The Classic at Madden's Resort, Brainerd, Minnesota ? An Upscale Championship Golf Course Just North of Minneapolis

As the story goes, the Madden's on Gull Lake resort already had 45 holes of exceptional golf when the owners decided they wanted to add a championship course. They turned to their own golf course superintendant, Scott Hoffman, to take on the layout and create the type of course that professional golfers experience every week on tour. The result was The Classic, which opened for play in 1997.

The 18-hole, par-72 course plays to 7,109 yards from the Championship tees, with a USGA rating of 75.3 and a slope rating of 139 on Bent grass. The course is situated on terrain that rolls up and down in long, sweeping knolls, with elevation changes of up to 60 feet. The course also features some dramatic woodlands scenery, dominated by Red Oaks and Maples. The course also features more than 50 sand traps, but the predominant hazard is water, which comes into play on 15 of the 18 holes.

Some of the more noteworthy holes include No. 3, a short par-4 "Cape-style'' hole that plays along Bass Lake. Because the hole only plays to 285 yards from the White tees, daring golfers can try to cut the water and drive the green. From the tips, that requires a carry of 240 yards over water, so a shot to the landing area is the safer play. From there, the approach shot plays to a green surrounded by water on three sides, and it's not uncommon for winds off the lake to affect ball flight.

Hole No. 6 is a par-5 that provides a number of challenges. The hole plays to 525 yards from the Blue tees, but it's the two giant Norway Pines splitting the fairway that will cause the first difficulty. They stand about 230 yards from the tee, but water cuts across the fairway just beyond, so driving over them is a somewhat risky option. From there, the second shot must carry the water and find a landing area that gets narrower closer to the green. Then, approach shots must find the right perch on a green that slopes severely from back to front.

One of the best par-3s on the course is No. 7, which plays to 214 yards from the tips, but only 155 yards from the White tees. The hole as open feeling and some beautiful scenery, as well as the challenge of water all along the right and water that also cut through the landing area short of the green. Trees provide the backdrop, while three sand bunkers guard the green on any shots that go long.

The Classic has garnered a number of honors and accolades, including being ranked #3 in the U.S. and Canada for Best New Upscale Public Courses by Golf Digest in 1997. The course was also selected as a Favorite Place to Golf by MN Monthly magazine.

Practice facilities at The Classic include a full-size driving range, a practice putting and chipping green, as well as as nine-hole short-game course.

Madden's also features a spacious clubhouse, and offers three full-service restaurants as well as four casual eating areas. Other activities at Madden's include swimming at sand beaches or pools, tennis, croquet, lawnbowling, shuffleboard, horseshoes, volleyball, badminton, basketball, and bike rentals. A number of lodging options are also available.