SAINT CLOUD — Central Minnesota golfers are well positioned.
St. Cloud is just over an hour to PGA Tour-level championship courses in the Twin Cities and close enough for an a.m. tee time at the resorts up north. But, witth two private courses and over a dozen public within a half hour drive of St. Cloud, some of the best rounds can be played in our own backyard.
There are a lot of ways to appreciate a round of golf and no course can capture every feeling in just one round. Nothing feels better than crushing a round on a difficult course — especially if it’s invite only — but nine holes of cheap fun with friends comes close. Other times you go for the scenery, driving out of town to check out a new course. However, you judge the best round of golf, use this poll to cast your vote for your favorite local course.
Vote for your favorite course until 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 14. And check out more information about each course below.
Albany Golf Club 500 Church Ave, AlbanyPublicOpened in 196118 holes72 par6,538 yards
Despite its location on Interstate 94, the Albany Golf Club could be considered a local gem. The clubhouse and proshop hosting the Greenside Grille was remodeled just a couple years ago.
Although many fairways run stright, Albany is not a boring back-and-forth round. A creek and a handful of retention ponds make up the few water features along several holes and fast greens keep players honest.
The back nine has the most memerable holes, inluding the tight and technical par 3 hole 11. No. 17 ruquires a drive over the creek and pot bunkers guard the elivated green.
The Albany Golf Club also has a 12-station Toptracer simulater on its driving range.
Angushire Golf Course 224 Waite Ave. S, St. CloudPublicOpened in 19849 holes35 par2,756 yards
The Angushire Golf Course offers nine holes of golf across Highway 15 from Heritage Park. It is one of two golf courses on the southwest side of St. Cloud, offering access to the sport to those in Waite Park, Luxemburg and St. Augusta along with Boulder Ridge. Tee times aren’t required, making for good last-minute fun. It also is open early in the season in March and stays open into October.
Besides trees lining the faiways, several ponds come into play on the course. A beautiful old Maple tree guards the green in the middle of No. 4’s fairway and No. 6 is just plain long — 512 yards.
Blackberry Ridge Golf Course 3125 Clubhouse Rd, SartellPublicOpened in 200118 holes72 par6,992 yards
Blackberry Ridge in Sartell is one of the finer golf desitnations in the area and at nearly 7,000 yards, it’s one of the longest. The course blends tight wooded holes with several farm-bordered link-style holes.
Four par fives challenge golfers in the middle of thier rounds intermixed with tight par 3s like No. 9 and No. 11. Hole 8 stands out as the longest chole at 588 yards. No. 18 also plays pretty long. Sloping back up to the clubhouse, the fairway ends before a water hazard and elivated green. Though well-kept, the course’s undulating greens may pose a bigger challenge than others in area.
At Blackberry Ridge there is a driving range, two practice greens and Grill19 in the clubhouse, a pretty venue for events.
Boulder Ridge Golf Club2750 Co Rd 74, St. CloudPublicOpened in 20019 holes35 par2,729 yards
Perfect for an hour and a half of golf, Boulder Ridge is located north of the new St. Cloud Tech High School off Highway 15. If you want to keep your balls dry, this might be the course for you with few water hazards. A clubhouse has cold beverage and Boulder Ridge also has a driving range and men’s and women’s leagues.
Kimball Golf Club 11823 County Road 150, KimballPublicOpened in 196818 holes72 par6,652 yards
Featureing mature trees and rolling hills, the Kimball Golf Club is a beautiful option to play just south of its namsake town. Origionally designed as a nine-hole course, in 1998 nine more holes were added for a full round. Besides a few Wisonsin lakes, ponds dot a couse that has more terrain than others in the area.
The course isn’t resort-level, but very playable and visually appealing with several elivated tee boxes and dependable conditions. Thick woods isolate some holes and No. 15 features an island green 321 yards from the blue tee.
Oak Hill Golf Club 8852 Indian Rd NW, RicePublicOpened in 198918 holes72 par6,534 yards
Less than half a mile in spots from the Mighty Mississippi, Oak Hill does not feature as much water as one might expect. Instead, trees and terrain map most of the course. For as inexpensive as it is, Oak Hill has beautifly-kept fairways winding to greens secluded by straight pines and wide oaks. Four tee boxes make it amiable to begninners and a location off Highway 10 make it a great pit stop on the way north.
The clubhouse menu also has entrees and breakfast beyond burgers, pizza, salads and sandwiches.
Pebble Creek Golf Club Championship Course14000 Club House Drive, BeckerPublicOpened in 198718 holes72 par6,872 yards
Known for being one of the best public courses in the area, Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker has varied holes to challenge intermediate and advanced golfers — perfect to host the Minnesota State High School League Class 1A championships. There are four sets of tee markers and facilities include a driving range, chipping area, practice bunker and green. It also hosts the Pebble Creek Bar & Grill.
With a few holes situated along the Elk River, the Championship Course has tree-lined fairways and strategic water hazards, forcing athletes to risk big numbers and lost balls. The course’s signature hole, No. 6 is a 175-yard par 3 over water that demands precision off the tee.
Pebble Creek Golf Club Local 914000 Club House Drive, BeckerPublicOpened in 19959 holes36 par3,497 yards
Formerly known as the blue nine, the Local 9 is an easily-walkable short course with friendlier ponds and open fairways. With a more forgiving rough and fewer bunkers, the Local 9 is more accessible than Pebble Creek’s Championship course. There are tee options and approachable greens, ideal for a quick or warm-up round. Still, some par 4 holes require all of the power thier designations suggest.
Rich Spring Golf Club 11290 80th Ave SE, Clear LakePublicOpened in 196118 holes72 par6,517 yards
Near the Sauk River’s chain of lakes, Rich Spring has a walkable 18 with tight fairways and greens shaded by mature trees. Rich Spring is a local favorite to host tournaments or to meet up with friends to play a familiar layout.
Because of its maitenence and inexpensive greens fees, Rich Spring has some of the best value of courses in the area. Additionally, Shady’s Long Shots has good pub food and a view of Schneiders Lake.
River Oaks Golf Course 23742 County Road 2, Cold SpringPublicOpened in 199018 holes70 par6,018 yards
Opposite RIch Sping on the northeast side of Cold Spring, River Oaks Golf Course has several holes overlooking the Sauk River. River Oaks is another favorite for philanthopic tournaments featuring a classic desgn with trees along fairways and plenty of water hazards.
As difficulty ramps up on the back nine, the course offers several doglages and some water clearances to challenge your game.
St. Cloud Country Club 301 Montrose Rd, St. CloudPrivateOpened in 191918 holes72 par6,622 yards
The oldest course in the area, the St. Cloud Country Club celebrated 100 years a few years ago and has recently rennovated its clubhouse. Situated at the end of the Beaver Islands, it has unbeatable views of the Mississippi River, including
With doglegs, holes rquiring a perfect tee shot over water and greens with guardian bunkers, this course will test all golfers. A membership requirment keeps play fast and and the course in top-tier shape, but anyone would love to challenge their skills or just marvel at the views.
Stone Creek Golf Club 13050 65th St NE, FoleyPublicOpened in 19989 holes36 par3,022 yards
South of Foley, Stone Creek is a good option for golfers in the commuity or those looking for the game east of the metro. The course boasts good pace of play and views of the Minnesota countryside. With open fairways, your main obstacles will be sand traps and ponds dotting the landscape.
Stone Creek also has a bar and grill to satiate any hungy golfers.
Territory Golf Club 480 55th Ave SE, St. CloudPublicOpened in 200118 holes72 par6,978 yards
Winding around several large ponds, the course at Territory Golf Club offers forgiving fairways with plenty of space to get from the rough back where you need to be. But where trees won’t challenge you water will. Golfers need to cross water features on a handful of holes with beatiful wetlands and isolated greens.
Those greens are also known for for thier large size and sometimes difficult slopes, so watch out with your short game.
Coyote Moon Grille also promises a good time with drinks and bar food at the clubhouse.
Three Tees Golf Course (Pine Ridge) 801 Pine Cone Rd NSartellPublicOpened in 19829 holes35 par2,894 yards
Earlier this summer breaking ground on a new restaurant, Three Tees has changed a lot in the past few years. Now nine holes, Thee Tees is building a new restaurant that promises excitement off Pine Cone Road in the location of the old clubhouse
Three Tees has a great community vibe as kids often bike to the course to catch a round right in town. With a solid hole variety, look out for a canal with water or punishing rough to challenge poor shots.
Travelers Country Club on the Mississippi 11290 80th Ave SE, Clear LakePrivateOpened in 19789 holes27 par1,588 yards
Just like the Mississippi River that flows past, Travelers is a quiet and relaxed and a round flows at the right pace. Nine holes of private fairways are tucked among the houses and trees in this gated community
For members, golf isn’t the only community activity, but the course is one of the highlights as it winds though trees and camping trailers.
Veterans Golf Club 5015 Veterans Dr, St. CloudPublicOpened in 19989 holes30 par1,820 yards
Next to the St. Cloud Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Veterans Golf Course, maintained by the city and Munipal Athletic Complex. Like several others on the list, Veterans Golf Club is along the Sauk River just a few miles from where it meets the Mississippi.
Golfers of all ages enjoy access to Veterans as it is easily accessible to residents of St. Cloud, Waite Park, Sartell and St. Joseph. They can appreciate affordable prices, an approachable course and a friendly environment. Most of the holes are par 3, but there are three par 4s to test your drive distance.
Wapicada Golf Club 4498 15th St NE, Sauk RapidsPublicOpened in 195718 holes72 par6,610 yards
With panoramic views, Wapicada offers beautiful scenary out east of Sauk Rapids. Mayhew Creek, a tributary of the Elk River, flows through Wapicada and the course takes advantage of it and a few ponds as water hazards. Beware of some tight fareways and some long par 3s, but also look forward to some short par 4s.
Wapicada also has a large practice green and plenty of room on the driving range.
Contact reporter Reid Glenn at rglenn@gannett.com.
