Mount Frontenac Golf Course: Slopes, Sights, and Slots!

Mount Frontenac Golf Course is a treat for the eyes – and if you’re smart, the scorecard – and rightfully earns the moniker of “Minnesota’s Most Breathtaking Bluff Country Golf Course.” Located a handful of minutes south of Red Wing, the facility is owned and operated by the Prairie Island Indian Community and is the official golf facility of Treasure Island Resort & Casino.

The Golf Course

Stunning views that surround the course, significant elevation changes, angles that necessitate a balance of precision and creativity, and a feel for slopes once on the green are the hallmarks of the experience of playing Mount Frontenac Golf Course.

The par 71 course’s maximum length is 6,226 yards (minimum of 4,882), playing with a fairly unique setup of four par fives and five par threes. Its longest hole, which is also one of the course’s signatures for its views of the valley below, is the 6^th at 530 yards. If your tee shot finds the fairway it can run out down the hill to a distant number that you can brag about to your buddies later.

A great hole on the front nine is the par four 4^th, as its dogleg left shape, well-placed fairway bunker, and tree-lined flanks make golfers stand and take notice from the tee box. It’s the first on the course where real danger stares back at you. Those that can turn it right to left or keep it straight shouldn’t have much worry, but those who spin it the other way might have to get a little more creative. Still, at 395 yards with an unguarded green (save for slope), it’s a scoring opportunity to be taken advantage of.

The 12^th hole provides yet another great view of bluff country to go along with a true challenge of a golf hole. While not a long par five, missing the fairway significantly can make the hole feel as if it goes on for days, as it plays slightly uphill the length of the hole. The most bunkered hole on the course – still just three – provides probably the greatest number of threats to a good score of any hole on the course: plenty of trees right, ski slopes left, plus the bunkers. Stay focused and execute on this true test, or your round might be headed the same direction as the ski slopes!

While no hole individually is particularly daunting in length, two par threes are quite demanding: the 212 yard 5^th, and the 216 yard 15^th. The latter is relatively flat but provides plenty of deception to the eye, while the former is a significantly sloped green essentially shelved on a hillside above a deep (but playable) valley. Simply, they provide possibly the two most difficult shots you’ll hit all day.

Perhaps Mount Frontenac Golf Course’s strongest and most consistent defense is its greens. They’re quite subtle and look gentle, but they really have some teeth to their slopes, as well as some significant runoff areas. It’s worth a mention here because the putting green (just next to the first tee box) is one of the best preview examples of the coming test this writer has seen in some time. Don’t make the mistake of skipping it altogether. In fact, if you had to choose between the range and the green for pre-round practice, take the latter. Spend some quality time putting “all around the clock” if you will. Your scorecard will thank you!

Weddings And Banquets

The lawn that rests between the clubhouse and the 18^th green is one of the options – and a terrific one at that – for a wedding ceremony. Open, covered, your choice! The trees surrounding the celebration add a great touch, and a timeless feel. Additionally, the course really has a solid variety of photo-op locations throughout its landscape that will help the happy couple add some visual treasures to the day.

The reception area inside is separated from the ceremony lawn only by a patio, so from a convenience standpoint, Mount Frontenac is one of the best you’ll find. There’s plenty of room too – accommodating up to 250 guests. Add in those breathtaking views, and you’ve got a perfect place for a wedding.

Deals, Specials, And More!

A fun trait of Mount Frontenac Golf Course is their affinity for providing a variety of deals for golfers. For instance, just in August alone they will feature three different specials – and the highest priced option of just $49 includes unlimited golf, a cart, and a lunch! That particular special runs every single day the month of August!

Mount Frontenac also features a Cook to Order Pasta Night all year long, on the first and third Thursday of every month. For three hours (5 pm to 8 pm) you can enjoy this event for just under $11 per person, or add in golf for just $17 more if you tee off after 1 pm.

Treasure Island Resort & Casino

The choice is yours at Treasure Island Resort & Casino! Located about a 30-minute drive north from Mount Frontenac Golf Course and less than an hour from MSP, the well-established retreat has celebrated more than thirty years of providing entertainment to comers from all over the Upper Midwest and beyond. Whether you desire live shows, indoor, outdoor and river water options, relaxing in the spa, getting some friendly competition on through bowling or arcade games, or of course golf and gambling, the entertainment and activity options are not only boundless, they’re outstanding. That doesn’t even include the 200,000 square feet of total gaming space within the casino!

Add the above to fantastic restaurant selections, meeting, banquet and wedding venues, as well as multiple lodging choices like the hotel, RV Park, or Marina, and you have a truly magnificent and well-rounded experience just waiting for you. There are many aspects of this great property that make it a “can’t miss destination,” but perhaps the hidden gem of it all is just that: a diverse set of options in every aspect that will keep each member of your group entertained, comfortable, and having a blast!

Some of the notable entertainment events coming to Treasure Island in July include the Island Rock Party with Vince Neil of Motley Crue (where he will be joined by many other notable names from the same era of rock), Train, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Nickleback. Several comedians dot the schedule in the coming months as well, such as the Steve Martin & Martin Short show, Amy Schumer & Friends, and Rodney Carrington.

Slopes, Sights, And Slots

The combination of Mount Frontenac Golf Course and Treasure Island Resort & Casino creates a memorable time enjoying the slopes, sights, and slots, while providing so many options its tough to fit them in one article. So do yourself a favor: take a well-rounded view of the golf course with views all around!