Breezy Point Resort (Deacon’s Lodge) – Breezy Point, MN

Course Details

• Architect: Arnold Palmer (1999)
• Course Type: Public, Resort
• Par: 72
• Yardage: 6,943
• Rating: 74.1
• Slope: 143

Course Accolades

• Golf Digest: #15 in Minnesota
• Golf Magazine: #3 in Minnesota
• Golf Week: #3 in Minnesota
• Top100Courses: #15 in Minnesota
• Zagat: Top-Rated Courses in US, Top Courses by Region (Midwest), Top-Rated Service, Top-Rated Values, & America’s Top Golf Courses (2012)

Course Score

• Course Conditions: 9
• Green Complexes: 8
• Amenities: 8
• Practice Facilities: 8
• Service: 9
• Course Design: 9
• Value: 7

Total Score: 8.29

Course Review

The Good: Named after his father Deke, this Arnold Palmer signature design is widely considered one of his best public designs in the entire United States. When you step onto the grounds of Deacon’s Lodge, you can certainly understand why. A miraculous, tree-wooded landscape awaits, yet the layout is extremely spacious and fair for all levels of golfers. Much more of a “secluded” feel compared to many of the other more parkland Brainerd area tracks, this has the impression of “Up Northwoods”. As well-conditioned as any course of the 8 Minnesota courses I’ve played. Excellent Par 4 variety with several alternating doglegs and holes that require both precision and guts. Superb, yet “gettable” Par 5’s and a solid quartet of Par 3’s that only rivals The Classic in Brainerd Lakes. Beautiful clubhouse and patio dining area; a quaint rustic feel adds to the charm. Robust practice area & on-course amenities including several bathrooms. The service and staff are absolutely outstanding. One of the better values, even with its $125 fee, in all of northern Minnesota.

The Bad: While the greens putt extremely well and aren’t too fast or slow, they didn’t hold approach shots as well as we had hoped. The back nine is excellent, however the closing hole is fairly benign and unmemorable. No GPS on the carts is a bummer.

The Verdict: Deacon’s Lodge is THE premier public course in the Brainerd Lakes area. The ambiance, conditioning, and playability of the course is unparallel to the other public facilities that I’ve played. A true Palmer masterpiece indeed.

Best Hole(s): The difficult Par-4 6th is one of the best risk/reward holes in the entire Brainerd area. A conservative drive can be made to the left of an expansive hazard, or the long hitter can try to drive the entire hazard and have a wedge in. The Par-3 17th is the most photogenic hole on the course and is an excellent pre-finale to one of the best public golf experiences I’ve had in a long time.