The Dutch Legacy Golf Course at Cragan's, Brainer, Minnesota - A 5-Star-Rated Golf Course in Minnesota's Gull Lake Area

The Dutch Legacy golf course is one of three Legacy golf courses at Cragun's Resort on Gull Lake. The Legacy Course is a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design that is built in and around the existing wetlands between Gull Lake and Stephen's Lake. As such, the course features many carries over wetlands, as well as shots along the lake, to go with traditional bunkering and course design.

The 18-hole, par-72 Dutch Legacy course plays to 6,879 yards, with a USGA rating of 74.0 and a slope rating of 145. Many of the holes feature tree-lined fairways to add to the challenge, but the greens tend to be large and built to be more receptive to long-iron shots often required by the layout.

Some of the more noteworthy holes include No. 3, a short par-4 that plays to only 318 yards off the Blue tees and under 300 yards from the Whites. This hole doglegs right around Stephen's Lake, while trees guard the left side of the fairway. The fairway narrows dramatically as it approaches the green, where a bottleneck formed by two long sand bunkers will collect any shots short of the putting surface.

Hole No. 6 is a short par-3 - for everyone except the pros, that it. From the back tees, this hole plays to 239 yards, but only 143 from the Blues. The challenge on this hole comes from the marshland that surrounds the green, calling for a carry off the tee. The green is nestled among trees and guarded further by bunkers left and right.

Hole No. 8 is the shortest on the course, but was described by designer Jones as a "land mine hole.'' The challenge comes from the six bunkers that guard the left and right front of the green, as well as a putting surface that can be extremely challenging due to its undulations.

Hole No. 13 is a short par-5 at only 480 yards from the Blue tees, yet it is one of the more challenging holes on the course. The problem is finding the fairway as the hole doglegs left twice around wetlands. Cutting the corner off the tee means not only carrying the wetlands, but also clearing the tall trees along the way. From there the fairway narrows to about the width of a cart path right before the green, as the wetland push in from the left side. The green is a large one, but a large bunker guards the left while trees frame the back and right.

Hole No. 16 is another fairly short par-5 with one of the most interesting fairways golfers will encounter. Shaped like the letter "c,'' the fairway provides golfers with an interesting choice off the tee: play safely around the outside of the c-shape toward the hole, or go to the right and try to carry the wetlands on the second shot to reach the green in two.

The Dutch Legacy has received a number of honors and accolades, including a prestigious 5-Star rating from Golf Digest on its Place to Play list for 2008-2009.

Practice facilities includes dual tee areas, a 60-yard short-game practice area with a green and bunker. There's also a 9-hole short course, and lessons are available.

The Legacy Clubhouse is a spacious 35,000-square-foot facility with a fully-stocked pro shop, a bar, 120-seat restaurant, and a pavilion that can seat up to 250 people.