Play the Top 10 courses

Eveleth Municipal Golf Course – A nine hole golf course with a lot of tall pine trees and greens that above average size and speed.

My favorite holes are # 7 – a par three with a bank behind and in front of the green – the hole plays from 125 yards to 140 yards – hit your tee shot short and the ball will role down the bank – making for a tough second shot to get close to the hole – hit your tee shot long and it might role down near the hole. Watch out if the hole is in the front of the green and your tee shot is in the back – your putt might just roll off the green. # 9 is also a favorite of mine – it is only 300 to 315 yards long but big hitters have no where to land their tee shot – the green is elevated and invisible if your drive is hit long. Play a lay-up with a fairway wood or long iron to see the hole. This green is very tough and fast – one could easily 3 or 4 putt.

The Wilderness at Fortune Bay – Same designer – Jeff Brauer designed The Wilderness, The Legend and The Quarry at Giants Ridge.

Spectacular clubhouse, outside patio, driving range and putting green – all with a view of both the ninth and eighteenth greens and the tenth tee-off. My favorite holes –  they all are - but hole number one is spectacular – you drive up and can barely see the number one green – the hole plays from 480 yards to 600 yards. To reach the green in regulation – you have to hit a long drive and follow it up with a long fairway wood shot. Depending on where the hole is – you could still be faced with a 50 foot putt. The scenery is awesome – you are in the northwoods. Hole number 13 showcases Lake Vermilion and can be played in a number of ways. The hole plays from 300 to 325 yards – but that is only if you cut off the dogleg on your drive. Most people have to lay up or they will end up in the water or hazard. Like I said – it is hard to pick out a favorite hole – break 80 a you have shot well - this course is truly spectacular and you can always try your luck at the Casino after your round.

The Legend at Giants Ridge® - the first course designed by Brauer to open.  I advise every golfer to hit a few practice shots on the range before your round. Hole number one and number 10 are side by side and require a t-shot over the marsh of 160 to 200 yards. My favorite holes on this course are many also. But, the 4 holes grouped on the far northside of the course #13, 14, 15 and 16 are my favorite ones to play. Hole # 14 is a par 5 that plays from 470 to 510 yards – on the tee - the hole layout is full of sand traps – once you get to the green and look back towards the tee – and the sand traps have disappeared – that is why I call this hole the mirage hole. The next hole – # 15 is a long par 4 that plays 409 – 452 yards  - you must hit your tee shot long and straight and you still have a long approach over a marsh to reach the green.  My other favorite is hole number 17 – a par three is a hole like no other – it can play from 150 to 230 yards long and it is all carry over Sabin Lake. Par on this hole and you will talk about it with your group on the nineteenth hole.

The Quarry at Giants Ridge® is built on an old Quarry and has a lot of elevated tees. The Wacootah clubhouse has great food. My favorite holes are # 2 – a spectacular par 5. You can hit your t-shot long and the ball flies forever – depending on where you hit it – you then have to decide to lay-up on the dog-leg fairway or go for the green over the quarry tall grass. Hole number 4 is a par 3 that can play from 269 yards from the back tees – one of the longest par threes in the Country. Hole number 13 plays from 275 yards to 323 yards – big hitters can actually drive this green because of the elevated t-shot. Once on the green – you will be amazed at how big the green is - one of the largest you will ever play – you could actually have a putt of over 100 feet. All of the par threes are beautiful and very hard on this course – number 17 is another par three where you have to carry you tee shot over water at least 150 yards.

Virginia Municipal Golf Course – This is my home course – it is a very good “MUNI” course as far as the layout of the holes. Lots of trees and water hazards. If ever anyone is interested in a Best ball nassau game – no handicap – show up around 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning – and there will be 20 golfers to wager with. My favorite holes are number 7 – a par 5 that is reachable if you stay out of the fairway bunker on your t-shot and your second shot clears the green traps. Once on this is the largest green – so hit it close or you might 3 putt. Mt other favorite hole is number 16 – a really nice par 3 with an out of bounds on your right. “Michaels on the Course” has terrific food – from sandwiches to steaks. Try the walleye or the Sunday morning brunch buffet. The view is great from the patio for your after round cocktail.

Do you have a favorite hole of golf on the Iron Range?  If so, I’d love to hear about it!