For those not familiar with the history of the course, it hosted the St Paul Open, an annual PGA professional stop that ran from 1930-1968. During that time it also hosted 2 PGA championships.
The course was originally designed by Paul Coates. It was decided at the time to save money on the course and not pay a golf architect to design the new course. Instead, Coates, a Ramsey County civil engineer was tapped for the job. he took the challenge seriously and toured California and the East Coast examining the best courses and learning the craft of designing a course. After over a dozen layout variations the present design was finalized. The course has had the 9 flipped in the 70s but most of the layout is as it was back in the day. That includes the famous (or infamous) present 4th and 17th holes and their massive Oaks square in the middle of play. Those trees have been there since the beginning and were one of the very few original trees on the property. Another large tree feature used to exist at the crest of the current 12th hole, but it was cut down by the superintendent when he was reseeding that fairway.
When it opened in 1929 it was considered one of the finest (and most challenging) public courses in the entire country. People at the time said it was too hard- that only professionals could play it. By today's standards the course is not difficult- compared to modern Pete Dye monsters, or the like.
It is fun to imagine all of the greats playing the course- Hogan, Hagen, Snead, Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, Sarazen, all played here. The course attracted almost all of the biggest names back in the heydey of the St Paul Open as it was one of the larger purses on the new PGA of America pro tour (The PGA Tour was not founded officially until 1968).
By the late 50s and 60s the course had failed to keep up with the professionals, and it was unable to keep attracting the big names who went elsewhere for larger purses. The last official year of the tournament was 1968.
After the men's tour left, the women took over and the Patty Berg Golf Classic was held here from 1973-1980.
Unlike many of the city's municipal courses Keller was making money before the renovation was decided upon. The intent of the redesign was to keep the original layout while renewing the greens, fairways, and drainage.
In addition to the course renovation, the driving range was improved and new sand/chipping practice areas have been added.
The course closed October 1st 2012 and the grand re-opening was delayed due to the extreme wet spring preventing the grass growth that was needed. It finally opened back up on July 19, 2014.
Since that time the course has been packed. Paul Diegnau, Keller's Superintendent keeps a blog and stated that from opening day through Labor Day they were averaging 300 rounds a day! That is basically every tee time from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 7 days a week.
With all of that traffic the course has taken a bit of a beating. Combined with some problematic growing conditions highlighted on Paul's blog, the course will be closing early (October 19th) in order to allow maintenance to complete some repairs.
Before this visit, I have only played here twice. The first time was back when I started playing in the late 90s. I remember I found it very difficult then. The second time I played it was in the early 2000s and was not that impressed by the conditions. For some reason my memories of actually playing it were vague and I could not really recall any of the holes.
My brother-in-law always says how much he likes the course, so I was eager to try it out after the renovations with a more critical eye to really examine the course. With the busy year I have had I didn't make it out to play Keller until the end of September. It was a great time to visit with many of the trees on the course in full autumnal glory.
Being an older course, the course doesn't challenge with sheer length. From the tips it is only 6,675 yards. The course offers 4 tees all together from 6,675 down to 4,830 yards. From the tips the rating and slope is 72.2/133.
The course is blessed with great terrain. Probably Keller's signature is its rolling topography. The layout of the course is ingenious with well planned holes that take advantage of the rolling hills without leaving too many blind shots. There are a couple of relatively blind tee shots but those play straight ahead and if you hit it straight you wont run into any surprises.
You can check out renovation's architect Richard Mandell's thoughts on Keller's rework here. Also this site offers a hole by hole preview by Mr. Mandell.
Hole 1
Par 4
332/288/243/213 yards
The opening hole plays from elevated tees down into a wide landing area before rising back up to a green. The tee here was moved significantly to the left of its old location making the hole play much straighter that before.
A mid iron is all that is required off the tee. Playing a wood off the tee brings the bunkers down the right into play and requires hitting a much narrower landing area as the fairway narrows as it approaches the green.
A view of the hole from the white tees where it is basically straight uphill to the green.
Looking back down the hole from the green shows the elevation changes in play on this first hole.
The green (as most of the greens here) have been restored more to their 1940 shapes. Genrally quite large by municipal standards. While most are relatively flat they do have subtle breaks that are hard to read.
Behind the green you can see the driving range which runs up the left side of the first hole.
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Hole 2
Par 4
393/345/286/278 yards
A rare central bunker divides this massive fairway off the tee. You have lots of options off the tee. Playing left of the bunker with driver offers the best approach in.
If you play up short of the bunker you face a semi-blind shot into the green which is protected on the left side by a pair of bunkers.
Several trees were removed down the left side of the hole opening up a fairway bunker that was once in the trees.
Hole 3
Par 5
502/492/409/376 yards
A beautiful straight ahead par 5, offering a view of the green with stadium hills behind. This hole was redesigned by lowering the ridge running across the hole. This allowed for the tee to green view you have now.
Trees down either side of this hole are the main hazard here. A fairway bunker does sit down the right side. I found it with a hooked shot off the tee.
Speaking of the tee, this one was in really rough shape. I suspect a combination of poor early growth and excess shade here may have contributed to its condition.
The green here was lowered and restored to its original shape and location as when the course opened in 1929. A single bunker protects the front right edge. Going long here can find a downhill lie back towards the green which still offers a ledge in the front.
Hole 4
Par 3
150/134/117/107 yards
The infamous 4th hole. Back when this used to be the 13th hole, Gene Sarazen struggled mightily when he played the course in the St Paul open. It continues to befuddle people who see it for the first time.
From the tips the hole only requires maybe an 8 iron so clearing the tree should not be a problem. If you cant get over the tree though it can be a very tough hole.
The bunker here was moved from the center of the hole, and reduced in size to its original position.
The green was also re-done to its original shape and depth. With the increased depth and the removal of the central bunker it is possible to play the ball on a bump and run trajectory from the tee.
Hole 5
Par 4
371/366/339/263 yards
A tee shot that requires carrying the pond from the two back tees. From the back tees the trees down the left hamper an easy shot off the tee and requiring an ideal left to right shot to make the most of the hole which doglegs right.
The fairway here was again lowered and the tee boxes elevated to attempt to provide a better sight line of the hole.
From the forward tee the hole plays almost straight. Hidden from the tee is a bunker down the right that can come into play if you cut the corner from the tee.
The approach to the elevated green requires avoiding the two flanking bunkers. The green was flattened out to reduce the big back to front slope that had existed.
Pine trees behind the hole were removed exposing the small hills and opening up a pitching area behind the green.
Hole 6
Par 3
223/210/166/124 yards
A long par 3 that requires coming in from the right to avoid the long bunker protecting the left side of the green.
The green does slope slightly front to back and has an additional bunker to the right and one more deep left.
Hole 7
Par 4
420/388/350/325 yards
A straight ahead par 4, this hole features a large downhill elevation change hidden from the tee. The target on this hole is the stone shelter visible off the tee. Trees were removed to allow visibility to that structure.
Catching the slope here can gain a lot of yardage. The green is protected by a single bunker short right.
Hole 8
Par 4
385/376/323/285 yards
The two fairway bunkers on this hole were brought in towards the center, squeezing down the hole. The best play is over the left bunker. This offers the best angle into the green. Playing down the right you can get into a little trouble with the trees as you approach the green.
A pair of large traps flank either side of this green.
Hole 9
Par 4
400/373/365/304 yards
This hole had been a par 5 but now plays as a par 4. The tee shot here is probably the most blind shot on the course. Aiming at the golden tree here is the correct line.
The hole turns slightly right as you pass by two fairway bunkers on either side of the hole. The green has a large bunker short right and another deep left of the green.
A view of the 9th green from near the pro shop.
And another view of back down the hole . This hole used to be essentially the same distance but played as a par 5, while the 10th hole used to be a par 4 and is now a par 5. This flip flop was done to make more room between the 18th and 9th greens which had been very close to one another.
Hole 10
Par 5
503/460/413/366 yards
The 10th hole looks largely the same as before the renovations. Now playing as a par 5 the hole plays straight away before falling downhill towards the green.
Upon reaching the crest of the hill, you see the changes to the hole. Bunkers down the left squeeze into the fairway and form a protective defense for the green.
The green is well guarded from a two shot attack. A ball played to the right of the fairway on the second shot gives a good angle into the green. The green is set back a bit from the cross bunkers. A shot that carries the bunkers can roll onto the green as a hill slopes towards the green back there.
Hole 11
Par 4
382/372/320/282 yards
The 11th hole turns back towards the clubhouse after playing the 10th. The course asks you to wait to stop at the clubhouse until finishing 11 instead of 10.
The 11th hole plays straight ahead. The green sits below the flag pole in the distance, acting as the aiming point off the tee.
Hole 12
Par 5
519/474/417/409 yards
The 12th starts my favorite 2 hole stretch at Keller. The tee shot is to a wide landing area. Hitting the center /center left of the fairway is important as the fairway slopes from left to right as you approach the right edge. The right side of the hole falls away severely towards highway 61.
The new clubhouse sits above the 12 tees.
Upon reaching the crest of the hill you are faced with a couple of options on your second shot. Playing to the left of the central bunker provides the riskier of the approaches as you must thread the sand and water. That risk is rewarded with the best shot into the green. Playing to the right of the bunker is a longer shot and requires you to then carry a greenside bunker on the right.
The green is protected on the left by water
From the right of the green you have a preview to the par 3 13th hole.
A view back up the 12th hole from the 13th tee.
Hole 13
Par 3
148/138/97/89 yards
A beautiful par 3 with 2 distinct shots based on your tee choice. From the back 2 tees you must carry the green, as water, bunkers, and the severe slope of the hill all wait if you are short.
During renovations, the bunkers were restored to their original shape and location, as was the green.
From the upper 2 tees the shot into the green offers little trouble if you keep it straight and avoid the hill on the left. The green is slightly raised from the fairway preventing a run up.
Hole 14
Par 4
378/355/316/294 yards
A beautiful but tricky par 4. Off the tee the hole turns to the right. Trees have been removed from the right side to open up a more aggressive line down that side. However, playing right will offer trouble on your next shot as trees come into play on your second shot.
The landing area off the tee slopes from left to right. The best option here is a shot to the left edge of the fairway. Hit there the ball will move back towards the center while keeping you with enough of a line to shoot at the green.
Too long of a tee shot can find the marsh so driver is not the play here.
The approach into the green is uphill and made challenging from the right side of the hole. Two bunkers protect the front corners of the green.
This is the smallest green on the course.
Hole 15
Par 3
195/184/153/130 yards
A tough long par 3. The green has been softened, with the front edge being raised and the back ridge being reduced. Reaching the green is still a good tee shot. There is more room to bail left, as the right side is protected by the trees and a bunker framing the right side.
Hole 16
Par 5
557/502/408/389 yards
The toughest par 5 on the course. Trees line this dogleg left. Off the tee the best shot is down the left side as the fairway slopes to the right.
3 Bunkers have been placed down the right side now.
There is plenty of room to play this as a 3 shot hole. Each landing area is bracketed by the bunkers down the right. The third bunker sits just in front of the green.
Hole 17
Par 4
376/366/306/267 yards
Another infamous hole, the tee shot here faces 2 hazards down the hole, a bunker and a tree which sit nearly side by side and forming a formidable vanguard for the green. The tee shot must also negotiate the trees lining either side of this hole.
I question this design as a first time player. I hit a perfect drive which found my ball squarely behind the tree and unable to get an angle to hit over it to the green. Were I to play the hole again laying back further with something other than driver would be my approach.
To me a hole that penalizes a well placed tee shot down the middle with an impossible shot into the green is not well planned. Unlike the 4th hole, where the tree makes the hole, I think this tree on 17 detracts from it.
According to the architect, the proper play here is down the left off the tee and short of the fairway bunker.
Hole 18
Par 4
441/383/369/329 yards
The final hole here plays back towards the clubhouse. A pair of fairway bunkers flank the landing area off the tee.
The approach into the green must carry another pair of bunkers sitting short on either side of the green.
This green and entire hole have been moved to be closer to the clubhouse. They kept all of the same features while moving the hole.
Summary
For 2014, the green fees were raised from $35 to $40. At this price the course is a steal. If the conditions get better next year as the turf grows in and the greens settle, the course will be even better. Hopefully the course can hold up to the amount of traffic.
During my round, after the end of this busy inaugural several months, I found the greens to be in good shape without a lot of pitch marks. They rolled fairly well and relatively smooth. A couple of tees were in rough shape. Likely due to poor growth early on and the heavy traffic. The fairways as Paul explains in his blog continue to be a work in progress. Eradication of unwanted turn varieties for the preferred bent grass is taking time. Because of this some areas are patchy. In general the middles of the fairway were in good shape, only some of the crests of hills, or low spots had noticeable growth issues. The one thing that was a little concerning was how hard the ground seemed. Hitting crisp iron shots seemed to be difficult on what seemed like very compacted earth. Hopefully a routine of aeration will loosen that up next year.
All in all these are little things to pick at.
While the course has some quirkiness (holes 4, 17, and arguably 14 come to mind) I have to say in fairness this is the best municiple course in the Minneapolis/St Paul inner area. While some of the suburban town courses compete or excel against Keller, none can match the unique history of this nearly 90 year old gem.
Go play it in 2015!
