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NISSWA, Minn. - When the Grand View Lodge lost Deacon's Lodge Golf Course in 2012 to a competitor, I thought it was a sign that the golf experience at one of Minnesota's best golf resorts was going to be knocked down a notch.
Like my wife enjoys pointing out: "Boy, was I wrong!"
I first played Grand View's current courses - The Pines and The Preserve - nearly two decades ago. I enjoyed them, but neither blew me away like Deacon's Lodge. A return trip this summer gave me a better indication of just how good both courses really are. They've been upgraded in recent years, and there's an excellent contrast between the two.
Like any golfer, you probably want to know: Which is better? It's a valid question, and one we'll start to answer more often in this new series at GolfPass. The Pines currently blows The Preserve away with its review rating, 4.5 to 3.3. Despite the disparity, they're both premier resort courses in the state. I do, however, favor one over the other, even if it is by the slightest of margins. Here goes:
Playing golf at The Pines
Minnesota's most prolific architect Joel Goldstrand, who passed away in November 2022, designed The Pines as one of Brainerd's original resort courses. It scores the first blow in our argument by having 27 holes. More variety is always better. It strikes again with the two newly renovated nines - the Woods and Lakes. Once the Marsh nine's renovation is done by next year, everything should be virtually spotless from the fairways and greens to the bunker sand. Each nine sports a signature hole or two, especially the ones that curl over and around ponds. There's just enough roll in the land to be engaging, too. I'm always looking for different or unique holes in my travels and love when I discover a blind tee shot with a stoplight like the fifth hole on the Lakes nine. It's a sign that the architect was willing to be creative and not cookie cutter. Bonus points there.
Playing golf at The Preserve
The Preserve might be harder to find but that's okay. It's a bit longer of a drive from the resort to reveal such a wonderful, rural setting. I was mesmerized by view from the patio of the log-cabin clubhouse at sunrise. It's the first introduction to the heaving hills that dot the property. The par-5 first hole drops off an elevated tee before climbing hard back uphill to the green. From there, it's just deer and thousands of trees as a gallery. Higher handicaps who don't hit it straight might not like the pinching fairways and wetlands. It can feel like penal target golf at times. If you like a challenge, however, The Preserve is the place. Our group wisely played the whites (6,162 yards) to enjoy the round.
And the winner is ...
The Preserve by the length of a tee. The whole reason you're in Brainerd is to feel like you're getting away from it all. Being a Michigan native, I just love the tranquil "up north" vibes The Preserve emits. Where The Preserve trumps The Pines, strategically, is the "back nine". While The Pine's nines are interchangeable, and therefore feel somewhat similar, The Preserve's back nine amps up the challenge, delivering a truly dramatic climax. The drop-shot par 3s at nos. 13 and 17 and the wicked-good 290-yard par 4 at no. 14 highlight a fun finishing stretch.
Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments below.
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