Free golf clinics at BHS lower site

The closing of Pine Meadows Golf Course in Baxter has put a premium on places for Brainerd/Baxter youths to play golf.

To combat the high demand, and to help the game grow, Chris Foley, head PGA professional at Madden's Resort in East Gull Lake, is offering a free golf clinic for juniors ages 6 and older 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Brainerd High School lower site course.

"It's for any junior who is interested in the game," said Foley, director of Chris Foley Golf Schools. "It should be a good experience. They'll learn the full swing, chipping and putting.

"Every kid that shows up will receive a free Callaway golf ball and a golf club."

Foley said the clinic will end between 12:30 and 1 p.m. He'll be accompanied by Edinburgh USA professional Don Berry.

Registration isn't necessary. Juniors can just show up. For more information, call Foley at Madden's at (218) 829-2811.

"With Pine Meadows closing, and the kids not having a place to play like Pine Meadows provided, it's a way to promote the lower site golf course," said Foley. "It's a little four-hole course they have at Brainerd High School."

Area courses receive accolades

Four of the top 20 golf courses in Minnesota can be found in the Brainerd lakes area.

Madden's Classic, Deacon's Lodge, Cragun's Legacy Courses and Golden Eagle Golf Club were named by Golf Digest Magazine as "Best in State" in its May edition.

The Classic and Deacon's Lodge also are included in the top 100 in the country of "Public Access" Courses.

Annual Best-in State rankings for Minnesota

(2004 rankings in parenthesis)

1. Interlachen (1)

2. Hazeltine (2)

3. The Quarry at Giant's Ridge (NR)

4. Spring Hill C.C. (4)

5. Windsong Farm C.C. (NR)

6. White Bear Yacht Club (3)

7. Northland C.C. (NR)

8. The Classic at Madden's (5)

9. Deacon's Lodge (9)

10. Woodhill C.C. (8))

11. The Legend at Giant's Ridge (NR)

12. Legends Club (15)

13. Minneapolis G.C. (7)

14. Dacotah Ridge G.C. (10)

15. TPC of the Twin Cities (16)

16. Oak Ridge C.C. (NR)

17. Rochester C.C. (12)

18. Somerset C.C. (6)

19. Legacy Courses at Cragun's ( Dutch) (NR)

20. Golden Eagle G.C. (NR)

Entries being accepted for Westfield

The Minnesota PGA Section is accepting registration applications for the 2005 Minnesota Westfield Junior PGA Championship.

The championship for juniors ages 13-17 will be June 27-28 at Faribault Golf and Country Club and Northfield Golf Course.

The championship for juniors ages 12 and under will be June 23 at the Ponds at Battle Creek in Maplewood.

Winners of the boys' and girls' 13-17 division qualify for the championship July 13-16 at Westfield Group Country Club in Westfield Center, Ohio.

Junior golfers who wish to enter the championship can obtain entry forms at local PGA golf facilities, at PGA.com or the Minnesota PGA Section at (763) 754-6641.

jeremy millsop, sports writer, can be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5856.