Best golf courses on a budget and, well, off
Realty Growth
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Written by Renee Berg
When it comes time to tee it up, our self proclaimed golf experts have got you covered.
Whether it’s a low-cost outing you’re looking for or an indulgent “who cares?” about the price golf course, we’ve got six regional courses that make our experts’ “must play” list.
The top three courses on a budget per avid golfer Chris Christensen of Realty Growth Inc. are:
It’s priced at under $50, and has a low membership rate if you buy early, Christensen said.
“I love Oak Summit because it’s challenging where it needs to be,” he said. “It’s got a number of features like bunkers and there’s a little bit of water that comes into play. But it’s also not the hardest course in the area. They don’t have a restaurant but do have snacks and a driving range.”
“It’s a 30-minute drive from Rochester, and it’s got these nice, rolling hills,” Christensen said. “There aren’t a lot of trees. It’s a great course. Very well-maintained and the owners are great.”
What’s more, there’s a restaurant there, so you can get a bite after you play.
“Pine Island is a fairly easy course, and you can get your rounds in fairly quickly,” he said. “The clubhouse offers basic amenities and it’s not too far of a drive from Rochester.”
“The reason I didn’t include more city courses is they’re very busy,” Christensen said of his top 3 selections. “They’re tough, expensive and really busy, which is not a good combo for me.”
Sitting and waiting “makes golf not fun,” he said of other Rochester courses.
The top three courses without a budget in mind, as recommended by avid golfer Dylan Carty , also of Realty Growth Inc., will also require a short drive in some cases.
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It’s a really nice course which is well-maintained in and out of the clubhouse, Carty said.
Somerby is one of the finest private clubs in the midwest, according to its website. They provide members, families and guests with the “highest standards of service in golf, recreation, social and business lifestyle.”
In fact, Somerby is regarded as more than a place. It’s a state of mind, “imparting a celebrated tradition of luxury and geniality that members have treasured since the Club’s inception.”
Carty loves this course for the massive remodel they recently did.
“The course just gets better,” he said.
He also likes that this course is convenient to play, as it’s right in town.
It’s a private, 18-hole golf course designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1916. It has been acclaimed by Golf Digest and the Golf Course Architects of America as one of the finest courses of its kind.
Other amenities, according to the course’s website, are restaurants, indoor golf simulators and lounge, fitness center and a Kid’s Club. There’s also an aquatic center.
Carty likens this course to Somerby, and says it is worth the drive and open to the public.
The course’s website describes it as nestled in the Mississippi River valley grand bluffs of Lake City. It offers up a unique golf experience, including having five sets of tee boxes in order to accommodate golfers of any ability.
The Jewel was designed by US Open winner Hale Irwin, and winds through 800 acres of the river valley. It “provides a memorable experience for all golfers and lives up to its name,” the website says.
All photo credits are given to the golf courses (we don’t own these images used)
Thanks, Dylan Carty and Chris Christensen for giving us your input on the best golf courses and budget ones! We will have to catch a round this summer when the weather gets nice out!