GolfGuy722000

Between the Legend at Giants Ridge and the Quarry at Giants Ridge, the consensus seems to be the Quarry is the better course. I was fortunate enough over the stretch of three days to play both courses, and let me say how lucky I consider myself to have done so. And let me also say that I actually prefer the Legend. Why?

It's about as close to Augusta as I would imagine Minnesota has to offer. I played late in the day, and as the shadows cast by the tall pines grew long across the perfectly manicured landscape, I couldn't help but feel the similarity between the public Legend and it's private counterpart. The fairways are wide and receptive, but there is plenty of trouble to be found with errant tee and approach shots, mostly in the form of strategically placed bunkers. The water hazards aren't too terribly menacing until you get to the signature par 3 17th, and then good luck hitting that slightly elevated green from 187 yards out from the white tees! It's a forced carry all the way regardless of which tees you're playing from. I was between clubs and wound up in the water, but somehow managed to chip in from the drop zone to save par.

Aside from the condition of the course, highlights for me included the collectible-grade bag tag and divot repair tool, club and ball washers on all carts, a free yardage book (I prefer this to GPS, which neither the Legend nor the Quarry offer), and friendly staff. Checking in was also a breeze with my Golf Now reservation, which was a decent discount over the normal twilight rate (thanks, Golf Now)!

The pace of play here was also significantly better for me than the Quarry, which I docked a rating star for the five hour round. Here, I was done with 18 holes as a single in just over three hours. I was also very appreciative of the starter's efforts to get me out ahead of a few threesomes. Overall, it was a very good customer service experience.

The only reason I can't give the Legend five stars is because they offer no free drinking water on the course. Call me cheap, but I like drinking water to be freely and abundantly available, and don't appreciate having to pay for bottled water if I'm thirsty.

However, I'd be crazy to let this one item deter me from playing here again in the future - water or no water, if I'm back in the area, I will gladly play either (or both) of the Giants resort courses. It's a bucket list type golf experience!

I would love to give this course five stars. The scenery, layout and quality of the course maintenance are clearly worth it. It also provides a very fair challenge. If you're hitting the ball well, you can easily score here. The toughest part for me was adjusting to the size of the greens - they are massive! A front pin versus a rear pin in some cases could be a two or maybe even three club difference. In the cases I allowed for one club, I paid the price with putts that went over some very tricky undulations.

Highlights for me included three par 4s - the 9th, 10th, and 13th. On the 9th, the landing area is very wide, but if you put your drive too far to the right as I did, you'll face a blind uphill carry over trees. I somehow managed to get a 6 iron over the top and to within four feet for my round's lone birdie.

On the 10th, you're given the option of a safe drive to the right, which will likely leave a longer approach shot over a large bunker, or carrying your driver over the water, keeping it left of a large tree and to the right of the woods. Again, if you're hitting it well and don't mind short pitch shots, the route to the left is a lot of fun!

The 13th is what I would consider their signature hole - a short par 4 full of elevation changes as well as options (and subsequent hazards) off the tee. I played it safe with a four iron, trying to keep it right of the fairway bunker. Depending on the pin placement and your accuracy the day of your round, you could also go for the fairway left of the bunker, but that provides much less room for error and in my opinion isn't worth the risk. Make sure to hit your approach shot on the same tier as the pin or you'll be faced with a very challenging putt.

A few other bonus items: There is no GPS, but you get a free yardage book. It's a wonderful keepsake, and I like that better than GPS, anyway, because it provides a more authentic challenge. The carts also come equipped with ball and club washers, something I don't see very often. And even their most expensive daily rate during peak tourist season is less than half the price of what other top public courses charge. I found an even better deal on a twilight rate on Golf Now.

So I loved the course, why not five stars? Above all else, the pace of play - a life-sucking five hours. I saw the marshal three times. He's a very nice guy, but evidently not very effective when it comes to enforcing a more enjoyable pace of play. The twosome ahead of me was never allowed to play through, nor was I as a single. I also heard there was a fivesome on the course. Thankfully, I still managed to play well, but the pace was extremely frustrating. There is no excuse in my book for a five-hour round.

On a lesser note, I'm glad I brought my own water as there were no water dispensers anywhere on the course. I guess if you wanted water you needed to purchase it. It surprised me that a course of this caliber wouldn't have drinking water freely and abundantly available to its guests.

Should you take either of the above criticisms as reasons not to play this course? Absolutely not. If you are in this area and love golf, you'd be hard pressed to find a better value. It's the number one public course in the state of Minnesota for a reason. I plan to play it again some day!