Massive Minnesota project nearing completion

Duininck Golf is approaching the finish line on its construction work at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota.

The project has multiple dimensions, according to director of golf Jack Wawro. “We wanted to dramatically improve playability along with building something completely new,” he said.  

Better playability will improve pace of play, scoring and the potential for fun, allowing one of Minnesota’s busiest golf resorts to get even busier. “Our priority is focused on giving every single golfer the best possible experience, every day,” general manager Eric Peterson said.

The 45-hole resort has renovated 27 holes and completed nine new holes to date, with the new Tom Lehman-designed 18 scheduled to open Sept. 1.

“There were so many teeing areas that made for better green complexes,” Peterson said. “And vice versa. The playing corridors feel so much more expansive now on most of the renovated holes. It’s the same beautiful land, just used so very differently.”

Duininck Golf project superintendent Jacob Cooper offered insight on Lehman’s design process. “Tom likes to focus on keeping his key features off parallel lines,” he said. “He’ll go to the turning point on a hole and make sure all visual lines are broken up both ways, so the overall appearance is more natural.”

Some of that expansion came from clearing trees to widen fairways, but a lot of the focus involved honing yardages off tees and changing the landing areas on holes. “It’s really amazing,” Cooper said, “and even more amazing is that arguably some of the best land on the property wasn’t even being used for golf.”