This post is long overdue, as are most of them lately. I headed up to Northern Minnesota with some fiends and family to play my favourite courses in the state, the Wilderness at Fortune Bay (Tower, MN), the Legend at Giants Ridge, and the Quarry at Giants Ridge (both in Biwabik, MN). This has turned into an annual tradition for me that goes back 7 years now.
Jeffery Brauer designed all three of the courses. He did The Legend first (1997), The Quarry next (2003), and the Wilderness last (2004).
The Wilderness is a brute from the tips (Gold) with a Rating of 75.3 and Slope of 142 and playing to 7207 yards. Being a resort course, they offer a variety of other playing options too. There are also Blue tees (6772 yards 73.2/137), Black tees (a hybrid of Blue and White 6460 yards 71.8/134), White tees (6147 yards 70.4/131), and Green tees (5324 yards 71.7/129).
Hole 1 Par 5
(649/587/562/562/470)
The opening hole is a par 5 that offers a test off the tee. A rock wall just out from the left side, squeezing the apparent landing area of the tee. It is possible to carry that rock ledge and there is fairway over the top of it.
Heading right off the tee spells trouble as the hole falls off towards the trees lining that side.
Once you clear the rocky ledge the fairway opens before you and actually splits into two areas separated by a area of thick rough. Closer to the green, a trio of bunkers will catch those trying to go for the green in 2 shots, if hit down the middle. Picking the correct fairway should be based on the pin placement.
The green is large and typical of what you will face for the round, with undulations running through the putting surface. There are definitely slopes that can be used to your advantages, funnelling your ball towards pins if played properly. To the right side of the green a sunken collection area will catch balls that get too far right. To the left of the green are a pair of bunkers.
If you hit it straight, this hole is not too challenging, but as the first of the day make sure you are warmed up and have a good tee ball.
From the tee
Don't hit that rock wall off the tee or your in trouble.
The second shot offers a split fairway to choose from
The third shot into the green. Being on the proper fairway based on pin location is helpful.
Hole 2 Par 4
(472/453/426/426/385)
The second hole is a bit of a daunting par 4. From the tees, the hole looks a long way off and between you and the pin lies two distinct bunker complexes.
Off the tee you must avoid the right side. That large bunker is within reach. Play off to the left of that to the fairway area that ends around 150 yards out.
Your next shot will need to carry the bunkers guarding the front of the green. There is actually a bit of fairway beyond the bunkers so don't leave it short. Missing to the left of the green will find a collection area and require a chip back up to the putting surface.
A view off the tee.
A closer view of the sand on the hole
Your approach must carry the trio of bunkers in front
The collection area on the left side of the green
Hole 3 Par 3
(220/193/166/166/133)
Probably the prettiest hole on the course. This par 3 requires a tee shot over both the water and the bunker and sloped hill short of the green. The hole plays down hill but the wind is going to ba a factor. Hitting to a back pin is difficult on this large two tiered green. If the pin is in front you get the advantage of being able to play off the tier and run the ball closer to the pin.
If you find yourself long, be very delicate with any chips needing to stay on the upper back tier. My friend Michael was just in the rough behind the hole and hit a good chip that just did not stop. It rolled off the top tier down to the front of the green. From there he ended up four putting.
Hole 4 Par 4
(410/393/393/330/305)
A shorter par 4 you have two options off the tee. Lay up to the left fairway or drive the right fairway above the rock ledge that dominates your view off the tee.
Playing to the left will require a longer second shot in. It also leaves a blind approach to the green.
Playing to the right brings more trouble off the tee but that risk is rewarded with a better angle into this green (and an actual view of it on your approach).
The green is large, deeper front to back than side to side. There are no bunkers to worry about around the green but various collection areas will require pitches back onto the putting surface.
Another choice off the tee.
Going right offers a better angle to the green, if you can clear the rock wall.
Hole 5 Par 4
(364/348/348/313/279)
One of the most interesting holes on the front nine. This holes prominent feature is the Biarritz green. This style of green is one with a large swale running through it. First made famous at the Biarritz Golf Club in France, but the most famous example may be the 9th hole at Yale. For the Wilderness' example you must first negotiate the tee shot down a fairway that doglegs right as it approaches the green.
Favouring the left side of the hole is preferred unless you can hit it far enough. Too short and right can be blocked by the stand of pines lining the right side.
As you approach the green you must factor in the distance to the pin. The Biarritz bisects the green in the middle and getting down in it when the pin is on either the front or back shelf makes for a true putt-putt style adventure. On today's round the pin was actually down in the swale which made for an extremely fun putt if you were up above. I actually putted my ball down the swale, and attempting to play it off the other side of the swale and back towards the hole. It nearly worked for what would have been an all-world putt.
Off the tee, just focus on finding the fairway. Driver is not needed and can find your ball through the fairway if played.
The view into the Biarritz green on your second shot.
Another view of the pin hiding down in the swale today.
A view back down the hole from the 9th tee.
Hole 6 Par 4
(464/435/375/375/331)
A long straight par 4. Your aiming point off the tee should be just short of the large bunker on the right side. Once you get beyond that point the fairway chokes down to a narrow sliver and trouble comes in from the left side.
The approach to the green is unprotected, though the green does have several mogul like mounds that will either kick balls away or onto the green depending on where the ball lands.
A view of the hole from the forward tees. Aim at the bunker on the right, or just to the left.
A view of how the fairway narrows next to the bunker before widening back towards the green
Mounding on the perimeter of the green can cause some interesting results
Hole 7 Par 3
(157/139/139/124/115)
Another breath taking Par 3 on the front nine. The tees are high above the surrounding area and the view here to the forests beyond reminds you this is true north golf. Focusing your eye back to the hole, the first thing you will notice are the pair of bunkers short of the green.
Don't make life hard on yourself- don't play short into those bunkers. Gauging the correct distance can be tricky, with the change in elevation, and factoring in the wind's effect on your shot.
The green is very wide and the right half slopes down and towards the tees, while the left is the flatter of the 2 sides.
The second beautiful par 3 on this side
A view of the greens scale
Hole 8 Par 5
(525/511/511/456/381)
One of the course's signature holes is this par 5. This hole is reachable in two if you trust your second shot. Jeffery Brauer placed another signature sand trap on this hole. This one, shaped like the hole's namesake "Timberwolf", is a giant paw print by the green.
Off the tee aim your ball over the large boulder. Going too far right brings the water into play, as the fairway does slope towards the pond. Missing left is a better option but the hole is lined by woods there, so don't stray too far.
On your second shot you must decide to carry the water and the paw to the green, or lay up somewhere short and right.
The green is very wide and a pin placed to the far right is a daunting task. The green generally slopes from right to left. A forward left pin is as easy as you can hope for here.
The tee shot requires you to play over the bolder you see in the fairway.
This is the view for your second shot.
And, the view of the green if you come in from the right side.
Hole 9 Par 4
(396/369/369/342/265)
The finishing hole on the front is a downhill par 4 with a distinctive bunker down the left side. This bunker is in play off the tee, so your best shot is to hit to the right half of the fairway. The hole is not long so you can choose to lay-up short of the bunker.
Consider your next shot before deciding your tee shot. Your second must carry a pond to the green. A large bunker protects the back side of the green for those who want to make sure not to leave their second shot short.
The green is one of the flatter ones on the course but is again very wide. Make sure you get your ball near the pin to avoid a long putt.
Off the tee, play short of the bunker left or drive down the right side.
A view to the green across the pond on your approach
I played pretty good on the front nine. Compared to the last round here, the pin locations were much easier today. Because of that I felt like I left a couple of strokes out there. I bogeyed the first after finding my third shot in a green side bunker. I bogeyed 4 on a stupid 3 putt that should never have happened, and one more bogey on 5 after failing to find the GIR. Other than those 3, it was straight pars for a 39.
Hole 10 Par 4
(455/430/403/403/343)
The start to the back nine is a par 4 that can play differently depending on where the tees are located on the massive tee box. Essentially the strategy is the same but the view and angle of approach will vary.
On the right trees frame the hole. The left side is also lined by trees but more importantly another rocky ledge juts out to frame the fairway boundary. Unlike on the first hole, there is no fairway above this rock wall, so you must hit the fairway off the tee. You should be able to fly past the rock wall of the tee.
Your second shot is to a green that has a line of bunkers short of the green, with one opening directly at the putting surface. The green is tri-lobed shaped so once again an accurate approach is essential.
The view of the 10th from the clubhouse.
Beyond the rock wall, the fairway open up towards the green protected by a phalanx of bunkers across the front.
Today's pin was the easiest spot on the green. Front and center.
Hole 11 Par 4
(465/427/383/383/333)
A second difficult long par 4. A huge bunker to the left guards this hole. Being in the sand off the tee will likely prevent getting on the green in two. The best play is to split the two carts in the photo below.
Your second shot will be all uphill to a two tiered green. The casino and hotel behind the hole is hard to miss and is the only buildings you see on your round.
Off the tee the number one job is to miss the bunker left.
The green is guarded short by bunkers. The casino and hotel play as the backdrop for this hole
Hole 12 Par 3
(166/157/129/129/107)
The series of beautiful par 3s continue on the back nine with this hole that requires a forced carry of the pond that wraps around the front and right sides. A pair of bunkers protect the front left and right sides of the hole. There is room to miss to the left or long here.
Hey look, its me!
The green has some pretty sever undulations so getting on in one is not the end of your challenges.
This green was the inspiration on this painting I did last year.
Hole 13 Par 4
(340/325/325/301/277)
Situation on Lake Vermillion the 13th represents the best of risk-reward golf. A dogleg around the lake you can cut off as much as you dare here. The hole is not long though so risking a carry across the lake really is not warranted. The hole has also changed a bit over the years to further discourage a courageous tee shot. Brush along the lake has grown up over time near the green making a shot placed there even more troublesome.
The green is protected in front by a large bunker and to the left side by the lake, and a slope running down towards a hidden bunker between the water and the lake.
I played this hole with a 4 iron off the tee and then a wedge in for my first bird of the day. Before this year I had always tried the brave (i.e. stupid) route and made big scores. How about that? Playing smart golf can pay off!
A pretty dogleg around Lake Vermillion
Hole 14 Par 4
(392/374/374/341/304)
The dominant feature on this hole is the waste area to the right of the fairway off the tee. The proper play is to hit just to the right of the bunker on the right side of the hole. The bunker is in play on this shorter par 4. Trying to lay up short of the bunker will leave a long shot into the green.
The green is guarded down the right side but short and left is safe. To the right a large bunker sits between the green and the lake that makes up the hazard you tee over on 12.
Aim to the right of the left bunker off the tee. Right must be avoided at all cost.
The approach into this enormously deep green.
Hole 15 Par 5
(530/507/458/458/376)
The first of two par 5s in a row, the 15th offers a challenging target style hole. Off the tee you want to hit over the right bunker closest to you. A marsh does come in from the left so aiming down the right side is better. Beware of the trees that line both sides of the hole.
If you get off the tee well, you will likely need to carry a bit of the marsh but it should not be in play. Past the marsh the fairway is wide. A trio of bunkers surrounds the front of the green to protect an easy approach in 2.
While not a long hole, you need to have a series of quality shots to avoid making a big number here.
The tee shot here looks daunting with little room to land your ball.
Your second shot is to a large fairway framed with a scattering of bunkers.
Hole 16 Par 5
(540/517/517/486/438)
A wicked second consecutive par 5. Off the tee bomb it straight down the middle. Your second shot should attempt to find the upper fairway to the right side of the hole.
The right fairway gives a good approach to this relatively hard to hit green. If you play down the left side of the hole you will be faced with an uphill third shot to a green guarded in front with some of the gnarliest rough found on the course.
Don't miss left or long of the green or your ball is likely to find the wilderness.
Hit is straight and long off the tee here for a chance on this par 5.
On your second shot, you should try to get up on the upper right fairway.
From the upper fairway, you have a much better angle to this rolling green. From the left you have a much harder uphill shot.
Hole 17 Par 3
(189/174/174/144/114)
The final par 3 of the course is a bit of a let down. Not that it is a bad hole on its own- just compared to the other 3 preceding par 3s.
A fairly flat, straight forward hole that is framed by a pair of bunkers behind and in front of the green. The green is fairly accessible unless the pin is back right, which requires the longest carry over the forward hazard.
While the pin was front left today, it was playing into the wind. I believe all of our tee shots ended up short of the green. I failed to get up and down on probably the easiest of the par 3s.
Michael tees off on his way to a par.
Hole 18 Par 4
(473/433/408/408/368)
The finishing hole is somewhat reminiscent to the 9th hole. A downhill par 4 that requires a likely carry over water to the green.
From the tee favour the right center. Missing left will find rough, or worse, the beginning of the water feature. Missing too far right can lead your ball to kick into the woods. I hit my drive to what I thought was the perfect spot but it ran through the right side, across the cart path and into the woods.
On your second shot, if you have played down the right, the water shouldn't come into play. If you are down the left side you will likely need to hit over the pond to the green.
The green is guarded down the left by the pond and down the right by a large bunker.
The final tee shot of the day requires one more precise shot
Trust your yardage and aim for the center, especially if the pin is tucked left.
The back nine for me started off well, being even par through four but I fell off from there and limped in with five consecutive bogeys for a 41, and a round of 80. A bit of a disappointing finish.
It was hard to stay bummed out when one can enjoy a beverage out on a terrace with a few like this:
After the round we stayed for dinner. The clubhouse here offers a really great menu. I would highly recommend sticking around for some great food. There is plenty of outdoor dining too so you can soak up this beautiful course.
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