Minnewaska Golf Club

To understand this next course one must first understand Pope County Minnesota. My mom spent her childhood summers on silver beach road on Lake Minnewaska. Lake Minnewaska is home to the cities of Glenwood (population 2,000)and Starbuck (population 500). Each year we continue this tradition by driving 2,000 miles round trip to Lake Minnewaska




Minnewaska Golf Club is situated on a very high hill with an excellent view of the lake. The course is main focus around fun and thats exactly what you get. The course is easy, but isn't a pushover. The back nine is unusual with three par threes, three par fours and three par fives as opposed to the standard 2-5-2 layout. An interesting hole is the par four eighth. This hole requires a long and accurate tee shot. Two trees are in the middle of the fair way. end up on the left of them and you have slim chances at par. The fairway slopes to the left making it important to hit a good shot. The green is protected by a large waste area in the front. Twelve is an interesting design as the hole plays a little like a roller coaster first going uphill, then back down, then back up to the green. Sixteen is a dogleg right with a small lake to the left of the fairway. While playing this summer i hit a shot and i was sure it was going in the water, the ball skipped of the surface and rolled on to the fairway. The approach shot is difficult as there are over hanging trees and a creek fronting the green.

There really isn't much to say about this course. Its pretty simple much like the town its in. The Lakers golf team practices there and has won the state title four years in a row. The practice facilities are tremendous. Range balls are included in the green fee, something all courses should do. There are three practice greens, one in between the first and tenth tee box while you wait to start your round. Aside from the funny smell in the pro-shop this course is one of my favorites.