FIRST TEE OF BLAINE, MINNESOTA OPENS
The National Sports Center will
celebrated the official opening of its new National Youth Golf Center/The First
Tee of Blaine on Thursday, August 5, from 1:30 to 2:00 pm.
Speakers at the ribbon cutting
included the master of ceremonies Jim Kelly, of The Golf Channel; Joe Louis
Barrow, Jr., Executive Director of The First Tee; Hollis Cavner, Director of the
3M Championship; Tom Duffy, Chair of the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission;
and Neil Ladd, Director of Golf at the National Youth Golf Center/The First Tee
of Blaine.
Featured guests were Mayor Tom
Ryan of the City of Blaine; Anoka County Council members Margaret Langfeld and
Dan Erhart; State Representative Andy Westerberg; National Sports Center
Foundation board chair Bill Lahr; Howard Miller of The Schwan Food Company; and
Kevin Morris of Coca-Cola.
The ribbon cutting ceremony
featured 100 youth golfers who hit a ceremonial first shot.
The National Youth Golf
Center/The First Tee of Blaine is a comprehensive golf facility designed to
promote the development of youth golf and youth golfers. The facility features
an 18-hole events course, of which 11 holes are currently completed with seven
more to be completed late this year; an 18-hole putting course; an oversized
driving range; a clubhouse, currently under construction and due for completion
in September; and a nine-hole short-course learning center, slated for future
development.
The events course features
multiple tee boxes on each hole, so youth golfers can play with adults. When all
18 holes are completed, the National Youth Golf Center/The First Tee of Blaine
will play at a maximum distance of 7,100 yards from the longest iron tees and a
minimum yardage of 2,800 yards from the shortest black tees.
The National Youth Golf Center
is home to the The First Tee of Blaine, a Chapter of The First Tee.. The First
Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, and is supported by the PGA
TOUR, PGA of America, LPGA, United States Golf Association, and Augusta National
Golf Club.
Since its inception in 1997,
The First Tee has opened over 154 golf learning facilities and introduced the
game of golf to over 300,000 young people. The focus is to use golf and
character education to teach young people life-enhancing values such as honesty,
integrity and sportsmanship.
The National Youth Golf
Center/The First Tee of Blaine was designed by PGA TOUR Design Services Inc.,
which transformed the superb beauty of Minnesota’s pristine native prairie and
wetland into a beautiful golf course for Minnesota families.
National
Youth Golf Center/The First Tee of Blaine is located on the campus of the
National Sports Center, Minnesota’s flagship amateur sports facility. The
National Sports Center is the largest complex dedicated to amateur sports in the
world. In addition to the golf course, the 602-acre NSC campus features over 50
soccer fields, a four-sheet ice arena, an indoor sports hall, a track and field
and soccer stadium, and a cycling velodrome. The Schwan Center, a sports-event
convention and meeting facility, is currently under construction and will open
in 2005. The National Sports Center will host a projected 3.2 million visitors
in 2004.
THE WILDERNESS AT FORTUNE BAY SET TO OPEN
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, Minnesota’s newest
18-hole championship golf destination, opened for public play on May 28,
2004.
Located in Tower, Minnesota, approximately 90 miles north of Duluth, Fortune Bay
Resort Casino is owned by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. The golf course
features beautiful landscape surrounding the shores of Lake Vermilion and offers
some of the most scenic panoramas of any Midwest resort. Designed by noted golf
course architect Jeffrey D. Brauer and operated by KemperSports Management, The
Wilderness at Fortune Bay measures approximately 7,207 yards from the back tees,
presenting four sets of tees to ensure a challenging yet rewarding experience
for golfers of all abilities. Several holes provide breathtaking views of the
lake and surrounding woodlands.
"We're thrilled the time has to come to unveil this unique golf design,"
conveyed Brauer, architect of The Wilderness at Fortune Bay. "The area's
natural beauty and dramatic views provided the perfect canvas for creating a
memorable golf experience."
Fortune Bay Resort Casino, a complete vacation destination, boasts comfortable
accommodations, casual dining, pool, fitness center, game room, and newly
remodeled casino.
For information on “Stay and Play” packages, outing or lesson packages, 2004 Par
Cards, range passes, or to book a tee time, visit
www.thewildernessgolf.com.
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New Goldstrand Golf Trail Tees Off
In Minnesota |
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| Superior National at Lutsen is one of 41
courses featured in a new promotion of golf courses designed by
Minnesotan Joel Goldstrand. |
A new golf promotion lays out 21 two- to
four-day golf outings around the state, each taking in a cluster of
appealing, affordable golf courses designed by native Minnesotan Joel
Goldstrand. A familiar name to Minnesota golfers, Goldstrand spent eight
years on the PGA Tour, and has designed or redesigned dozens of courses in
the state, from rural country clubs to major resort courses.
The Joel Golstrand Golf Trail includes 41
courses organized into "loops" of two to four courses. Since the mini-loops
are scattered throughout the state, these suggested golf getaways are a
great way to discover new, quality golf options in any direction. A package
price for each loop includes discounted green fees and half the cart cost
per player.
The four loops in the Twin Cities area
include such tracks as Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan. This is a combination
links/parkland golf course adorned with an impressive clubhouse. Another
metro loop course is Heritage Links in Lakeville, a friendly golf challenge
that Goldstrand crafted from rolling farmland skirted by woodland.
In what many call the state's premier golf
destination of Brainerd Lakes, The Pines at historic Grandview Lodge offers
the Lakes, Marsh and Woods nines, to be joined by another nine that
Goldstrand is just finishing up on paper. The Pines shows up on two "Lakes"
loops, as does the golf course at Ruttgers Bay Lake Lodge.
One of northwestern Minnesota's most popular
golf challenges is the Wildflower at Fair Hills Resort, a linksy golf test
that is part of a family resort on Pelican Lake. Some of the other
northwestern tracks with places on the trail include Blueberry Pines in
Menahga, The Vintage at Staples, Blackberry Ridge in Sartell, and the
27-hole Geneva Golf Club, Alexandria.
On the North Shore of Lake Superior,
Goldstrand plotted and shaped one of the state's most dramatic golf courses
at Lutsen. Superior National's River, Mountain and Canyon nines deliver
eye-popping elevation changes and views of the great lake.
Partnered with Superior National on the
Goldstrand Trail is Grand National, Hinckley, adjacent to Grand Casino.
Grand National provides a gateway round of golf for players en route to
northeastern courses.
Goldstrand's redesign of Sugarbrooke at Sugar
Lake Lodge in Grand Rapids is an attractive layout with a memorable
finishing hole that plays straight to the shore of Sugar Lake. Nearby,
Wendigo is a rugged challenge with long, tight par fives and lots of
undulation. The log clubhouse provides neat, 19th hole atmosphere.
The Highway 55 corridor loop, running
northwest of Minneapolis through several charming towns, leads to Whispering
Pines in Annandale, Prairie View Golf Club in Brooten, Minnewaska Golf Club
at Glenwood, Blackberry Ridge in Sartell, and Kimball Golf Club. They are
all perfect vacation courses.
These are just a few examples of offerings on
the Goldstrand Golf Trail. For more information, go to
www.joelgoldstrandgolftrail.com or call toll-free 888-848-9918 to request a
brochure. |
GRAND VIEW LODGE EARNS SILVER MEDAL AWARD
For
the third year in the new millennium, historic Grand View Lodge has been ranked
among the top 75 golf resorts in the nation by Golf Magazine. And once again,
Grand View Lodge is the only resort in Minnesota to receive the prestigious
honor.
In
its March, 2004, issue, Golf Magazine awarded Grand View Lodge a Silver Medal,
thereby placing it among the top 75 golf resorts in the country. Grand View
Lodge also received the same Golf Magazine honor for 2002 and 2003, and as well
last year was ranked 63rd among the “Top 100 Golf Resorts in North
America’’ by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine – again the only
Minnesota resort to be so recognized.
Grand View Lodge offers 63 holes of championship golf -- 27 holes at The Pines,
18 at The Preserve and 18 at Deacon’s Lodge -- plus the nine-hole executive
Garden Course.
Previously, The Pines received Golf Digest’s five-star rating for 2002-03,
making it the only course in Minnesota and just one of 12 nationally to earn
that honor. The Preserve received 4-1/2 stars in Golf Digest’s “Places to Play’’
for 2002-03. And the Arnold Palmer-designed Deacon’s Lodge was among Golf
Magazine’s “Top 100 Courses You Can Play’’ for 2002. In 2003, Golf Week ranked
The Pines and Deacon’s Lodge among its top-10 public courses in Minnesota.
“To be the only Minnesota golf resort named in the top 75 in the country by
Golf Magazine and one of only 12 five-star ‘Places to Play’ by Golf Digest is a
tremendous honor,’’ said Chris Kehn, Grand View Lodge’s director of operations.
“To have our goal of being the best golf resort in the state confirmed by the
two major golf publications in the country gives us tremendous credibility.’’
The
Pines opens for the 2004 season on Friday. The Preserve and Deacon’s Lodge will
open a week later on April 23.
All
three courses offer the spectacular Minnesota north-woods experience, with tall
pines and birch tree bordering holes, and lakes, ponds, marshes and creeks and
dramatic elevation changes adding to the golfer’s challenge and experience.
After – or even before – golf, guests can enjoy Grand View Lodge’s sparkling
Glacial Waters Spa, an Aveda Concept Resort Spa. The first spa at a Minnesota
resort and the biggest spa in the state opened last summer to rave reviews.
“It
is nice to see us being nationally recognized as a top golf destination in the
country,’’ said Mark Ronnei, CEO of Grand View Lodge. “The addition of our
$2-million Aveda Spa we hope will help put us and Minnesota golf on the map to
stay.’’
Among the early-season golf highlights at Grand View Lodge are the Minnesota
Golf Opener from May 6-9, which offers unlimited golf, and the 13th
annual Fred-Mark Invitational tournament on May 31-June 1. The Fred-Mark is
named after its founder, the “Godfather’’ of championship golf in the Brainerd
Lakes Area, Fred Boos, and Grand View Lodge CEO Ronnei. As well, special
early-season rates and packages are available.
Grand View Lodge is a quick and easy drive of just over two hours from the Twin
Cities. A variety of lodging and stay-and-play packages are available. For tee
times and lodging information, call (218) 963-3146 or toll free at (800)
432-3788. More information also is available at
www.grandviewlodge.com.
RYAN DAVIS OF MINNEAPOLIS EARNS TITLEIST
SALES REP OF THE YEAR HONORS
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Ryan Davis
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Titleist, Golf's
Symbol of Excellence, proudly announced the selection of Ryan Davis as
2003 Sales Representatives of the Year. With more than 120 dedicated sales
representatives across the United States, Titleist has the largest sales force
and widest product distribution in the golf industry. The official presentation
to recognize Davis for this distinguished honor took place during the Titleist
National Sales Meeting in Orlando, Fla. on January 27.
Ryan Davis
has been responsible for servicing Minnesota's Twin Cities region with Titleist
and Cobra golf clubs since 2000, winning three consecutive Titleist Gold Circle
Awards, representative of excellence in annual sales performance. He started his
career as a Cobra Golf sales representative covering the Indiana and Illinois
region.
In 2003, Davis' territory highlights included an increase in sales across all
golf club and golf bag categories. This performance followed an outstanding
sales performance in 2002 when he was honored as Titleist's New Breed Sales
Representative of the Year, and in 2001 when he was selected as a New Breed
Finalist. He has more than doubled the sales volume in his territory over the
past three years. Ryan and his wife Jolie reside in Minneapolis and have two
sons, Blake and Tanner.
"The performances of Ryan Davis, Dan Gilkison and Todd Green reflect a
widespread company commitment to providing our customers with best in class
service and sales support," commented David Maher, Vice President Sales,
Titleist. "Ryan, Dan and Todd have set a new benchmark for sales and service
excellence that our entire Sales Team will pursue in our efforts to constantly
enhance our valued customer relationships."