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BRAINERD, Minn. - Even adults love summer camp.
Stuffed from a wonderful meal at Mission Point restaurant at Madden's on Gull Lake, I wander out to the shores of one of the best of the state's supposed 10,000 lakes. The fish and linguini I devoured after driving three hours from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport was creamy and light. The addition of the cheesecake for dessert, however, required a bit of a walk.
Outside, children are running wild with endless energy, playing tag, shuffleboard and fishing off of docks. Boats cruise by. This is the lake life I so miss when I moved to California a decade ago.
A young employee starts stacking wood in a nearby fire pit, signaling the real party is about to begin. Nothing gives off summer camp vibes quite like the ritual of making S'mores. I pass on the free treat, although just seeing the kids come running fills my cup. Oh to be young again.
Sorry, I've buried the lead for golfers: Madden's also happens to be the largest golf resort in Minnesota, boasting 63 holes spread across four courses. It's home to arguably the best one in golf-mad Brainerd, too - The Classic at Madden's. I've played The Classic several times, but this was my first time staying at the resort. A few memorable first impressions follow:
Staying and playing at Madden's
The best part about Madden's from a family golf perspective is moms and dads can give their children a full golf camp experience and the kids would just think it's vacation.
Younger golfers can cut their teeth at the nearby renovated Airport Driving Range that's got endless room to roam and explore. Or they can play the first rounds of their lives on The Social 9, a short course behind the Madden Inn with nice views of the lake. When they're ready to graduate to bigger things, Pine Beach West (5,070 yards) and Pine Beach East (6,101 yards) provide the perfect next steps. Lessons and clinics are available as well.
When the children aren't learning the game, turn them loose swimming at the indoor or outdoor pools and the lake. What children wouldn't spend hours conquering this?
The ultimate golf goal for anybody, young or old, is to play well on The Classic, a perennial Top 100 public course by Golf Digest. In recent years, the 6,933-yard course designed by Scott Hoffman has seen major upgrades such as the regrassing and leveling of all tees and new white sand in all 56 bunkers. The white sand really pops against the natural backdrop.
I played it in mint condition walking with a caddie 10 days before it hosted the 122nd Minnesota State Amateur July 21-23.
The Classic is one of the few public/resort courses in the Midwest that offers a robust caddie program. A forecaddie accompanies each foursome playing before 10 a.m. daily from June 1- August 31. Few resort golfers walk although more should. There's one tough hill on no. 9 to get back to the clubhouse, but that's about it for difficulty.
The Classic's signature has always been its covered bridges used to traverse the wetlands. There's a lot of places to lose a ball, so choose your tees wisely. I went whites for the first time (6,032 yards) for the opportunity to hit more greens in regulation.
After golf, The Classic Grill inside the clubhouse delivers more than just traditional golf fare. I ordered wisely, enjoying both the Blue Corn Pork Belly Tacos appetizer and Baked Shrimp & Lobster main for dinner. The view from the patio isn't lakeside. However, it's still pretty good.
Maybe next time I'll try something else besides golf. Archery? Pickleball? Axe throwing? A pontoon boat ride on the lake?
The fun never ends at Madden's version of summer golf camp. Too bad the good weather does.
What's your best memory of summer camp, golf or otherwise? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments (1)
Jason,
Compelling article.
From your descriptions and overview, this looks like an outstanding resort, with the lake an ideal centerpiece for what is singular–among other things–about it. Variety in golf course types is a very smart point of emphasis by the resort owners.
I know what you mean, exactly, how captivating the “lake life” can be (sorry that it’s become part of your past).
My family vacations at Squam Lake in New Hampshire annually, which is great, though I do have to travel a bit to play golf courses within a five to fifty mile radius. No, that’s not quite comparable to visiting Madden’s Resort.