Grand View Lodge - The Preserve

I'm surprised by the three-star review The Preserve got in August. My round over the July 4th week was perfect. My group was first off (which obviously kept pace of play from being an issue) and had a great time. It was my first round at the course in more than a decade, and I thought it was even better than I remembered. If target golf isn't your strength, bring a few extra balls. Narrow fairways and some tough carries over marshland are in order. I thought the conditioning was more than good enough to be worth the extra drive time to find the Preserve.

Played for the first time today and won’t be back. Course was in pretty tough shape, greens badly beat up, lots of dead and bare spots in fairways. Despite being told the pace was supppssed to be 4hrs, took well over 4.5 hrs to play. Waiting on every shot and no rangers in sight. I had high expectations and the rest of the group had played it before and were surprised by conditions. None of us will probably be back especially for $135 on a Tuesday.

Great Routing of Holes

This ranks in my top 50 courses played

Great Par 3's

Nice to open with a Par 5 and slide into a short Par 3.

Hole 4 Great layup with uphill dogleg left

Hole 14 challenging but sneaky short

Great finishing hole 18 - bonus its a par 5.

Mike Morely knew what he was doing when shaping this track, he moved just enough dirt to make it look natural.

It is a must play - will play again.

Very friendly course for players of all skill levels. We played a "Ryder Cup" style match with 16 players and always have a blast when coming to this course. The greens are tricky to read, especially the 13th & 14th greens as they slope the opposite of how you think, but other than that this place is a treat to play. Staff is always friendly and helpful and the food at the turn is good and at a fair price.

The Good: The Preserve at Grand View Lodge is a very playable, interesting design just north of the Brainerd, Minnesota area. Designed by former Minnesota native and PGA pro Mike Morley, this parkland track has significant elevation changes and some beautiful scenery. Several memorable Par 5’s and nice quartet of Par 3’s. Excellent conditioned fairways and rough, as well as fairly undulating, tough greens that putt pretty true. Very unique, rustic clubhouse with full restaurant and bar that is managed by extremely nice staff. Decent practice facility that will suffice. Better value compared to the Grand View Lodge’s other course The Pines. Awesome GPS on the carts!

The Bad: A few of the Par 4’s (in particularly the 5th hole) are a little too “sporty” and borderline ridiculous target golf. Several holes require an iron off the tee and then a longer approach than the tee shot. The greens can be overly challenging for the mid-high handicapper. The bug life and flies on this course were unbearable.

The Verdict: The Preserve is a strong option in the Brainerd Lake area with one of the best clubhouse views that you’ll find. More of a “fun walk in the park” type of course compared to other newer courses in northern Minnesota.

Best Hole: The long Par-4 10th hole is gorgeous. A blind, uphill tee shot unveils a downhill approach with an amphitheater backdrop of trees. One of the most dramatic holes in the entire Brainerd area.

This is by far the best view from a clubhouse in the state. Wide fairways, with gorgeous views, but be prepared... the greens roll fast. Very challenging but rewarding course and super fun to play with friends or by yourself. But don't forget to grab a beverage after your round and take in the view.

The Preserve at Grand View Lodge is located in a most beautiful location. Rolling hills of hardwood forests and wonderful lakes. A great test of golf with severely undulating greens that can cost two strokes per hole. I kid you not when I say This Hole Has a Blind Shot. I feel this was the mantra of the day. How many holes? 14, 15? Perhaps. Keep your ball in the fairway and in sight. Hole #1 is a great starting hole. Downhill drive, to uphill green. Par 5. Should be par 6. Even though I parred it. This is a must play course in Northern Minnesota. The Grand View Lodge is exceptional in its layout, service, and amenities. I look forward to returning each year.

The Preserve at Grand View Lodge is a classic northern Minnesota golf course, with rolling hills, lush tree-lined fairways, and the occasional marsh or water hazard. The course is downright gorgeous, with many elevated tees looking down at undulating fairways and views that will knock your socks off. A preview of what lies in store may be seen from the patio off the clubhouse pub. From here you can see parts of four holes, and get an impression of the rolling terrain and tree coverage you will encounter. Most of the greens are elevated above the fairway with false fronts so your approach shots need to land on the green in order to be putting in regulation. The greens are large, undulating, and difficult to read with surprising subtle breaks. And they are fast! Everyone in our group had at least one downhill putt go screaming past the hole, with several putts going clear off the green. We were playing a two-man team format, but even with two players reading putts there were many four-footers (and even some two-footers) missed. Our group consisted of seniors, so we played the white tees at 6,177 yards, but longer hitters might want to play the back (green) tees at 6,611 yards or the blue tees at 6,408 yards. With such a uniformly beautiful course, it's difficult to pick favorites, but one three-hole stretch does stand out. The par 3 13th hole plays to 148 yards from the white tees. The tee is significantly elevated above the smallish green that is protected by a bunker on the right. If you pull your tee shot slightly, it might be caught by a large tree that overlooks the left side of the green. You'll be taking less club than indicated by the yardage, but be sure to check the wind before choosing your club. The 276 yard par 4 14th is a pretty little hole with a nice view from the elevated tee. You won't need to hit driver here, just hit a long iron or fairway wood to a good yardage and (if you can read your putt and control the speed) secure your par. The dogleg right par 4 15th is 385 yards from the white tees, but plays shorter than that, especially if you can cut the corner with your drive. It's not an easy hole, but that just makes a par feel more satisfying. This was my first time playing the Preserve, but it certainly won't be the last.

Course is in outstanding condition, greens are fast and smooth. Layout is a more traditional design, but is interesting and challenging. Staff is very friendly (shout out to Steve the starter). GPS on the carts was a nice touch and very accurate. Lunch at the grill a treat.

Would highly recommend.

we played this course on my birthday...a gift from my wife..wonderful day on a great course spent together