The Minnesota Golf Trail

Copyright 2006 Dana Buttenhoff

The Minnesota Golf Trail is made of ten golf courses in the northwestern part of the state and includes facilities in and around the towns of Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Park Rapids, Menahga, Walker, Perham, Ottertail and Battle Lake.

The golf courses included on the Minnesota Golf Trail are:

To get to the Minnesota Golf Trail you will travel approximately 2 hours northwest of the Twin Cities on Interstate 94 or on US Hwy 10 and then proceed to the affiliated golf courses. Fergus Falls is less than an hour from the Fargo, North Dakota area via Interstate 94 and a little over 4 hours driving time for our friends from the Winnipeg, Canada area.

Longbow Golf Club

The Longbow Golf Club is located north of Walker on Hwy. 371. The Longbow Golf Club is an 18-hole Par 72 course that plays 6,536 yards from the back tees and has a course rating of 71.2 and a slope index of 123. This golf course has something for everyone including 4 sets of tees. Green fees for 18-holes are $35.00 and a power cart can be rented for $13.00 per person. There are also twilight rates that begin at 3:00pm.

Tianna Country Club

Tianna Country Club is located 2 miles south of Walker on Hwy 34.Tianna Country Club is an 18-hole facility that plays 6,550 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 72 and a slope index of 127. The golf course dates back to 1922 with the name Tianna being adopted in 1929. Visit the golf course website for rates and twilight specials.

Headwaters Country Club

Headwaters Country club is located north of Park Rapids and you can call the pro shop for directions and tee times at 1-866-250-4224. Headwaters Country Club is an 18-hole golf course that measures 6,588 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 72 and a slope index of 127. The cost to play is $36.75 and rental power carts are also available. After your round enjoy a sandwich and a cold beverage in the Club House.

Blueberry Pines Golf Club

Blueberry Pines is located 3 miles north of Menahga on Hwy. 71. Blueberry Pines features cart mounted GPS units in their golf carts, so you ll never be without an accurate yardage measurement. The course is an 18-hole layout that features 5 different set of tee boxes to make the day enjoyable for golfers of all abilities. Blueberry Pines Golf Club also features a complete Pro Shop and a full service restaurant.

Perham Lakeside Golf Club

The Perham Lakeside Golf Club is made up of three different 9-hole courses, Maple, Oak and Pine. The Maple Course plays 3,444 yards from the back tees and has a par of 37. The Oak Course plays 3,200 yards from the back tees and has a par of 36. The Pine Course is the newest of the three courses and was completed in 1998. The Pine Course measures 3,522 from the back tees and has a par of 36. Contact the clubhouse for rates, as there are morning and afternoon pricing during the week as well as on weekends. There are power carts available to rent for your round. Remember to stop at Milligan s Pub after your round of golf to enjoy a round of refreshments.

Detroit Country Club

The Detroit Country Club is located 5 miles south of Detroit Lakes off of County Road 22. The Detroit Country Club is a 36-hole facility that is made up of the Pine to Palm course which is a par 71 layout that dates back to 1916 and is the host each August of one of the longest running golf tournaments in Minnesota; The Pine To Palm Tournament. The Lakeview Course opened in 1980 and is a par 64.

Wildflower Golf Course: Wildflower Golf Course is part of the Fair Hills Resort and was designed by Joel Goldstrand and is a prairie links design that has a course rating of 74.2 and a slope index of 139. The 86 bunkers on this course have a lot to do with the healthy course rating and slope. Prime time, Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekend rates are $49.00 with a power cart being $15.50 per person. There are also play and stay packages available.

Thumper Pond

Thumper Pond Golf Course & Resort is just outside of Ottertail, Minnesota. This is one stop for the entire family. The property features a hotel, water park, spa and restaurant. The golf course plays 6,606 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 72.5 and a slope index of 132. Weekends and holidays the charges for 18-holes and a cart are $55.00. There are also play and stay packages available.

Balmoral Golf Course

Balmoral Golf Course is located on the southeastern corner of Ottertail Lake on State Hwy. #78. The golf course is a par 72 that plays 6,210 from the back tees. The 18-hole rate for weekends and holidays is $32.00 and a power cart rental is just $13.00 additional.

Pebble Lake Golf Course

Pebble Lake Golf Course is located just 2 miles south of Fergus Falls on County Road 82. The golf course was established in 1941.Pebble Lake Golf Course is a par 72 facility. The front 9 has a par of 37 that features 3 par 5 holes; the back 9 has a par of 35.

As you can see the Minnesota Golf Trail has something for everyone to make this northwestern destination a perfect choice for your Minnesota golf vacation this summer!

By: Dana Buttenhoff - Dana Buttenhoff is an avid golfer and a native Minnesotan. After 20 years of golf and traveling around the USA, Dana would like to share the golf gems rural Minnesota has to offer. www.minnesotaruralgolf.com