Bobber Down: Mille Lacs Golf

After a couple years on the shelf, our Bobber Down column returns to Mille Lacs Lake. It will provide readers with short, interesting updates that we’ve gathered from around the lake.  We will always attempt to verify all our information. We are a blog, not a newspaper.  However, you may see things attributed to sources “wishing to remain anonymous.”  If you read Charley Walters “Shooter” column in the St. Paul Pioneer Press and read “a little birdie says,” you’ll understand our planned format.

Area Golf:  Boom and Bust.  Three years ago, we did friendly golf course reviews on Fiddlestix, Izatys, Hardwoods and Higbees. The health of that circle has taken a slight hit with the recent recession in a trend that has wiped out countless courses nationwide. A new course has come onto the scene for us.

Despite rumors, Higbees will be open for its ninth season, according to owner Pete Wilkes. There will be several new types of memberships.  Membership letters will be out within the next two weeks, Wilkes said.  A woman's league is planned.  The Friday night scrambles will continue. The course will continue to operate its nifty outdoor bar and barbeque area.  For more information contact Pete Wilkes at 320-495-3333 or 320-630-6482. 

For the first time in years, Izatys Resort was open through winter. It heads into spring with a solid commitment from current owner, Commerce Bank.  Weddings, corporate and golf group bookings are way up, general manager Jason Tollette said.  The golf operation is in transition mode with a new golf superintendent pending and the planned re-opening of The Sanctuary front nine.  Tollette has targeted mid-summer for Sanctuary to be operational.   He said the long-expected Izatys Resort closing with Faribault businessman Roy Winjum could drag into June or later but is still projected to happen.

The delayed sale of the resort will not affect course opening or operation, Tollette said.  Blackbrook remains a top course in the Greater Mille Lacs area.  Edina’s Commerce Bank has continually funded the resort’s operation since 2009 and will do so this year, Tollette said.  Commerce will fund operations, equipment, maintenance and materials budgets to keep Blackbrook running smooth until Winjum takes over, Tollette said. Visit the Izatys website for more membership and golf information.

The Mille Lacs Golf Resort – or Hardwoods -- website is down and the only Google searches one can find on the course at present are on Golf Link and Golf.com.  The course phone number is operational but we get a constant busy signal.  The 18-hole course, built in 1965, should be open this spring.  We’ll provide you details when we learn more about ownership and its plans.  If you haven’t played it, the front-nine is a gem.  The back nine, not so much.

Fiddlestix is healthy and completely ramped up to steam into its 24^th season.  Owners Harley and Tamma Exsted run a solid business and continue to attract more and more golfers to this well-maintained 18-hole course, located just southeast of Isle.  This family- owned operation was our Course of The Year back in 2008.  It would have been an interesting matchup between it and Blackbrook over the last two seasons, but we didn’t conduct reviews. Remember, it opened March 31^st last year and is always one of the first courses out of the shoot in spring.  It has a large league and tournament listing scheduled.  Visit the Fiddlestix website for more information on leagues and memberships.

A new player in the area golf scene that is sparking interest is Garrison Creek Marina’s nine-hole executive course.  This newly refurbished nine hole, Par 3 golf course is open to the public. A new clubhouse is being designed along with other improvements.  All new greens and tee boxes have been added, and 117 ten foot high Colorado Blue Spruce were transplanted to give the newly designed course a challenging but forgiving golf experience.  For more information see the Garrison Creek Golf Marina website.