Play and Stay at Fortune Bay

I have been going up to the Iron Range for as long as I can remember.  My earliest memories as a child include sitting in the back seat of the car with my brother and bugging my parents for four hours straight about just how long it would take to get to Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Virginia, Minnesota.  As a child, I was always fascinated by the Iron Range cities with their rugged beauty, abundant wildlife, and smell of pine that pervades throughout in the “Northern Woods” of our state.  This past Fourth of July, I took the journey again, only this time it was with Gerald so we could play The Wilderness at Fortune Bay and spend a little time relaxing away from the lesson tee with my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Charlie at their beautiful lake home on Lake Vermillion.

The Wilderness at Fortune Bay is a true delight to play.  It has plenty of elevation change, yet the bunker placement and contour of the holes lends itself to shaping shots off the tee and into the greens.  It’s a fun driving course because there is room to let her rip without ending up in a boat to retrieve the errant shots.  Once on the green however, be prepared for three putts because these babies have an incredible amount of undulation that is reminiscent of the coastal links courses of Scotland and Ireland.  The conditions were terrific despite the slow start to our golfing season, and the staff was marvelous.

One reason I enjoy resort golf is the opportunity to meet interesting people.  That day was no exception as we were paired with a fun-loving couple from Shoreview.  They too enjoyed the course and spoke favorably of the resort facilities.  While Brainerd has a long-standing tradition of fabulous golf, I have to say that the Iron Range has courses and resorts that are hard to beat.  The Wilderness has received honors from many top magazines, and its reputation is well earned in my opinion.  If you are looking for a new destination... go play and stay at Fortune Bay!

-- Dee Forsberg