Area courses have variety

The St. Cloud area provides a variety of golf opportunities for college students. In fact, most of the courses have discount memberships available for college students. There are five public courses in the area standout as the best places for college golfers to hear that familiar “ping” of the driver off the tee.

The first is Territory Golf Club, which is located a few miles south and east of downtown St. Cloud near the airport. The club was established in 2001 and one of the newest courses in the St. Cloud area. It boasts 18 championship holes that total nearly 7,000 yards from the most expert of tees and has a par of 72.

 It mirrors a Scottish links type golf course with open spaces and a lot of bunkers and a more traditional Midwestern type course with a lot of hills and trees. It was designed by Ron Bloom and Fairways Inc. It also includes a practice facility, a large clubhouse and lessons from club professionals Dan Dols and Frank Gruska.

 A daily round for a college student runs from $26 during the week to $32 on the weekend both for all 18 holes. A membership at Territory golf club for a college-aged student will set you back $995, but includes unlimited cart use.

Another course located in nearby Sartell is Blackberry Ridge golf course. This par 72 course measures nearly 7,000 yards from the championship tees. Like Territory, it combines a links style course with fairways lined with trees. Unlike Territory, it contains a wealth of water hazards which can hinder a golfer’s score if they are not careful.

Gray Gillian, Blackberry’s course professional, provides golf lessons for those who need or want them. The course was designed by Joel Goldstrand. Daily rates at Blackberry Ridge cost $28 for 18 holes on the weekday and $33 on the weekend. Memberships for college students ring up at $400 for unlimited golf during the golf season.

Located right off of highway 15 inside the city limits of St. Cloud, Angushire  Golf Course provides nine walker friendly holes for play. The par 35 course totals 2,756 yards and contains six par 4s, two par 3s and a lone par five.

Unlike some of the other courses due to space issues, Angushire does not have a driving range and only provides a putting/chipping green. The signature hole on the course is number three, a par four with a giant maple  smack in the middle of the fairway.

A weekday nine-hole round of golf costs $11.50 and an additional $6.50 if a golfer would like to try another nine. On the weekend it is one dollar more for nine holes and still the same $6.50 for an additional nine. A college membership is $225 for the season and requires a current college I. D. for purchase.

Another course in the area is Wapicada. Located in Sauk Rapids, Wapicada provides 18 holes totaling a par of 73. It measures 6,610 yards from the hardest tees and contains practice facilities including a full driving range. The course itself is heavily wooded and challenges an inaccurate drive.

It also provides lessons for golfers who want them and they are given by Jason Rieder.

On Monday through Thursday it will cost $29.11 for an 18-hole round of golf; an 18 hole round on the weekend will be $30.99.

A membership for college students costs $352 for full-time college students, and includes unlimited golf.

The last course is the Veterans Golf Course, which is part of the Municipal Athletic Complex. This nine-hole course is only a par 30, with three par 4s and six par 3s and totals 1,693 yards from the white tees.

The course has been renovated since the MAC signed a 35 year contract to lease the property from the city of St. Cloud. It costs $9.50 to golf nine holes during the week and an additional $6 to go another nine. On weekends the rates go up to $10.75 for the first nine and $8.25 for another nine.

A yearly pass costs $415 for an anytime pass, but only $275 for a value pass. A value pass golfer can golf only from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays, but they can golf for 50 percent off during all other times.

If a college student is sitting around their apartment in the St. Cloud area and has some free time, hit the links. These courses provide a number of options for all types of golfers from those who are just beginning to those who want to go everyday.