The Refuge Golf Club

I've been a semi-regular (3-4x/season) at The Refuge for several years and my experience has always been positive. The course's relative short length is more than made up for by its scenic layout...it's hard to beat for a wonderful Fall golf experience. (Please note that like most other public-access courses, the late season condition of the greens were at bit too shaggy but, I guess that's par for the course for late-October/early November Minnesota golf). Also, the staff members are first-class folks!

Very nice even when wet. Very scenic great greens. Some holes are very challenging off the tee. Need to hit the fairway to score well otherwise big trouble leading to a double. Front nine is less challenging.

We have played 30 different course in the area this year and by far this is number one with us. Great condition, outstanding greens, friendly staff, and a terrific day. It always is when I win money from my buddy.

Excellent condition wonderful staff and scenic course with marsh areas. The only knock was limited menu of food for day and time of year which was fine for us.

Challenging, fun and picturesque.

Greens were great. had some tight fairways and plenty of shots that you need to think about.

This layout has interest throughout with forced carries and maneuvering through lots of marsh land. Very interesting and challenges you on every shot. Greens are difficult and slick. Keep it straight or you will go through sleeves of balls. A great challenge!

The course was in great shape and the staff was very helpful. I will definitely be returnung to play. Some of the best fairways I have seen.

Great course, great weather, great price!! Truly the Gem of Northern Metro courses.

Great course, very slow play. Think they should space tell times out. Some holes that are tricky and take some golfers take awhile to play

Slowest round of golf I've ever played, had to wait on every hole. They need a ranger to speed things up!!

Played course for first time with 3 single digit hdcp players ,all had nothing but good things to say ,birdies for the brave Bogeys for the wayward shots ,great layout ,looking forward to playing again

This course was in great condition. Enough difficulty that I only lost 3 balls. A very good golfing experience.

Overall the course was pretty cool with a lot of fun tee shots and approaches to the green. Some of the tee boxes and greens were in rough shape. It might be due to the fact that players didn't take the time to fix their ball marks on the greens. They have GPS on the carts but some of the numbers shown weren't very helpful. For example: From the tee boxes they had distances shown to the bunkers around the green (who needs a distance to a bunker that is 385 yards away??)...I would give it another shot for sure!

Second time Ive played the Refuge this year. Both times took Over 5 hrs! I was told they had 2 rangers on the course to maintain pace of play. They definitley need to teach them what a rangers job is to do. Its very frustrating to wait almost 10 mins per hole!

The architecture of this course is amazing. You really have to be hitting the ball straight though the fairways are small! The pro shop is great and the resturant/bar has very good service. The carts are nice and play is smooth except for a few areas. There needs to be some rangers out pushing the pace of play. Other than that great course and very good looking.

This was the second time playing this course this year, first was in the spring.

The club house is very elaborate and gives your the impression that your in for a great round. However, not the case. The putting green and chipping area are nice. Large and open, however the range, on both of my visits, was looking thin and burnt out. I looked for the best piece of lawn to hit off of and that wasn't even very good. It looked like the hitting lane hadn't been moved in weeks.

The course itself is a nice layout. Challenging holes, which I love. However the course is so freakin dry that when your ball hits the fairway it bounces like it hit a cart path. The greens are the same way, can't tell you how many 120yrd approach shots I watched hit the green and bounce over the back. And I'm talking about the ball bouncing a good ten feet off the ground and hardly a divot. They may keep it this way for a reason, I noticed a large number of bunkers not raked along with divot marks, club head marks and shoe scuffs on the greens from people that don't know how to clean up after themselves or fix what they damaged. Some holes had thick lush ruff that peanalized you, other holes it was just burnt grass.

Let's talk a moment about the carts. If you are going to go play here. I highly suggest using a range finder (I learned my lesson in the spring). The cart gps system is way off on a lot of the holes in side 150yrds. Also you don't get the carry distances off the tee boxes over the multiple marsh lands, but instead you get info like "365yrds to a green side bunker". Gee thanks, that helps me a lot. Multiple holes, I would range a flag and my buddy would tell me what the cart said, giving the cart a good minute or so to make sure it was updating, and found some of the readings on the gps to be off a good 20yds. I would prefer a cart that is newer with no gps over what they currently offer.

So overall, I would not make the hour fifteen drive to play this course again. The house is nice, staff was nice, but in the end this course suffers. I have played many courses in this state and would put this right there with an inner city muni.

Greens were fast but fair. 5 tee boxes allow for all types of players. 4 1/2 hours for a Saturday is an acceptable time. Worth the drive.

Very clean facility. Professional young staff that really takes pride in doing good work. Could use better course management equipment on the carts and at the tee boxes.

buddy and I went ot for a round of golf on a beautiful summer say course was nice shape even though greens were a little rough from golfers usage overall a very enjoyable time

I wish it was closer to where I live. I would definitely play it more often!