Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2023 - 40

BACKSPIN
Off-the-Wall Golf
In search of unique golf holes, the author finds
plenty of creative designs here in Minnesota.
T
he approach shot was less than ideal. A tad long and pushed
to the right. Downhill lie. Thick rough, ball sitting down
and ... oh yeah ...
There was a BIG RED GREENSIDE BARN in the way!
Welcome to Baker National, the wonderful course in Medina
whose long opening par 4- " The Barn Hole " -has been listed third
among the Explore Minnesota Golf Alliance's " 10 Unique Golf
Holes of Minnesota. "
The aforementioned wayward shot occurred in the summer
of 2021, two decades after the now late and forever great Michael
Turnbull, a local pro and friend to all, introduced this Minnesota
newbie to Baker with the words, " Hey, we gotta play The Barn Hole! "
Michael would tell stories about league members getting a
" Barnie, " which is like a sandie only it's saving par off a big red
greenside barn. For me, it took 22 years of playing Baker to truly
experience The Barn.
There were three options while standing behind The Barn as
playing partner Joe Oberle dealt with golf's more traditional challenges
on the other side:
1. Go find Joe " Mr. Rules " Oberle and ask him what the heck I'm
supposed to do now.
2. Cheat.
3. GRIP IT AND RIP IT!
Option No. 1 would have taken too much time. The world already
has enough slow golfers who think they're like the guys they watch
on television.
Option No. 2 would have made Joe mad. He once called a penalty
on himself for accidentally brushing his club in a bunker when no
one else was watching. Joe could never beat Patrick Reed.
Option No. 3 it was.
So, with a right-handed Mickelsonian/Reggie Jacksonian
swing, the flop shot blasted from the rough and flew majestically
over the barn.
At this point, there was but one problem. Joe was on the green and
had no idea where I was.
But I figured, A, if I do hit him, how bad can a flop shot from
20 yards away really hurt? And, B, it wouldn't be the first time I
knocked some sense into Joe from a position that was slightly right
of center.
The ball missed Joe and nestled close to the pin. All that stood
between my putter and the greatest bogey in golf history was a
five-footer.
Moments later, I was heading to the second tee having halved the
40
MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2023
" The Barn Hole " at Baker National Golf Course
hole with the greatest double bogey in golf history.
Memories of The Barn were sparked while searching for a column
idea. Many a golf-related spam email were perused in the process.
" Become a Wedge Wizard! " one email shouted. " Strengthen
your glutes for a better golf swing! " yelled another. Then this one
jumped out:
" Nine Strangest Golf Courses in the World! " In this email, I
was asked if I'd like to play Uummannaq Golf Course, a track in
Greenland that has frozen, snow-covered fairways, minus 50-degree
temps and greens they call " whites. "
Thanks, but no.
Other emails touted the " weirdest " courses or the " most bizarre "
courses. Then I spotted The Barn on a list at ExploreMinnesota.com.
Some of the other holes on that list: Greens shaped like the state
of Minnesota at Warroad Estates and Alexandria Golf Club. A
Snoopy-shaped bunker at Highland National in St. Paul. The Boat
Ferry Hole at Stonebrooke in Shakopee. A 618-yard par 6 at Pine
Beach East at Madden's. And the largest green in Minnesota-a
16,750-square-foot behemoth that touts the possibility of having a
140-foot putt to finish the 17th hole at Emily Greens Golf Course.
Minnesotans sure are creative in their course designs. And while
I love The Barn at Baker, I'm thinking short and left is the much better
play next time around.
Mark Craig is the NFL/Vikings columnist and a golf writer for the
Star Tribune.
* BY MARK CRAIG *
mngolf.org
PHOTO: PETER WONG
http://www.ExploreMinnesota.com http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2023

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