Golf Advisor user mtpingr submitted this image of Wildflower at Fair Hills in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
24270 County Highway 20, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota 56501, US
(218) 847-7638
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About Fair Hills Resort

The Fair Hills Resort just outside Detroit Lakes, Minn., can make you feel like a kid again. It is a rare all-inclusive resort in the Midwest where cabin guests are provided three meals as well as three supervised recreation activities per day. The staff will ensure everyone has a good time. It’s only open from May through September. Amenities include an outdoor heated pool and wading kiddie pool, hot tub, four tennis courses, basketball court, sand volleyball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, disc golf and playground equipment. Paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, row boats, sailboats and water toys are available on Pelican Lake. A nine-hole executive course is complimentary for guests, while the 7,000-yard Wildflower Golf Course is open to the public.

Facts

Price Range$$
Property Class★★★
Year Opened1906
Number of UnitsLess than 100

Amenities & Services

RestaurantsCasual, Buffet
Short CourseYes
TennisYes
Practice FacilityYes
Beach AccessYes
Banquet SpaceYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?No
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No

Golf courses at Fair Hills Resort

Reviews

4.2
5 Reviews (5)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Solid but not overwhelming

I played the course with my son last weekend. It was solid. They had a hard rain and wind the night before. That being excluded from my opinion there was still some course conditioning concerns. Plenty of dead patches in the green, they were slow that day but rolled ok. I assume due to heavy rain they couldn't mow. Layout is fun with some nice views in there. Yardage book or GPS or something would have been cool. My laser wasn't working so i was guessing at a lot of shots but that was my own fault. Carts are old and cart paths are rough. Tee areas could be in better shape and flatter. Everything else was good. We did play on a full tee sheet saturday and didn't see a cart girl until we were driving up 18 fairway which was odd. It was nearly 100 out that day so it would have been nice to see her more often. Staff issues seem to be happening everywhere so I won't hold that against them. Overall from what I am told it is the nicest course in that area and it was a solid track. Interesting, challenging and in pretty decent shape given all the challenges of weather this year. Would go back.......with a laser.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 38
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Arizona Advisor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Wildflower is absolutely worth the trip... truly.

Minnesota golfers will know the Joel Goldstrand name. For those of us in the desert SouthWest, think of a Gary Panks working in the Great Midwest, primarily the Land of 10,000 Lakes. North of the Twin Cities is The Links at Northfork, one of his better tracks and much further north in Nisswa is The Pines at Grandview Lodge, again a good example of Goldstrand's talents. But the best course that he designed , for my money, lies in between Detroit Lakes, MN and Fargo, ND, called Wildflower at Fair Hills. It would be consdiered the hallmark of an upper midwest take on "prairie links" design.

SIgnificant elevation changes, seemingly endless prairie grasses and sweeping vistas combine with solid bent grass green complexes and excellent turf conditions to provide a terrific test of golf. The routing even brings you some beautiful holes that have trees lining the fairways, tees or surrounding the greens. It's a great change of pace and makes the experience just that much more unique.

So, from Minneapolis to Detroit Lakes you are in for 3 hours-plus of driving. I am fully of the opinion that it should be done, but, then again, I have been known to drive 24 hours straight to play a round of golf ;) You will find also Detroit Country Club's Pine to Palm course a worthy track, as well, if you decide to spend a couple of days in the area. There's a whole lotta history in the Pine to Palm tournament, hosted by the course and played since 1931: Past champions have included John Harris and Bill Israelson, along with medalists like Terry Moores, Terry Loughlin and Tom Lehman. Go on, make the trip!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 68
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Not sure it lives up to the greens fees

I was really excited going into this course but walked away feeling a little beat up and let down. The pro shop is very small and out dated. The staff was okay, insisting that I not tee off a minute before 6:29 am. Okay whatever, so I waited just to have to have the entire course to myself with no greens keepers in my way.
The course is really off the beaten path on County Hwy 20. As you turn into the course, directly across the street is the Fair Hills Resort and Ironman Golf Course. The signs around the course are really lacking considering all the elevation changes and dog legs out there. The front 9 is tight with many blind shots, the back 9 is more open and is a better track.
The difficulty here is the amount of blind shots w/out any GPS in the carts. The greens are very sloped too. I don't think there is one shot out there to an even surface. The course was shaggy in many places.
They need some water coolers and restrooms too. There was a 90 deg cart rule in effect which I couldn't understand. It didn't seem justified at the time, and for $65 I was going to drive on on every fairway as much as I wanted to.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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Commented on 02/17/2016

Thank you, mtpingr, for your review. We are sorry your experience wasn't quite up to "par". You have made wonderful suggestions that our management team will take into consideration. Thanks for making the trip out to see us; we hope to see you again in 2016!

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

One of my favourites in Minnesota!

Great course in Minnesota lake country. Every hole on the course is enjoyable. Some holes are for shot makers and others are for the long bombers. Greens are not huge but have some good undulations and are usually in great condition and quick. The course is wide open in most areas but there are a few stands of oak trees. The course has significant elevation changes and the layout is fantastic. I've been playing Wildflower for many years and it never disappoints. No flashy clubhouse here but the staff are friendly and the course is the reason to come here.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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Commented on 02/17/2016

SteinerLL, thank you for taking the time to write a review about Wildflower! We value your opinion and appreciate your recommendation to play Wildflower Golf Course. Hope to see you on the links in 2016!

Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Great course, challenging, great price

This is a great course, not for the faint of heart. It can be deceiving, and tricky especially when the wind is blowing.Cut out of the hillside of DL, there are plenty of ups and downs to contend with. Majority of the fairways are are fairly wide, with room to spray it alittle, but in saying that, being a links stlye course, you better have some extra balls somewhere. Greens are firm for the most part, but moderate to fast, in my opinion.
Now unlike the CC down the road, where the "Palm to Pine" is played, I think this course is well maintained, The CC is over rated, and they always allow 5sims to play.. just a side note.. wildflower.. great course, great price, and always a good time

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 02/17/2016

Panaps, thank you for your kind review! We are honored to hear that Wildflower Golf Course is on the top of your list of courses in the Detroit Lakes area. Come visit us again, soon!

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