Digging Up Fun At Gravel Pit Golf

Several years ago, Chuck Klecatsky was approached with an intriguing proposal. It was not the first time Chuck had been approached with an offer to help start up a new golf course, but this was, well, different… very different.

Superior National At Lutsen – Adventure Golf On Minnesota’s North Shore

There are a handful of golf courses in Minnesota that would command triple their daily golf rates if they were more easily accessible to major population areas. Without a doubt Superior National is one of those few.

A Destination Golf Trip…Right Here At Home

Located in the southwest Twin Cities metro community of Prior Lake, Mystic Lake Casino and Resort, along with The Meadows at Mystic Lake is owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and is known as “the premier gaming facility in the Midwest.”

Giants Ridge – Legendary

Imagine having a Top 100 American Golf Course in your hometown. People from all over the state, all over the country, all over the world coming to your town to play “your” golf course.

The Wilderness At Fortune Bay – Where There Are No Losers

As a Minnesotan, it’s easy to get a bit bitter when the national golf rankings come out and they essentially overlook us. Those of us who have played the best courses in the state KNOW that our best courses match up very favorably with the best in most other states.

What’s New In Brainerd Lakes? Cragun’s Resort And Tom Lehman Are On A Roll

In a northern Minnesota golf region known for “can you top this” achievements, Cragun’s Resort called on the state’s most heralded golfer to add another jewel to their crown.

Breezy Point Resort – “Duck, Duck, Great Duck”

Excellence and consistency, on their own are impressive when attained. Both attained together is incredibly rare, and therefore even more impressive.

Tournament Club of Iowa: A Premier Golfing Destination In Polk City, Iowa

Tournament Club of Iowa stands as a beacon for golf enthusiasts seeking an exceptional and challenging golfing experience, an Arnold Palmer Signature Design.

Fairways & Greens

Wild Marsh – The Buffalo Club

If you trust the ratings and rankings of local and national professional publications, Wild Marsh is on the way up. Rapidly. GolfPass recently had them Top 20 in the State.

Troy Burne Golf Club – A Cut Above

Troy Burne Golf Club offers one of the most pleasant Minnesota to Wisconsin commutes as you turn south on Carmichael Road from I94. Lush farm fields flank both sides of County Road F, followed by a postcard-like horse ranch.

Distinct Style At The Links At Northfork

Links golf could never be confused with parkland style. Links incorporates all the elements found along the windy, lonely sand dune strewn coastlines that envelope the circumference of Scotland’s majestic landscape.

More of Everything At Majestic Oaks Golf Club

Let’s start with the obvious – 45 holes of golf! Not many operations can say that. Two championship 18-hole courses and an executive nine. It sort of goes without saying that Majestic Oaks Golf Club has something for everybody.

Your New Golf Beginning Starts At Island Lake Golf Course

A golfer’s very first drive on their very first hole happens nearly every day at Island Lake Golf Course. The nearly 30-year-old golf happening in Shoreview, is a mecca for a golfer’s inaugural drive, putt, or lesson.

Rewarding Play At Heritage Links Golf Club

I’m happy to add Heritage Links to your radar (or in most cases your Google Maps memory). With so many choices, I would strongly encourage some exploration in the Lakeville area.

Country Charm And Challenge At Dahlgreen Golf Club

It’s right there in the name – green. Golfers in the know have recognized that Dahlgreen Golf Club takes extra care in their… you guessed it, greens. Always rolling true, always silky smooth, always challenging yet fair.

St. Paul’s Finest – Phalen And Como Golf Courses

I don’t know if you’ve taken notice or what golf magazine you subscribe to, but municipal golf is enjoying a resurgence in respect. This type of allegiance to muni-golf is on the rise (as it should be) and we are lucky enough to have two outstanding examples of it right in our midst – Phalen Park GC and Como Park GC.

Perfectly Refined At The Wilds

Look to your left and look to your right, you’re probably sharing the range with an NHL or NFL standout or two. The pro athletes like to take their swings here and why wouldn’t you? The Wilds in Prior Lake is that kind of place.

The Royal Club Rocks

Royalty can be a tight rope walk. It requires that you put on a good public face while taking care of business in the back end. To accomplish this, you need to have your ship in order.

The Players Championship Triggers Vision For Future

The Psychic sat on the edge of his recliner locked in the drama of The Players Championship. Four players, three with Major trophies and the other with an Olympic gold medal.

THE LOVE OF GOLF

Years ago, I told my wife that if I was the only one left on Earth after a world war… that I would go and play golf.

History Being Made In St. Paul

Unparalleled. Historical. Unprecedented.
All three words have been used to describe the move the University of St. Thomas made just three years ago from NCAA Division III to Division I.

2024 Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifiers

Did you see Nick Dunlap win the TOUR event played in Palm Desert. As you probably know – Dunlap is a 20-year-old at the U of Alabama. An amateur hadn’t won on TOUR since Phil Mickelson won the Tucson Open in 1991.

DRAMA Missing On TV Golf

The Psychic is bored! For years the drab winter season in the frozen north was the time to watch golf on television and practice putting on the carpet.

LIVE FROM THE INSIDE

The End Of The Innocence

In 1989, Eagles frontman Don Henley released his third solo album titled The End of the Innocence. The title track reached #8 on the Billboard charts and was Henley’s fifth top ten as a solo artist.

The Launch Club – Ready For Liftoff

Let’s face it, this winter has been unlike any other. While I have played golf in Minnesota in January (in 1998 my brother Ken reminds me), the mild temperatures are unprecedented and much warmer than the 1877-1878 “year without a winter” that historians like to reference.

Golf Zone: Your Year-round Golf Solution

At a time when hundreds of businesses were closing, Brian Colvin decided to go all in on purchasing a Chaska, Minnesota-based golf venture.

Be A Part Of This Historical Event

The Minnesota Section PGA is excited for the 53rd year of the Minnesota PGA Foundation Pro-Am, formerly known as the Tapemark Minnesota PGA Pro-Am. The event will be held at Southview Country Club on June 7-9, 2024.

To Pitch, Chip Or Putt

By definition, a putt rolls on the ground, a chip is partially in the air but primarily on the ground rolling, and a pitch is primarily in the air without much roll.

HAVE YOU GRADUATED?

Our younger years included going to school, passing ONE GRADE AT A TIME and ultimately graduating. Have you considered your golf development the same way?

Your “Approach” For Better Golf

This season my Tee Times column is going to focus on shotting better scores by improving your game from 150 yards and in.

YOUR RANGE BUCKET IS EMPTY…DID YOU GET YOUR “FIX?”

Welcome to a new golf season! The theme of my 2024 articles will be “BUILDING NOT FIXING.”

Be Deliberate In Practice

When the tour player goes to the range before a round it is generally not practice. It is to get loose and ready for the round.

CHIPPING – “SWING BACK, TURN THROUGH”

The chip shot may be golf’s most important shot for most amateurs to understand and develop.

Stop Trying To Make Birdies

Lou Stagner (@LouStagner on Twitter) who is a great follow about golf analytics and playing the game recently made a post that scratch players average 1.8 more birdies per round than 18 handicap.

R.I.P. – IS YOUR IMPACT IMAGE “KILLING” YOUR GAME?

Most for-profit businesses incorporate some version of the “bottom-line” approach; the boss, shareholders, clients, etc. require some degree of immediate return on their investment… yes?

Par 5 Strategy

If you were able to watch the Masters this year one thing at was talked about a lot was the lengthening of the par 5 13th hole.

“Muddy” Golf Can Still Be Fun Golf!

After a long and snowy Minnesota winter, spring is an exciting time as the golf courses open and we can get outside again.

From Spritzers To Sangrias

Everyone needs a good sangria and/or spritzer recipe for the summer, am I right?

Dad’s Day Bevis

As we head into the month of June, and our weather finally turns true to its season, we know we can prepare to gear up for a few things – more time for grilling outside and more libations for pairing!

Going Green

Everywhere you turn these days, producers from every label are touting ‘organic’. From cereal to mac n cheese, wine, and into the world of liquor. But have we really ever stopped to think about what all of this labeling really means?

Don’t Ignore The Reds When The Temps Rise

For most, nothing screams summer and spring like a crisp, refreshing glass of white wine – am I right? We live in Minnesota, so it’s fair to say that it gets pretty darn cold in the winter time.

Beyond Chardonnay And Pinot Grigio

According to the country’s most recent wine industry reports, Americans really only consume approximately four grapes. Considering there are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes in the world, we have a considerable way to go before we can begin to categorize ourselves oenophiles.

Going Green

Perfectly Pairing Your ‘Reds’

It should come as no surprise that the instinctive wine choice for a mouthwatering pan seared or perfectly grill marked steak hot off the grill is red, but have you ever truly analyzed the exact choice of red grape when pairing to your favorite cuts of meat? I

Golfers And Wine – A Perfect Blend

As many know we are fortunate to be hosting the 2016 matches of the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National and the U.S. team is captained by golf professional, Davis Love III. A gentleman that not only shares great passion for the game of golf, but of another subject that happens to be quite near and dear to my own profession and passions, wine.