Princeton Golf Course – Put It On Your Radar

Well, school’s been out for just about a month and summer is officially here. We all know it was a rough spring for golf courses, but the warm weather and rain has the grass growing, and I’m looking forward to a long summer of hanging around the golf course. One of the difficulties of a Minnesota summer is how to pack in everything you want to do. The 4^th of July and the State Fair are givens for just about anyone, but what do you do if you’re a golfer but still want to go to the cabin or just go up north to do some camping? Lucky for you, I’ve got an answer to that question: Princeton Golf Course. Appropriately located in Princeton, MN, Princeton Golf Course is a great place to stop on your way up north or on your way back.

Princeton Golf Course really is not that far from the cities. In fact, it took me just 40 minutes to get there from the northern suburbs. It’s also very accessible – it’s just off of Highway 169 – which makes it a perfect place to get in a round at the start or end of your trip up north. While the original 9 holes were completed in 1955, the course as it stands now, was finished in 1992 by well-known Minnesota architect Joel Goldstrand. If you’re familiar with his style, you can definitely see hints of it while you play.

Head Golf Professional Barrett Boe says the course’s new owners, Amanda and James Berglund, took over three years ago and that they want to give a good experience to anyone who swings by. “They have a plan and are committed to it,” says Boe. “They’ve made a lot of improvements and the course keeps getting better.” Even though I’ve suggested the golf course as a place to stop on your way up to the cabin, it doesn’t have to be just that. Amanda and James have made improvements to the course and to the restaurant – The Fore Seasons. Boe adds, “We have a new patio and want people to think of us as a place for you to spend your whole day.” Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to stay for lunch, but I sure wish I could have, because the plate of nachos delivered to the table next to where Boe and I were talking looked fantastic.

As for the course itself, while half of the course is a Goldstrand design, it isn’t set up in an “old 9 / new 9” manner. The newer holes are interspersed with the older ones, and they mesh together well. You’ll know exactly what I’m talking about once you get there. Certain holes are cut out of the trees and wayward shots can be lost, but other holes are much more out in the open. The good thing, though, is the consistency and high quality of the greens. I mentioned early to my playing partner Danny how good I thought the greens were, and all of them were that way whether it was one of the new holes or one of the 1992 additions. There is nothing worse than putting your money down and then ending up on greens that are bumpy or rough. No worries here; superintendent Seth Fehrmann has them running smooth as can be.

The course is a par 71 courtesy of the three par 3 holes on the back nine. Even though it’s not a long course (6,150 yards from the white tees and just under 6,400 from the blues), there are plenty of elements that make the course more challenging than the yardage might indicate. Certain holes, like 4, 9, 11 and 13 require accurately placed tee shots. Without one, you’ll have a tough time getting to the green. Number 9 is a great example. It’s only 300 yards, but you have to hit a 170-yard shot to the corner. Too long or too short, and the trees block your view to the green. One piece of good news for you is that the course has only one forced carry – the tee shot on the par 5, 15^th hole goes over a corner of the Rum River before it turns left to the green.

Check out their website (Princetongc.com) for additional information about the course, rates or the restaurant. Memberships are $825 for unlimited golf and an incredibly low $85 for juniors. Another great price is the Monday and Wednesday senior rate of $25 for a round of golf with a cart. The overall service was great at Princeton and if the rest of the staff is as awesome as Becky and Jenna were, you’ll have to agree that Princeton Golf Course is worth the trip whether you’re on your way to somewhere else or just looking for another golf course to put on your radar.