Fall is the perfect season for a golf getaway. We’ve had an exceptionally warm September here on the Iron Range, but it looks like we’re going to head back to more seasonable temps as the month of September comes to a close.
So, before the snow starts to fly, I just wanted to let you all know that many of the courses within the Iron Range region are offering some fantastic fall golf packages. Here are a couple that I came across online today (if there are more out there, please feel free to let me know):
The Legend and The Quarry at Giants Ridge Fall Golf Special
Play Monday thru Thursday, September 7-closing FOR ONLY $52! Book your tee times and play at The Legend or The Quarry. (Remember to register in the Giants Ridge Golf Shop upon check-in for complimentary Troon Rewards Program to be eligible for this special rate. )
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay End of Season Play and Stay Special
October 1st - 11th
One nights lodging and one round for $78.86 per person
Golf Rate: $45 - Standard Room Rate: $67.73 based on double occupancy
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.
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!
Book 2009 Tee Times at The Wilderness!Fall has arrived at The Wilderness with the last day of the season on Sunday, October 12th. You can start planning your 2009 outing soon! Tee times will open to the public Monday November 3, 2008. Winter business hours will be Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Have a great winter and we look forward to seeing you in 2009!
Giants Ridge is hosting a LAST CHANCE2-PERSON TOURNAMENT on Sunday, October 5th. This will be your last chance to get on the course and get in those 18 holes for the season. The fall colors also promise to be amazing.
Entry Fee: $80 per person, plus tax
Includes: Lunch with PAYOUTS!
11 AM shotgun start
6 holes best ball
6 holes scramble
6 holes shamble!
Plus, great “Last Chance” savings on lodging at Villasand The Lodge.
I would like to thank you all for your patronage this summer and remind you that the golf course is in fantastic shape through the fall. We do not aerify our greens in the fall so the green conditions are at their best. The fall colors through the second week of October are spectacular and top off an already great reason to make one last trip north. Visit our site to subscribe to our email list to receive upcoming e-mails that promote our end of the season ‘Stay & Play’ packages that will help make that last trip of the season an easy decision. I appreciate your business and look forward to seeing you!
Mesaba Country Club, Hibbing
Come join us for the best golf event in Northern Minnesota. If you are interested in playing in one of the oldest & best match play events in Minnesota for players of all levels (Aug. 29- Sept. 1) go to the following links for more details www.mesabacc.com/northwestflyer.pdf www.mesabacc.com/northwest.html
Also don’t miss out on the Queen City BankFall Classic
Two Person Scramble
September 13 & 14
Entry Fee: $85
Includes: Two rounds of golf, gift certificates, barbecue lunch on Sunday & over $1800 in on course games to be given away on Saturday!
Optional Senior Division – age 50 or over
(Top eight qualifying scores will make up Senior Champ Flight.)
For tee times call (218) 263-4826
Visit our Website at: mesabacc.com
If your local Iron Range course has a special event going on this fall, submit it as a comment here on my blog and we’ll be sure to get it posted for you. Let me know where you’ll be playing!
Great Golf on the Iron Range - NOW!
What a wonderful two days of golf on Sunday and Monday. I was very lucky to be invited to the Media Day Events at both The Wilderness at Fortune Bay on Sunday and The Quarry at Giants Ridge on Monday. Both courses are in wonderful shape and the staff at each of the respective locations went out of their way to ensure two great days of golf on the Iron Range. The right equipment = all the difference
I can attribute much of my enjoyment for golf this year to one particular thing – The Taylor Made Burner Driver. I have NEVER hit the ball so straight and so long in all of my years of playing this fabulous sport. It has really made a difference in my game. If you have a chance to try one out, I’d highly recommend it! Everyone of my friends who has tried to hit it has also liked the results. So, I guess it’s true…one can improve their game with new equipment.
Other MN golf news
I went to Jordan, MN, last week to watch the Class AA Minnesota State High School Golf Tournament. The wind gusts reached over 40 miles an hour on Friday. The 18th hole was 2-tiered with the hole placement on the top tier. I watched a boy (who was 2 over after 17) reach the hole in 4 against the wind. He had a 35 foot putt left for par. His first putt was within 2 feet of the hole until the wind gust blew the ball back down to where he putted. He then hit his next putt 10 feet past the hole – until a wind gust again blew his ball back to where he putted it from. He putted a third time to within 1 inch of the hole – ran to mark his ball – but a wind gust again blew his ball back to the bottom tier. Unbelievably he made this long putt on his fourth try. If that was me, “something” would have gone flying! Talk about frustration! In my opinion , course officials could’ve responded to this. Maybe adding water to the green to slow them down? Just my opinion, for what it’s worth!
All of the courses that I’ve played on the Iron Range this season are in great shape. For more information on golf on the Iron Range, click here.
If you’re planning a golf getaway on the Iron Range, let me know where you’re planning to play!
Well, the weather is finally starting to cooperate with golfers on the Iron Range. Just wanted to take a second to post the forecast for the remainder of this week and holiday weekend. With highs into the 60s and even the 70s later this week, it looks to be shaping up to be a great week to hit any of the great courses on the Iron Range.
I just got off the phone with the golf gods…I have been assured winter is officially over! Spring on the Iron Range brings beautiful warm weather, green fairways and fast greens. Like everyone else out there, I’m excited to get out and enjoy a day on the links with friends. For those of you who have purchased new equipment (driver, irons, putter), you’ll finally have the chance to try them out! Early season golf is a great time to enjoy discount golf. Practically every course in northeastern Minnesota will be open this weekend. So, if you’re headed to the area for Minnesota’s Fishing Opener, be sure to pack your clubs. That way, if you don’t end up with much luck on the water, at least you’ve got a back-up plan. And, many local courses, including The Quarry at Giants Ridge offer special pre-season rates. The opening day special at The Quarry runs from today, May 6th through Friday, May 9th. A little detour to The Quarry (prior to the fishing opener) will prove to be well worth it.
I plan to hit the links at the Eveleth Municipal Course to participate in the Verant Two-Man Scramble. Let me know where you’re planning to play….never know, I may just share a pointer or two!
As much as I want the golf season here NOW, the Iron Range received another couple feet of snow over the past week and they’re forecasting more in the next few days. Disgusting for us golf groupies! Thankfully, I’ll be on vacation for the next week plus, in a location minus the snow and where warm, sunny weather is status quo. Nevertheless, courses in the area are ramping up for yet another spectacular golf season. Many of them are anticipating an early May opening and several of them are taking tee times now. Check out a list of all of the courses on the Iron Range here.
The Iron Range is home to several championship and first class municipal courses. Several of the courses participate in a cooperative program, offering golfers a fantastic golf getaway each and every year. The 2008 “Wild North Player’s Club” card is offering seven great golf specials with your FREE 2008 Player’s Club WILD Card on your second round of play! Obtain your 2008 Wild Card at one of these great courses in the region:
I had some help last year from some friends to produce a ‘webisode’ about why the Iron Range is one of my favorite golf getaways in all of Minnesota (or the Midwest for that matter). Check it out here! As I’ve mentioned a million times before, the Iron Range is truly A Great Way to Getaway and a hidden gem among greater Minnesota golf vacations.
So, until the snow showers decide to produce May flowers, I’ll continue to blog about my hopes for a start to the golf season on the Iron Range. Be sure to check my blog for more Iron Range golf info, golf tips and more!
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