Celebrating The 100th Anniversary Of Red Wing Golf Club

In 1915, Woodrow Wilson was our President, Babe Ruth was still a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, and Germany dropped bombs from zeppelins on Great Britain. 1915 was also the year that the Red Wing Golf Club opened for business.

In the early 1900s, the Midwest perception of a golfer was quite different from how the sport is viewed today. About the same time that Red Wing residents moved earth in anticipation of becoming Minnesota’s 10th ever golf course, a Twin Cities newspaper columnist categorized golfers as “dudes, idlers, and fools.”

Today, Red Wing is a golf destination magnet for many of the same reasons the game eventually flourished a century ago. Red Wing, nestled in the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley, is a convenient 45-minute drive from St. Paul. Red Wing Golf Club is a flashback to the sport during a gentler time. This 6,200-yard layout oozes nostalgia framed by exquisite scenery in a river town setting. What’s even better are the dozens of nearby diversions to be explored before or after your round.

Celebrate 18 Holes For $19
The people who call Red Wing Golf Club home began devising a plan to celebrate its centennial year. They decided that the best way to let the world know that their oak-lined beauty is alive and kickin’ is to dial back prices to a time when Alexander Graham Bell made the first intercontinental call.

“We have a very special pricing in place this season. Greens fees are only $19, and a cart is $15. Plus, we have a celebration price of $100 for foursomes, including the carts,” Manager Cody Buck said.

The City of Red Wing is a summer getaway favorite for so many reasons. Sailing and boating buffs love Lake Pepin. History lovers marvel at the galleries, museums, and antique shops found downtown. Naturalists come to Red Wing for its hiking trails, bike paths, and prominent eagle population. Buck encourages golfers to take in all the extra-curricular options that his home course offers along with playing 18 holes.

Red Wing Stay And Play
One of Red Wing Golf Course’s best stay and play scenarios involves a hotel that was born 40 years prior to the first tee shot flying. Built in 1874, The St. James Hotel in downtown Red Wing is an architectural marvel that regularly wins awards for hospitality and fine dining. Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend or family outing, a Red Wing golf getaway is something to mark on your calendar.

If golf is your first, second, and third priority, then Red Wing Golf Club’s 1915 special is so economical that multiple rounds won’t break the bank. What’s nice is the on-site Brassie Spoon Bar and Grill’s menu is sure to satisfy your hunger pains with some of the best appetizers, burgers, and chicken selections found anywhere.

If you’re thinking about bringing a sizable group to take advantage of pricing from days gone by, Red Wing Golf Club has a beautiful banquet hall to accommodate your event. Positioned on the second floor of the clubhouse, the banquet room features terrific views of the Red Wing skyline. Why not make a Red Wing road trip the summer party of the year?

A Historical Round Of Golf
What’s interesting about playing 18 holes at Red Wing Golf Club is how both nines, as well as the clubhouse, have roots dating back to the course’s opening. Depending on where you’re standing, you could be tracing the path of the Lutheran Seminary for Girls, the great fire of 1960, or where the Simmons pasture cattle once roamed.

A few years after the fire, the course built a new clubhouse. The next significant chapter occurred when the golf course expanded to its present 18-hole layout in 1989. Don Voth first played Red Wing Golf Club as a 12-year-old in 1963. With his timeline of 50 plus years, Voth can point out differences between newer and vintage aspects of the course. “The young holes, the ones only 26 years old, are numbers 8, and 9 on the front side, and 13, 14, 15, and 16 on the back. The rest have been walked by golfers since 1915,” Voth said.

You don’t have to be Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, or even Cody Buck to appreciate a good value. Golfers will probably have to wait another 100 years to play 18 holes for $19 or $100 for a foursome. Don’t hesitate to arrange a golf road trip to Red Wing. If you wait too long, you could be called a dude, an idler, or a fool.