Minneapolis / St. Paul MN Golf Weekend
Rush Creek GC
Golf Digest, 5/10, 8/08 & 4/05
Golf Magazine, '07
My Town: Tim Herron
When the snow has melted, classic courses and beautiful scenery make Minneapolis an ideal destination
By Jim Moriarty, Golf Digest
Photo courtesy of Rush Creek GC
May 17, 2010
They can take the man out of Minnesota, but they can't take the Minnesota out of the man. Tim (Lumpy) Herron has won four PGA Tour events. The most recent came in 2006 at Colonial, where he received the traditional plaid jacket which, in turn, made him the best-dressed ice fisherman in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Herron may have chosen to go to college in New Mexico, but he was born, raised and lives near Minneapolis and is a perfect salesman for the area. "Twin Cities is great because when it's really hot in the south, it's a good place to cool off," says Lumpy. "It can get hot in the summer, but you get some relief. The golf's good, and you're not drenched. But I wouldn't recommend the winters."
COURSES
We've got some really good public courses in area, and you probably won't see many that are more than $100. Everything is reasonably priced. Rush Creek GC ($100) is on the west side in Maple Grove and has an unbelievable teaching facility. It's hosted three LPGA events and the U.S. Public Links.
There are some great resorts farther north for family vacations and a little fishing. The Pines at Grand View Lodge is the one I go to when I'm in Brainerd. It's 2½ hours from Minneapolis.
Wayzata CC*, which is my home course, and Windsong Farm GC*, which is an equity club that hosts a lot of corporate outings, are fairly easy to get on if you know someone. We have a couple Donald Ross courses, too: Interlachen CC* and Minikahda Club*. And there's Hazeltine National*, which is just like what you saw at the PGA Championship, a long and hard course. You need to know a member, but Hazeltine is very accommodating to guests. One other course I'll go play is Somerset CC*. It's old style, Seth Raynor. A classic.
DINING
If you're going for steak, there's nothing better than Murray's Restaurant. It's an old supper club. I've got a connection to it; a good friend of mine and my father own it. When the Vikings are playing a late football game, that's usually where we meet.
Barrio is another great restaurant. They have a great Tequila salmon and habanero pickled onion.
LODGING
The upscale place to stay in Minneapolis is Le Meridien Chambers. They have a great restaurant, too -- D'Amico Kitchen. We have a Westin Hotel that was built out of an old bank that's pretty cool as well. When the Champions Tour event is held nearby in Blaine, most of the players stay in the city and make the commute. It's worth it to stay downtown.
Pubs:
There's a lot of energy downtown. Brit's is a place I like to hang out. There are also some good Irish pubs. O' Donovan's stands out...A great place to go if you're outside the Twin Cities is Maynards on Lake Minnetonka. It's about 20-30 minutes west of downtown. People come in boats. You can eat out on the deck. There's a fun place too called Jake O'Conner's. Fully Irish.
Off the course:
If you're around in July, check out the Basilica Block Party. They get a lot of musicians and have four or five stages with bands playing...The Twins' new baseball park, Target Field, is state of the art. And there's a new stadium at the University of Minnesota if you want to catch the Gophers play football in the fall.
From Golf Digest Apr 05:
Near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
REALLY CLOSE BY: Hiawatha G. Cse. (4553 Longfellow Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-724-7715; 13 minutes, six miles; $26-$28) is a respectable muny that will let you get back to the airport in plenty of time.
BEST CHOICE: Braemar G. Cse. (6364 John Harris Drive, Edina; 952-826-6799; 17 minutes, 10 miles; $33-$59) is one of the best munys in the state, so getting a tee time at the last minute might be a challenge. The course is part of a 500-acre park and has 27 holes. There also is a nine-hole executive course and a dome for practicing indoors in crummy weather.
ANOTHER OPTION: Dwan G. Cse. (3301 W. 110th St., Bloomington; 952-563-8702, 17 minutes, 10 miles, $25-$35; not rated) is a par-68, 5,485-yard course. It's not much on conditioning, but locals say it has improved of late.
AIRPORT CONFIDENTIAL: Talk about convenient: The parking is located in the center of this airport's horseshoe design. If you know your gate, you can choose the best exit to take from the garage—a shortcut that will save you several minutes of walking. Locals like to brag about living in the most golf-crazed state, so you should have no trouble getting directions to a course or finding a taxi driver who knows the quickest route.
#7 on Golf Magazine's 2007 Thrifty 50:
Willinger's Golf Club
Northfield, Minn.
6,809 yards, par 72; Greens fee: $39 and up; 952-652-2500,
www.willingersgc.com
Don't let the name deter you: this course only sounds like some guy's backyard project. Willinger's is 30 miles from downtown Minneapolis but sports a wild, way-out-there ambiance. The opening nine is flattish and wanders around multiple marshland areas, but the layout really comes alive on the topsy-turvy back nine that's tucked into the trees.
Minnesota's Fab Four
In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, water is always in play
By Matt Ginella
Golf Digest August 2008
Reviewing our list of America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses, I was surprised to see Minnesota has four in the top 60, and California, with its dramatic coastline and warm weather, has just three. Time for a fact check. I plotted my course in the north-east quadrant of Minnesota so I could play all four.
This trip took me to the Quarry and the Legend at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Nos. 19 and 59, respectively, as well as the Classic at Madden's Resort in Brainerd, No. 42, and Deacon's Lodge in nearby Breezy Point, No. 52.
In 3½ days I drove 400 miles, stayed at three resorts, played 111 holes, caught one bass and one photographer (our lines crossed under the boat). On long, desolate drives, this big-city dweller was charmed to see signs for $2 domestic tap beers, an active drive-in theater and a town hall under the same roof as a U-Save Foods supermarket.
The Classic course at Madden's was my favorite. It was laid out and built by the superintendent, Scott Hoffmann, the only course on his design résumé. He moved almost no dirt, which makes the course feel like it's a natural trip through red oaks and rolling slopes. It's also the only one of the four where walking is a realistic option. I loved the par-5 16th. You'll know why when you reach your drive and look out over the picturesque property.
A close second to the Classic is the Quarry, which sits in the shell of a former sand quarry. Designed by Jeff Brauer, it's a double-diamond track in terms of difficulty. My favorite hole was the 296-yard 13th. You can hit anything from a 6-iron to a driver off the tee, but if you gamble and lose, your score will suffer: I hit driver right of right and deep into some trees, re-teed, hit driver again to 15 feet and just missed the par putt.
Deacon's Lodge, designed by Arnold Palmer and named in honor of his father, has some forced carries and changes in elevation and terrain. As you walk to the tee of the 174-yard 17th hole and take in the view, it's hard to keep the volume down on your inner monologue: "Cool." Loosely surrounded by marshes and a lake, the hole has the feel of playing to an island green.
The Legend sits at the base of a small ski resort. The 14th through 17th are strong finishing holes, with an emphasis on the 216-yard 17th. You play over a corner of Sabin Lake. Pick a club, trust your swing, and as your ball sails over the water, remind yourself to breathe. The 18th is a generic, short par 4 and gets well-deserved grief.
I can't call Biwabik or the resort at Giants Ridge a vacation destination. The rooms and the restaurant at the resort feel stale. The people of Biwabik are nice, there's just not a lot of them. How often do you find the director of golf at two of the top public courses in the country cleaning carts? The day I was there, that's what John Kendall was doing. (A few members of his staff were playing in a high school tournament.)
The Brainerd area, on the other hand, attracts travelers. The population goes from 60,000 in the winter to 120,000 during the summer. Families and couples should stay at Madden's on Gull Lake (standard-room rate starts at $183). There are plenty of options for outdoor and spa activities. A group of guys on a buddies trip should stay at Grand View Lodge. In fact, request suite 689. It has three rooms, three bathrooms, six beds, two floors, a kitchen, a pool table, foosball and five TVs (six people for $595 per night).
Staying at Madden's resort or the Grand View Lodge puts you in a strategic spot to play the Classic and Deacon's Lodge, only 20 miles apart. If you're a true fanatic, determined to play all of America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses, fly to Duluth and drive an hour to Biwabik. Grab a towel. Kendall could use a hand in the cart barn.
Local Knowledge
Robin of the Hood
I didn't see the Prince of Thieves, but it's easy to understand how Little John got so big if he was eating at Sherwood Forest restaurant at the Grand View Lodge. It's fine dining.
Something's Fishy
There are plenty of great fishing guides near Gull Lake, but I went with Walleyedan (www.walleyedan.com). Taking up to three people per boat, Dan (above) offers trips for four hours ($275), six hours ($375) and eight hours ($475). The walleye season starts the second Saturday of May and lasts through the end of February. Ask about a fish named "Jingles."
The Jerk
If you make the day trip to Giants Ridge, eat your meal at the Whistling Bird. Talk about a square peg in a round hole: This is an authentic Jamaican Jerk restaurant in the town of Gilbert. (pop. 1,755). Somehow it fits.
THE FOURSOME
1. LEGEND AT GIANTS RIDGE (★★★★½) $82/$89
2. QUARRY AT GIANTS RIDGE (★★★★½) $82/$89, giantsridge.com, 800-688-7669
3. DEACON'S LODGE (★★★★½) $99/$109, deaconslodge.com, 888-437-4637
4. CLASSIC AT MADDEN'S ON GULL LAKE (★★★★★) $114, maddens.com, 800-642-5363
★ Star listings from 1 to 5 are derived from readers' Best Places To Play ratings.
TWIN CITIES
Golf Digest, By Ron Whitten
I'd never discourage a golfer from playing the fine resort courses in Minnesota's Northwoods -- but because you fly into the Twin Cities to do so, why not sample the local courses instead?
South of the airport is The Wilds in Prior Lake, a Jay Morrish/Tom Weiskopf design, No. 4 among Golf Digest's Best New Upscale Public Courses in 1996. Less than two miles away is The Meadows at Mystic Lake, a Garrett Gill-Paul Miller design that finished 10th in the same category in 2006. The pair also did Legends Club in the same community, a 10th-place Upscale finisher in 2002. Revamped Highland National features a fairway bunker shaped like Snoopy, a tribute to cartoonist Charles Schulz, who caddied on the course as a kid. Out west is Rush Creek in Maple Grove, host of the 2004 USGA Public Links, and to the east is the granddaddy of St. Paul public golf, Keller Golf Course, site of the PGA Championship in 1932 and 1954. It's classic, but not legendary, because its winners were Dutra and Harbert instead of Hagen and Hogan.
For more information from our Best Places to Play Guide, including directions, green fees and reader comments click on the course names below.
1. 4 ½ stars: The Wilds G.C. / Prior Lake
2. The Meadows at Mystic Lake not yet rated / Prior Lake
3. 4 ½ stars: Legends C. / Prior Lake
4. 4 ½ stars: Rush Creek G.C. / Maple Grove
5. Highland National G. Cse. / not yet rated / St. Paul
6. 4 ½ stars: Keller G. Cse. / St. Paul
Where To Booze & Grub, Fat Guy Research:
Best Bar Nearby, Minneapolis: Stuff Magazine likes The Annex (582 Hennapin Ave, Minneapolis). 3 words: Total. Hottie. Waitresses. (whose collective favorite drink is called a Redheaded S!ut, a shooter of equal parts Jagermeister, Red Bull, and Cranberry). Enough said. Also heard good things about a place called Sneaky Pete's Ultimate Fun Bar (www.ultimatefunbar.com) for a no-pretense boozefest with a couple str!pper poles for patrons and where dancing on the bar is encouraged. Online reviews said Pete's sees lots of bachelorette parties and is usually wall-to-wall people on weekends. Also see 'What To Read Before You Go' below for Gentlemen's club recommendations.
Where To Grub: Golf Magazine likes the Ridges' at Sand Creek outdoor deck for good Buffalo wings and an even better walleye sandwich. Guy Fieri of Food Network's Diners Drive-Ins & Dives digs Nye's Polynesian Room (www.nyespolenaise.com), a Minneapolis landmark since 1950. An eclectic throwback spot that would have felt at home in Swingers, with multiple dining rooms (and a bar in each one), The World's Most Dangerous Polka Band on weekends, and some great food. Order the prime rib, and perogies. Matt's Bar (www.mattsbar.com) is a small hole-in-the-wall, but reputed to serve the best cheeseburger in Minnesota, aka the "Juicy Lucy", with the cheese cooked into a pocket inside the beef. But be careful, due to the way these burgers are cooked, it's easy to burn your mouth on the piping hot cheese. NorthWest Airlines' World Traveler magazine says Dakota Jazz Club has been quoted as "the most comfortable jazz club in the world for musicians and audiences", with cuisine featured in Cooking Light magazine. Murray's Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge (26 S 6th St, 612-339-0909, www.murraysrestaurant.com ) circa 1946 has won the prestigious Wine Spectator's Award Of Excellence. OR, Manny's Steakhouse (612-339-0201) makes some Best Steakhouses in the U.S. lists.
Where To Stay: Per Golf Magazine, end the day at Prior Lake at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel (800-813-7349, www.mysticlake.com ). Do a casual dinner at Minnehaha Cafe, upscale fare at Ribbons, or the as-far-as-the-eye-can-see Four Seasons Buffet. OR, Country Inn & Suites features golf packages (800-574-2150, www.countryinns.com).
Other Area Tracks To Play: Stonebrooke GC is relatively short with rolling terrain, lots of water, and a ferry ride across Lake O'Dowd on the 8th. Dine at the new clubhouse with waterfall-side seating, or at local fave supper club Dangerfield's. OR The Wilds GC is a Weiskopf-Morrish design with slopes up to 147. It's a long beast with broad fairways and wavy-edged bunkers, several lake/marsh-side holes, great Twin Cities skyline views from the 18th tee, and a good Sunday brunch buffet on the patio of The Wilds Pub.
Further Diversions: Shopaholics will head straight for The Mall of America in Bloomington. Just leave before credit card meltdown. Or families can head for Valleyfair -- the Midwest's largest family amusement park. Try a corn dog.
What To Read Before You Go: Candy Girl by Diablo Cody (autobiography). Here's a summary:
On a lark, an intelligent mid-20's nerdy girl named Diablo moves from her hometown of Chicago to Minneapolis, which she dubs the White City (for obvious reasons), or the City That Never Wakes. She does this to move in with a guy she met on the internet. Gets a job as a copy typist at an ad agency. On another lark (apparently she's big on larks), she's on her walk home from work, passing by a blue collar Gentlemen's club, notices a banner for Amateur Night, and enters. Her performance is awkward and a little scary, but exciting. Within two weeks she's dancing a couple nights a week at Schiek's, Minneapolis' most upscale Gentlemen's club. Internet boyfriend thinks it's great. Diablo adopts a unique style: wigs, witty comments, lots of rock-school high kicks, a sort of post-modern punk dancer. Keeps her day job. Dances for co-workers who happen to stumble in the club the night she's working, but somewhat to her dismay, they get shy about it the next day. She works her way through 3 new clubs, with moderate success, but can't seem to consistently land lap dances and bank. Gets addicted to the money despite her moderate success and lack of a drug habit or kids. Quits her day job. Graduates to working peep shows. Meets a lot of freaks. Starts dancing again at a new club, where, after months of dancing, she finally figures out the riddle of how to get guys to agree to a lap dance. She loses the wigs and the witty comments, learns to work the pole, stops gossiping in the locker room, observes when guys are warming up for a dance, sits on guys' laps and purrs. Gives herself over to becoming the fantasy. And she banks. Big time. Soon afterwards she burns out, runs crying from the club, but still needs the cash, so she downshifts to a brief stint as a phone s*x operator. Quickly gets fed up with every guy wanting the same barely-18-innocent-suburban-stacked-blonde-virgin-nympho fantasy. Finally decides she's had enough, gets a straight job, buys a house, and gets married to the internet guy. Oops, I just gave away the whole story. Check out her semi-interesting slide into the flesh trade, as well as her psychological and attitude progressions toward it, exposing the little-known underbelly of the American Midwest, through her glib little tough-girl jokes, unique similes, and vivid descriptions of the rat holes and characters she meets along the way. Supposedly a true story. Yes, occasionally I read this kind of trash.
Check out Diablo's Amateur Night starting digs at Skyway Lounge, Hennipen Ave; shop for Easy-Spirit-comfortable stripper shoe brand Ellies, or the official Midwestern dancer perfumes, Thierry Mugler Angel or Stella McCartney, at any of the White City's many fine exotic dancewear emporiums. Check out the happy internet couple's local hang of choice, the Texa-Tonka Bowling Alley, where Jaeger-pounding jocks peacefully co-exist with the local eccentrics. They only have 2 martini glasses in the joint, so order your foo-foo drinks early. Schiek's competition Déjà Vu aka "Big Pink", sports the slogan "1000's of beautiful girls, and 3 ugly ones", with $9 sodas and no liquor license, for nekkid entertainment. Diablo says bed dances at Big Pink are worth the ching, and laws get broken in the Erotic Loft. Or hit Choice, the rowdy, hands-on joint where Diablo finally learned to bank.
Diablo's 10 Best Songs to Strip To:
"Remix To Ignition" R. Kelly; "Purple Rain" Prince (requires some theatrics); "Honky Tonk Woman" The Rolling Stones (requires a Mick Jagger strut); "Pour Some Sugar On Me" Def Leppard; "Amber" by 311; "Miserable" by Lit (first line: 'You make me come'); "Back Door Man" by The Doors; "Back In Black" AC/DC; "I Touch Myself" Divinyls; "Hash Pipe" Weezer.