Ask any of my four kids to name their Top 5 Favorite Places in Minnesota, and each of them would list Breezy Point Resort. Just as so many other vacationers do annually, we claim the lakeside paradise beneath the water tower as our “Home Away from Home,” and proudly count many of their staff/owners as friends and/or family. Anticipation for the next year’s return always starts on the car ride back home, as we all acknowledge the most recent stay wasn’t nearly long enough. That’s how it is at all the special places you love. You just can’t get enough.

Nestled to the north of Brainerd and many of its signature lakes, Breezy Point is an extension of the “Big Bobber” town of Pequot Lakes, and while you don’t need to leave the resort for entertainment, Pequot Lakes does host quite the assortment of shops, restaurants and entertainment options. “We’ve got everything we need up here,” General Manager Dave Gravdahl insists, and proves so by never leaving. “No place I’d rather be.”

The Brainerd Lakes Area in general is home to many of Minnesota’s best fishing spots and golf resorts, with each of those resorts distinguishing itself from the others in specific ways. Breezy Point has always led with its golf and guest service, featuring what many people (myself included) consider the best public golf course in the state – Arnold Palmer’s Deacon’s Lodge – and an unparalleled collection of exceptional staff prepared to take care of every guest as best they can. Deacon’s Head Golf Professional, Mark Neva, is quick to brush off any, and all praise, insisting he’s the lucky one who gets to operate that course and meet so many avid and excited golfers daily. But I know better, and so should you. In this industry the courses that stand head and shoulders above the others are the ones that don’t overlook any aspect of their operations… and Mark (and the rest of the Breezy Point team) is always on top of their game.

Speaking of “the game,” Breezy Point Resort has three golf courses. The shortest and tightest of them is the on-site parkland layout with gorgeous wooden corridors called The Traditional. Director of Golf, Mark Johnson, loves that course, mostly for its serenity, but also for its history. “Some of the game’s biggest names have walked these fairways, and it’s pretty much unchanged since they did. You can literally play in their footsteps.

Brainerd’s original Championship routing is just up the street at Whitebirch, surrounded by many of the resort’s most spacious accommodations. Head Professional Nolan Toft calls the more hilly and spacious lake-and-waterfall romp the perfect blend of The Traditional and Deacon’s Lodge. “I love it,” Nolan says. “Especially in summer with all the families and golf groups grilling out, eating, drinking and chilling on their golfside patios, taking in the sunset and sitting out under the stars.” He and his lovely wife Amanda are plenty in love with their own growing family and home, but Nolan admits, “Yeah, I’d love it here.”

Those 36 holes provide a lot of golf and fun. But then there’s the perennially ranked “Best in State” gem Deacon’s Lodge, featuring the best golf, incredible scenery, and the most fun.

“Arnold Palmer loved this place,” Mark recalls fondly, gesturing across the majestic lakeside expanse. “With or without clubs, he loved to walk along the lakes, listen to the loons… take it all in.” I can visualize it while I’m playing it… can almost feel his smile and presence there in the many beautiful vistas and exceptional hole designs. I miss The King. (We all do.)

“You and (Golf Channel’s) Matt Ginella and (GolfPass Director) Jason Deegan all hold Deacon’s Lodge in a similar reverence,” Mark acknowledges. “And that’s really caught fire around the country. Every year we welcome thousands of first-timers who have heard your (collective) claims of greatness, and we all celebrate its annual rise in the national rankings. We can’t thank all of you enough.”

We’re one and the same when it comes to praise, Mark and I. My closest media friends and I got into golf promotion for love of the game, and to be able to thank many of the great people and places it has introduced us to. For the record, I do consider Deacon’s Lodge Arnold Palmer’s best design in America, and I insist (if you haven’t yet played it) that you book a Breezy Point golf trip ASAP, so you can end the “missing out.”

Hold on though… I’m not done. Far from it. You’ll find a lot more than great golf at Breezy Point on a visit. I’ve touched on the lodging but that description merits expansion. The multi-bedroom golf-side townhouses are always a favorite among families and bigger groups (never far from a swimming pool and hot tub), but there are also plenty of options on or near the beach and lake – a variety of cabins and hotel/lodge rooms ranging in accommodating features and quantity of bedrooms (2 to 11). This IS a lake resort, and Pelican Lake is an awesome place to hang out on (or in) all hours of the day. Check out the Breezy Point website for in-depth descriptions of their cabins, homes and lodge rooms. And, while you’re there, dig into their restaurant menus.

Breezy Point has four restaurants and The Coffee House. Antlers, in the Whitebirch clubhouse provides country club-style atmosphere with golf course views. The lakeside Marina II combines the elevated sights of Breezy Bay with the tastes and smells of steaks, chops and seafood. Dockside Lounge below it is literally ON the water, with some tables so close to the edge you can feed the fish without moving. Family-friendly as it gets, Dockside focuses on Appetizers, Pizzas, Burgers, Salads and Sunsets. And then there’s Palmer’s Grille at Deacon’s Lodge, where the Cajun Wings are so good you wish they served them for breakfast. (They DO serve a great breakfast there.) If that’s not enough, you can get snacks and ice cream adjacent the pool and rec center (or at the gas station on the corner). Thou Shalt Not Go Hungry at Breezy Point.

Golf, Lodging, Food and… Entertainment. Looking to unwind? The Serenity Spa will take care of that for you, with plenty of pampering packages. As will a leisurely paddle-wheel excursion on the Breezy Belle (take the last one of the day if you can). Dip your feet in the lake off a dock, use the marina to launch your own boat, head out to play on the island. Water sports… beach sports… daytime adventures and nighttime events. Yes, when summer’s best days draw to a close, Breezy draws their own crowds at night, with a series of concerts at Dockside, including Chris Olson’s famous “Memories of Elvis Show” (a dozen different show dates throughout the summer), the popular Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond Tribute Show (also with a dozen show dates), Doug Allen Nash and other featured acts like Tami and the Bachelor, Passion, Echo, One Night Stand and Wyld Ryce.

At a certain point it feels like I’m just listing things I love, knowing I don’t have the space to expand on all the reasons why. But… that’s okay. I’d much rather every one of you peruse this like a “Table of Contents,” then make your own story of it on your own respective visits.