When it comes to early golf, few in central Minnesota open sooner than Crosswoods Golf Course in Crosslake.
The now 27-hole course is open and the public can play all 27 holes, including the new nine.
A video flyover of the new layout can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pr1ONwSuqk . The video can also be accessed at the Crosswoods Website.
Also sporting a course flyover video is Whitefish Golf Club. Watch it here: www.whitefishgolf.com/golf-events/course-flyover. Whitefish is looking at an April 8 opening as is the Vintage at Staples.
Other courses that are already open include Eagle's Landing near Fort Ripley, Emily Greens in Emily, Cuyuna Rolling Hills in Deerwood, Pine Ridge in Motley and Whitetail Run in Wadena.
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Even the resort courses might be enjoying an early spring. Cragun's Legacy Courses and The Pines at Grand View Lodge are looking at an April 8 opening date. That is weather permitting, but Cragun's Director of Golf Chuck Klecatsky said with the early snow melt there was talk about an opening two weeks ahead of schedule. He said the frost is gone and crews are busy clearing debris. Mowing may start as soon as Monday.
The Preserve at Grand View is looking at an April 29 opening.
Big news out of Cragun's is the hiring of former assistant professional Tim Johnson as head PGA professional. Johnson returns to Cragun's after two years at Grand View Lodge.
The Preserve will also have a new PGA Professional as Nate Erickson moved to Colorado. Adam Haugen from Fargo will be the head professional at the Preserve.
Breezy Point Resort's Whitebirch may open next week weather permitting. Deacon's Lodge and The Traditional will open later. Whitebirch's remodeled hole No. 10 came through the winter well, said head PGA professional Mark Johnson, as did the driving range.
The Range at Madden's Resort will open April 8. Pine Beach East will have an April 13 opening date with the West opening April 22 and The Classic April 29.
Madden's Resort is hosting its 87th annual Opening Party April 22-24. On April 23, a ceremonial bagpiper will walk the East Course to commemorate the opening of the season. Madden's will have golf contests and food and drink specials the entire weekend.
Also opening April 22 will be The Lakes Course at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge. Head PGA professional Dave Sadlowsky and his entire staff are back for their third season.
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Bruce MacIntosh at Golden Eagle Golf Club in Fifty Lakes said his course will likely be open April 15 as will the Black Bear Golf Complex in Pine River.
For the first time, Golden Eagle will host a three-day women's invitational June 20-22. The first day will be a practice session with the opening round the 21st. It's one of about nine women's-only golf events scheduled this season in the area. The most popular women's-only golf fundraiser-the Pink Links-has moved from Grand View to Cragun's this season. It's scheduled for June 28.
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop .
