East Bethel, MN

Blue Ribbon Pines - Main

4.715(based on 137 reviews)
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11 0
DFrah
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 5.9 years 229 played 227 reviews
4.50 star(s)

The Blue Ribbon of Twin Cities Disc Golf!

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 26, 2023 Played the course:once

Pros:

Blue Ribbon Pines is a disc golf icon located surprisingly close to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. There's an official directional sign at the turn from the main road (MN-65) which is very nice. The last 3/4 mile of the drive to get here is on a well-maintained dirt road.

Depending on the layout that is available when you visit, BRP features somewhere between 18 and 30 holes of disc golf. I believe the "standard" layout has 27 holes (called "No Combos" on UDisc). There is great variety here - you'll find everything from 150' thread-the-needle throws in tight woods to 625' wide open bombs. I really enjoyed how the course essentially consists of two wooded areas that are split up by an open field - and the routing takes you in and out (and in and out) of the field, sprinkling in different types of holes evenly throughout the entire round.

The other notable feature of the discing itself here is the water hazards. I think my personal favorite hole was #7, which is a 500' dogleg left in the woods with a pond guarding the approach to the basket. There is a different pond that complicates the approach to #22, and most significantly comes into play off the tee on #18. Here it is right in the landing zone for someone like me who tends to throw 250' ish. The fairway is pretty tight leading up to the pond and there are couple of tree trunks on the near edge, making this an intimidating tee shot even for bigger arms. I chickened out and laid up. On several of the open field holes, there is a small creek that goes across the fairway - but here too the water falls near the landing zone for many players off the tee.

The baskets are Prodigy T1 models painted blue with the BRP logo on the bands, and with orange flags on top for extra visibility. A couple are elevated/hanging for extra challenge. One installed per hole, although multiple pin positions are indicated on many of the tee signs. This course appears to undergo constant refreshing, as maintenance staff move baskets between different pin positions and even increase/decrease the total number of holes in the playable layout. I visited on a morning that the layout was just shifting back to the "normal" 27-hole layout from a special 18-hole layout for the Bass Ribbon Pines music festival that had happened on site the previous weekend. A maintenance employee was actually driving around on a cart somewhere in front of me, moving baskets and changing signage as he went.

The tee pads are large and concrete. One per hole. I saw a couple of extra pads as well, but the ones not relevant to the current layout were always accompanied by signage stating "This pad/hole is not in use". Trash cans and benches appear at most (if not all) tees.

The tee signs look a little dated, but they do still squeeze in the required info at the bottom along with a photo and a fun nickname for each hole. I do wish that these called out OB a little bit better. There is plenty of staked OB and mandos on this course, but on the tee signs I looked at closely none of this was indicated.

Similarly, the navigational signage is decent. I questioned the route to the next hole a couple of times, but I mostly chalked it up to the layout changing the morning I was there.

There are plenty of extras here that don't exist on most courses. Besides the practice basket, kiosk, and strategically located porta potties, there is also a driving range net, a fully stocked pro shop with snacks/drinks/scorecards, a separate 9-hole putter-only course, and even a snack shack. These last two items are both located in the middle of the main course, and can be easily accessed from multiple points during the round (the snack shack is only open on weekends). I also noted and liked the large nets in a couple of places around the course, positioned to prevent possible safety issues between holes.

Cons:

They tried with a few elevated tees and baskets, but this course is largely flat. And maybe it's related to that, but while all the holes here are great nothing really blew me away. The aesthetic is nice, but nothing particularly memorable. The course is challenging enough to keep virtually any disc golfer interested, but it's not insanely difficult (at least the layout I played). The great amenities and impeccable maintenance, if anything, are what I'd write home about.

New tee signs would be a nice touch. Also, are all of the red painted woodchip areas supposed to be OB in addition to all the other OB? The tee signs that I remembered to examine closely didn't say. Some, but not all, of them appeared to correspond to alternate pin locations so I wasn't sure. The appearance of these areas was unique, but if they have some other purpose besides that then I'd like to see that purpose called out more clearly.

Other Thoughts:

The course costs $8/day to play. You can pay via credit card in the pro shop if it is open, and you'll get an orange index card pass to carry around with you.

I didn't have the crowding issues that others have mentioned, but then again I arrived at 9 AM on a Wednesday. It took me about 2.5 hours to get through the entire course solo, and while there were a couple other groups out I didn't really have to wait for anyone.

On a personal note, BRP was my first course played in the state of Minnesota which is my 14th state overall. It was also my fifth course played out of the current DGCR top 10 (Flip City, Rollin Ridge, Idlewild, and Maple Hill). BRP is a great course, but I'd put it pretty firmly in 5th place out of those five courses. Of that group, it reminded me the most of Rollin Ridge - but with less elevation change, and only one layout in play at a time.

Nonetheless, with so many fantastic courses in the area the Twin Cities region is definitely worth a visit - and this course may be the "blue ribbon" feature. Highly recommended!
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8 0
Johnsondere
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.1 months 136 played 83 reviews
4.50 star(s)

About as good as it gets! drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 4, 2021 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Plenty of parking.
- Pro shop has a nice selection of discs, snacks, and drinks.
- Tee pads and baskets are fantastic!
- The "Shack" offers mid-round snacks or drinks! Usually has a special meal during the weekends to enjoy.
- Quite a number of iconic holes!
- A variety of layouts that are shuffled throughout the year.
- The vibes are immaculate.

Cons:

- Gets extremely busy if you play at popular times.
- Some holes may be considered "gimmicky" for competitive play.

Other Thoughts:

There isn't a whole lot that needs to be said about BRP...It's amazing! From the amenities, the course itself, to the amazing people that work and play there, you cannot get much better.

I gave it a 4.5 because at the end of the day, nothing is perfect. My cons are super nit picky but there's always something you can find.
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4 4
jland969
Experience: 18.7 years 77 played 11 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Premier Midwest Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 20, 2017 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Fantastically maintained
-Diverse throw styles required
-Just enough hazard to add challenge
-Multiple tee
-Mid-course Tiki Bar
-Well-stocked club-house
-Extended play

Cons:

-Minimal elevation change
-Often busy
-Plan to spend money (beer, discs, fees). Not enough to hinder most, though.
-Could benefit from expanded night throw schedule.

Other Thoughts:

If you are in the area, definitely one to check off the list. An all-around great destination course that has a bit of everything for a variety of throwers. Price recently subjected to inflation (early 2017). $8 if I recall?
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17 5
wolfhaley
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20 years 1008 played 579 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Lives up to the reputation 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:May 24, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

As the title says, this course lives up to it's reputation. The course was in phenomenal shape from 1 through 27. The baskets are excellent Mach V's that are all in great shape and catch nicely. These are some of my favorite types of pins. They are all powder coated blue which doesn't necessarily help spot them but look nice to the eye. The tee pads are mixed. Almost all are concrete but a few are brick. Makes no difference (at least in May) as all gripped fine and were level and plenty big enough for most players. Hole 14 and 25 share a huge brick pad by the snack shack. There is a great mix of left, right and straight shots here. Hole 4 IS crazy as said before. It's a dead straight par 4, 444 ft. tunnel shot with maybe a 12 foot corridor the whole way. Fantastic! Speaking of the snack shack. It wasn't open when we went (on a Wednesday) but is an absolute awesome feature. How cool is it that you can play like 10 holes, order some burgers, play a couple more then end up at the shack to take a breather and eat then just continue right along where you left off? That's amazing. The Pro shop here is on point too. This is the biggest I've seen I believe. The only one close is Rollin Ridge but I think this is slightly larger. The course is $8 per person per day which is totally worth it. They offer excellent maps/scorecards in the pro shop too. Even without them the flow is pretty intuitive. The course is permanent and the tees are apparently shoveled regularly too which is always awesome to see. There isn't too much elevation but what is here is used well. There are couple ponds that are used on a number of holes to make things interesting and a small creek runs north to south in the middle of the course. There is a cool hanging basket, a basket in a pit, an elevated driving range style basket with markers every 50 ft. that's over 700 ft.....I mean c'mon. Enough said.

Cons:

A few of the holes are basically just wide open shots. Even then this is nitpicky as they add unique features to make these more challenging. Like the 700 ft. driving range hole and couple island style holes. uhhhh....I can't actually think of anything else.

Other Thoughts:

I've played over 230 courses, mostly in WI, but around 20 in MN and this is one the best in either state. Besides Rollin Ridge I'd say. I don't give out 5 discs because I haven't played every course out there but this would be a 4.8 minimum if I could rate it as that. Closer to a 5 than 4.5 for me. If you are near here just play this. You will NOT be disappointed I promise. The twin cities in general have some just ridiculously great courses but this is the gold standard, blue ribbon winner for sure.
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1 11
Bitter Mouse
Experience: 28.9 years 92 played 14 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of the best courses I have played 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Great variety of holes, you will use all your shots and all your discs. One of the best course I have played.

Cons:

The only thing this course is missing is elevation.

Other Thoughts:

In my opinion either this or Bryant Lake is the best course in MN (with VisionQuest just a hair behind).
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7 1
iiTANTALiiZE
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Enchanting 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 4, 2016 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Course is very well kept, extremely fun to throw. I find the long corridor holes very challenging and a blast to try to throw properly. Great variety of hole placement, and neat approach designs. very well thought out tee and pin placement/utilization of land. Tees were all very nice and taken care of. Tee to pin markings were accurate. each time I have thrown, there seems to have been changes made to improve overall integrity of the course. Very much worth the 5 dollar day pass to play here. Food/refreshment shack is a nice touch on one of the double tees.

Cons:

Not much for cons here. This course attracts very large groups as it is a fun course to throw, in turn potentially slowing play. I would suggest going early if you would like to try to avoid this from happening to you. The only other thing I can think of to improve the course is next hole signage to show next tee from completed hole. Not a necessary but would be nice.

Other Thoughts:

I am very impressed with the staff that I have been in contact with. They have all been very accommodating and friendly, and are willing to share knowledge about the growing sport. Additionally, I lost a disc in the pond in front of hole 22, played a second round and saw a stack of discs that had just been pulled from the pond at the food shack. I saw my disc in the middle of the stack, and mentioned that it was mine to the employee working the food stand. She asked for my ID which matched the name on the disc, and she gave the ok to grab it! I was lucky to have seen it, and appreciated retaining that disc :)
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4 7
Hazard
Experience: 11.1 years 37 played 12 reviews
4.50 star(s)

If you play disc golf and you haven't been here. You are missing out! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Mar 7, 2015 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

1) This course has 27 holes that all pose different challenges.

2) The course is very well maintained and you'll have no issue finding the next tee box from the basket.

3)Concrete tee boxes.

4) Has a great choice of discs to buy inside the main building.

5) Great place to meet other players.

6) Has a concession bar arpund the middle of the course.

Cons:

1) Usually it's pretty busy here, so chances are you'll need to stop and wait for others to finish the hole a couple of times.

2) Has lots of water hazards, so there is a chance of you loosing a disk.

3)

Other Thoughts:

This is a great place to come with a group (3-5) of friends, grill out and play some disc golf. There is a small fee of $7 to play the course for the day, but it is well worth it. The holes are challenging and this course is meant for skilled players. 27 holes gives you plenty of time for your score to go up and to go down.
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3 11
sheepweevil
Experience: 16.1 years 31 played 22 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Worth the trip 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 10, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

Very well kept course in a disc golf only property. High quality tee pads and baskets. Navigation is easy. Clearly marked out of bounds areas. Scorecard, map, and pencil included with price (a steal at $5). The snack area is a great place to take a rest halfway through. Nice landscaping and tree protection throughout. Garbage and recycling at every hole. What more can you ask for really?

Cons:

A bit of a drive from the cities and not much elevation change.

Other Thoughts:

I liked Bryant Lake a little better but this is definitely top notch.
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3 11
Barefooter
Experience: 11.9 years 178 played 16 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Every thing you read about this coarse is true. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 2, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

World class disc golf.
Professional tee pads and greens.
Well stocked pro shop.

Cons:

The last 5 holes seemed repetitive.

Other Thoughts:

This was the 5th coarse my wife and played on summer vacation, and the first in the top 10. We were super excited to get there and were not disappointed. The price is fair and I look forward to playing here again in the future.
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8 2
Notorious21
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Experience: 13.7 years 103 played 48 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Must Play 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 9, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Gorgeous property, highly maintained, professionally landscaped
- Some very iconic holes, such as the hole 4 tunnel of pines, and the hole 18 bomb gauge
- Snack shack and bathrooms around hole 10
- Nice variety of tight, technical and open holes
- Unique basket placements - such as down in a bowl, hanging from a chain, and up on a man-made pyramid
- Professional signs, teepads and baskets. Easy to navigate without a map.

Cons:

- Pay to play. $5 is totally worth it, but it's not free, like most course
- Not a ton of elevation change. Would have loved to see some steep incline and declines if the property had such features
- Mosquitoes were pretty bad in the woods, as one would expect in Minnesota

Other Thoughts:

If you're anywhere close to this area, this is a must-play course. It is run and maintained by a landscaping company, and it shows. That being said, it was very disappointing to see graffiti on some benches and signs. It still boggles me that someone would pay to play at such a well-maintained course and then think it's a good idea to write things like, "420 hole" or phallic diagrams on a bench. I know 99% of disc golfers have more class than that, but if you see it happening, don't tolerate it, and if you have the ability to sand it off paint over it, do it.
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5 0
TalbotTrojan
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.7 years 112 played 104 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Is This Heaven? No, It's BRP. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 12, 2014 Played the course:once

Pros:

This course is basically a whole new world that revolves around disc golf. This land used to be a sod farm that was then taken and turned in the the most well maintained disc golf course I have yet to see. The evidence of work on this course is present on every hole. There are phenominal tee pads and beautiful baskets that are both well maintained. There are tee signs and the course is super easy to follow from one hole to the next. The design of the course may have been done by multiple people, but there is fun at every twist and turn.It seems that every hole is rather unique and the land is very well used. In particular the land features, such as creaters in the ground and downed trees are all brought in to play on different holes. Getting off the fairway can be extremely punishing. There is a little creek that comes into play on multiple holes and is used in various different ways to cause players to think about a particular shot. There are man made lakes in a couple of places that really come into play and force a particular shot. There are so many trees on parts of the course that you will be required to throw good shots down long alleys. There is a good pro shop near the start and finish. There is a snack shop centrally located on the course. There is a nice indoor bathroom at the pro shop. The course hosts weekly events and works hard to draw a good crowd, though that is not difficult with the quality of this course. Hats off to the owners of this property for putting so much effort into this course and truly making it feel like a country club experience.

Cons:

You do have to pay to play this course, though I am sure that is part of the reason why the course can be so amazing. There are a few holes that may add some fun factor to the course but are simply super short and/or not championship quality holes in and of themselves. The rest of the course makes up for that of course. There is one shared tee pad which may slow play a bit on tournament days or very busy days. Not always beginner friendly though some holes are.

Other Thoughts:

This course is an experience that really shouldn't be missed in the avid disc golfers lifetime. It is so unique compared to everything else I have seen and the local crowd as well as owners clearly love this course. While I was able to come up with a few cons, they are so minor in comparison to the great things about this course that it doesn't really matter. I really had a bad round when I palyed and yet I still had a great time from start to finish. I did loose two discs during the round and got one back, but be aware of where the water is on this course. Also there are 27 holes most of the time I believe so the rounds are long, and even longer if you have to look for your disc off the fairway. The experience is well worth the price of admission and the money clearly goes back into the course. That really makes paying worth it.
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10 0
Blaaaake77
Experience: 13.1 years 47 played 15 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 8, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

- Well maintained course.
- Many well knowledgeable players all over the course to assist and give tips to beginners, like myself.
- 27 playable holes, quite longer and more advanced than any other courses I have played.
- Snack shack halfway through is great, cold beer and pop, grills cooking up hot dogs and burgers are a plus.
- Great change of pace compared to normal courses, the well maintained course is just fun to play on.
- Great employee's and very friendly.
- Dogs are welcome to come along for the day.
- Great course to spend a whole day out at and play multiple rounds.
- Basket at Hole 1 off to the left of tee pad to practice putts and approaches.
- One of the cleanest courses I have ever played, trash and recycling bins on every tee, along with a 5 gallon pail for the smokers to throw their butts in.
- I personally think it's a very challenging course, I have only been playing for 3 years though.
- If you lose a disc more than likely it will either be put in lost and found at the pro-shop or you'll receive a phone call about your disc, that's why I love playing here.

Cons:

- Of course everyone will say it's a con so I will list it as a con, $5 to play, doesn't bother me whatsoever.
- Very congested come weekends, recently it took me 4.5 hours to play all 27 holes, without stopping at the shack.
- A lot of the fairways have had some standing water due to the amount of rain we have received in the last few weeks.
- Bugs are a major problem later in the evening and after a heavy rainfall, but that should be expected with any course.

Other Thoughts:

- Would love to see another 9 holes made and turn it into two 18 hole courses that could possibly free up some major delays and waiting around to tee off each hole.
- Pump out the water of the holes that are way over what they should be at, too much water isn't a good thing when it comes to BRP, the pines can really mess up a good shot and send you into the drink.
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4 1
SpikeHyzer
Experience: 21.2 years 110 played 33 reviews
4.50 star(s)

A really fun course to play 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 21, 2014 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

This is a great place to go play some disc golf. Pro shop you can buy plastic, drinks, snacks, etc. from. Everything is very well manacured. Between rounds, they even put down fresh cedar chips on the infamous hole 4 (Made of some interesting shots the second round). There are a great deal of shots needed to play and shoot well at this course. Has a concession shack about half way through the round as well (I am guessing this is only open on weekends). Water comes into play, but not obnoxiously. It is very well placed. This place is definitely worth a trip to go play.

Cons:

The tee signs are missing on some holes, which caused a few shots to be thrown OB. Had the signage, actually had the hole information on it, we would have thrown differently. Also, the lack of good elevation takes a little bit away for me.

Other Thoughts:

Also, this seems to be the place for one-disc'ers to come and play. So be prepared for some waiting. The course is a bit out of town, so I would recommend taking food with you so you can just stay on premise and play as much dg as you can handle.
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4 2
Mblack4
Experience: 20 played 6 reviews
4.50 star(s)

One of the best ever 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Apr 21, 2014 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

> 27 play-able holes
> Plenty of different shot types required
> Mix of short easy holes and long challenging holes with water hazards
> Fantastic course upkeep
> Mix of both open and wooded holes
> Strictly a DGC, no other park activities going on
> Great signage and direction

Minor pros:
> Pro shop with tons of discs
> Hole 18 is a long open hole with distance markers to see how far you can throw
> You can make it to five guys burgers in Coon Rapids in about 10 minutes.

Cons:

> Lack of elevation

Minor cons:
> Can get busy at times, and causes traffic jams on later holes
> Concession shack is hardly ever open

Other Thoughts:

The pros most definitely outweigh the cons at Blue Ribbon Pines. If you enjoy disc golf, and you're nearby, you have to check this course out -- it lives up to the high rating.

You'll start out in the open, but quickly head into the woods by hole 2. From there you have a mix of long and short holes, but plenty of trees and other obstacles. The signature hole is Hole 4, which offers a very long and very narrow path to the chains, guarded by trees. You also have a big water hazard on Hole 7 that has claimed many discs.

After a few more wooded holes, you come out a bit on 14, but there's a more steady mix of wooded/open from this point. As mentioned above, 18 has distance markers to measure your shot.

The final 8 holes are always worth playing, and the quality of the course stays high throughout. It would be nice if there was at least some elevation, and also if the concession shack was open, but the course is still fantastic.
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16 1
namar
Experience: 26.9 years 46 played 8 reviews
4.50 star(s)

this is how you design a course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Sep 15, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Fantastic landscaping throughout, from elevated tees and pins to defined greens and landing zones.
-Super, super clean. Garbage and recycling cans at every tee, pretty much no trash on the course.
-The snack shack is so very rad. The fact that you can get cooked-to-order hot dog or burger and a cold beer while waiting to tee off is clutch. I was damn hungry halfway through the second round of the day, and that hot dog made me feel like post-spinach Popeye.
-Huge, level and grippy pads. Probably the best I've ever seen, and I don't think they could be improved.
-The few water hazards are used very well, requiring a bit of cost/benefit analysis when picking your disc and lane.
-Most of the roughs are pretty punishing, which I consider a positive. It requires precision throughout, and rewards you accordingly. Expect to concede a stroke or two if you shank one off the pad or get a bad kick into the woods.

Cons:

-The tee signs really don't help at all, they're just a picture of the view off the pad with no indicator of pin location.
-No real elevation changes. There are a couple holes that have some undulation from tee pad to pin, and a couple elevated greens but that's it. It is a sod farm in MN so it's hard to dock points due to local geography, but some up and down is key and would make this an easy 5 star course.

Other Thoughts:

If you play disc you like being outside. If you like being outside you probably like big ol' pine trees. How about playing disc on a great course laid out amongst 100+ ft tall pines, that sound alright?

If you are RHBH, you'll need a solid anhyzer shot here. And hyzer. And lazer beam. BRP requires pretty much every shot type, and even though there are a few repetitive spots, they layout is done so well that hole to hole variety remains strong.
Our group drove 5 hours to play BRP for a bachelor party based on overall course reputation and DGCR reviews, and after playing it I'd gladly travel twice as far. This place is as good as it gets, given the local terrain. If you are a serious golfer you should have Blue Ribbon Pines on you to-do list.
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2 6
discgolfrules
Experience: 1 played 1 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Keeper 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 10, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Well maintained, great holes, awesome tee signs. i particularly enjoyed the tee signs on water holes with the distnace to the water included. Liked the hole 18? with the distances so i could see how far i was throwing that day.

Cons:

Didnt care for the elbow hole sure i dueced it but seemed out of place on a course of this caliber like it was fit in remaining space?? This is the only negative i could find about this course

Other Thoughts:

the first time i played it was in 2012 the week before minnesota majestic and it was a long course as they were preparing for the event. I have played in many states and course and this is the best one i have played.
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8 2
Anon
Experience: 24.9 years 35 played 9 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Pay-to-play done right 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:May 24, 2013 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Private, family owned
- Landscaping is taken to another level
- Signature hole after signature hole
- Amazing tee pads
- 27 holes
- Secluded and relatively uncrowded
- Snack shack/Beer shack in the woods. Really cool place to take a break.

Cons:

- Really none, if I had to nitpick it would be at the lack of notable elevation... but that doesn't mean the course doesn't have any. Just none of those "top of the world" shots.

Other Thoughts:

Well its been said before but this place really is a "must play" course for any serious golfer. The family that runs the place couldn't be nicer. We spoke with Ray's (the owner) father when we arrived and he told us about how the course came to be and how he is just amazed that people travel so far to come to their course. We later saw him out on the large mower cutting grass for most of the day, waving at all the golfers as they passed. He also kept the snack shack stocked up with beer of our liking for the afternoon/evening rounds.

I really think hole #7 (#6 in the majestic layout) is one of the finest examples of how a par 4 should be done. Total risk-reward on the first shot to carry the water. Laying up means a bomber 2nd to get up near the green. I just can't describe enough how cool this hole was in particular.
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11 0
notapro
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 20.8 years 569 played 284 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Fun for everyone! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 23, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

- Course is set on a large piece of private property, with plenty of room for the disc golf. Nothing here to interfere, it is completely devoted to the game!
- Good amount of the holes here are set in a forest populated with lots of tall trees, with a variety of lines carved out. A wide variety. There are RHBH hyzers, like #2 which is pretty straightforward, #26 that is a long, constantly curving one, and #6 is shorter with OB all along the left. Also some RHBH anhyzer lines, like a super sharp right turn on #10, a lesser one on #14, and a funky uphill slight right turn on #17. Also a large collection of dead straight shots, like the famous signature tunnel shot on #4. Lesser know is the very tight, short #9 (roller?) with OB behind, the tunnelish fairway on #8, and the tough snaking line on #11, among others.
- On top of these lines that pretty much offer only one path to the basket (pretty much), there are others that give you an option. #3 is open to a lefty or righty shot, either forehand or backhand depending on the route taken. #22 also has a split fairway, though it is further along and really needs good line shaping to get around the cluster of trees.
- There are holes outside of the woods as well, but they still provide some interesting looks and challenges. #1 is as easy as it gets, an open shot with the basket tucked slightly in the trees. #15 is similar, but the basket is in denser forest with rough away from the clearing. #16, #24, and #27 are the most open of them all, but there is a small, nasty creek running perpendicular to the fairway that can swallow discs in the murky, muddy water.
- One of the best features at this course are the small ponds present on some of the tougher holes. The water hazards are serious, and well-placed. #7 is a beast at 620', with the water definitely a factor for shot placement. #19 has a big, murky pond at the bottom of the wooded fairway. Making it through the first gap is only part of the challenge, you either have to lay it up short or blast over the pond. It is within reach for most players, but accuracy is also important. Not to mention the basket is even farther out of the woods. #20 has the pond directly in front of the green; making it in one shot takes decent distance, good accuracy, and a
lot of chutzpah.
- Some tricky and/or tough basket placements here. Some of the more open holes have the baskets tucked within trees or rough, and #17 has the basket sunk into a small crater. #25? or #26? has a very big built up green with boulders; definitely an elevated basket that might make you want to lay up. #16? had markers for an island green when I was there, that added challenge to the water in front of the basket.
- With the 27 holes here, there is almost every combination of hole shape, length, and difficulty here. There are
shorter holes, some tight, some open, some with a funky line. Also some very long holes of varying difficulty and length as well, a la #4, #7, #19, #26, and such. Plenty those in between 200'-400' as well, the average hole length is 334', and all are well represented.
- Amenities at the course are top notch; great baskets, teepads, navigation is easy, and there are current tee signs even for alternate layouts. Rakes by the water hazards help to retrieve discs, a pro shop with lost discs is up front, and a snack shack! is located by two teepads. Top notch.

Cons:

- The only gripe I have with this course is the pretty flat terrain. There are some elevated teepads, and a few very small hills in the forest, and an elevated basket, but overall most holes are dead flat. It is amazing what they were able to accomplish to add artificial elevation changes, but it is still lacking to be a 'perfect' course.

Other Thoughts:

- Well, this course is top notch, no doubt. Excellent variety with the wooded holes, enough open/semi open holes to keep things interesting, and serious hazards in the form of ponds and some smaller creeks. Tight and technical, bomber holes, tough fairways, layup options, ace runs, it has nearly everything. I was a little unsure how the course would stack up at first, by the end I was seriously considering playing a second time through (which I have never done on a road trip).
- This course is fantastic for almost every skill level. True beginners might to hold off due to the possibility of losing a disc in multiple spots, but otherwise it should be fun and challenging to everyone.
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4 5
lteppen
Experience: 22.3 years 123 played 6 reviews
4.50 star(s)

Fantasticly Designed and Maintained - BRP!!! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jul 28, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Variety of shots required to shoot well on this championship course. The landscaping and upkeep is immaculate and one of the best kept course in the Nation! This is evident as soon as you step foot on hole #1.

Lots of long holes along open flat fairways set amongst sod farms; grass is pristine!

Plenty of long holes with tightly wooded fairways as well. Hole #4 is the courses signiture hole forcing a straight drive inbetween two rows of closely stacked pines. Paring this one is a challenge.

Mid round beer stand; re-up on beer, water, pop or snacks! Players pass this gem twice per round.

One hole also has distance flags to mark your deepest toss.

Water dangers always exciting and plenty of them forcing players to throw over water from different angles and elevations.

Extremely well maintained and a championship course design you will definitely remember. Dog friendly, beer friendly, green friendly!. Be prepared to spend at least 3 hours on the round.

Lots of tournaments here including throughout the winter months!

Cons:

The only downside to this course is the lack of elevation. To be a top ten course, you have to have a decent amount of elevation. This course although immaculate, is relatively flat all around. Currently ranked #5 in the country seems to have a lot of people pissed off. First due to its lack elevation and second it doesnt have the history and time on its side. Otherwise a phenomenal course. 45 minute drive outside of the twin cities...
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1 14
tbrown
Experience: 21.8 years 63 played 3 reviews
4.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 17, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Favorite course I have played.
Requires everything you have and then some.
Beautiful course - extremely well maintained and clean.
If you like disc golf, this course is a must.

Cons:

Nothing I can remember.

Other Thoughts:

Cant wait to go back!
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