Hidden Greens – Visible Beauty Comes With A New Event Center

It had been four years since my last visit to Hidden Greens. Not intentionally. Rather unintentionally. But I remembered that round well as I got out of the car and looked around… breathing in the fresh smell of golf course. Some courses have that smell – the fresh cut grass, the dew in the morning, the flowers, the… “nature.” Hidden Greens is one of those places. In fact, Hidden Greens is actually located IN a game refuge, so it is as natural as golf gets… no houses, traffic or unnatural nuisances.

Joel Goldstrand was hired to build Hidden Greens as a 9-hole course in 1976. My wife tells me that was a long time ago. (Surely not as long as it seems.) Hidden Greens has aged gracefully – matured well – and (like my wife) is as beautiful now as she was a few decades back… before kids. The biggest difference is, my wife and I have only added four kids since then. Hidden Greens has added nine (and all in one year… 1986).

I use the “kids” analogy because I asked Jason Swanson, one of the owners to give me their favorite hole and they couldn’t – they told me it was like trying to pick their favorite child. (I’ll pick their favorites for them then.) Hidden Greens was the vision of Leonard Swanson – a man of meticulous nature that passed that nature down through the next few generations who have (are) operated the course. This is a family that doesn’t skip the little things, or dismiss details as irrelevant. Even their scorecards are impressive – artistic and historic with hole-by-hole descriptions and easy to follow displays/directions… soooo many courses around the Twin Cities could learn from these.

This is a course that offers something for everyone – every member of the family. Their Junior Golf setup is fantastic, with specially placed tees to make the round fun for the young aspiring. And, they further encourage the youth to come play by offering “Kids Golf Free” promotions Friday through Monday after 3PM (where up to three kids can golf free with a paid adult over 21). The entire property has a “summer camp” vibe, which I’ve always loved – a nostalgic blast every regular of every age has to look forward to. Straight out of the car the “log cabin” clubhouse impresses, with its patio, fire pits and wooden tables. The service is a matter of pride – beyond cordial – making you feel instantly at home. If you’ve never been here you should check their webpage for specials (always seems to be something good).

Mr. Goldstrand seemed to have designed this course in order (hole-by-hole) given how much sense the routing makes. He is known for using the supernatural he finds while planning as natural highlights in his actual routing. Case in point: He began the front nine with a large “quirky” oak tree waving at you from the right side of the first fairway. And at #6 you find a three-tree statue on the right of the fairway, and the coolest dead tree you’ve ever seen in your life on the left. Hole 6 introduces you to the best three-hole stretch on the course from 7 to 9. Seven is a downhill par 3, over a river. Eight, the signature hole on the course, with that same winding river making you pay attention to both your drive and approach. (Yes, you cross the water TWICE.) Then nine, a daunting (perhaps even taunting) uphill Par 3, is a thriller to wrap the front. Just that one paragraph gives you four great reasons to visit Hidden Greens.

And there are more reasons on the back… specifically the gorgeous 12^th and 16^th holes around the fountain, where the approach on 16 might be my favorite shot on the entire course. Rumor has it, the 16^th green was Mr. Swanson’s favorite place on the course, morning, noon and night, and that makes perfect sense to me. The setting is sublime.

Capitalizing on those settings – Hidden Greens is opening a 300 guest Event Center in mid-July to cater to large golf groups and social functions (weddings, banquets, corporate outings, etc.). The event center will feature an open ballroom, full catering and bar service, an over-sized private Bridal Suite, and massive glass windows and doors to showcase the views. This will be a welcome addition to the Twin Cities “event host” collection. At only 20 minutes from the southeast metro suburbs, you’ll want to book your event quickly as the Event Center is sure be one of the top event venues in the Twin Cities.

After my round, I cornered a smiling golfer in the parking lot and asked him for his impression of Hidden Greens – the golf course. (I’d overheard him say it was his first time there.) “I loved it,” he said. “Not too easy, not too hard. I lost a couple golf balls on bad shots but none on good shots.” “You coming back?” I asked. “Definitely,” he nodded. “As often as I can.”