Minnesota’s Giants Ridge offers cool summer getaway

Escape early autumn heat and humidity with a trip to northern Minnesota’s Giants Ridge. Tucked away in the natural beauty of the Mesabi Iron Range, Giants Ridge features two 18-hole championship courses ranked among the best in the state.

The four-season family recreation destination was the only Minnesota property to earn a 2019 Golf Digest Editor’s Choice Award for “Best Golf Resorts in the Midwest.” This golf “giant” offers guests a chance to unplug and unwind while enjoying two of Jeffrey Brauer’s finest designs, The Legend and The Quarry.

Opened in 1997 to rave reviews, The Legend is the original Giants Ridge track. The player-friendly resort course plays through towering pines and alongside glittering Sabin Lake. Undulating greens and strategically-placed bunkers create fun challenges throughout the course.

Rated the “Best Course You Can Play” in Minnesota by Golfweek and GOLF Magazine, The Quarry is a true “must-play” course characterized by dramatically raised tees and hazards forged from reclaimed and repurposed mine land. Built on the site of a former sand quarry and iron ore mine, this exceptional layout provides a beguiling test for even the most skilled golfers.

Accommodation options include the Lodge at Giants Ridge – located just steps from The Legend’s clubhouse – the Villas at Giants Ridge and Green Gate Guest Houses.

Giants Ridge is an easy one-hour drive from Duluth and three hours from the Twin Cities. Nonstop flights are available from Tulsa and Oklahoma City to Minneapolis. Call 800-688-7669 or visit www.giantsridge.com/golf for more information.

OGLEBAY RESORT

This summer, Oglebay Resort is celebrating its 90th birthday, and you are invited to join the festivities.

Back in 1900, Cleveland industrialist Earl Oglebay purchased a stately mansion and surrounding 750 acres in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia to serve as his summer home. Upon his death, the philanthropist willed his spectacular country estate to the City of Wheeling for the community to enjoy for public recreation.

Today, Oglebay’s property has expanded to 1,750 acres and includes year-round attractions and overnight accommodations that showcase the area’s natural beauty. Guests can experience Oglebay’s life and legacy by visiting his iconic mansion, Bissonnette Gardens, numerous outdoor activities or by playing one of the resort’s beautiful golf courses.

The history of American golf course design is alive and well at Oglebay. The Crispin Course opened in the 1930s, Robert Trent Jones Sr. Course in 1971 and Arnold Palmer Course in 2000. Few resorts can boast a near 70-year span between course openings with a great blend of classic and modern layouts.

In addition to World Golf Hall of Fame architects, Oglebay played host to the West Virginia LPGA Classic for 11 years. Starting at just $169, the Birdie Stay & Play Package includes rounds on both the Jones and Palmer Courses, one night in the renovated Wilson Lodge, a Mountaineer Breakfast Buffet and range balls. Call 877-436-1797 or visit www.oglebay.com for more information.