The message on the cart’s GPS stated, “Severe weather warning! Rain and lightning has made the courses unplayable. All courses are now closed – please return to the clubhouse immediately!” We were sitting at the sixth hole on the Executive 9 track at Bunker Hills Golf Club wondering how we were going to putt out on a green that was under water. We were completely drenched at this point, so finishing the round in the rain would have been no problem. However, we obeyed orders and floated our way back to Kendall’s restaurant for food and beer.
Let’s step back in time when the clubhouse staff said the rain would probably not commence until early evening.
Hole #1 – Par 3, 155 yards – not much to it unless you can’t remember how to hit a golf ball.
Hole #2 – Par 4, 360 yards – this hole gives this 9 a little character. A dogleg left with a ditch to carry on your drive. Your second shot will need to avoid the pond on the front left side of the green.
Hole #3 – Par 3, 155 yards – you can’t be long at this hole as the reed-filled pond sits camouflaged at the back of the green.
Hole #4 – Par 3, 140 yards – the sky is getting dark and it’s starting to rain. Those clubhouse guys said it wasn’t going to rain until around 5pm (current time 2:26pm). They have great futures as weathermen.
Hole #5 – Par 4, 330 yards – this 90 degree dogleg right needs a shot that will find the end of the fairway or your second shot will be caught in the maze of trees that stand in the way.
Hole #6 – …and then the heavens opened up at this short par 3. We sat for a time and watched the green vanish under a thick layer of water. Then we received the alert…
Holes #7, #8, and #9 – are all par 3’s ranging from 110 to 160 yards and still may be trying to dry out.
Rating – Uncategorized (or just incomplete): This will be my first incomplete rating since we only played 5 1/2 holes. That being said, this is an outstanding facility. There are four 9-hole courses (North, East, and West – all par 36) and the South executive course we played to a par 29. Their website stated it is a par 31, but the scorecard shows a par 29 (2-4’s and 7-3’s).
Even though the course was a bust today, Kendall’s Tavern & Chophouse provided a respite for these rain-drenched golfers. We sloshed our way through the crowded restaurant and somehow found the only table that was still vacant. I concur with Golf Digest’s assessment that has this club ranked highly on their list of top golf facilities.
We’ve wanted to visit this club for 30 years. In 1996 Golf Digest published a ranking of the top 150 courses the public can play. There were 75 “affordable” (below $50) and 75 “upscale” (over $50). The East/West combo at Bunker Hills came in at #35 on the affordable list (pricing from 1996). This was our “go to” list before we matured into “old men” Always Time for 9 adventures.
12800 Bunker Prairie Rd. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448; 763-755-4141; www.bunkerhillsgolf.com
