| In my continuing journey to bring you the hidden | | | | strategy you will have birdie opportunities. A perfect |
| gems of Minnesota golf courses I traveled to the | | | | example of this is on one of the new holes, number |
| picturesque west central Minnesota town of | | | | 11, also known as Yo-he-wa, which is a 381-yard |
| Glenwood. On the banks of beautiful Lake | | | | par-4 from the middle tee box. This hole plays to an |
| Minnewaska, home to Peters Sunset Beach Resort, is | | | | island green. If you play your tee shot properly and |
| a golf course named Pezhekee National. The golf | | | | the wind is not swirling you can have a birdie |
| course has evolved over the past four decades to | | | | opportunity. On the other hand, if you don't place |
| what you see and play today. The first nine holes | | | | your drive properly or you get too aggressive on |
| where built slowly over several summers in the | | | | your approach shot double bogey or much worse is a |
| 1960's. The expansion to become an 18-hole facility | | | | definite possibility. |
| took place in the 1980's. Four newly designed holes | | | | An interesting feature at Pezhekee National is the |
| where integrated into the course late in the 2006 | | | | "19th hole". I know what you are thinking,and this is |
| season as several holes from the original nine where | | | | not a bar. Though there is a small clubhouse with a |
| decommissioned to meet additional lodging needs at | | | | patio where you can enjoy a cold beverage after |
| the resort. The Peters family has nicely mixed and | | | | your round, the "19th hole" at this Minnesota golf |
| matched the holes and used the natural contours of | | | | course is exactly that, an additional hole to play after |
| the property to provide a very challenging golf | | | | your 18-hole round is complete. This is a nice little |
| experience. This is the longest public golf course in | | | | 140-yard par-3 hole that was part of the |
| Minnesota. | | | | decommissioned holes from the original nine. This |
| If you are a long ball hitter and are looking for a | | | | comes in very handy to break a tied score or to see |
| challenging Minnesota golf course, this is the place to | | | | who buys the frosty cold beverages as you make |
| play. Pezhekee National measures 7,263 yards from | | | | your way down to the clubhouse. |
| the championship tees with a course rating of 75.2 | | | | Pezhekee National at Peters Sunset Beach Resort is |
| and a slope index rating of 138. I played from the | | | | an easy 2-hour drive from the Twin Cites area |
| middle tees, which was a challenging enough | | | | northwest mostly on Interstate 94 then concluding |
| experience for my game. The middle tees play at | | | | on one of several state highways leading into |
| 6,592 yards having a course rating of 72.2 and a | | | | Glenwood. An excellent value in a family or group golf |
| slope index of 132. You have to be prepared to face | | | | vacation would be to use Peters Sunset Beach |
| four par-4 holes over 400 yards when playing from | | | | Resort as a home your base and play unlimited golf |
| the middle tee boxes. The shortest par-3 hole | | | | at Pezhekee National; then make day trips to any of |
| measures 151 yards. The remaining par-3's measure | | | | the other area golf courses within a 45 minute drive |
| from 185 to 199 yards. Another interesting bit of local | | | | from Glenwood. Visit their website at for additional |
| history on this Minnesota golf course is that each hole | | | | information on their Sports Special Package. If you |
| is named with a Native American Indian name, most | | | | are interested in being a daily fee player and not stay |
| revolving around the folklore of Princess Minnewaska | | | | at the resort, the fees are quite reasonable. You can |
| and friends and enemies of her tribe that made this | | | | play 18-holes Monday through Thursday for $30.00 |
| region of the state their home. | | | | and just $35.00 Friday through Sunday as well as |
| Pezhekee National is a Minnesota golf course that | | | | holidays. Golf carts are available for rental at $28.00 |
| makes you consider risk-reward options. If you | | | | for 18-holes or $64.00 for all day. The all day fee |
| choose to play aggressively, you had better be | | | | comes in nicely when taking advantage of the Sports |
| certain that you execute the shot that you had | | | | Special Package. |
| visualized or you will be penalized with an elevated | | | | The pace of play at this Minnesota golf course, as is |
| score. You cannot blindly go into all the par-4 holes | | | | true for many of the rural golf courses, is excellent. |
| and hit a driver. There are many holes where | | | | We played our 18-hole round in just over 4 hours. I |
| calculated distance control, especially off the tee, is | | | | encourage you to take the opportunity this summer |
| vital. If you simply want to play mindless golf and | | | | and visit any of the over 300 Minnesota rural golf |
| "grip it and rip it", this may not be the Minnesota golf | | | | courses for their excellent value, beautiful scenery, |
| course for you to play if you want to score well. On | | | | abundant wildlife, brisk pace of play and friendly staff |
| the other hand, if you are patient and play with a | | | | members. |