| Minnesota golf courses come in many varieties, from | | | | Native Prairie grasses lie. The greens are multi-tiered |
| 9-hole mom and pop operations to 54-hole resort | | | | with sloping and undulation playing an important role in |
| complexes. We have been discussing golf vacation | | | | strategy. Make sure you are selecting the proper club |
| destinations in Minnesota during this series of articles. | | | | to get the ball to the pin as well as to hold the green. |
| Today we will highlight Dacotah Ridge in Morton, | | | | Dacotah Ridge offers four sets of tee markers. The |
| Minnesota. | | | | Tournament tees play at 7,109 with a course rating of |
| Dacotah Ridge is located approximately 110 miles | | | | 75.1 and a slope index of 144. The Regular tees play at |
| southwest of the Twin Cities. From other regional | | | | 6,217 yards with a course rating of 71.1 and a slope |
| centers it would be approximately 235 miles from La | | | | index of 131.There is plenty of variety and challenge for |
| Crosse, Wisconsin, 310 miles from Des Moines, Iowa or | | | | golfers of all abilities in your group. There is a nice |
| 144 miles from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dacotah | | | | virtual tour of the golf course with hole by hole |
| Ridge is an enterprise of The Lower Sioux Indian | | | | descriptions on their website, which is |
| Community. | | | | There is a dress code at Dacotah Ridge and |
| Native American run casinos have been in operation in | | | | appropriate golf attire is required. Non-metal spikes are |
| the United States for the better part of twenty years | | | | also required at Dacotah Ridge. |
| and over the past ten years some of these facilities | | | | The green fees to play at Dacotah Ridge during the |
| have been adding golf to the variety of entertainment | | | | summer season are $64.00 and cart fee is $16.00. |
| being offered to the patrons. Being astute business | | | | Walking is allowed at Dacotah Ridge. There is also |
| people, the leadership of The Lower Sioux Indian | | | | play and stay package rates offered through the hotel |
| Community recognized an opportunity when it was | | | | at the casino that is 4 miles away from the golf |
| presented. In July 2000 the Rees Jones designed | | | | course. There are also reduced rates to golf in the |
| course opened for play. A Grand Opening celebration | | | | spring and fall season. |
| followed in August 2000 with the likes of Notah Begay | | | | There is a complete restaurant and bar facility along |
| III, Michelle Redman, and Lanny Wadkins along with | | | | with a completely stocked Pro Shop for you to enjoy |
| Rees Jones officially opening this course to the golfing | | | | at Dacotah Ridge. |
| public. | | | | The Lower Sioux Indian Community has done a great |
| Dacotah Ridge is situated on 240 acres of rolling | | | | job of putting together a complete entertainment |
| prairie. Wabasha Creek runs through eight of the holes | | | | experience featuring the Jackpot Junction Casino with |
| on the course and five holes wrap around a 14-acre | | | | it's gaming, live on-stage entertainment with many |
| lake. If the water hazards are not enough of a | | | | national acts, hotel accommodations as well as |
| challenge for you there are 42 bunkers scattered | | | | numerous restaurant choices. Add to this the golf at |
| around the course. Don't be lulled into a false sense of | | | | Dacotah Ridge or any of the neighboring communities |
| security because the fairways are not lined with | | | | of Redwood Falls, Renville, Springfield, Fairfax or |
| 70-foot elm or pine trees, Rees Jones used what | | | | Buffalo Lake all within 30 miles and the combination of |
| nature provided on this course. The elevation changes | | | | activities for your Minnesota rural golf vacation are |
| as well as the use of Fescues, Blue Stem and Native | | | | endless. Call Dacotah Ridge for tee times at |
| Prairie grasses, some of which is knee high, in the | | | | 1-507-644-5050 or the reservation desk at |
| rough along with the wind sweeping across the prairie | | | | 1-800-946-2274 extention: 4700. |
| bring trouble on poorly struck shots. For the golfer that | | | | Dana Buttenhoff is an avid golfer and a native |
| plays down the middle there are plenty of rewards. | | | | Minnesotan. After 20 years of golf and traveling |
| The tee boxes, fairways and greens are seeded in | | | | around the USA, Dana would like to share the golf |
| bent grass. The primary rough is thick Bluegrass and | | | | gems rural Minnesota has to offer. |
| Fescue. The secondary rough is where the really tall | | | | |