Troy Burne – From The Design Team To The Golf Professional To The Chef In The Restaurant, Everything About Troy Burne Is First Class

By R.J. Smiley

Glenn Rehbein, owner of The Glenn Rehbein Company, had the vision for this wonderful golf course and upscale housing development along the St. Croix River just South of Hudson, WI. Located in the town of Troy just 20 minutes from downtown St. Paul, Troy Burne is a combination of the ultimate in country living with a tournament quality golf course.

Design Team
Rehbein teamed up with Minnesota Golf Legend Tom Lehman, to create a common vision, “build the best”. Famed golf course architects, Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry from Toledo, Ohio, were paired with Lehman as design consultant, to create a “stadium links” style golf course. Other Lehman design courses include: Windsong Farms Golf Club in Independence, MN, Somerby Golf Club in Byron, MN and The Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain near Tucson, AZ. Hurdzan-Fry have done many notable golf courses including Pumpkin Ridge near Portland, OR. Pumpkin Ridge is the golf course where Tiger Woods won his last USGA Amateur Championship and where Hilary Lunke, Edina native, won her U.S. Women’s Open title.

Golf Course
“The back nine at Troy Burne is the finest nine holes in Wisconsin and that includes Whistling Straights,” remarked Bill Linneman, Director of Rules and Competition for the Wisconsin Golf Association. “Mitch Fossey, superintendent, keeps the golf course in tournament condition every day,” said Dave Tentis, GM at Troy Burne. “The greens, with the new A-4 Bentgrass, roll at 11′ to 12′ on the Stimpmeter and have no grain. The fairways are cut at 1/3 inch and every lie is perfect.” Rehbein’s excavation company strategically moved over one million cubic yards of earth on the rolling 225 acres site to create 18 holes of exciting golf, four beautiful lakes and a bubbling burne. “Burne” is Scottish for brook or creek. Thus Troy Burne gets the second half of its name. Troy Burne can be stretched to over 7,000 yards from the Lehman tees, but the golf course can be enjoyed by all golfers…if they play from the proper tees. Each hole at Troy Burne is unique, but holes number 2, 11 and 17 can be especially interesting. Hole number 2 is a longish par 4 where you must hit a driver. With water on the left side of the fairway and a bunker on the right and water in front of the green, there is no bailout. It is be especially testy when the wind is blowing. The visual picture created from the tee of number 11 will be burned into your memory forever. This downhill, medium length par 3 with a deep, narrow, hour-glass shaped green has a “burne” to the right and mature pine trees in the background. If your ball is going to the right, hope the bunker eats it before the “burne” does. There are several great Par 4s at Troy Burne, but number 17 may be the best. The slightly downhill tee shot lets you see all the trouble, but the length makes you challenge it. Stay short of the lake on your tee shot, but not too short, and favor the left side of the green with your approach. If you make a 4 and it will feel like a birdie.

In 2004 and 2005 Troy Burne hosted Scholarship America Showdown, a Nationwide Tour Events. Kevin Stadler, son of Masters Champion Craig Stadler, won the first event in 2004 with a 54-hole total of 11 under par. The next year Jason Gore, who made a run at the US Open the following year, finished 14 under to win and earn his way to the big Tour. Troy Burne is a course that must be played more than once to truly appreciate it. Every day with changing wind and new pin placements, it is a different golf course.

Dave Tentis
Golf Professional and General Manager Dave Tentis, truly one of the “nice guys” in golf, was playing on the PGA Tour when a shoulder injury ended his career. Dave has traveled the world playing professional golf. He played on the Asia Tour, the Australia Tour and the Canadian Tour. He won an event in Canada and is a life-member of the Canadian Tour. Dave has won all the big ones in Minnesota including the State Open, Tapemark and State Amateur. Since his injury, Dave has switched his focus to raising a family and being a great club pro. Dave is married to Gretchen, a school teacher, and they have a boy and a girl both 4 years old (one adopted). “She takes care of the kids in the summer and I am a house husband in the winter,” Dave said. Since becoming a club pro, Dave has qualified for the PGA Championship four times. He made the 36-hole cut at the PGA Championship at Hazletine where Rich Been beat Tiger Woods. When asked how he finished in the tournament, in typical Dave Tentis fashion, Dave said with a smile, “Well I did not finish last”.

Chef
Troy Burne has a fine restaurant and banquet facility headed by Chef, Chet Kurtz. Troy Burne and Kurtz have a cult-like following for his “Panino Sandwiches”. These Italian sandwiches were a favorite of the Nationwide Tour Players.

With great design and turf condition, attentive management and a sandwich to die for, Troy Burne is a must.