Grand View Lodge
Minnesota is called “The Land of 10,000 Lakes” and its plethora of golf courses and resorts have at least that many water hazards. But that’s a good thing, as the options for great experiences here are limited only by its seven-month playing season.
It has become one of the country’s most popular locations for a golf getaway, thanks to its combination of great tracks and lodging at a refreshingly affordable price points with loads of off-the-course activities to round out a trip for all manner of players and vacationers.
The state has a short window for golf because of its northern location. But that hasn’t stopped Minnesota from being the only state to have hosted all 13 USGA championships as well as the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, the Solheim Cup, the PGA Championship, the Women’s PGA Championship and the 2016 Ryder Cup.
Let’s take a look at a trio of golf resorts in the Brainard Lakes region, where you can play until nearly midnight during the summer.
Breezy Point Resort
Home to three championship courses – Deacon’s Lodge, Whitebirch and Traditional – Breezy Point Resort is set about two and a half hours north of the Twin Cities on the western shore of Pelican Lake.
Deacon’s Lodge was designed by Arnold Palmer as a tribute to his father “Deacon” and might be one of Palmer’s best routings. The track features large, sweeping fairways, some bunkers scattered in strategic locations, forest surrounding each hole and plenty of forced carries in an uber-secluded setting. It’s a very picturesque course, with several risk/reward options, solid par-5s and a long and a short par-3.
Whitebirch opened in 1930 as the first championship golf course layout in the area and features more than 6,700 yards of golf on an expansive and mostly flat routing defined by lush fairways and large, undulating putting surfaces. There are plenty of trees, sand and water to navigate as well that combine to produce a course many consider to be the best championship golf value in the region.
The Traditional Course at Breezy Point is a “shot maker’s” course that rewards accuracy over power and is enjoyed by golfers of all abilities. Opened for play in 1924, the course plays as a par-68 and at 5,192 yards, has tiny, round greens and is a wonderful companion for the other tracks at the resort.
Breezy Point Resort also features a wide choice of lodging options, four distinctively different restaurants, the sumptuous Serenity Spa and a state-of-the-art conference center that hosts groups up to 450 with style.
Breezy Point
Grand View Lodge
Located in Nisswa and on Gull Lake, Grand View Lodge features 45 holes of golf over two courses – the three nines of the Pines course (Lakes, Woods and Marsh) and the Preserve, which is known for its scenic elevated tees and its tour-speed greens.
The Pines was designed by Minnesota golf architect Joel Goldstrand and debuted in 1990. It is a mainstay on Minnesota’s ranking of top public courses ever since, garnering the No. 4 public distinction in 2022 by Golfweek.
Each of the nines on the Pines has its own character but taken as a package they have a feeling of continuity amid continual challenge. The Lakes, which stretches to 3,516 yards from the back tees, is the most testing of the nines but both the Lakes and the Woods are carded at more than 3,400 yards and are never a pushover.
The Pines’ nines produce a sense of being out in the wild and require the golfer to feel their way around a tough golf course and the elements the routing throws at them.
The Preserve course at Grand View Lodge is far from a B-side. Designed by Mike Morley and Dan Helbling and opened in 1996, the course was ranked No. 15 in Minnesota in 2020 by Golf Advisor and plays as a par-72 and at 6,600 yards from the back tees, A recent million-dollar renovation in 2015 reshaped many of the tee boxes, creating varied lengths for all levels of players and some amazing, elevated tee shots throughout.
The routing is carved into the Northwoods and winds through mature pine forests. The holes are set up nicely to provide some flexibility for golfer who might spray the ball a bit. The Preserve is set about a 15-minute shuttle ride from the main resort.
Grand View Lodge has been one of the state’s top resort locations since it opened in 1916 and offers a variety of activities off the course, including the Glacial Waters Spa, a collection of distinctive dining venues and some of the best accommodations in Minnesota.
Grand View Lodge
Madden’s on Gull Lake
Set on a 1,000-acre peninsula, Madden’s on Gull Lake is a luxury Minnesota resort that’s rich in history and tradition. Madden’s is one of few remaining Minnesota resorts that is still family-owned and operated and is in its third generation of leadership since its start in depression-era 1929.
Madden’s on Gull Lake is the home of four challenging golf courses – The Classic, Pine Beach East, Pine Beach West and the Social 9.
The Classic, designed by Scott Hoffman (who interestingly enough, is the current superintendent at the course) and opened in 1996, offer an old-world experience and vibe and has the feel of an early or mid-century parkland country club due to the grass stretching from the furthest back tee to the putting surface in a fashion that requires few forced carries with the driver.
Each hole is demanding because of the need to position drives to get the best angle at the greens complexes, with many of the putting surfaces very severe.
The Classic is a fixture on Golf Digest’s List of Best Courses You Play, coming in at No. 22 in the latest ranking. The course is not for the faint of heart, with plenty of hills and some narrow, pine-lined fairways and occasional challenging shots over water from sidehill or downhill lies.
Pine Beach East was fashioned by Scotsman James Dalgleish and opened in 1926 as the first 18-hole golf course built in the state. It features Minnesota’s only par-6, the sixth hole, which can play at more than 600 yards. Another unique feature is its par-3 opening hole, the first of six one-shotters at this short par-72 layout.
Pine Beach West, opened in 1955 and designed by Jim Madden, plays at just 5,070 yards and is a par-67 but is no pushover. It is heavily wooded and its rolling terrain makes it an enjoyable challenge for any level of player. What looks to be an easy-to-break par track will deceive even the best players.
Madden’s Social 9 is the place to have some fun, with eight par-3s, a lone par 4, and postage stamp putting surfaces that adds challenge in a nice, relaxing setting. At just 1,341 yards, it’s a perfect warm-up for a round on one of the big courses as well as a great place for getting young players started in the game or for a family outing.
The resort offers a variety of luxury accommodations including quaint cottages, spacious 2-bedroom cabins, Sunrise and Sunset Villas, historic hotel units, and fully equipped multi-bedroom houses. All units feature a patio or balcony that overlooks Gull Lake, Pine Beach East golf course, or the gardens.
Madden’s also has recreational amenities that can rival any other resort in the Midwest, with fun options to suit every age and activity level. There you’ll find tennis courts, USCA-sanctioned croquet lawns, lawn bowling, pickleball courts, sand volleyball, horseshoes, badminton, and shuffleboard.
The resort has four swimming pools (two outdoor, two indoor) with whirlpools and saunas, a children’s wading pool, an outdoor hot tub overlooking Gull Lake, and an inflatable waterpark.
Madden’s on Gull Lake