Once Played, Easily Remembered.
Since 1991 golfers have quietly coveted and enjoyed Willingers Golf Club. Willingers Golf Club is a tranquil, yet exciting, 18-hole championship course straddling a 40-acre forest and 60 acres of naturally open water and marsh/wetlands. The course is an easy drive that is located just one mile from Hwy I-35 (directions), 30 minutes south of both Minneapolis and St. Paul. The 6,809-yard Willingers Golf Club course is breathtaking with significant elevation and topography changes – A great piece of property.
Willingers is annually rated very high in media and golfer surveys including such recent rating as Golf Digest’s “4 ½ Stars Best Places to Play Golf” and Golf Magazine’s “Top 5 Best Value Courses”. Twin Cities Golf Guide rates Willingers Golf Club in the top echelon in all categories. Your day of golf at Willingers Golf Club is a serene combination of championship golf and nature.
Top 20 Golf Digest’s “Best In State” – 2011:
#1 Public Course in the Twin Cities!
Golf Course Design
Gill/Miller Golf Architects, the designers of Willingers, transformed the 275-acre plot of Mother Nature’s best work into an eye pleasing display of golf course art.
The golf course blends the many natural elements of the land with dramatic golf sculpture resulting in diverse challenges to all level golfers. Each hole has four sets of tees making the playability factors manageable and enjoyable. Fifty-five (55) sand bunkers are placed throughout the course for aesthetics and strategic value. Large greens, pristine landing areas and exacting approach shots are repetitive elements of the overall course. Continuous cart paths (90-degree rule) run through the course while walking is encouraged and enjoyable.
The actual construction work of shaping the course and creating the challenging topography was the renown golf course builder Enebak Construction Company of Northfield, MN. Enebak Construction has built such courses as Bear Path CC, TPC of the Twin Cities, Legends Club, Deacon’s Lodge, White Eagle GC, Spring Hill GC and many others. A golf course of this quality and value can’t be kept secret any longer!
Gill Miller, Inc. is the designer of Willingers Golf Club. As a noted golf course design firm focusing on the public golf course sector, Gill Miller, Inc. has designed numerous championship courses including Legends Club, Golf at the Legacy, White Eagle and others.
Gill Miller design philosophy combines a believe in harmoniously blending the best of Mother Nature’s aesthetics with an attitude of fun for all players yet challenging and demanding to test the players skill level.
Course Tour
Hole 1
Par 4
HCP 5
Tournament: 399
Championship: 374
Regular: 353
White: 310
A great opening hole, aim at the small tree on the far side of the fairway. An ideal tee shot plays slightly left to right. Because of the elevated tee, long hitters may want to go with less than a driver. The second shot plays slightly uphill so take an extra club. Make a four and your off to a good start!
Hole 2
Par 5
HCP 7
Tournament: 504
Championship: 487
Regular: 472
White: 417
A reachable par 5. Play your tee shot at the large oak in the background. Water guards the right side of this hole all the way. If you can’t reach it in two play your second shot to the left side of the fairway to open up the green on your third. Make sure to get on the correct side of the spine the separates the center of this long horizontal green.
Hole 3
Par 3
HCP 11
Tournament: 185
Championship: 165
Regular: 127
White: 96
Club selection is key as this green is guarded left and right by water and a huge bunker protects the front. This hole plays anywhere from 104 to 185 and this long left to right sloping green requires an accurate tee shot.
Hole 4
Par 4
HCP 3
Tournament: 430
Championship: 392
Regular: 374
White: 318
A solid 400 + yard par four. Play a slight draw to use the contour in the fairway. The approach is to a long narrow green guarded by bunkers on the right. Club selection is key as the green might be a 3 club difference from front to back.
Hole 5
Par 4
HCP 17
Tournament: 330
Championship: 305
Regular: 295
White: 245
The shortest par 4 on the course, but don’t let it fool you. There’s a couple of huge bunkers in the landing area and another long narrow green can make club selection a key. Hit a good drive and this is definitely a chance for birdie.
Hole 6
Par 5
HCP 1
Tournament: 530
Championship: 504
Regular: 474
White: 443
A three shot par 5 for most and there’s no bail out on this one! Take this one shot by shot. Play your tee ball to the first island fairway. The elevation will play a factor so for some it’s not a driver. Your second shot should be over or just to the right of the bunkers but be aware that there are two. This will leave you 100 – 125 left in. The green has a slight slope in the center so be sure to judge the approach correctly. 5 is a great score here!
Hole 7
Par 3
HCP 9
Tournament: 188
Championship: 180
Regular: 156
White: 104
A really good par three that plays from 110 – 190. Play your tee shot right to left to avoid the greenside bunker. Another long narrow green makes pin location and club selection key.
Hole 8
Par 4
HCP 13
Tournament: 384
Championship: 362
Regular: 350
White: 308
This par 4 plays down the hill and slightly right to left. There’s a generous fairway in the landing area. The second shot plays about a ½ club less than the yardage. Bunkers guard this green on both sides.
Hole 9
Par 4
HCP 15
Tournament: 415
Championship: 356
Regular: 331
White: 292
Play your tee shot towards the right center of the fairway to avoid the large crossing bunker. The second shot plays uphill so take an extra club.
Hole 10
Par 4
HCP 12
Tournament: 370
Championship: 339
Regular: 331
White: 282
A nice uphill par four. Keep your tee shot left center to set up the best angle of approach. Avoid the right side as a big drop-off right of the fairway collects a lot of balls. The second shot plays up the hill to a narrow green guarded by bunkers short and right.
Hole 11
Par 4
HCP 10
Tournament: 390
Championship: 354
Regular: 334
White: 294
Play your tee shot at the center pole, however the further down the fairway you are the better approach you’ll have to this green. Get the correct yardage for your second shot especially if the pin is in the back of the green.
Hole 12
Par 4
HCP 2
Tournament: 445
Championship: 425
Regular: 405
White: 365
Great 400 + par four. Favor the right center for the best angel of approach. For the second shot add an additional club, this green might be three clubs front to back and narrows towards the back of the green.
Hole 13
Par 4
HCP 14
Tournament: 362
Championship: 345
Regular: 325
White: 288
Risk reward par four. A driver can get you inside 100 yards, or play safe to 150 and take the water out of play. The left side comes up quickly on the second shot to this small well-guarded green.
Hole 14
Par 3
HCP 16
Tournament: 183
Championship: 166
Regular: 155
White: 123
With water guarding the left side the center of the green is a good spot for any pin. This hole can play anywhere from 120 – 190.
Hole 15
Par 5
HCP 8
Tournament: 543
Championship: 472
Regular: 440
White: 409
A great par 5. With this slight dog leg left, favor the right side of the fairway off the tee. There’s water at 125 so if you can clear that stay on the left side for the best angle of approach. If you lay up you’ll be playing your third from 175- 150.
Hole 16
Par 4
HCP 6
Tournament: 419
Championship: 386
Regular: 365
White: 339
This par 4 is one of the more picturesque holes at Willingers GC, its also one of the more difficult holes. The tee shot plays significantly downhill and avoid the two fairway bunkers on the right side. Take an extra club on your second playing up the hill.
Hole 17
Par 3
HCP 18
Tournament: 166
Championship: 121
Regular: 101
White: 93
This solid par three it’s the shortest hole on the course. It can play anywhere from 121 to 161 but make sure to judge the wind correctly and the drop in elevation.
Hole 18
Par 5
HCP 4
Tournament: 566
Championship: 500
Regular: 471
White: 440
A great finishing hole and maybe the signature hole at Willingers. Favor the right side off the tee to give yourself a good angle for your second shot. Long hitters might go at this one in two or at least try to carry the crossing bunker. Make sure not miss this green left as its well-guarded by a large bunker and water. 5 is a good score on this finishing hole.
Just the Facts
Location
15 minutes south of Burnsville, MN. Follow Hwy 35 south to exit 69. Go west on Hwy 19 – 1 mile to Canby Trail. North on Canby Trail to Willingers.
Acreage
Total Site – 277 acres
Golf Course – 217 acres
Architect
Gill Miller Architects, Inc. Builder: Enebak Construction
Par
72 Yardage: 6809 yds.
(Tournament tees)
Rating
74.4 (Tournament)
Slope: 150 (Tournament tees)
Key Design Features
- No residential exposure.
- Dynamic enhancement of natural surroundings with abundant wildlife.
- Front nine has traditional core golf course characteristics with good utilization of natural open water and marshlands.
- Back nine has significant topography and is in a 40-acre forest.
- Substantial water features – 60 acres of natural open water and marshlands.
- Special strategic emphasis by architect on par 3’s.
special features
- 72 tee boxes – 4 per hole. Teeing areas averages 10,250 square feet.
- Greens average 7,750 sq. ft. – mature and quick.
- Fairways account for 28 acres – Pristine landing areas, exacting approach shots.
- “Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” certification – in process.
- Hosted many MGA and USGA events.
- Top 10 of Golf Digest’s “Best Public Golf Courses” -2011.
- Rated “4 ½ Stars” by Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” – 16 consecutive years.
Grasses
- Greens – Penncross Bentgrass.
- Fairways & Tees – Arcadia and Touchdown Bluegrass.
- Rough – bluegrass/fescue……Multiple varieties.
- Out of Play areas – indigenous native grasses.
- Native aquatic vegetation.
Practice Facility
- 10,000 sq. ft. practice putting green.
- Separate chipping green w/practice bunker.
- 50,000 sq. ft. practice tee.
- Full length depth for use of all clubs.
Bunkers
- 55 bunkers strategically placed to enhance the holes requiring a high degree of course management from the player.
- All bunkers have been renovated including all new bunker sand.
- All new bunker sand – Plaisted Companies, Inc.
Cart Paths
- 6’ wide continuous asphalt cart path.
Policies
WILLINGERS GC REQUIRES THE USE OF PLASTIC OR SOFT SPIKES
Golf Shop
Gear up at the Willingers Golf Shop – featuring top brands in golf apparel, accessories, and the latest wedges, putters, and metal woods ready for demo.
Instruction
Ready to elevate your game? Inquire today about golf lessons at Willingers and sharpen your skills with expert instruction tailored to your swing.