Cragun’s Resort On Gull Lake – Follow the Stars

Dollar for dollar, quality hole-for-quality hole, which resort in Minnesota offers more great high-value golf for golfers (and especially golf groups) than Cragun’s Legacy Courses on Gull Lake? What do you base your opinion on? Here are the facts:

Cragun’s Resort has two Robert Trent Jones, Jr. courses (Bobby’s Legacy and Dutch Legacy) that combined to earn 9.5 stars (out of 10) from Golf Digest at the publication’s last rating. That’s more rating power and ranking prestige than any other golf resort in Minnesota, and (if you really dig deep in the rating numbers) more power and prestige than any resort can offer in 39 other states in America.

That’s not a slight to any of Cragun’s elite neighbors. If anything it’s a complement (note the spelling and pursuant explanation) as Cragun’s Golf Sales department makes every golf trip both diversely great and uniquely easy for groups of 4 to even 180. Ask Group Sales Manager Tim Bauman how many thousands of rounds he coordinates each year. “Planning a golf trip can be a pain for the group leader,” he says. “There’s timing, vacation and event demands, lodging questions and a broad spectrum of budget considerations to be made. We work hard to meet our golfers in the middle, coordinating the complicated details, setting up dinner, golf and activity reservations and giving you as much for your money as we can possibly give you. We play the role of “group leader” so that the stress isn’t on the guest. We make the golfer’s life easy and maximize every golfer’s fun – the way it always should be.”

Cragun’s can coordinate rounds not just at their three courses, but at the other elite area courses as well, jamming to capacity the quality and quantity of awesome golf on your trips. A lot of golfers will never leave the property, given the excellent golf here, but if you want to play BOTH Legacy Courses AND The Classic, Deacon’s Lodge and The Pines (or other area options)… you can. And Tim Bauman (and his team) can set it all up for you with ease, making the most of YOUR vacation the way that YOU want/dream it.

The point is Cragun’s Resort makes for an idyllic base for any/all golf groups and vacations. Not only does the historic property sit on 3,600 feet of pristine Gull Lake shoreline (in the extremely popular Brainerd Lakes region of Central Minnesota), but affordable lodging options range from single rooms to 16-person cabins, there are five dining rooms spread across the resort and the amenity/activity selection here is creatively endless.

The twin Legacy Courses at Cragun’s meander across a 1,000-acre Audubon Signature Sanctuary without a single house on either of them. There’s a “course to yourself” vibe throughout most of your rounds most weekdays, and a consistently emphasized pace-of-play priority placed on packed-day rounds, assuring that every golfer and golf group has a legitimate shot at a great time. Aces aren’t guaranteed, but almost every other facet of golf greatness IS!

Because I get asked the question ALL the time, “Are both courses equally great?” I’ll concede that I disagree slightly with Golf Digest, but only to the capacity that I think they got “The 5-Star Course” wrong. (They gave 5 Stars to Dutch.) Ratings are subjective, of course, but when I put the two courses head-to-head (hole-to-hole) I am just so consistently wowed by the thrills and shot quality provided by Bobby’s Legacy. If you gave me ten rounds to split between the two courses I’d hug you first (as my new best friend), then play eight of them on Bobby’s. Literally every time I play that course I love it more. I’ve heard that Dutch Legacy is a course for the better player, and maybe that explains my perspective. I certainly love playing it TOO (even as a 12 handicap), I just base a lot of my personal ratings/rankings on Signature Holes and Bobby’s is slightly more LOADED (in my opinion) on both nines.

I would contend that there are no less than four “signature” holes on each side of Bobby’s Legacy (Eight signatures to Dutch’s seven… see, they’re both awesome!) Bobby’s has the Oakmont style “Church Pew” Par 4 fourth hole, uphill with a water carry and all awesome. There’s the incredible 3-5-3 finish on the front, with water (again) a critical component of all three holes. The back only ups the ante. Ten is a stellar Par 5 with another great water carry and the approach on 13 is one of Minnesota’s best (and prettiest). Speaking of “Minnesota’s Best,” there’s no question that the 17^th hole itself is one of “The State’s 10 Most Picturesque Holes” and the wraparound Par 5 finisher takes clutch to new design (and play) levels. Icing on the cake – RTJ, Jr. gave a bonus 19^th hole to Bobby’s, a fun and challenging Par 3 on the way to the clubhouse.

Dutch, as mentioned, has several more great holes, including lakeside beauties like 3 and 12, and an unbelievably compelling (and challenging) stretch from 13 to 17 where water (and beauty) is everywhere! I could go on and on, which is exactly what golfers should want to hear, and what golf group planners should be taking note of. Beyond the Legacy Courses there’s the “Reversible 9” course, which also fabulously doubles as a FootGolf course, and then there’s the rest of the resort’s dining and activity amenities.

While the Legacy Bar & Grille at the golf course is my personal hangout, the other four restaurants here provide strong and varied menus for every appetite, from the “Farm to Table Feasts” of Irma’s Kitchen to the buffet breakfasts in the Lakeside Dining Room.” You’ll find what you’re looking for to eat here, and then you (and the kids) can go play. The main resort has the pools (indoor/outdoor), beach, recreational center and boating activities. Cragun’s Resort is a haven for way more than golfers… for fishermen and fisherwomen, for kids and adults, and for every short (and extended) getaway seeker.

Cragun’s is constantly and consistently ramping up their hospitality efforts. In short, they’ve transformed into the ultimate group golf destination in Minnesota over the past few years. I don’t typically endorse lodging I haven’t experienced myself, but given my experiences with the other accommodations at the resort I feel these additions are well worth mentioning. Cragun’s has added five new “Golf Homes” (many with game rooms – pool, poker tables and ping pong) that can comfortably fit groups of 8 to 12, and six new Bayview Villas that can accommodate and satisfy even more!” Want a little bit more validation to that “ultimate golf destination” claim? Check out their unbelievably popular “Best $600 Package” – 18 holes (with cart) on the Dutch and Bobby’s Legacy Courses AND The Classic AND Deacon’s Lodge with breakfast daily, dinner daily and three nights lodging in one of Cragun’s Lakeview Fireplace Rooms (starting at only $575 per person)!

There are many other packages, of course… many other ways Cragun’s excels at meeting golfers and vacationers “in the middle.” My advice would be to explore the options on their website, book your travel dates before they sell out, and play BOTH Legacy Courses yourself. Pick your own favorite.