The Refuge GC: #7
View from the 7th white tee at The Refuge Golf Club
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Rating Index Rating
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4.1
365 Reviews (365)
5 Stars
194
4 Stars
117
3 Stars
28
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
14
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
3.6
Amenities
4.0
85.6%
Recommend this course
329 out of 365 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
8 Reviews (8)
5 Stars
4
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.4
Value
4.6
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.9
100.0%
Recommend this course
8 out of 8 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
42 Reviews (42)
5 Stars
24
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.6
92.9%
Recommend this course
39 out of 42 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6534 yards
Slope 143
Rating 72.3
Book a Tee Time at
Refuge Golf Club & Wedding Venue
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Course Details

Year Built 2001
Fairways Blue Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season March - October
Architect Kevin Norby (2001) Don Herfort (2001)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $18
GPS Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Visa, Mastercard, American Express
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code A collared shirt and golf pants/shorts are preferred, but not required.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Minnesota (2019 #24)
The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+
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10 rounds of waived fees
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$120 in tee time credits
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Tee Time Protection
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Reviews

4.1
365 Reviews (365)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

this course is usually in great shape and you can usually move at a good pace. Greens had ball marks all over them. Had to wait on most all shots. 8 min tee times is crowded. For the price I would expect more.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 08/28/2017:
We appreciate your feedback. We are sorry to learn you did not have as great of an experience as expected this time around. We encourage and will continue to encourage all of our golfers to repair their ball marks. We hope you give us another shot soon.
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Response from on 08/16/2017:
Thank you for the 4 stars! Come play again soon!
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Response from on 08/16/2017:
Thank you for the 4 stars! Come play again soon!
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Refuge golf course

the course is in perfect condition. Not a long course at all but very challenging. Have to use every club in your bag for the variety of shots you need to hit.

staff was very helpful and friendly.

do yourself a favor and take a trip up to the refuge-it's worth the drive.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 08/16/2017:
Thank you for the wonderful review! We are glad you enjoyed the challenge the course has to offer. Practice makes perfect, so we hope to see you out there again soon!
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Value

Play here alot. Value is great for price. The track is pretty fair, only 2 kind of wonky holes. Greens are usually in great condition, roll true, course staff needs to groom and clear debris more often through out the day thought. Tee boxes also need loads of work. Carts have a reasonable accurate gps. Overall a great course, worth the 30-40min drive from the cities.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Response from on 06/07/2017:
Thank you for the wonderful 5-star review! We are glad you find value in the course. We'll look into the tee box issue. We look forward to seeing you out there again soon!
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great value

Played late on a Saturday afternoon and got through in about 3.5 hours. Was stunned at how open it was on a beautiful day. Cost was only 25 riding, which is almost free!. It was low enough to get us to come from Plymouth. I've played the refuge many times in the past, but it had been a couple years. The course was very dry compared to what I was used to there. Nothing yet burned out as we have had lots of rain but notably dry especially the fairways. They are definitely not watering enough. Outside of that it was an enjoyable round.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 06/07/2017:
We are glad you enjoyed your round with pleasant weather and a good pace of play during the weekend. We are also glad you find value in the course. Come play again soon!
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Will be retruning soon

Fun course, with a nice layout. Some easy holes, some very challenging.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 06/02/2017:
Thank you for the great review! We are glad you had a fun round and that you enjoyed the challenge the course has to offer.
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0

Pay to play, but worth it

This course is very nice, well maintained with great practice facilities. I came early season so the cat tails are still flat, this course really looks awesome in prime season.

Hard golf course but boy is it fun. Staff has never been the friendliest but they are cordial and will answer when asked.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 06/02/2017:
Thank you for the 5-star review! The course has its challenges, but practice makes perfect! We hope to see you out there this summer.
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Fun course with plenty of challenge

I played here for the first (after several recommendations from coworkers) recently on a cool, overcast day and had the course to ourselves. Course was in fair to decent shape with plenty of normal wear and tear (unfixed ball marks and plenty of unfilled divots) seen at public courses. The layout is deceivingly long for the yardage and has some fun holes carved out of the marsh. I will definitely play here again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Response from on 06/02/2017:
We are glad you decided to give The Refuge Golf Club a shot, and that you enjoyed your first time here! Come out with your coworkers next time!
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Response from on 06/02/2017:
Thank you for the 4 stars!
Played On
Reviews 29
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice course in Northern area

I played here and found the course to be in very nice shape. The greens are firm and hold a good shot and they are not really fast but are still quick. The greens are difficult to putt on because of the small ridges and hills on them...best to be below the hole so you can take a run at the hole.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 06/02/2017:
We are glad you enjoyed the course conditions. We hope to see you out again this summer!
Played On
Reviews 30
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Too Late

4:20 is too late to get in 18. Course was full and movin at about 4:40 pace. Thought we could finish by 8:30 when we made the tee time. Not today. When it got dark and everyone left the course, we played quickly.

Course is beautiful. Multiple tee boxes let you bite of any to all you can handle. Championship greens with healthy turf throughout the complexes. Great design with lots of variety, give it a try. ✌

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Response from on 05/11/2017:
We hope you get to play the course again and enjoy it at an earlier time. We are glad you enjoyed the course layout and conditions. Come play again soon!
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Refuge Review

A bit of a hike, but well worth it. This is a real nice course in great condition. Excellent value.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Response from on 05/11/2017:
We are glad you find The Refuge Golf Club well worth the drive and price. Come play again soon!
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 04/25/2017:
Thank you for the 4 stars! Come play again soon!
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Wanted to really like this course

My father came in from out of state just to catch up and we decided to hit the links (when it's nice weather in April, you kind of have to). Took to google/golf advisor to find a course near by. I have recently moved to the area so my knowledge of local golf is lacking. Came across The Refuge. Read some mixed reviews but figured for the price it was worth it. Sad to say those mixed reviews are spot on.

I have read several comments on "Staff Friendliness" -- my experience was not that way. Seemed like I was almost bothering the employees by wanting to golf and was shuffled quickly to the tee box rudely.

I am no means an expert golfer reflected in playing from the green tees and did really enjoy the layout from there. I imagine peak months, if maintained correctly, this could be a very nice course. Sadly, even though the year is early, this course is not in good shape. From slow greens to grass growing in the sand traps, there is a lot left to be desired.

This is very much a get what you pay for golf course (got a discount rate through golfnow -- taxes and fee's for two with cart came to 100 total) that unfortunately has left it's heyday in the past. The bones of a great course is there, sadly there is no meat on it.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Response from on 04/25/2017:
We are sorry to see this review and learn you and your father did not enjoy your round at the course this time around. We apologize for any miscommunication from our staff that may have come off as anything other than welcoming. What you described is definitely not the standard we hold among our course staff. We hope you give the course another shot.
Played On
Reviews 55
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Tough but fair

The Refuge is always fun to play. The course is always well maintained and the greens run true & quick.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Response from on 04/25/2017:
Thank you for the wonderful 5-star review! We are glad you had a fun round and that you noticed how great the greens are. Come play again soon!
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

What a value!

1st round of the year.

Got an amazing deal on golf now.com for 50% off with cart!

Course was in great condition for early - mid April.

Can't wait to come back!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 04/25/2017:
Thank you for the excellent 5-star review! We are glad you spent your first round of the year at The Refuge Golf Club. We look forward to your next round soon!
Played On
Reviews 171
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 100 Contributor
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

tough layout

lots of carries, was a very windy day added to the toughness of the course. Not a course for a beginner. Got a good deal on Golfnow. Don't think I would pay full price to play this course.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Response from on 04/25/2017:
Thank you for your feedback. We're glad you got a good deal through GolfNow, but you will find weekly specials and dynamic prices on our booking engine if you book here https://www.refugegolfclub.com/tee-times/ We hope you give us another shot soon.
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great for early spring in Minnesota

For early season golfing, you couldn't beat our round at The Refuge yesterday. The fairways were decent, the greens kind of fuzzy with some bits of leaves and twigs in places, but good for this time of year. Temp was low 60s, clubhouse was only partly open, but they had beer and brats. It was a good round at a great price

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 04/25/2017:
Thank you for the terrific 5-star review! We're glad you had a great round and that you found value in the course. Come play again soon!
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

early spring

The course was in great shape for so early an opening. Carts were allowed. The greens were not cut yet, so they were very slow. A fun outing in the sun.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Response from on 04/25/2017:
Thank you for the great 4-star review! We're glad you enjoyed your round when we opened. We look forward to seeing you out there again!
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