Minnesota's Best Golf Resorts

Breezy Point Resort has been welcoming guests to the shores of Pelican Lake since 1921. It offers lodging options to suit every group size and budget, from hotel-style rooms and suites at the Breezy Point Inn to lakeside condos and cabins. 

Breezy Point has a course for every kind of golfer in your group. Deacon's Lodge is an Arnold Palmer signature design named after his father. It’s a par-72 championship layout that flows across 500 acres of northern Minnesota wilderness with massive bent grass fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and undulating greens that demand precise iron play. It’s the kind of course that has people talking about specific holes for years afterward. 

Whitebirch features more than 6,700 yards of tree-lined championship golf with water hazards and large rolling greens. The now-closed Traditional Course is being reimagined as two new short courses — expected to open in 2027 — which will be connected to a new clubhouse, bar and restaurant dubbed “The Social Club.” 

Breezy Point covers all the bases when it comes to dining. Enjoy Palmer's Grille at Deacon's Lodge, Antlers Restaurant at Whitebirch, and the Dockside Lounge with live entertainment and drinks all summer long. Be sure to check out the Breezy Belle lunch and dinner cruises. 

The marina also has pontoon and fishing boats for exploring Pelican Lake. Unwind from all the activity at the Serenity Spa, hot tub or sauna. 

Breezy Point Resort has been a Brainerd Lakes Area institution for over a century. After a single visit, it's easy to understand why a first-time golf trip might just turn into an annual tradition.

With more than 20 different accommodation types, there's something for every group size and preference at Cragun’s, including lakeside lodge rooms with stunning Gull Lake views; modern South Beach Cabins just steps from the beach; and Bayview Villas that sleep up to 24 guests and come complete with a game room, wet bar and gas fireplace. For golfers who want to live inside the round, the Homes at The Legacy sit right alongside the Lehman 18. 

The golf itself is the best it has ever been, thanks to a major renovation completed in 2023. The Lehman 18 is a 7,400-yard championship layout winding through a wooded sanctuary with stacked sod bunkers and natural wetlands. It's a course that feels both fresh and deeply rooted in the land. 

The Dutch 27 is the more playable companion, named after beloved founder Merrill "Dutch" Cragun Jr., with three rotating nines — Red, White, and Blue — generous fairways, large green complexes and a memorable risk-reward par-5 finish over water. 

Dining ranges from the historic Irma's Kitchen in a 1926 timber lodge to the Legacy Grill overlooking the golf course, the lakeside Northwoods Lodge Dining Room, and Above Deck Pizza for when you want to keep things casual. 

Cragun's also has a mile-long sandy beach on Gull Lake, a full marina with ski boats, pontoons and kayaks, and a massive sports center with tennis, pickleball, basketball, and indoor and outdoor pools. Or hop aboard the North Star, a luxury yacht offering public and private cruises on Gull Lake. 

Cragun's has been a beloved Gull Lake staple since 1940, but with the Lehman 18 now fully open and the Dutch 27 complete, it has become one of the finest golf resorts in the entire Midwest.

Way up on the shores of Lake Vermilion, and owned and operated by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fortune Bay feels like a well-kept secret. 

The Wilderness is one of the Midwest's most visually stunning golf courses. Golf Digest consistently places it in its top public courses in America, and GolfPass named it the number one golfer's choice in Minnesota. The course winds through granite ridges, towering pines and dramatic rock outcroppings that feel like they belong on a postcard from a National Park. 

At over 7,200 yards with six different tee options, it’s a long one — a genuine challenge for accomplished players without shutting out the casual golfer. A handful of holes run right along the Lake Vermilion shoreline, so you can take in the views between swings. 

Fortune Bay has an on-site marina, a huge indoor pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna, an outdoor sundeck and a fitness center. Dining options range from casual to classy and everything in between. The casino offers two floors of gaming, including poker, blackjack and slots. Come for the golf, explore the lake and try your luck at the tables.

Tucked away in Minnesota's rugged Iron Range, Giants Ridge is the kind of place that makes you wonder why you don't make the drive more often. The Lodge is a full-service all-suite resort with condos ranging from one to four bedrooms, and The Villas offer a cabin-style feel with lakeside views of Wynne and Sabin Lakes. 

The Legend and The Quarry are two of the most distinctive courses in the entire Midwest, and they couldn't feel more different from one another. The Legend is a classic parkland design that winds through dense northern Minnesota forest with tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering and the kind of measured, thoughtful layout that rewards strategic play over brute force. It's the sort of course that feels familiar and welcoming yet reveals new challenges every time you play it. 

The Quarry is something else entirely. Built on an old iron mine, it’s one of the most visually dramatic courses you'll find with massive rock outcroppings, open pit remnants and rugged terrain that gives every hole a wild, almost otherworldly character. 

Play The Legend to appreciate the craft of great golf course design. Play The Quarry to have your mind blown. Beyond golf, enjoy activities such as mountain biking in the Superior National Forest, hiking, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. There's also a climbing wall, tennis courts, basketball, sand volleyball, a serene beach and a lighted path around the lake.

Grand View Lodge has been welcoming guests to the shores of Gull Lake since 1916. Stay at the charming, century-old Main Lodge, the modern, upscale North Hotel, or one of the dozens of cabins, cottages and villas around the property. 

Once you’re settled in, prepare for exceptional golf. Grand View Lodge offers 45 holes spread across two courses. 

The Pines is a 27-hole layout broken into three rotating nines — Lakes, Woods, and Marsh — each with its own character and signature holes. The Woods nine is widely considered the most scenic, with two beautiful downhill par-3s and a dramatic closing par-5 with a pond guarding the green. The Lakes nine keeps you on your toes with strategic water holes and at least one genuinely memorable blind tee shot, complete with a stoplight to manage traffic. It's a course that rewards smart, patient golf. 

The Preserve is a completely different experience. It's carved through pine and timber forest with elevated tees, rolling terrain and tour-speed greens that will have you double-checking your read on every approach. 

There's no better way to cap a day on the course than sinking into a table at Glacial Waters Spa, where treatments like the Golf Performance Massage are specifically designed to melt away the tension that 18 holes tend to leave behind. Come morning, your swing will thank you. 

Beyond that, relax on Gull Lake beach, take out the paddleboards and kayaks, or enjoy the pools and waterslide with the kids. Dining options range from upscale European fine dining and a craft steakhouse to authentic Italian, Mexican, BBQ at the courses, and a pub. There’s truly something for everyone.

With 63 holes spread across four courses, Madden's is an expansive and beloved Minnesota golf destination. 

The crown jewel is The Classic, a championship layout carved through red oaks and wetlands that has earned a five-star rating from Golf Digest for 15 years in a row, making it one of the top public courses in the country. With more than 50 white sand bunkers, it demands precision on every shot. It's also one of the few resort courses in Minnesota with a professional caddie program. 

Pine Beach East is the historic counterpart, dating back to 1926. It was the first-ever 18-hole resort course in Minnesota, complete with panoramic lake views, traditional character and the only par-6 hole in the state. That’s right. Hole #6 is a massive 618-yard monster that demands both patience and a little humility. 

Pine Beach West is the more laid-back course, perfect for a warm-up round or a relaxed afternoon before hitting the lake. And if you just want to soak in the scenery without the stress, the Social 9 is a breezy par-28 course that hugs the shoreline of Gull Lake. The second hole is a unique par 3 where the green sits 50 feet below the tee, making it one of the best lake views in the Brainerd area. 

When you finally put the clubs away, Madden’s has three sandy beaches, four pools (indoor and outdoor), a kids’ wading pool, and an outdoor hot tub overlooking Gull Lake. Beyond the water, enjoy a little tennis, pickleball, croquet, lawn bowling, shuffleboard, horseshoes, basketball, sand volleyball or miles of hiking and biking trails. 

Oh, and there’s a full spa, an art gallery, and six incredible restaurants. It's really one of the most well-rounded resorts in the Midwest.

Plan the ultimate golf trip in Minnesota.