By Chuck Lennon

In many towns across Minnesota, when folks plan a special meal out, they head for the local golf course. Many clubhouse restaurants are noted for their great food, with views of a beautifully landscaped course as a scenic backdrop. So the next time you’re on the road and looking for a quality dining experience, check out the area’s golf courses for their restaurants.

And if you enjoy a round of golf before you dine to work up an appetite, so much the better. The golfing’s great, too. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

The Bridges Golf Club, Winona

The course: Not far off Great River Road scenic byway, The Bridges is a 1920s layout set in scenic Pleasant Valley, surrounded by steep bluffs and hardwood forest. Seven of the original 9 holes were incorporated into today’s 18 by Robert Trent Jones.

Dining: In a serene setting, Signatures Restaurant offers fine dining with lovely views. The menu’s refined selections emphasize regional foods and go beyond the fare typically found at clubhouse restaurants. Among the interesting items are shepherd’s pie, cheese fondue, pheasant and duck confit, each very well-presented. “Hot small plates” include a delicious gratin and a sumptuous shrimp bake.

Nearby: The Minnesota Marine Art Museum along the Mississippi River in Winona

Info: www.winonagolf.com

The Crossings at Montevideo

The course: Formerly known as the Montevideo Country Club, this rolling course at the confluence of the Minnesota and Chippewa rivers requires a fair amount of strategic play; a spacious deck overlooks a par 3 for fun post-round viewing.

Dining: Johnnie’s On The Tee is driven by popular chef Gary Luckow, whose large menu includes bacon-wrapped pork chop, burgers, pastas and steaks, plus some cool ‘fairway favorites’ such as 21 shrimp & fries, mini tacos & salsa, walleye fingers, and bosco bread stuffed with mozzarella cheese.

Nearby: Historic Chippewa City, a village of 24 buildings, many from the 1870s and 1880s, moved to this site by the county historical society.

Info: www.montegolf.com

Marshall Golf Club, Marshall

The course: The Redwood River threads through this course, which opened in 1942, expanded to 18 holes 30 years later, and was upgraded again recently. It’s a relatively short par 71 at 6600 yards from the tips with two ponds coming into play, especially the one that crowds the second green on three sides.

Dining: The Clubhouse Restaurant offers standard but delicious fare, and the lounge overlooks the Redwood River. The Hole-In-One Nachos are as tasty as they are sloppy. The cool crab salad refreshes after a round on a hot summer day, and the smothered steak sandwich is a definite filler.

Nearby: The Heritage Museum and Windpower Learning Center of Southwest Minnesota at Lake Benton, about a half-hour drive from Marshall.

Info: www.marshallgolfclub.com

Prestwick Golf Club, Woodbury

The course: Just east of St. Paul, Prestwick is the classic public golf course, but with a private country club experience. Beautifully manicured with extensive floral beds, the course plays less than 7,000 yards from the blues, but delivers a challenging round for players at every level.

Dining: Axel’s at Prestwick is one of a family of highly respected restaurants in the St. Paul area. Prestwick’s vaulted dining room is the perfect host for Axel’s cuisine. The steaks, seafood and prime rib are top shelf. A tip for golfers at the turn: call ahead and get the Bull Bites appetizer with the wonderful dipping sauces.

Nearby: The St. Croix River and the antique shops, galleries and gift shops in Stillwater.

Info: www.prestwick.com

Territory Golf Club, St. Cloud

The course: Territory blends linksy holes with woodsy holes on a rolling track with lots of elevation changes. The relatively huge greens provide ample targets for wild hitters.

Dining: Coyote Moon Grille features a tempting menu in the lodge-like clubhouse. Locals flock to Territory for the earlybird specials Tuesday-Saturday. Other favorites are the Tuesday chicken buffet, the slow-roasted prime rib on weekends and the chef’s choice seafood plate.

Nearby: The impressive Munsinger and Clemens Gardens along the Mississippi River across from downtown St. Cloud are a “must-see” for garden lovers.

Info: www.territorygc.com

Grand View Lodge, Nisswa

The courses: Grand View is one of Minnesota’s pre-eminent golf resorts. Its original course is The Pines, with 27 holes, right across the street from the historic lodge and main resort grounds, which also includes the 9-hole Garden Course. Nearby is The Preserve, a pristine 18-hole that debuted in 1996. North of Nisswa, Grand View also operates Deacon’s Lodge, an exquisite golf course designed by Arnold Palmer.

Dining: Grand View has even more restaurants than golf courses. The Grand Dining Room in the main lodge offers a range of options, from fresh pizza to walleye and wild rice soup. The Sherwood Forest restaurant, in a beautiful 1920s timber lodge, has an eclectic, upscale menu featuring steaks, chops, and “spa cuisine.” Housed in a charming cottage, the Italian Garden’s restaurant’s meals are served family-style. Each golf course offers casual dining, as well: the pub at The Preserve, featuring great views of the course;

Freddy’s Tavern at the Pines, with a spacious deck overlooking the ninth green; and Palmer’s Grill at Deacon’s Lodge.

Nearby: An assortment of attractive shops in Crosslake, Pequot Lakes, and Nisswa.

Info: www.grandviewlodge.com

Blueberry Pines Golf Club, Menahga

The course: Since its debut in 1991, this course eight miles south of Park Rapids has matured into an extraordinary golf experience that meanders through a forest. Designed by native son Joel Goldstrand, it has a spring-fed stream and fairways lined with pines.

Dining: The log clubhouse has a north woods look inside and out. The restaurant’s fine dining is crafted by chef Joel London, who offers off-menu specials daily plus prime rib on weekends and a Sunday brunch that packs in the locals.

Nearby: The headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca State Park north of Park Rapids.

Info: www.blueberrypinesgolf.com

Mesaba Country Club, Hibbing

The course: Nicely contoured and beautifully maintained, this scenic championship course is a favorite of many prominent Minnesotans, including several sports notables.

Dining: Dinner menu favorites at the clubhouse restaurant include garlic top sirloin, slow roasted pork back ribs, and a walleye dinner with two large fillets.

Nearby: The Hull Rust Mahoning Mine View on Highway 169 has a spectacular panorama of the world’s largest open pit iron ore mine.

Info: www.mesabacc.com

Warroad Estates Golf Club, Warroad

The course: Just five miles south of the U.S.-Canada border, this nicely manicured course is frequented by Canadian golfers who don’t seem to have any qualms about the ninth green, which is the shape of the State of Minnesota.

Dining: The casual Grill at the golf club is not necessarily fine cuisine, but it is really good food. An array of sandwiches (SandWedges) compete with Bunker Burgers, the most notable of which provides something of a spectator sport: any visitor who consumes “The Big Bertha,” a full-pound burger with the works, receives a sleeve of Callaway Big Bertha Golf Balls.

Nearby: Vast Lake of the Woods, one of the state’s premier fisheries.

Info: www.warroadestates.com

More Golf Info

Call for a copy of the Explore Minnesota Golf Guide: 888-868-7476.

Posted by Chuck Lennon / Feature Articles and Golf and Spring/Summer Articles