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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4.3
379 Reviews (379)
5 Stars
202
4 Stars
123
3 Stars
28
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
14
Conditions
4.3
Value
4.4
Layout
4.5
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.1
93.1%
Recommend this course
343 out of 379 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
14 Reviews (14)
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.8
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.8
100.0%
Recommend this course
14 out of 14 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
22 Reviews (22)
5 Stars
12
4 Stars
9
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.7
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.8
100.0%
Recommend this course
22 out of 22 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The Refuge delivers a challenging, beautifully laid-out course with pristine fairways, fast greens, and conditions that consistently impress recent golfers. Exceptionally friendly staff and strong value for money make this course a compelling repeat destination.

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+ Annual
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$120 in monthly tee time promo codes
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12 rounds of waived fees
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Reviews

4.3
379 Reviews (379)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 18
Patio Dining 12
Dinner 6
Course Challenges Include:
Forced Carries 33
Bunkers 28
Water Hazards 25
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 22
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 22
Locals 15
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 27
In the 'Burbs 19

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

this course has great features

We always have a great time at the refuge the staff is always great, the course was in fabulous shape, we had a great time

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Refuge loosing it's charm

I've played this course since it first opened. First time playing it this year, the course looks beat up.
Green Tee boxes were all beat up accept for a couple of holes. Greens were dry, hard and bumpy. Seems like patrons are not fixing their ball marks. Carts were beat up as well.
This course used to be awesome to play....not this year. For the price of $29 with Golfnow, it's worth that much.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Very fast and undulating greens

Course conditions were okay. There are a number of holes where there is no forgiveness just off the fairway. Either trees with THICK underbrush or the swamp. The swamps are used in a number of holes which causes a forced carry or automatic lost ball. Our pace of play was horribly slow. They let out a 5 some as the first group out and they slowed up the entire course.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

We'll maintained course with fair challenges

I consider this a favorite in the metro area. I love to bring new players to this course. They are always imprssed.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Lot's of water and swamps

Bring extra balls most holes need a lot of carry to get over the hazards

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Love the course!

The course was is excellent condition considering the amounts of rain we got the night before. Had a great round as usual. Carts are always clean. Greens kept nice. Beautiful course. Saw a deer on the first tee box! I'm buying a membership here next season!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 91
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great Course

got a great deal on hot deals, played with my brothers and had a great time, course is in great condition.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Great Course layout and nice practice facility

We played the course after morning rain and it handled the water very well. Fairways were in great shape, and greens were also nice (although not yet mowed for the day due to rain). We played the green tees (one up from the tips); it is not a long course, but there are a number of holes where there is a carry and/or water in play. No unfair holes at all. The clubhouse facility is very nice. This is a beautiful course. I've play 8-10 times and it is well worth the drive. Go play!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Fun course

You need to know where to position the ball on this course and course management is key to shooting a good round here. Course was in fair shape. Mosquitoes were crazy with all the rain we've had lately, so make sure to bring bug spray!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Beautiful and peaceful!

The course is nicely laid out, always in good shape and has varied skill level access. I play from the senior tees.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Awesome course

The course it self is amazing. But I would recommend eating before you come. They only had candy bars and pop. Nobody was running the snack bar. No hot dogs.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Such a great and challenging course

This course is a lot of fun to play. The greens are very undulating and require some forethought when hitting your approach shot. This isn't a course where you just hit to the center of every green.

There is a lot of required carry off the tee on this course which adds to the difficulty of this course.

In summation: It's a great track!!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Poor weather
Used cart

Beautiful and challenging course

Well maintained course. Beautiful clubhouse, and the course will challenge your game.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

Tough but Fun Track

Everytime I have played Refuge it has been pretty windy which has made it a tough round. Its a bit of a hike to get to but given some of the offers available (Groupon) it is well worth the trip.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

very unique

played here many times its very nice nice greens fairways sand very nice all around.
very hard some days due to the marsh its vlose to on every hole the insects ,horse and deer flies omg ask before you show up,bring some spray or else.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Excellent Course, a little too far for some

This is an excellent course in the North, North burbs which may be too far for some. However for golf enthusiasts it's a must play in the ciites. The course is always in great shape (I wish they gave another option between "maintanied" and "pristine"), and the deals on golf now are unbelievable. When you look at the deals (even in the middle of summer) they are very cheap. The course is a good challenge for all level and the holes are interesting. Only drawback in the drive.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

great course..

this is a fantastic, well maintained, nice course. there are lots of wooded out of bound area so careful those hookers and slicers.. fairway are large although looks small when u r on tee. great course over all ..enjoy it ...

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course was in great shape.

The Refuge was overall a nice course. There were several holes with the usual carry over water areas that made the course challenging. The greens were in fantastic shape & putted true. I would certainly play this course again.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

If you like to putt on greens with lots of undulations. and breaks then The Refuge is your place.

The pro shop attendant was extremely courteous upon our arrival which got the morning off to a great start plus we were able to tee off about 25 minutes ahead of our scheduled time which is always nice.
The tees, fairways and greens were in very good condition although it appears many of the patrons show very little etiquette in repairing ball marks on these greens. I am sure I repaired at least 4 to 5 other marks beyond my own on almost every green. The greens were firm yet receptive to crisp irons from the shorts. Even got a few short irons from the rough to stop on greens within a reasonable distance. Really loved the fact that the holes were freshly cut. Nothing on the edges went in...putts had to be center cut or the ball just would not go. Also, these are fairly large greens. So just getting on can still leave a significant challenge in two putting for a par or whatever (I think I 3 putted at least 3 times because many of the holes that day were cut on slopes). You really need to be under the hole here.
Front nine is pretty casual and open. Not much trouble. The back nine however is a real test. Several holes require a pretty significant carry off of the tee to cover marsh and wet areas. Several other holes on the backside are tree lined and have legs which call for you to hit your ball to certain spots setting you up for your approach into the green.
My partner and I played from the back (black) tees the day we played in pretty windy conditions so we got our money's worth. We found the course to be a very fair course but you need to bring your A game because you will be penalized if you get out of position. Overall a fine experience and given the multiple tee boxes available I think players of all skill levels would enjoy their round at The Refuge.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

great layout

I love this course.well worth the hour drive.I play here whenever possible.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
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