Wild Marsh Golf Club – Let Your Imagination Run Wild

The more I travel around the Twin Cities, the more I discover places I love. Wild Marsh had been on my Minnesota “Must Play List” for several years. And yet, despite the great drone footage on the web page, I found myself reluctant to take the gamble for the “unknown.” I made the trip anyway, last fall, and am eternally grateful I did. I no longer need those drone videos or any other incentive to get me back to Wild Marsh, and can confidently advocate in their favor with this article.

Buffalo is a distant suburb of the Twin Cities, a lake city I instantly fell in love with. It has all the retail and restaurants that residents need (including our family favorite Moon Donuts), and recreational facilities like Wild Marsh and Buffalo Lake that fishing, boating and golfing enthusiasts want. The drone and website photos make for a great introduction, but the visually stunning course is infinitely better to experience in person. “You wouldn’t believe this place,” I told my wife. “Did you get another hole-in-one?” she asked, as if that was the prerequisite for me enjoying a course. “No,” I replied. “But…” Hole-after-beautiful-hole plays along and over the corners of Mink Lake and its many adjacent marshes. There are wooden bridges and massive multi-tiered and undulating greens. From the first tee to the eighteenth hole the round is a wild, challenging and thrilling ride.

I visited last year in the pouring rain and took my first opportunity this year to catch it in the brightest of sunshine. Both experiences were rewarding. On the darkest of days in the dampest of conditions I still loved the nine holes we played, and enjoyed the food and service in the incredible Tavern Restaurant when we couldn’t go back out. And, on the brightest of days in the purest of conditions (this year) I loved all eighteen holes. It’s a Par 71, short by current standards, but long enough by every one of its 6,504 yards. Whatever your skill level or challenge level desired, your game can be matched here. Whatever your age, gender, or experience, this course has a tee box routing suited perfectly for you.

This is one of those outlier courses that make the Twin Cities golf scene so spectacular. It’s why the Golf News Network recently ranked the Minneapolis/St.Paul Metro among its “Top 20 Group Golf Destinations in America.” (See the full list under MobileGolfer at GolfNewsNet.com.) We’re fortunate as Minnesotan’s to have so many “local must play” tracks like this, and Buffalo residents covet their tee times at Wild Marsh. “This is a course I don’t get to play enough,” one visitor said, between burger bites in the Tavern, “and I play it at least five times a year.” (Impressive.)

Wild Marsh has been ranked as “A Top 25 Twin Cities Course” and one of the “Top 5 Values” in the Twin Cities, both designations difficult to challenge. You’re out in the country, yet only 20 minutes from the NW metro. The Tavern Restaurant draws in crowds to sample its chef-inspired “Scratch Menu” of freshly prepared items like Champagne Chicken, Hand Crafted Pizzas and an infinite list of sandwiches, appetizers and desserts, all with an expansive dining view of (and patio overlooking) Mink Lake. Open every day at 11:00 AM for lunch, and staying open until at least 8:00 every night but Wednesday, the restaurant features specials (like their Prime Rib Saturday Night) and Happy Hours while also catering fantastically to groups. (I can only imagine how much fun it would be to host an event here!)

I’d like to briefly highlight a few of my favorite holes from each nine. The Par 4 second hole plays over and along a marsh, beautiful in its own right, until you get to the wraparound 6^th and 7^th holes, bordered by marsh AND Mink Lake. Those two stunners make you forget everything else (including good swing thoughts occasionally) pull that cell phone out (especially in the evening) and spread the wealth with your Social Media friends. Those two holes can produce a lot of Emoji “wows” in response, and jealousy in many, many hearts.

The back nine has more fun and stunners, with a thrilling stretch from 11 to 13 that has you double-checking your yardages and double-appreciating your opportunity. Hole after pretty hole I found shots to appreciate, and moments that compiled to make me eager to come back.

Course Manager Eric Ritter told me, “We hear that we’re too far out (of the Twin Cities) a lot, until people visit. Then, by most accounts, we become an easy trip back.” I can certainly relate to that.