Located 4 miles North of Grand Marais along the Gunflindt Trail, Gunflindt Hills is a scenic nine hole course set among the woods and wilderness in the hills far above Lake Superior.
My wife Jo and I played the course in early July of 2021 mostly using the shorter tees which run 2575 yards. From the longest tees it tracks at 3030 yards and carries a slope rating of 133 and a course rating of 71.
The wooded course has a goodly amount of elevation change and a nice variety in the layout of the holes - each one has a unique personality. In most cases it is a short distance from the green to the next set of tee boxes. Although hilly, we found it a very walkable golf course.
Thick woods line many of the fairways and some of the fairways tend to be narrow. The greens tend to be small and some are tucked in close to and surrounded by woods. These factors and some water hazards are likely what accounts for the high slope rating on a course only 3000 yards long. Ponds and marshes add to the overall attractiveness (and to the course difficulty!).
The nine hole course also has a driving range and a tiny practice green.
The Pro Shop/Club House is on the modest side. There is a modest selection of golf balls and golfing accessories. Club and cart rentals are available. There's a snack bar and some microwave food stuffs available, but no grill. Beer and pop in the cooler. A modest indoor lounge area and a decent size outdoor patio overlooking the course. Looks like a reasonably pleasant ambience for a barley pop after your round. However, we didn't sample it, preferring to drive back into Grand Marais for some tap beer, a decent menu, and breezes off Lake Superior.
This is the third time I've played this course and on each occasion I found the maintenance below average - which is surprising considering the town of Grand Marais owns and operates the course. It has some attractive and interesting holes and some golfing challenges that more proficient golfers will value. But the lower handicap golfer will be "turned off" by the poor condition of the fairways and greens. And the modest handicap golfer who might be more accommodating to poorer course maintenance will be "turned off" by losing golf balls due to the tiny greens tucked into the woods and the narrow wood-lined fairways. The green fees are on the high side for the state of the condition of the course. For these reasons I rate Gunflindt Hills as a below average golfing value.
See more course information & our detailed course rating
Pictures |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Golf Course Review Rating Card |
|
Gunflindt Hills, Grand Marais, MN |
|
Value Index | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
$ |
Lost ball index | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Amenities Index | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() |