway. Most of the course is set on gently rolling terrain, but there are significant elevation changes, especially on several of the par 3's where the tees are set high above the greens. The greens are fairly large and undulating, roll true and moderately fast. Most of the greens are well protected by bunkers that are filled with very playable sand. Upon arriving at the course, we were pleased to see that it has excellent practice areas, including a driving range with numerous targets, an enormous putting green, and a practice bunker and chipping green. We had reviewed the course information available on their website, including the course. We were therefore unpleasantly surprised when the starter at the first tee told us that holes 12 through 15 were “cart path only.” Sure enough, the first local rule on the scorecard states just that. The reason became clear enough when we arrived at hole number 13 (holes 12 and 14 are par 3's, which are cart path only at most courses) we found that this part of the course winds through a marsh. The fairway is wet and spongy and you can bounce up and down on it. Ditto for most of the 15th fairway. This is unfortunate, because number 13, a 489 yard (from the middle tees) par 5 has a really well-designed layout requiring good placement on your tee shot and good thinking on your second shot in order to give yourself a chance for a par. Increasing the difficulty of those shots by having to play from the spongy turf takes away a little of the fun from this hole. There are many really “pretty” holes on this course, which you can review by going to the course tour on the website. I enjoyed playing the course and think it's a good value. But not knowing about the “cart path only” nature of holes 13 and 15 before arriving at the course prompts me to give it a 4 star rating.

North Oaks Golf Club is a beautiful, moderately challenging, parkland style suburban course. The fairways are generously wide, firm and undulating. Tree coverage along the fairways is moderate, not too dense, but sufficient to make you pay attention. We played the course following several days of rainfall, so the rough was fairly high and very punitive with the result that our foursome lost several balls that just seemed to be swallowed up in the high grass. The greens were quite fast, even though they had recently been aerated. Unfortunately, some greens hadn't fully recovered, so they were a little bumpy and some putts didn't quite hold their line. At least it provided some excuse for missed putts. The course is not excessively long, being 6,698 yards from the back tees and 5,967 from the middle tees. But included in that total are par 4's of 465 and 441 yards from the back tees. The first hole is a relatively easy 500 yard (from the middle tees) par 5 that should get you off to a happy start for your round. But you are then brought down to earth with a 440 yard par 4 that is the number 1 handicap hole. Two water hazards along the right edge of this fairway should be easy to avoid, but somehow one member of our foursome managed to find both. Count yourself lucky if you par this hole, and move on. The front nine concludes with a blind uphill shot to the fairway of a 473 yard par 5 that should be one of the easiest holes on the course. Favor the left side of the green on your approach, because a shot that misses the green on the right will leave you a wicked uphill shot to a fast green sloping away from you. Stopping at the halfway snack shack you might check the scorecard and notice that the back nine is 465 yards shorter than the front. That doesn't make it easier, although the 325 yard par 4 10th hole may give you that impression. You'll change your mind when you reach the 14th hole, a 382 yard par 4. Two good shots may leave you surprised to find that you're still on the false front, rather on the green. Chip close for a par or settle for a bogey. The closing hole is a fairly short par 5 at 460 yards from the middle tees. However, it is all uphill after your tee shot, so reaching in two may not be possible for all but the really long hitters. Finish with a par and look back on a really enjoyable round. As a private club, North Oaks is generally not accessible to all golfers. However, the club does host a number of charity events, so it is possible to play the course if you want to. One such event in 2017 is the Prostate Cancer Awareness golf scramble to be held on August 14. Support a worthwhile cause and play a beautiful course at the same time.

Stillwater Country Club is a visually appealing parkland style course that is a genuine pleasure to play. With five sets of tees ranging from 6,800 yards and a 73.1 rating to 5,271 yards the course is playable for a variety of skill levels. The fairways are almost all sloped either right or left with significant undulation, meaning that a flat lie is hard to find. You'll be hitting shots with the ball below your feet, above your feet, uphill and downhill. And you better be in the fairway. The rough is high enough to be truly punitive. Balls that miss the fairway will often settle down into the grass and will be hard to find. If you're lucky enough to find the ball, hitting a wedge back into the fairway will usually be the prudent play. Almost all of the greens are well bunkered and will have a significant drop-off on one side or the other, so it's important to hit the green or miss on the correct side. Fortunately, there is a course tour on the club's website that provides tips on where to place your tee shot and how to approach each of the greens. Studying this course tour and making some notes will make your round easier and more enjoyable. One of our foursome commented that there isn't a hole on the entire course that is not truly visually appealing, so that it's difficult to pick out a favorite out of the eighteen. Probably two of the most memorable are the par 3 13th and the par 5 11th. As designed, the 13th plays to 175 yards from an elevated tee over a valley hazard to a severely sloped green protected by a deep bunker on the left. Unfortunately, when we played the back tee was being renovated so we had to play from an alternate tee which required a tee shot over that bunker. The 11th fairway requires a lengthy and well placed tee shot in order to avoid a downhill second shot as there is a deep valley that must be cleared. Reaching the green in regulation does not guarantee par, as the green is large, undulating, and fast. Playing at most private country clubs is almost impossible unless you're a member or know a member. However, this is not the case at the Stillwater Country Club, as the club sponsors the annual Lyle Cran Shortstop Tournament which is open to anyone. One hundred dollars will get you a qualifying round the first day and at least two 9-hole matches the second day. With a course as special as this is, that one hundred dollars is a great bargain.

The first impression I formed of Deer Run Golf Club as I drove into the parking lot was one of quality. This impression was reinforced when I sat in the contoured seat of the golf cart, one of the most comfortable I've experienced, and further reinforced when I visited the practice range. They have an automated system that tees up your range balls on a rubber tee, so you never have to bend down to grab a ball and tee it up. Hit your ball from the tee or from the mat and the system replaces the ball on the tee automatically. The tee height is fully adjustable for your deep face driver or slim profile hybrid. Once warmed up, the fun really began. Looking down the first fairway, my attention was drawn to the houses that lined the left side of the fairway. I don't generally like courses that are built into housing developments, but in this case the houses are set back far enough from the fairways that they didn't really distract me much and they don't constitute much of an OB hazard. Our foursome of 15+ handicap golfers didn't hit a single ball OB (although we did hit a few provisional balls). The fairways are generously wide, gently rolling, and well-kept. There are both right and left doglegs, elevated tee shots, approach shots to elevated greens, and a few blind shots. Plenty of variety to hold your interest through 18 holes. The greens are relatively large, smooth and moderately fast, with some surprisingly subtle breaks. There isn't a lot of water on the course, but two holes, numbers 9 and 13, require a forced carry over water to the green. With a decent drive neither approach shot should be very long, but the water does tend to get in a golfer's head. Deer Run is a fairly short course, only 6,338 yards from the back tees. But the variety of holes, the opportunity to use every club in the bag, and the overall quality of the course make it a truly enjoyable experience.

The University of Minnesota Les Bolstad golf course is a relatively short (6,288 yards from the back tees) track that may not challenge longer hitters, but will hold the interest of the average player. The fairways are tree-lined, undulating, and moderately wide. Elevation changes are not severe, but must be factored in on quite a few holes.
Most of the holes are fairly straight or slightly bending, with only four holes being true doglegs. The greens are nicely contoured; however, since we played during the third week of April, they were not yet in the best condition. I would expect that they would be moderately fast and rolling true by Summer. There are a number of holes where the green is not visible from a long approach distance, so those playing the course for the first time may want to take a cart so they can drive up to take a look. Having read reviews of this course on other sites, there seems to be a definite diversity of opinion about it, and many folks apparently don't like it. However, everyone in our foursome takes the opposite viewpoint and will continue playing it and enjoying it.

I had last played Oneka Ridge Golf Course about fifteen years ago, when it was still fairly new. At that time, I thought it was a fairly ordinary, relatively easy course that needed some time to mature. The course is still in the process of maturing, is still relatively easy, but doesn't seem quite as ordinary. The course has a good mix of right and left dogleg holes, long straight holes, a few short holes, some long straight holes, and a totally unreasonable 250 yard (from the back tees) par 3. The front nine is mostly flat former farmland, but there is some rolling terrain with some elevation changes on the back nine. The fairways are generously wide and the rough is kept low enough that you shouldn't lose any balls when you stray from the fairway. The greens are nice sized, smooth, and moderately fast. Tree cover is very sparse for the most part, and consist primarily of evergreens. Fifteen years ago it was possible to cut across the dogleg of several holes into an adjoining fairway because the pine trees were only about ten feet tall. That is not the case anymore, so you'll have to play the holes as designed. Probably the most memorable hole on the course is the par 4 323 yard (from the back tees) 14th. The tee shot is straight and plays slightly downhill with OB left, trees on the right and a water hazard running across the fairway about 240 yards out. Stay short of the water and hit a wedge to an elevated green that slopes from right to left toward another hazard. With four sets of tees ranging from 6,395 to 5,026 and slopes in the 120's the course may feel too short and easy for single digit handicappers. For the rest of us, including women, seniors, and beginners, the course may be just right, especially since the likelihood of losing many balls on this course is very low.

Eagle Valley Golf Course is a high quality, high value suburban golf course. I played this course for the first time very late in the Minnesota season, the first week of November, but the course was still very playable and very enjoyable. One negative aspect of playing at this time of year was that instead of the normal five tee boxes ranging from 6,902 to 5,234 yards, there were only the white tees (6,197 yards, 70.2 rating, 129 slope) and the red tees set out. Another change to normal operations is that morning groups were sent out on both the first tee and the tenth tee. Our group went off on number 10, a 473 yard (from the white tees) par 5 that has one of the familiar characteristics of Joel Goldstrand courses- a forced carry into the green. The fairways are gently undulating with no significant elevation changes, comfortably wide and forgiving, and very well maintained. There are houses on at least one side of most fairways, but they are set well back and present no problem unless a golfer hits a really wild hook or slice. The rough was cut just high enough to make it occasionally hard to find a ball, but you could still hit it when you found it. The greens are large and reasonably fast. They were a little furry during our round, but that may be due to the time of year. In my opinion, the three finishing holes on each of the nines constitute some of the nicest sets of holes in the east Metro. Number 7 is a 138 yard par 3 with water on the left and the green guarded by three bunkers. A stately old farm house and barn overlook the tee box, adding to the picturesque nature of this hole. The next hole is a short (304 yards from the white tees) dogleg right par 4, but you have a forced carry over water to reach the best place in the fairway to attack the flag on an elevated green. The normal finishing hole is a 381 yard par 4 with a fairway that curves slightly to the left and has water all along the left side. Play your tee shot safely away from the water or challenge the water to have a shorter approach shot. I had a feeling while I was playing the course that it really reminded me of another course I really like- The Wilds. There are no dramatic elevation changes and no spectacular scenic vistas on this course, but otherwise it plays very similarly, and it definitely doesn't cost as much to play. Think of it as The Wilds on a budget. I will definitely be back to play this course next Spring

Tanner's Brook Golf Course provides an adequate golf experience, but not much more. Five sets of tees ranging from 6,887 yards to 5,332 yards make it suitable for a wide range of golfers, including seniors, women, and juniors. The course is fairly flat, looking much like the farm fields and marshland that surround it. The fairways are mostly straight, with maybe a gentle bend, but only one hole could really be called a dogleg. After playing it a few times, I am left with the feeling that there are no really memorable holes on the course, it's really a plain vanilla kind of experience. That's not necessarily bad, because a lot of folks prefer vanilla ice cream to other flavors, it's a matter of personal preference. There are no trees to speak of on the course, so it superficially resembles a links course, but there are no undulating fairways, mounds, or bunkers in the middle of the fairway. Another difference is that run-up shots are not possible on many of the holes because there will be a pond or ditch that must be carried to reach the green. The major hazard to avoid is the marshland that is ubiquitous. Stray too far from the fairway and you'll lose a ball or two. Actually, the cart paths are another hazard that should be mentioned. These are constructed of compacted gravel, and filled with potholes. Hit one of those at speed and your back will be in jeopardy. The holes also collect water, so for a few days after a rainfall you'll be driving off the path or risk a ditch water shower. Probably the best thing about the course is the greens. These are subtly contoured and surprisingly fast. If you can putt well here, you'll probably do well anywhere. The two most entertaining holes on the course are probably the 6th and the 18th. Number 6 is a 364 yard (from the white tees) par 4. The challenge here is on the approach to a very long and narrow green that slopes from right to left down to a water hazard. Trees (some of the few on the course) protect the right side of the green, so a high cut shot might be the best choice to try for a par. The finishing hole is a 490 yard (white tees) par 5, straightaway with OB on the left. Two good shots will leave you with a wedge or short iron to carry a water hazard into a green that slopes from back to front. The shot has some visual appeal, with a large red brick barn about 30 yards past the green and to the left, and two trees only about three yards back right beyond the green. I've never seen trees this close to a green anywhere else. Tanner's Brook is worth playing at least once, and the greens fee won't set you back too much. You might decide that you like a little vanilla from time to time.

If your ideal course is one with lots of trees and nothing but nature all around, then Oak Glen Golf Course is not for you. The course is set in the middle of a housing development, and neighbors' back yards are in play on all but six of the holes. The houses are set so close to the course that in at least three places netting has been erected to prevent errant balls from breaking windows- or children! In my judgment, this makes the course unsuitable for beginners, because the likelihood of shanking or slicing a tee shot into a window is fairly high. I have seen even accomplished players pull or push their shots close to pools and hot tubs. On the other hand, if you can keep your ball fairly close to the fairway and you like a challenging but still not too difficult round and a course with well maintained fairways and large, smooth, fast greens, then you may want to give this course a try. Four sets of tees at 6574, 6310, 5810 and 5626 yards accommodate players including women and seniors. The course is set on a softly rolling tract of land, so there aren't any really flat fairways, but neither are there any dramatic elevation changes. Water is in play on only a few of the holes, but the opening hole is one of those. After your tee shot, you are asked to hit over a pond to a fairly large green that slopes from back to front. If you can't carry the pond after your tee shot, you can lay up farther down the fairway and go for the green from a shorter distance. The second hole, a 488 yard (from the back tees) par 5, may seem unfair to some golfers. About 230 yards out there is a pond on the left that can't really be seen from the tee, and a bunker on the right at the same distance. The fairway at this point narrows down to about 15 yards wide. It would take about a 250 yard carry to clear either obstacle, so the safe choice for many is to hit less than driver. A hole that might be an eagle chance for some golfers is defaulted to a birdie chance. A similar situation arises on the number 1 handicap hole, the par 5, 509 yard 14th hole. Once again, at about 235 yards out, bunkers right and left squeeze the fairway down to less than 25 yards wide, so some golfers may think twice about using a driver off the tee. Probably the most memorable hole on the course is the 10th, a 406 yard (from the back tees) par 4 with water left and the driving range on the right of a generous landing area that gets wider with increasing distance from the tee. The second shot is over a creek to a large green with water on the right. Par here is a real accomplishment. There really are no boring holes on this course, so it does keep your interest through all eighteen holes. Give it a shot, but remember to stay out of people's yards.

Keller Golf Course, opened in 1929, is a classic old American-style golf course with rolling tree-lined fairways and fast, smooth, undulating greens. The course hosted many professional PGA and LPGA tournaments up until 1980. Ultimately, the course's length of 6,675 yards from the back tees made it too short for modern professionals. However, most amateurs will still find plenty of challenge (and charm!) in this old beauty. The four sets of tees range down to 4,830 yards, making it suitable for a wide range of players. Your round will start in fairly benign fashion, with a 288 yard (from the middle men's tees) par 4 where the greatest danger is hooking or pulling your tee shot into the driving range in an attempt to avoid the fairway bunkers on the right side of the fairway. Make your par and move on. As you stand on the elevated tee of the second hole, a 345 yard par 4, and see the large bunker in the middle of the fairway about 235 yards out, you start to appreciate that this is no ordinary course. Avoid the bunker and you should be rewarded with another par. Probably the most iconic hole on the course is the 134 yard par 3 fourth. It's a normal par 3- except for the oak tree that stands directly in front of the green on the flight path from the tee. The tree is at least 60 feet high. Only one member of our foursome managed to completely avoid the tree and land on the green. A par here is well-earned. The rest of the front nine is enjoyable, but not truly memorable. There are no sharp doglegs, no forced carries, but you still have to pay attention and avoid the strategically placed fairway bunkers and the bunkers that protect every green. You'll probably also have to contend with fairway lies that are everything but flat. After you finish the 9th hole, you may be looking forward to a snack and beverage from the clubhouse. Wrong! There is a sign on the cartpath advising that the management asks you to wait until after you finish the 11th hole before you stop for refreshments. The 13th through 15th holes are easily the most visually pleasing stretch of holes on the course. The 13th is a 138 yard par 3 with a tee shot that must carry a deep gully and land on a hard, narrow green. Take too much club and you'll be hitting out of a bunker back toward the gully or you'll be chipping downhill toward the green. On the 14th you'll have a tee shot from an elevated green to a valley green that doglegs to the right. Go too far left and you'll be in a hazard, too far right and your approach shot to the elevated green will be blocked by a tree at the bend of the dogleg. The 15th is a 184 yard par 3 from an elevated tee to a smallish green at the top of the hill across a valley. The greens on the course were almost uniformly smooth, well-contoured, and fairly fast. However, the fairways had problems, with many bare patches on almost every hole. These didn't seem to be related to unrepaired divots, but possibly disease or irrigation issues. There were a number of areas that were roped off as ground under repair. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed at the start of the next golf season. Another minor issue was the price of a hot dog- $4 with only catsup and mustard available as condiments. No onions, sauerkraut, or relish, which every other course has. With these exceptions, Keller is a truly enjoyable golf experience. It is pricier than other public courses in the area, so the individual golfer will have to judge whether it is worth the price difference.

As you drive through Anoka, MN on Highway 10, the 4th hole of Green Haven golf course beckons, tempting you to pull off and play a round. If you're lucky and can do so, you'll have an enjoyable experience. The course is not long, 6,302 yards from the back tees, and the four sets of tees ranging down to 5,267 yards make it playable for seniors, women, and juniors. For the most part, the course is lightly treed, with gently undulating fairways and surprisingly fast greens. The rough is not very high and not very punitive. You won't lose many balls, unless you're playing in the Fall and your ball hides under leaves. The previously noted 4th hole, a par 5 rated as the number 1 handicap hole, is listed as 540 yards from the back tees, but that is measured going all the way around one of only two ponds on the course. The actual straight distance from tee to green is about 350 yards. This means that a good tee shot will allow you to go for the green in two. Birdie is still not in the bag, however, because the green is well guarded by bunkers right and left and is contoured to make putting a challenge. Settle for a par and move on. You might feel a bit beat up after playing the front nine, because the holes add up to 3,388 yards. The back nine is almost 500 yards shorter and easier, so take heart, you might still break 80 (or 90 or 100 as the case might be). The first significant elevation change on the course comes on the 12th hole, a 309 yard par 4. You drive (or trudge!) from the 11th green up to the tee, where you look down on a fairly narrow fairway and the green slightly offset to the right. A long hitter might try for the green, but falling short will probably mean finding a bunker. Better to lay up to 100 yards and secure a par or birdie the conventional way. Holes 13 through 15 lie across a road from the rest of the course and are the most heavily treed part of the course. Number 14 is an uphill 159 yard par 3 with a bunker stretching across most of the front of the green. But if you go long to avoid the beach, you might find yourself chipping off a hill to a green that slopes away from you. Good luck. The final hole, a 344 yard par 4 is a smaller version of the 4th hole. You hit from an elevated tee to a fairway that winds around a pond. Those who can hit their drives at least 260 yards might try to go directly over the pond to the green. Others will be happy to reach the green in two and find one of the easiest putting surfaces on the course. Head for the 19th hole and enjoy complementary popcorn with your favorite beverage while you make plans to return to this course.