The Legend Course at Giants Ridge

Giants Ridge Honored in GOLF Magazine's Inaugural Ranking of North America's Top 100 Golf Resorts

By Brian Weis

Giants Ridge - the Upper Midwest's leading golf resort set in the rugged beauty of the Mesabi Iron Range - placed 11th in the Best Resorts For Families category in GOLF Magazine's inaugural ranking of North America's Top 100 Golf Resorts.

The rankings were based on GOLF Magazine's online poll of 3,700 golfers rating 243 resorts in North America on categories such as golf experiences, accommodations, service, food, and ambience. The publication's editorial team's consideration of these resorts also factored into the rankings. The full list appears in the magazine's October 2019 issue.

A convenient three-hour drive along I-35 from the Minneapolis - St. Paul metro area, Giants Ridge boasts two of the highest-ranked layouts in state, The Quarry and The Legend. The aptly-named Quarry is built on the site of a former sand quarry and iron ore mine, and dramatically raised tees and hazards provide dramatic Iron Range vistas. Carved out of the Superior National Forest, The Legend is a true "northwoods" course featuring towering pines, giant fairways and majestic views of Wynne and Sabin Lakes.

Besides its two award-winning golf layouts, Giants Ridge offers numerous crystal-clear lakes, rivers and streams ideal for swimming, boating and fishing. Hiking and biking trails also cut through the towering pines of the Iron Ridge, and chairlift rides offer breathtaking views of the stunning Iron Range.

"It's an incredible honor to be placed in GOLF Magazine's first-ever ranking of North America's Top 100 Golf Resorts and being named among the best in the family friendly category," says John Kendall, director of golf. "We pride ourselves on making our golf courses enjoyable for every player, and offering plenty of enjoyable adventures throughout our property."

Currently, Giants Ridge is offering value-laden stay-and-play packages through late fall. The "Two Nights - Two Rounds" package starts at $249 per person / per night and includes a two-night stay in a two-bedroom condo at The Lodge at Giants Ridge, discounts at the Sleeping Giant Grill and Bar, a round of golf per person / per day on either The Quarry or The Legend, golf cart, range balls and a yardage book. The "Play & Stay at GreenGate Guest Houses" package includes a two-night stay at the GreenGate Guest Houses, a round of golf on either course, golf cart, range balls and a yardage book, and starts at $232 per person / per night. The "Stay & Play at The Villas" package includes one round of golf with cart on either of the resort's two courses, range balls, a yardage book and accommodations at the Villas at Giants Ridge for 10% off the regular price.

For more information: www.giantsridge.com, 1.800.688.7669

Revised: 10/02/2019 - Article Viewed 15,075 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.