Alexandria and the surrounding lakes are approximately 2 1/2 hours from the northwestern suburbs of the Twin Cities and the drive is quite easy as Alexandria is located on Interstate 94.

After a player checks in at the clubhouse and scans the scorecard the length of the course does not knock you over, as the course plays 6,504 yards from the back tee position. What an observant player notices as first looking at the score card is a course rating of 71.6 and a slope index of 130 from the back tees, so there is something else going on to make up for the lack of length at Alexandria Golf Club.

Built in 1915, the course is from an era that puts a premium on shot making. Approach shot need to be in the proper position to take advantage of scoring opportunities. Small firm greens that putt true, but with a nice pace is what one can expect to find. Positioning the ball below the hole along with a reasonable aptitude for putting will reward a golfer with a nice score,even if bombing the tee ball is not one of your strong suits.
View from behind 15th green

Both the 7th and the 17th greens are unique as both of these par 3 holes play to greens that are designed to resemble the shape of states, the 7th Minnesota and the 17th, Texas. I am not aware of another golf course,at least in Minnesota, that has greens that resemble states.
View of 7th green-”Minnesota” from tee.

View of 17th green-”Texas” greenside.

The gently rolling terrain makes walking the course a pleasure. In the past 20 years, many golf courses were designed as housing developments first and golf courses almost as an after thought with some very lengthy distances between greens and tee boxes,making walking difficult if not nearly impossible. Playing the Alexandria Golf Club makes one remember what golf is suppose to be.

I enjoyed my round at Alexandria Golf Club and would recommend it as a place to play if you find yourself traveling to the area. Alexandria Golf Club can be contacted by telephone at 320-763-3605 or on the web at www.alexandriagolfclub.com

The variety in terrain and weather is unique and is one of the things that makes life here in Minnesota so interesting. From heavy forest and river gorges to rolling prairie and fields of corn, wheat and soy beans Minnesota offers a sight, sound and playing experience second to none for golf enthusiasts.

Whether your plans take you on a day trip or a week long vacation or more, there are over 350 golf courses in rural Minnesota so make your choice from top notch golf resorts to mom and pop 9-hole courses and everything in between.

Over the following months, as in past seasons, I will be playing and reporting on golf courses outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. I will also be contacting golf course personnel to get their feedback on the inside knowledge of their course and what the golf enthusiast traveling this summer can expect to find at their home course.

Perhaps you received a new driver or putter under the Christmas tree this morning, or better yet tickets to a warm golf destination for the golf vaction of your dreams.

Whatever the case, I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I’ll see you on the back nine!

Dana

Here is the first entry from Chuck:

Great Golf, Fine Food Make a Nice Match

            By Chuck Lennon

            In many towns across Minnesota, when folks plan a special meal out, they head for the local golf course.  Many clubhouse restaurants are noted for their great food, with views of a beautifully landscaped course as a scenic backdrop.  So the next time you’re on the road and looking for a quality dining experience, check out the area’s golf courses for their restaurants. 

            And if you enjoy a round of golf before you dine to work up an appetite, so much the better.  The golfing’s great, too.  Here are some suggestions to get you started.

The Bridges Golf Club, Winona

The course:  Not far off Great River Road scenic byway, The Bridges is a 1920s layout set in scenic Pleasant Valley, surrounded by steep bluffs and hardwood forest.  Seven of the original 9 holes were incorporated into today’s 18 by Robert Trent Jones.

Dining:  In a serene setting, Signatures Restaurant offers fine dining with lovely views.  The menu’s refined selections emphasize regional foods and go beyond the fare typically found at  clubhouse restaurants. Among the interesting items are shepherd’s pie, cheese fondue, pheasant and duck confit, each very well-presented.  “Hot small plates” include a delicious gratin and a sumptuous shrimp bake.

Nearby: The Minnesota Marine Art Museum along the Mississippi River in Winona

Info:  www.winonagolf.com

Here are some highlights of the categories on the MinnesotaRuralGolf.com golf forum.

As you can see the forum is divided into main topics or categories with subcategories under them to give you the ability to discuss specific subjects within that subcategory. A couple of examples of this may be that someone is doing a search on their favorite Internet search engine for “Minnesota golf vacation packages” they could look under the category Minnesota Golf Resorts to find what they are looking for or under any of the regional categories such as Northern Minnesota Golf Forum, Central Minnesota Golf Forum or Southern Minnesota Golf Forum.

Another example may be that someone does an Internet search for “vacation getaway central Minnesota” now they could again look for information under the category Minnesota Golf Resorts as well as Central Minnesota Golf Forum. Under the Central Minnesota Golf Forum they could search for greater details under Alexandria, Annandale, Hutchinson, Little Falls, St.Cloud, Sauk Centre, Willmar or Central Lakes to find the information they are looking for.

Another example would be if somebody were doing an Internet search for “Austin Minnesota golf courses” they would, of course, precede to the regional category Southern Minnesota Golf Forum and then to the subcategory Albert Lea area favorites, as Albert Lea is the closest city geographically to Austin.

There are also opportunities for you to use this forum as a meeting place for league notes from your own golf course. This would be particularly helpful to you if the golf course you play your league matches at either doesn’t have a website or has a website but does not have an interactive feature.
An example of how to use this resource would be used would be to start a thread such as  “Albion Ridges Wednesday Night League Notes”. You would find the Annandale Area subcategory under the regional Central Minnesota category then begin a thread for discussion among members in that particular league.

Remember that the information is only as good as the source. When posting information about golf courses or golf vacation spots be fair and honest. Postings that violate the terms of service will be eliminated and any person making false claims on this forum will be subjected to having the discussion privileges revoked.

Tim Harlow of  StarTribune.com first reported the story on Thursday April 3rd.

Izaty’s has been a popular vacation destination on the south shore of Mille Lacs Lake for generations. Izaty’s is home to two 18-hole golf courses Black Brook and The Sanctuary.

The resort has been purchaced by Todd Christenson who also owns Mille Lacs Golf Resort and Marina in nearby Garrison, Minnesota.

There are many activities that we can do in the off season to keep our bodies in shape and I will share some of those activities with you over the coming months as we get ready for another Minnesota golf season.

There is no indication of where this video was taken, but it could at any school here in Minnesota for that matter. Birdie Balls limited flight practice balls make a great tool to keep your game sharp in the long Minnesota off season. Take a look at this video to see if it gives you any ideas.

Until next time.

I’ll see you on the back nine!

Never fear, Minnesota golfers have played in snow a time or two before. In late March the norm is to play with snow still in the sand traps. As for now, make the most of the nice weather we have been experiening because you never know what tomorrow will bring!

I’ll see you on the back nine!

Territory Golf Club plays to a par of 72 and measures 6,921 yards from the back tee markers. The course rating, from the back tees, is 72.9 and has a slope index of 125. There are four sets of tee markers, which means there is an appropriate yardage for golfers of all skills.

The management team consisting of Brock Swanson, head golf professional, Dan Stang, golf course superintendent and Dan Dols, general manager make sure that the players experience is outstanding. The course condition and the pace of play make Territory Golf Club a golf course that you will want to place on your list of places to play in central Minnesota. My playing partner and I played our round on a weekend morning and completed our play in just less than four hours. There were groups in front of and behind us and the pace of play flowed nicely.

The greens at Territory Golf Club are quite large, averaging nearly 7,000 square feet each and have significant undulation. These two factors make club selection as you approach the green critical. Just being on the green in regulation does not guarantee that you will have two putts for a par. My playing partner for the round described the greens a looking like “big potato chips” referring the random shapes as well as the wavy appearance as you walk onto the putting surface.

Another challenge at Territory Golf Club is the sand traps. The traps can generally be described as large, deep and having steep faces on them. Getting out of the traps successfully should be your first concern, getting close to the pin should be of secondary importance.

The back nine plays longer than the front nine with number 10 and number 18 being the two longest holes on the golf course. The par-3 holes are longer-range holes with the shortest playing at 170 yards and the longest playing at 245 yards.

If you are looking for a challenging golf course to play in central Minnesota I would certainly check out Territory Golf Club in St. Cloud. You can call for a tee a time at 320-258-4653 or visit their website at www.territorygc.com for more details.

Kimball Golf Club and Head Professional Judd Bonham have made this possible through their participation in the MinnesotaRuralGolf.com free golf promotion.

To learn more about how you can win free golf just fill in your details on the “Sign Up For Free Golf” tab on the upper right column of the homepage at MinnesotaRuralGolf.com

To book your own tee time at Kimball Golf Club call 320-398-2285 and experience one of the fine hidden gems that rural Minnesota has to offer. Kimball Golf Club is conveniently located just 15 minutes south of St. Cloud on Highway 15.

Until next time, I’ll see you on the back nine!

Dana Buttenhoff

MinnesotaRuralGolf.com