2016 Brainerd Golf

dhrib72 · June 17, 2016

Headed up to Brainerd next weekend to play 36 at The Preserve. Anyone played out there yet this year or any of the other courses in the area? Hoping to squeeze another round in on Friday or Sunday.

mn723 · June 21, 2016

Have not been up there yet this summer, but The Preserve did a nice job with their remodel a few years ago. Play Deacon's Lodge if you get a chance. The Classic and Craguns are nice too.

simp21 · June 23, 2016

Anyone have power rankings for the Brainerd Courses. Heard good things about Golden Eagle, anyone played it yet?

benkodi · June 24, 2016

Deacon's Lodge and The Classic are far and away the top two. Between those two, it's personal preference.

The Preserve is likely third. It falls off pretty dramatically after that. Way too much quirk (and trees) at The Pines. The Craguns courses are fine, but very "resorty."

simp21 · June 24, 2016

Thanks for the input benkodi.

Still looking for info on the Golden Eagle course. Looks really nice for the money.

BirdieRoll · June 26, 2016

I have not played Golden Eagle but everyone I know who has has said it's a great course that simply doesn't get the publicity of other Brainerd courses but is perhaps the best value.

loudizzzle · June 27, 2016

I have a cabin up that way and have played most( havent played Craguns) I would say

1a. Classic

1b. Deacons

2 Preserve

3 White Birch

4 Pines

benkodi · July 19, 2016

I was up hosting a group of 16 guys a couple weeks ago. We played The Classic on Friday, 36 @ Deacon's on Saturday and The Classic again on Sunday.

The greens at The Classic were noticeably softer and slower than I ever recall. In all fairness, there was a ton of rain on Saturday night, but it had been very dry prior to Friday's round. As always, the outside staff and pro shop staff were extremely accommodating.

I was happy to see a bit more pace on the Deacon's greens than in years' past. The course is still way too wet and would really shine if they dialed back the irrigation schedule. All in all though, it was in very nice shape.

mn723 · August 27, 2016

My Brainerd area power rankings:

1. Deacon's Lodge

2. The Classic

3. Craguns Legacy (both their courses are similar and local knowledge is key)

4. Preserve

5. White Eagle

6. White Birch

You can skip The Pines, too many goofy holes, not conditioned well etc.

2Tone · November 12, 2016

Thanks for the input benkodi.

Still looking for info on the Golden Eagle course. Looks really nice for the money.

It is a nice course in terms of the greenskeeping but it is extremely gimmicky. Basically every hole has some sort of goofy aspect to it. I mean one or two of those kind of holes a course is fine. But Golden Eagle is full of them. But like i said they keep it up really nicely. And do not play Whitebirch. It is a goat ranch.

ring8501 · January 2, 2017

Eagle's Landing is a kind of the hidden gem up in the Brainerd area! It's right off 371 before Fort Ripley and it's only $39 bucks for 18 holes, cart, and range!

benkodi · May 31, 2017

Any reports on course conditions in the Brainerd lakes area this year?

Zingo20 · June 1, 2017

I was up at Deacon's Lodge 2 weekends ago. Played 3 rounds there and no other courses in the area. Course was in good shape. Greens were in good shape, but slow. They need some dry weather up there. A lot of rain this spring.

loudizzzle · June 3, 2017

I am playing the Classic Monday. I will report back after my round.

simp21 · June 27, 2017

Just got back from the Preserve last weekend. Course was in super good shape. Greens were fast. Kid in the shop said 13. Don't think they were that fast.

benkodi · July 19, 2017

We had a group of 24 that played 36 holes at The Classic and 54 holes at Deacon's over the weekend.

The Classic is in the best shape I've seen in 15 years...absolutely perfect.

Deacon's is still a work in progress and that's being kind. They continue to maintain their price point but the golf course is lagging behind with regard to conditioning. The greens look excellent but are so slow that all of the fun is lost. Their constant desire to saturate the golf course is silly. Unless things change there our group will be looking for another option.