Lowlands at Mississippi National Golf Links

The day was a little windy which left several approach shots short unless you hit the ball low. Once the ball was in the air sometimes it was necessary to go up 2-3 clubs.

Great and challenging course with scenic views and challenging holes. Don’t let the short distances fool you, the challenge is still there and you have a 600 plus yard par 5 that you are not reaching in two. Great views and elevation changes make it a fun test . Two negatives are the Tee boxes themselves (not very good shape) and long drives between Tee boxes, this is not a course you can walk ! Bethpage Black like ???

The course was in pretty good shape for this time of year greens ran good fairways good some tee boxes were beat up play mid week very quiet got around in 3 and a half hours with a foursome have played the highlander course maybe 15 times always fun played off white tees a little long for 2 of the foursome

Played on aug 7 morning very quiet o waiting for group ahead or no pushing from behind greens were fast and good shape for this time of year tee boxes a little beat up no beverage cart or half way hut open but expected that for midweek 3:45 time for round

We love playing the highlands at Mississippi national today was no different other than the crap customer service want to get some goodies for on the course and the only person that may of helped us other than the dude going off in the kitchen didn’t. We will probably go back but it may not be as often.

The tee boxes were quite beat up. There was some confusion over lack of signage (turn left or right?) heading to the next hole on some of the holes - not all.

we like playing Mississippi national and especially the Lowlands Course. There are a nice variety of holes...we never had a bad lie and even after a lot of rain the course was pretty dry. it was a hot day but there were a couple of water buckets out...so that helped....the greens had a few bad spots but it has been a rough spring...no real complaints...friendly guy in the pro shop too

Having played many of the courses around Red Wing, I feel like an idiot for not having played the Lowlands Course at Mississippi National Golf Links before now. With tree-lined fairways set in between the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley, the course is downright beautiful. As a first time player you’ll see what’s in store when you head out to the driving range, a 400 yard cart ride up a narrow cart path that wends through a forest on the side of one of those bluffs. Arriving at the range, you won’t see the standard flat, wide, former cow pasture. Instead, the range is a valley that runs uphill and doglegs slightly to the right! That’s good, because it’s a taste of what you’ll be seeing all day. Starting your round you’ll have a choice of four tees ranging from 6,489 to 5,284 yards. The middle (White) men’s tees run to 6,195 yards with a slope of 131. Most of the fairways were in great condition when we played, despite the winter frost kill that affected many other Minnesota courses this year. Similarly, the greens were smooth and moderately fast, although there was some inconsistency so that a few were surprisingly slow compared to the rest. The rough was high enough to hide a ball but you could still hit out of it with relative ease, except for some areas close to water features where the grass was about a foot high. Following a fairly benign opening hole, you’ll face your first real challenge on the 529 yard par 5 second hole. The fairway curls to the left hugging a red penalty area that runs all the way to the green. Even with a fairly long tee shot, trying to reach the green in two is dicey because the approach shot will be all carry over that water. Better to play safe and try for a birdie the conventional way. The 322 yard par 4 seventh doglegs to the left. Three players in our group played to the right, and all drove through the fairway into deep rough. Two tried to hack all the way to the green and one found the water that runs all the way in front of the green. The third never found his ball. The last hole on the front half is a 501 yard par 5 that doglegs sharply to the left. A bunker guards the inside corner, so it’s best to simply aim for the fattest part of the fairway. On your second (or third) shot, be aware of a pond that lies about sixty yards short and to the left of the green. There is no barber pole marking this water, but you should be able to see the shower from an aerator in the pond. Avoid the water and you should have a par or better to end this nine. The back nine follows the pattern of the first but with more elevation changes as the holes get closer to the bluffs. The 386 yard par 4 sixteenth exemplifies this as it doglegs sharply right and uphill. Trying to cut the corner runs the risk of having your approach blocked if you don’t clear the trees. Be sure to account for the elevation in choosing your club for the approach shot. One of the prettiest looks at a green comes on the next hole, the 172 yard par 3 seventeenth. You’ll have a great view of the green and the surrounding terrain from the elevated tee box. Take a little less club and secure a par on this hole. Now that I’ve played the Lowlands Course and thoroughly enjoyed it, I definitely want to try the Highlands Course at Mississippi National. I will be back!

If you looking for a courses with plenty of elevation changes, Mississippi National Highlands is for you.

Some winter kill fairway issues but not too bad considering the brutal 2018-2019 Minnesota winter. Greens however were in really nice shape for Spring!

If you’re planning on playing the Highlands, HIGHLY recommend a golf cart! Fun course, gorgeous views and friendly staff!

Bill P.

Kudos for the locals for saving this golf course a few years back as the previous operator closed the course. Although one of the more memorable courses, the conditions were not as it was in the glory days, as I played all 36. Granted a rough winter and wet spring does not help, but there were plenty of tee boxes and areas of the course without grass, and the bunkers looked like they have not been raked or cared for in a while. Some bunkers were converted to a rough grass depression to save cost. However, the greens and fairways were in good shape compared to other courses at this time of the year. No ranger created a 5 hour round due to one group holding up the entire course. Still would make the trip to play for the day. Clubhouse food was great, so stop in for a bite afterwards. Scenery is still top notch. Staff was friendly and made sure my experience was the best it could be.

Played the lowland course. Loved it! Used a cart but easily walkable

Beautiful course, lots of extreme elevation changes that make it both picturesque and challenging.

Some of the cart paths are broken up, making for a bumpy ride. There are several long, steep grades, making you hope the brakes hold out on the golf cart.

There's a 650 yard par 5 on the back nine, but you tee off from such an elevation that the hole plays like a regular par 5.

It's not an everyday type of course, but sure worth stopping in.

I have played here several times and have always enjoyed the layout and the views. But the course conditions continue to get worse every year. And today, the greens were punched with no notification on their website or discount in fees. Some of the tees are in poor condition. An the 17th tee has no grass and they have mats there... honestly. But worse is all the abandoned former bunkers. They are all full of weeds and dirt. And a number of bunkers with sand that were not maintained or raked. Pace of play was slow, so we jumped on the Lowlands after 13 holes and I was surprised to see no abandoned bunkers and bunkers with sand that were in good shape and machine raked. Overall conditions on the Lowlands were much better, including greens that weren't punched.

I don't know what the City of Red Wing is doing with the course, the Highlands needs serious attention.

It was a perfect day for golf...and we quickly played thru the only group that was slowing us down. Some of the tee boxes were in rough shape but the greens were nice.my golf GPS did not know about some routing changes..we had a good time playing