Giants Ridge Named Development of the Year

The Quarry Course at Giants Ridge, which splashed onto the golf scene with accolades that even exceeded its older sister, The Legends, has received a Golf Development of the Year award from Crittenden, the publisher of Golf Inc. magazine.

The Quarry, whose Jeffrey Brauer-designed 18-hole layout spreads over former sand and gravel mines, won the award as best public development built for more than $5 million. The third annual award competition is unique in that judging is done by golf industry builders, architects and developers. It’s based on how well the course achieved the development team's vision; its visual appeal; and the efficiency of its routing.

In view of the award's parameters, "we're very proud of it," said Mike Gentile, development director of Minnesota's Iron Range Resources Agency (IRRA), which developed both the Giants Ridge golf and ski resorts as key to its mission of turning 2,000 acres of old sand and gravel quarry into productive land. "The Quarry serves the mission of what we set out to do, which is to promote economic development in the region. We took property scarred by the mining industry, reclaimed it, and turned it into a beautiful golf course.

"We are hearing great reviews from everyone who has played the golf course," he added.

After Brauer designed The Legend at Giants Ridge, course officials were spurred to add a second course because tee times were full and they were turning away thousands of golfers. State officials gave Brauer the challenge of building a course even better than The Legend, which had been rated the No. 1 public course in Minnesota. Indications are that the Texan succeeded.

Indeed, one noted golf course critic described The Quarry as "as fine a set of golf holes as has been produced thus far in the 21st century . . . It is already hands-down the finest course in Minnesota."

From his offices in Arlington, Texas, Brauer called the Golf Development of the Year award a pleasant surprise, adding, "I think it fills a niche of having peers judge on those criteria. How could The Quarry not win? We were building it for the IRRA, whose job is to restore the old mines and economy, and to spur development and tourism. Giants Ridge has turned the Iron Range – what was a wasteland – into a destination. The Quarry fulfilled the mission of the IRRA on all counts, in addition to being a great product." (For more on Jeff Brauer, see his writings in the Brauer’s Book and Architect’s Corner sections of Cybergolf.)

Gentile said the advent of the Quarry "has strongly attracted private-sector real estate developers to Giants Ridge." Besides a condominium project and 200-unit single-family housing development that are underway, the IRRA is reviewing other proposals, he said.

"One thing that completes the mission," Gentile added, "is that we're improving and increasing the tax base on the east end of the Iron Range."

Between the lodging, golfing and skiing sectors of Giants Ridge, upwards of 300 people are employed there in the public and private sectors. The lodging is private, owned by Sundance Lodging of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Gentile said that of the 2,000-plus acres in and around Giants Ridge, 1,300 have been used so far.

The other two winners of the Crittenden Development of the Year awards were Sutton Bay Club in Agar, S.D., for best public or private club under $5 million; and Spanish Oaks Golf Club in Bee Cave, Texas, for best private club over $5 million.