Golf Courses

GOLF A POPULAR WAY TO BEAT THE SUMMER BLUES

By Brian Hansel

When going on vacation or relaxing in the lakes area, several people want to get out and see the sights. Where can we shop? Where can we eat? What are some fun activities that we can do?

But there is also a group of people that find competitiveness or mild recreation as a way of relaxing. For those people, a trip to the nearest 9-, 14- or 18-hole golf course may be just the remedy. With COVID-19 restrictions loosening, getting back with friends and hitting the links may be just the ticket for great summer fun.

Here a few courses that you can take a swing at this summer.

Pebble Lake

Looking for a quick fix for your golfing blues during the summer? Why don’t you try the 18-hole course of Pebble Lake Golf Club?

After battling COVID-19 restrictions during 2020, the course is looking to get back to its usual tee times and seeing a bunch of members, tourists and locals swinging, putting and enjoying time outside on the fairways.

Last season, director of golf Kevin Swenson said many community members took advantage of the outside sport due to the “perfect spring weather” and limited options coronavirus mandates placed on travel and other activities.

The 18-hole championship course features 6,780 yards of golf from the tees for a par 72. The course rating is 72.8 and it has a slope rating of 134 on bluegrass fairways and bentgrass greens. Pebble Lake Golf Course offers five tee-box combinations for players of all skill levels with a full-service practice facility. Designed by Paul N. Coates, Pebble Lake Golf Course opened its 18 holes in 1941.

Pebble Lake has 32 carts for rent. They are all equipped with GPS and Bluetooth.

To set up a tee time, call 218-736-7404 or visit playpebblelake.com.

Balmoral

Anyone landing in the exact middle of Otter Tail County would find themselves in the neighborhood of Balmoral.

The 59-year-old, family-owned course is directly across the road from the largest lake in the county — Otter Tail — and right in the heart of vacation country.

New tee boxes were added the prior season for women and senior players.

Balmoral’s mature oaks are the defining characteristic of the 6,100, par-72 course.

MATHEW HOLING EAGLE / RESORTER

GET IN THE HOLE: Peyton Hanson tees off at Tipsinah Mounds Golf Course. The Par 70 is located in Elbow Lake.

Lida Greens

Joe and Dave Hilber are second and third-generation owners of the 14-hole course on the southwest shore of Lake Lida.

The Hilbers’ parents opened the course in 1984. When Joe retired from business 10 years later, they asked him to join them. A few years ago his son, Dave, an eye doctor in Fergus Falls, took over the groundskeeping duties from his father, who concentrates now on bookkeeping.

The first nine holes of the course are a par 30. Anyone playing all 14 holes can make par with a round of 48.

The last five holes on the course are definitely most challenging.

Tipsinah Mounds

There is a mode of travel at Tipsinah Mounds — Finn Cycles.

A golfer can sit on a golf cart while his partner drives but Finn Cycles are a different animal. They seat one and look very much like a scooter with a golf bag and a golfer aboard. Tipsinah has eight of the cycles along with 56 golf carts. They cater to a variety of players —some local and others visiting the area as tourists.

The 18-hole course located east of Elbow Lake near the shores of Pomme de Terre Lake opened as a nine-hole layout in 1982. The course expanded to 18 holes in the late ‘90s.

Tipsinah is a par 70. Most golfers play the white tees according to Merrick, which demands they cover 6,066 yards of turf.

The many grassy mounds that can be found on the course provide challenges for golfers on every hole.

“They are modeled after (Native American) burial sites that are close to here,” said Tipsinah Mounds pro shop employee Katie Merrick.

Stalker Lake

A par-35, 2,800 yard course on the south shore of Stalker Lake is busy this summer.

The nine holes of Stalker Lake start at 15786 Golf Course Road, 5 miles east of Dalton.

Tee times are required to play the busy course which also features an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar.

MATHEW HOLDING EAGLE / RESORTER PUTTING IN: One of the several golf courses in the area, pebble Lake Golf Course in Fergus Falls provides a competitive and fun 18 holes of play.

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