Minnesota Golf

More Course Reviews: Region 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Black Bear - Region 6 - Northeast

Reviewed by: SUSAN NIEMI - CLOQUET, MN - SUSAN shoots in the 100s.

Review Summary: FUN AND FRIENDLY COURSE. EASY, HARD, AND CHALLENGING ALL AT ONCE.

Conditions: NORMALLY PRETTY NICE. THE GRASS IS GREEN AND THICK. THE GREENS ARE A LITTLE FAST BUT THAT USUALLY HELPS ME.

Scenery: THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL; ALL THE POND SHIMERING AND ON MOST DAYS YOU WILL SEE SOME KIND OF WILDLIFE OUT THERE LIKE EAGLES, DEER ALMOST EVERYDAY, AND IF YOU ARE A LATE GOLFER YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE THE BEAR OUT THERE.

Layout: THERE IS ALL KINDS OF ROOM OUT HERE. THEY WIDENED OUT THE FAIRWAYS SO NOW ITS PERFECT FOR ALL TYPES OF PLAYERS.

Services: THE SERVICE OUT THERE IS OUTSTANDING, THEY HAVE BEVERAGE CARTS OUT ON THE COURSE WITH EVERYTHING FROM SNACKS AND SANDWICHES TO POP AND BEER. INSIDE IS JUST THE SAME. FRIENDLY ALL AROUND.

Course Ratings

1-5 Stars (5 stars being the highest)

Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Value Rating: 5 Stars

Overall Difficulty: 4 Stars

Putting: 3 Stars

Balls Lost: 6-8

Black Bear - Region 6 - Northeast

Reviewed by: Mike Moyle - Duluth, MN - Mike shoots in the 80s.

Review Summary: An interesting course in great condition that is a really, really good value for the money. A little on the quirky side design-wise, but there are no better fairways anywhere in Minnesota. Every Minnesota golfer should play here at least once.

Conditions: Absolutely outstanding. I've played $300 courses that looked shabby compared to the typical summer condition of this $30 course. The greens are superlative.

Scenery: Not so hot, its built though a wooded swamp. But the swamp gives it wonderful soft turf and thick lush grass.

Layout: Narrow enough that most golfers will want to tee off with an iron on many holes. But it is not a long course, so that works out well. Any ball hit in the woods is LOST FOR SURE.

The layout of the holes is unusual in some places. Although this is a challenging layout for a good golfer, there are several places where it looks like an amateur came in and changed the architect's layout... like the 18th where there is a patch of boulders and weeds crossing the fairway 210 yards out. Still, this is for the most part a good layout to challenge the average to good golfer.

But it's got narrow fairways, with thick swampy woods right next to the narrow rough. You have to figure the narrowness into your club selection.

Services:

Course Ratings

1-5 Stars (5 stars being the highest)

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Value Rating: 5 Stars

Overall Difficulty: 4 Stars

Putting: 4 Stars

Balls Lost: 3-5

Black Bear - Region 6 - Northeast

Reviewed by: Brian Mortenson - Blaine, MN - Brian shoots in the 90s.

Review Summary: This is by far one of the most memorable courses I've played. This course features some tricky holes but with GPS on every cart your usually ok. The course is also unique because of its bunkers which is filled with a white, powdery sand.

Conditions: Very well kept.

Scenery: Very nice. they have a huge fairway bunker in the shape of a bearclaw. The cousre also features wood carvings of different animals on various holes.

Layout: Spread out pretty well. You have to use the GPS on quite a few holes to be able to tell how far out it is to carry a hazard. Challenging yet fun.

Services: Great service. Friendly employees. I have been there quite a few times now and can say that I have never once had a negative experience. Also I found the course to be very reasonably priced.

Course Ratings

1-5 Stars (5 stars being the highest)

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Value Rating: 5 Stars

Overall Difficulty: 4 Stars

Putting: 3 Stars

Balls Lost: 3-5

Reviewed by: Steve Mayo - St. Paul, MN - Steve shoots in the 90s.

Review Summary: I agree with the guy above, this course is a great place to play. Definitely worth a stop next time you're heading to Duluth or in the area. The white sand bunkers are a great touch. Lots of trees and a few in the middle of the fairways so it will test your accuracy. Great price. GPS on the carts makes some blind shots easier to judge.

Conditions: Very well kept. Greens, fairways and bunkers were all in great shape.

Scenery: Great place to spend 4-5 hours on the course. White sand bunker on #7 in the shape of a Giant Paw print was pretty cool. They took their time to enhance the small things that make a course memorable.

Layout: Good layout. Thought the course was nicely spread out.

Services: Great service. Cart-person was always around.

Course Ratings

1-5 Stars (5 stars being the highest)

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Value Rating: 5 Stars

Overall Difficulty: 4 Stars

Putting: 4 Stars

Balls Lost: 3-5