The Links At NorthFork – Click On The Links
By E. Nolan
I golf. A lot. Every now and then I like to mix up the U.S. travel routine with a trip to Ireland or Scotland to get in some links rounds. We don’t have many legitimate links courses in America, so we refer to what we have as “links-style.” Some are not all that authentic. The Links at NorthFork… yeah, they’re about as good and authentic as it gets in the Twin Cities… about as good and authentic as it gets in Minnesota.
I’m fortunate in that I live right down the road from The Links (in Ramsey). I’m surrounded by a diverse collection of underrated golf courses and I’ve found NOTHING in the north half of the metro that can compare to The Links. With fifteen legitimate links-style holes by my count (coming from someone who has played 42 links courses in the UK), I love the fast, firm conditions, the broad rolling fairways, and the ability to putt from 50 yards off most greens. I love being able to play (nearly) the entire course on the ground in windy days, and to be able to work on my short game hole-after-beautifully-fun-hole.
This isn’t a course of crazy carries, of punitive (and misplaced) hazards or wild elevation changes. There is a decent amount of back and forth and proper use of the land in the routing. The hole-to-hole transitions make sense and the scenery (short of being on the coast of an Atlantic isle) is very reminiscent of many overseas rounds. Ramsey isn’t St. Andrews, (most people drive on the correct side of the road here), but I can see The Links of NorthFork fitting in well in St. Andrews. Those in the know would consider that a lofty compliment.
This IS a course for those who enjoy playability… for tournament and event coordinators looking for a fun place for some sort of 4-ball/scramble. The 18-hole championship course plays from four diverse sets of tees across a well-maintained canvas of curves. Due to the popularity of the course for events (with a banquet hall that can accommodate up to 295), the staff is adept at setting up hole contests, prizes, and at working out the insurance and sponsorship requirements/suggestions. They know what YOU and your group need to pull off the perfect event and with the ability (and proficiency) at catering banquets, can make your group’s day a beginning-to-end success. (Only a phone call away.) Speaking of food, The Pub is a popular post-round hangout… and only lacks a quality Sticky Toffee Pudding to be truly legit.
The best Twin Cities courses have great practice facilities. The Links at NorthFork is no exception (rather exceptional). Their practice facility includes a full-shot driving range with up to 30 stations, a large practice putting green and large practice chipping green. There is a practice bunker and a 3-hole Par 11 practice loop to take your lessons to the mini-links, before taking on the mega. It is a “Practice Palace”… one that many contend is Top 3 as a practice facility in Minnesota. (Tip: Purchase a 25-bucket card!)
The front nine has several signature holes. The Par 3, 4th Hole (“SpyGlass”), Par 4, 6th Hole (“Changing Winds”) and Par 3, 7th Hole (“Deuce”) jig around small ponds, and #9 might be my favorite hole on the entire course – a lengthy Par 5 that requires an accurate and properly thought out approach to what is essentially an island green. You’d never see a hole like this in the UK, but that doesn’t mean Old Tom Morris wouldn’t have built it himself – certainly might have with access to more water.
The back nine contains an awful lot of sand on the first three holes – plenty of risk reward elements in that sense – that you can either take on or avoid if you don’t understand what it means to hit 1 to 2 inches behind the ball in greenside sand. Regardless of what anyone else might think, trust me when I say the 15th Hole (“Big Dog”) is BY FAR the hardest hole on the course, and is one of the few holes that feels more parkland than links-style. That doesn’t mean I don’t like it – I actually appreciate the diversity. It just means that it’s a different kind of hard, and a challenge that I too often fail to take on correctly. If you can hit straight and long you’ll find my warning laughable… but (be honest) have you ever played with an average Joe/Jane golfer who hits BOTH straight AND long? (Didn’t think so.)
I appreciate the use of “wee bit” in their own course description – in their invitation to the everyday golfer to come experience a “wee bit” of “The Open” (type course) without getting gouged for international airfare. Yes… that, and so many other things make this place one to put on your “Minnesota Must Play” list.
