Silver Bay Golf Course - Silver Bay, MN
Lake Superior Circle Tour Golfing Guide
 Silver Bay Country Club Golf Course - Silver Bay, Minnesota |
Silver Bay Golf Course Review
The fast moving Little Beaver River runs through the Silver Bay Golf Course adding some visual interest and challenge to 5 of the 9 holes on this attractive golf course southwest of Silver Bay, Minnesota. Three of the holes also have ponds and creeks as part of their layout. The golf club is nestled in wooded hills above the lakeside village of Beaver Bay (but is more easily reached by road from Silver Bay).
Originally constructed by the Reserve Mining Corporation as a private course in 1959, the facility was later acquired by the City of Silver Bay and is now a public course. It is very well-maintained and has the feel of a family run operation - friendly, helpful staff and the grounds and structures show evidence of TLC you'd expect from a family run place. This attention to detail was evident in the signage for each hole. The hole layout was accurately pictured in the graphic diagrams and on the holes where the river bisected the hole, the signs indicated the yardage to the water and the yardage necessary to clear the water. The course and its staff reminded us of another 9 hole golfing "jewel" on the Lake Superior Circle Tour: Wyandotte Hills in Toivola, Michigan (Upper Peninsula).
Dan and I played the course in the second week of June 2009. We found the fairways in very good condition, probably due to its extensive sprinkler system running down the center of every fairway. Having several sprinkler head covers running the length of the fairway also aided golfing since the head covers indicated yardage to the greens. The greens were in good condition and played true. While Silver Bay is a challenging course (slope rating 131) it is also forgiving of slices and mis-hits - you can find your ball and it is generally playable from the rough. While the course has some up and down to the terrain, it is suitable for walking. Dan's favorite hole was #8, a par 3 hole that had the river running in front of an elevated green surrounded by woods. My favorite was #5, a long par 4 that offered a risky second shot. Do you risk hitting it long and good to clear the river or hit up short for a longer shot at the green? There's also a pond behind the green so you have to make sure you don't overshoot.
Silver Bay is a very good golfing value. Mid-week golfing 18 holes will cost you $26 and only $27 on the weekend. The course is lots of fun, sufficiently challenging, yet quite playable. The club house is probably the original country club facility. A spacious sun porch looks out over the course. The inside lounge area is also roomy with seating for 100. The kitchen and grill area is open from before noon through the dinner hour. I liked the driving range for its elevated tees. The golf carts were in good condition and the pro shop is modest but carries the essentials and golf instruction is available.
See more course information & our detailed course rating
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Silver Bay Golf Club, Silver Bay, MN |
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