| Minnesota golf courses come in a wide variety | | | | 72. The Mountain to Canyon combination plays |
| from 9-hole mom and pop courses to 54-hole | | | | 6,768 yards from the back tees with a course |
| resort complexes. In this series of articles | | | | rating of 73.0 and a slope index of 133 and |
| we have been discussing different | | | | par is also 72. |
| destination. Today we will highlight Superior | | | | |
| National at Lutsen, which is located on Lake | | | | The River 9 is named for the Poplar River |
| Superior?s north shore in Lutsen Minnesota. | | | | that runs through the property. The river |
| | | | does come into play on a couple of holes, |
| Lutsen has long been a travel destination for | | | | most notably on number 2 and number 9 where |
| Minnesota skiers and the business of tourism | | | | the rush of the river on the tee shot can |
| is alive and well throughout the entire North | | | | play mind games on the golfer. If you |
| Shore region. There are plenty of places to | | | | concentrate and block out the sights and |
| stay from economy to luxury with many lodging | | | | sounds of the beauty around you and play the |
| facilities working with Superior National to | | | | golf shot, both of these are relatively easy |
| offer discounted greens fees. | | | | golf holes. If your mind wanders a double |
| | | | bogey or worse can be made on these two or |
| To get to Lutsen from the Twin Cities is | | | | any of the holes for that matter. |
| approximately 245 miles north. Begin by | | | | |
| taking I-35 north from the Twin Cities and | | | | The Canyon 9 is named again for the deep |
| then continue on Hwy. 61 north from Duluth. | | | | canyon the Poplar River cuts through the area |
| The distance from Duluth is a little over 90 | | | | of the course on holes 5 and 6. The first |
| miles, and residents of Duluth have been | | | | time I played this course as I proceeded from |
| visiting the Lutsen area for many years as a | | | | the green on number 4 to the tee box on |
| favorite weekend destination. | | | | number 5, I heard a dull roar. I stopped the |
| | | | golf cart to listen and to my wonder as I |
| Superior National is a 27-hole facility that | | | | came around the turn and stood on the tee box |
| has three distinctively different 9-hole | | | | of number 5 a smile came across my face that |
| courses. These courses have a couple of | | | | was hard to contain. The elevated tee on |
| things in common. First, the influence that | | | | number 5 is one of the risk/reward holes at |
| Lake Superior has is indescribable until you | | | | Superior National. The carry over the river |
| have played here. The optical illusion that | | | | is 225 yards, there is a false front to this |
| the lake creates along with the pull the big | | | | green, but at least that is dry land. Most |
| water has even on uphill putts is incredible. | | | | balls find a landing spot somewhere in the |
| Second is that each of these courses do have | | | | raging river and end up in Lake Superior |
| risk /reward holes on them. The question you | | | | about a mile away. I elected to hit a |
| have to ask yourself is ?does the reward out | | | | mid-iron to the center of the fairway with a |
| weigh the risk?? Third is that a strong wind | | | | 9 iron into the green. I like to take a par |
| off of the lake can make holes play 3 to 4 | | | | anytime it presents itself. After finishing |
| clubs longer or shorter depending if you are | | | | this fun hole you climb back up to another |
| going into or with the wind. This course can | | | | elevated tee box for number 6 which is a |
| make a good golfer look foolish. | | | | 150ish yard par 3 again with the Poplar River |
| | | | cutting through just in front of the green. |
| The three courses are The River, The Mountain | | | | Elevation, wind, pin placement and even |
| and The Canyon. An 18-hole round will | | | | humidity levels of the air make club choice |
| alternate two of the three courses from day | | | | interesting on this hole. Number 8 is the |
| to day. Superior National also offers | | | | signature hole on the Canyon 9. On a clear |
| unlimited play daily packages so that you | | | | day the backdrop of Lake Superior is |
| experience all of the holes, more than once | | | | absolutely breathtaking. This par 3 hole also |
| if you start early enough! The Canyon to | | | | plays from an elevated tee box and features a |
| River combination plays 6,369 yards from the | | | | drop of over100 feet to the putting surface. |
| back tees with a course rating of 71.1 a | | | | Make sure you select the proper club; because |
| slope index of 127 and a par of 72. The River | | | | the Poplar River is lurking behind the green |
| to Mountain combination plays 6,323 yards | | | | and is ready to give any ball hit long a ride |
| from the back tees with a course rating of | | | | to Lake Superior. |
| 70.9 with a slope index of 130 and a par of | | | | |