Minnesota and Wisconsin?

garyt · April 7

Michigander here and we've done everything there is to do in Michigan golf and tourist wise. Looking to explore MN and Wisconsin. Any golf areas in these states like we have in MI? Not looking for Whistling Straits type places that are $300 a round or more.
Also looking for non golf things to do, mostly natural type stuff. We did a great waterfall tour in upper MI last time and it was fantastic. I assume Wisc has something similar? Looking for things similar to Hocking Hills in Ohio, stuff like that?
What's out there?

big_cat37 · April 7

Wisconsin Dells could fit the bill. Wild Rock and Trappers Turn are well-known around here. Excellent natural areas including Wisconsin River, Devils Lake (hiking), Driftless area a bit further west.

BirdieRoll · April 13

Not easy to get to, but there's some great golf in northeast MN (The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, and the two courses at Giants Ridge: The Legend and the Quarry). These three are widely considered best-in-state in MN and their prices won't break the bank relatively speaking.

You could pair up those courses, and either stay at Giants Ridge, stay at a resort on Lake Vermilion (widely considered the most beautiful lake in MN with 360 islands with The Wilderness on its shores) or if you were into camping/canoeing/fishing, the Boundary Waters outside of Ely, MN could be your home base if you didn't mind driving a little bit for the golf. (There are outfitters in Ely that can arrange whatever you might need).

And if private connections, you could check out Northland CC in Duluth which is a Donald Ross that overlooks Lake Superior.

eboettne · April 14

I'll 2nd Giants Ridge 36 + Wilderness at Fortune Bay. I've done the trip multiple times(profile picture is #17 at Giants Ridge The Legend course) and it always is a great value golf trip. Around $100/round for very good golf. I might also throw in Wolf Ridge Golf Course in Angora, MN as a hidden gem. It's a reversible 9 hole course that's kept up by a guy that lives on the course.

Scott10 · April 21

Brainerd area of Minnesota has some nice spots - not quite as good as Giant's ridge, but more volume:

1) Decons Lodge

2) The Pines

3) Gravel Pit (newer 13 hole layout style)

4) Minnesota National

5) Craguns

eboettne · April 22

On 4/21/2025 at 7:45 AM, Scott10 said:

Brainerd area of Minnesota has some nice spots - not quite as good as Giant's ridge, but more volume:

1) Decons Lodge

2) The Pines

3) Gravel Pit (newer 13 hole layout style)

4) Minnesota National

5) Craguns

Although I've never played Gravel Pit or Minnesota National(playing in August) I'd agree with your other rankings. I would put The Preserve ahead of The Pines. Deacon's Lodge is far and away the best course in that area to me.

I hate to say this but Cragun's has gone way downhill to me and I love it when I started going in 2016ish. It's demanding target golf and just wasn't enjoyable last time we went. The new Lehman course, while better than the other course was not grown in when we played and shouldn't have bene opened. On top of that, the breakfast buffet was absolutely terrible. On the other hand, Grand View Lodge's breakfast buffet was incredible.

All this being said, I think Deacon's is the only course even in the conversation compared to Giants Ridge and Wilderness. Everything is so much bigger and more substantial the further North you go. Last time we went to Brainerd we just wish we would've gone North.

Scott10 · April 22

44 minutes ago, eboettne said:

Although I've never played Gravel Pit or Minnesota National(playing in August) I'd agree with your other rankings. I would put The Preserve ahead of The Pines. Deacon's Lodge is far and away the best course in that area to me.

I hate to say this but Cragun's has gone way downhill to me and I love it when I started going in 2016ish. It's demanding target golf and just wasn't enjoyable last time we went. The new Lehman course, while better than the other course was not grown in when we played and shouldn't have bene opened. On top of that, the breakfast buffet was absolutely terrible. On the other hand, Grand View Lodge's breakfast buffet was incredible.

All this being said, I think Deacon's is the only course even in the conversation compared to Giants Ridge and Wilderness. Everything is so much bigger and more substantial the further North you go. Last time we went to Brainerd we just wish we would've gone North.

Spot on - Deacons is a must for me at least once a year. Craguns is just resort golf, Deacons has done a great job not falling into that category, feels like a country club, tremendous service.

I think you’ll like MN National, great layout. Played 72 holes there over a weekend last summer, doesn’t get boring. Bring bug spray.

eboettne · April 27

On 4/22/2025 at 9:01 AM, Scott10 said:

Spot on - Deacons is a must for me at least once a year. Craguns is just resort golf, Deacons has done a great job not falling into that category, feels like a country club, tremendous service.

I think you’ll like MN National, great layout. Played 72 holes there over a weekend last summer, doesn’t get boring. Bring bug spray.

Thanks for letting me know, planning to play it in early August on the backend of a Giants Ridge/Wilderness trip!

benkodi · April 29

On 4/22/2025 at 9:12 AM, eboettne said:

Although I've never played Gravel Pit or Minnesota National(playing in August) I'd agree with your other rankings. I would put The Preserve ahead of The Pines. Deacon's Lodge is far and away the best course in that area to me.

I hate to say this but Cragun's has gone way downhill to me and I love it when I started going in 2016ish. It's demanding target golf and just wasn't enjoyable last time we went. The new Lehman course, while better than the other course was not grown in when we played and shouldn't have bene opened. On top of that, the breakfast buffet was absolutely terrible. On the other hand, Grand View Lodge's breakfast buffet was incredible.

All this being said, I think Deacon's is the only course even in the conversation compared to Giants Ridge and Wilderness. Everything is so much bigger and more substantial the further North you go. Last time we went to Brainerd we just wish we would've gone North.

The Classic at Madden’s is either one or two in the Brainerd area if you pair it with Deacons. It’s a coin flip.

The third best course is open for discussion.

Indeed, Craguns is tired, dated, dirty and out of gas. Luckily, a new ownership group has it now so hopefully there is a bit of a turnaround.

eboettne · May 6

On 4/29/2025 at 10:54 AM, benkodi said:

The Classic at Madden’s is either one or two in the Brainerd area if you pair it with Deacons. It’s a coin flip.

The third best course is open for discussion.

Indeed, Craguns is tired, dated, dirty and out of gas. Luckily, a new ownership group has it now so hopefully there is a bit of a turnaround.

Madden's is definitely a good course but boy is it DEMANDING. That course can eat your lunch, especially if they get the greens rolling fast.