By Alice and Danny Scott
Minnesota is famed as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but it might as well be called the Land of Plenty when it comes to golf. Lacking an official trail, we created our own Minnesota Golf Trail, and it was amazing. Here’s a rapid-fire recap of the golf, lodging and dining, noting the best standout plus the one “mulligan” we’d take on each stop.
Cragun’s Resort Golf Conference Center
Golf
Minnesota native and PGA champion Tom Lehman completed a multi-million-dollar renovation on his namesake course, The Lehman 18 and reimagined the Dutch 27 (three rotating nines: Red, White, & Blue). Winding through 1,000 acres of woods and wetlands, this was our intro to fragrant thistles and spiritual calls of loons, a state soundtrack. We attended the Dutch Red’s grand opening with Tom, who hopes to be remembered “as a godly man who does the right thing.” He did better than right with his Legacy designs.
Stay
Pick from lodge rooms, cabins or new, upscale Private Collection Homes.
Dine
Options abound, including lakeside Irma’s Kitchen, named after founder Dutch’s late wife. Her legendary Pot Roast remains untouchable.
Best
A mile-long sandy beach on Gull Lake, perfect for strolling, and marina adventures.
Mully
Sharing a home near the tenth tee was fun, but next time, we might choose waterfront, forever on a “love the lake you’re with” tour. (Cragun’s anchors the Brainerd Lakes region with our next two stops.)
Breezy Point
Golf
Three full courses await, but if you play only one, make it Deacon’s Lodge by Arnold Palmer, named for his father, Deke. The terrain is jaw-dropping from hole.
Stay
Cozy up lakeside, golf-side, or at the Inn & Suites.
Dine
Palmer’s Grille delivers as well on the plate as on the course, with more eateries onsite.
Best
Spa jets hit all the right spots.
Mully
Stay longer, play more, and rock out at Dockside’s live music. (Yes, that’s a few mulligans.)
Our Takeaway
Five stops. Eight rounds. Ten days. Every course matched or topped the last. We left wowed and craving more golf and lake time. Mosquito warnings were real, but between spray and cigar smoke, we escaped unscathed and ready for another swing through Minnesota. We flew into Twin Cities but didn’t have time to explore – another mulligan for next time. Find all courses at golfminnesota.com
