Twin Cities golf course reviews: June '09

Once the corn gets knee high by the fourth of July, forget about
finding your ball in the OB at Sundance.

While most of Minnesota still suffers under drought conditions, the relatively wet June sure helped green up our area courses and made for some good golfing. And while the entire country still struggles under the "economic drought", golf courses are still offering nice specials and deals, especially if you sign up for their email newsletters. So if you're looking for a course to play, why not check out any one of the following courses in the June course report...

Sundance Golf Course
Played early morning on Saturday, June 13th as a threesome in beautiful weather
Previous experience: First time
Reactions: As golfers drive up the entry road past through the flat farmland north of the Osseo/Maple Grove area, they may begin to worry that the course they are about to play will be uninspiring or boring. If anything, Sundance teaches you, like many things in live, not to judge a book by it's cover. The course plays as a tale of two nines. The front is all about straight shots, with short holes and not a dogleg in sight. There is some water, but on most holes, it won't come into play - the one exception to that rule being the 203-yard par-3 second hole, which is closely guarded by a large pond. The second nine is mostly about distance, with many of the longest holes (including the longest par 5, the 577-yard 14th). But starting with hole 15, tee shot placement becomes more of a concern, with a series of short holes, allowing an accurate hitter many birdie opportunities before the rolling, long par-5 18th.
In terms of conditioning, the course is on par with your local muny... decent, but not awe inspiring. The staff was friendly, though we were forced to finish our round behind groups of six playing in a team championship, which could have been avoided had they sent us out in front of them on the first nine. It did not sour our experience, however, and though the course is pretty remote, it's worth seeking out. Think "CreeksBend" of the north metro, with fewer blind shots.
Play again? Worth a once-a-year trip, for sure.

Roseville Cedarholm Golf Course
Played late afternoon on Sunday, June 21st as a twosome in rainy weather
Previous experience: First time
Reactions: My good golf buddy and I decided to try to fit in some golf after a poker tournament, and the par-3 Roseville course was the closest option. Cedarholm is a nice little course, with par 3s ranging from 125 yards to almost 200. Teeboxes and fairways were in nice condition, though the greens were shaggy and incredibly slow. The appeal of this course is the price - the average golfer won't find a better deal than $11.50 on a weekend - and it gets even better with the frequent specials offered by the course. All in all, Roseville Cedarholm is a great place for families or the occasional golfer.
Play again? If I'm in the area, maybe.

Mississippi Dunes Golf Links
Played early morning on Wednesday, June 24th in muggy, rainy weather
Previous experience: First time
Reactions: Read my full review on the Cottage Grove course.
Play again? A great test of golf, worth a once-a-year trip down to Cottage Grove.

Oak Marsh Golf Course
Played late afternoon on Tuesday, June 30th as a twosome paired with another group
Previous experience: Second round this year
Reactions: We've all heard the phrase "you sure clean up good" told to someone who looks a lot better with a little grooming and some nice attire. Well, Oak Marsh "greens up good" with a little rain and conditioning. We played the Oakdale course early in the season in dry, windy condition, and it only got better with the rains this month. For a more in-depth review of the course, check out my "featured course" article, but I will say that the staff was just as friendly the second time around, and the fairways and greens were in great condition, though a couple holes were having some bunker work done.
Play again? Definitely.

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