Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Top 10 Meals to Eat at Blueberry Pines

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Blueberry Pines Golf, Dining, and Event Center has a lot to offer to the public. Not only do we provide world class golf, we also provide an exceptional dining experience. Here are the top 10 meals you should order when dining at Blueberry Pines:

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#1 Prime Rib A delicious hand-carved 12oz cut seasoned to perfection and served with Au Jus.

#2 Grilled Butcher Hanger Steak – An 8oz. USDA choice beef hanger steak sliced and served on a mushroom demi-glaze.

#3 Smothered Pork TenderloinTender sliced roast pork tenderloin smothered in sauteed onions, mushrooms, and demi-glaze.

#4 Canadian WalleyeHand breaded or broiled, choice of 1 filet or two, served with our own tartar sauce and lemon.

#5 Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops4 large sea scallops wrapped in bacon, broiled and served atop garlic aioli.

#6 Thai Shrimp WrapTender shrimp wrapped in a bed of garden greatness and our Thai sweet chili sauce in a flour tortilla with peanut spread.

#7 Ain't That A Peach PizzaA creation like no other - shrimp, sliced peaches and jalapeno with Thai sweet chili sauce on a flatbread crust.

#8 The Pines BurgerHand-pattied Black Angus burger topped with cheddar cheese, a fried egg, and deep fried jalapenos on a toasted bun.

#9 Chinese Chicken SaladTender and juicy chicken breast tossed with romaine, purple cabbage, cucumber, sliced almonds, crispy chow mein noodles, mandarin oranges and a light sesame dressing.

#10 Fettuccine AlfredoFettuccine noodles tossed in our hand-crafted made from scratch Alfredo sauce one order at a time.

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We want to hear from you! What meals do you think we should add in 2016? Visit our Facebook page and leave a comment with a dish you would like to see on our menu. In the meantime, stop into Blueberry Pines for our New Year’s Dinner! We hope to see you soon!

Friday, July 31, 2015

Upcoming Events: Memorial Tournament

The summer is beginning to wind down, and that means golf season is as well. With the season’s end on the way, it means that the social time of golfers will become harder to find, but we have a solution to help you make the most of what remaining time is left! On August 14th, Blueberry Pines will host a 4-person scramble tournament. The scramble is a 1:30 pm shotgun at the always beautiful Blueberry Pines Golf Course.
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A day on the course can make anyone more than a bit hungry. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. A Barbecue will be held during the tournament, providing some savory BBQ ribs and chicken, along with baked beans, cole slaw, and chips. Refuel yourself before you finish the tournament, you’re going to need the extra energy to take first place.

All you need to decide is who you are going to pick for your teammates. You could go with siblings, children, or parents and enjoy a wonderful family day, or you could go around the office and seek out the best golfers and have a competitive team! Or maybe you will use this as an opportunity for the last big Summer “hurrah” with your buddies and enjoy a wonderful day of golfing with your friends, eating some fantastic food. Whichever you choose, come make some memories at Blueberry Pines’ Memorial Tournament!

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Why You Should Spend More Time at the Driving Range


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As Minnesotan golfers, we don’t have the luxury of all-year round golfing.  When the warm weather hits, we try to hit the course as much as possible while there is no snow on the ground. Indoor driving ranges are an excellent way to keep loose and maintain your swing during the long winter months. So, if the indoor driving ranges are so crucial to keeping an effective golf game during the off-season, why don’t we utilize the outdoor driving range while the season is in full swing? Here’s a few reasons why we believe it would be beneficial for you to spend more time on the range:

Save Yourself a Few Strokes
Most of us know that usually the first hole is one of the worst of the entire round. Hitting a driver when you are not warmed up (especially if everyone around the proshop watching your group tee off) is a disaster in the making. Instead of showing up 15 minutes before your tee time, show up 40 minutes early and hit a bucket of range balls to shake off the cobwebs and be ready to impress.

Keep Your Game Fresh
Life is busy- there can be times when you cannot make it to the range for weeks at a time, which ultimately may cause your golf game to suffer. The perfect solution is to hit up the driving range. You may not have time in the day for a four-hour round of golf, but you may have the time to hit the range for 20-30 minutes.

“Practice Makes Perfect”
This is a quote we have all heard a few thousand times in our lives, but in regards to golf it is very relevant. Use the range to fix the biggest and smallest flaws in your game. What sounds better- having to aim 70 yards to the left of the hole so you can play your nasty slice, or being able to aim down the middle of the fairway and have a better chance with your putt?

Additional Workout
We golf because we love the sport, but it is a small bonus that we can get exercise from it as well. Take advantage of the range to stay active, help gain more flexibility and athleticism, and burn more calories.

Don’t overlook the driving range because it may hold the key to unlocking your golfing game to new heights. For additional help at the range and with your game, Blueberry Pines offers group and private lessons that can be booked online or by calling the Golf Shop at (800) 652 -4940 or (218)-564-4653.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Learning the Lingo of the Links

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Have you ever been out golfing with someone and found yourself struggling to decipher the things they are saying? You may be encountering a fluent speaker of the “Language of Golf”. The terminology can get funky, but to clear a few things up, here are 7 golf-slang words that you may have heard around the course:

Mulligan
A golfer’s BEST FRIEND! It is technically a “do-over” and is not in the official rules, but it just becomes a natural part of the game when golfing casually with friends. Hit in the water? Mulligan. Hit it in that bush next to the tee box? Mulligan. Hit a house out of bounds? Mulligan…

“Nice Putt Alice!”
If you’ve ever contemplated launching your putter into the pond, you have probably heard this one before. The saying actually comes from the 1963 Ryder Cup, when Peter Alliss terribly missed a 3 foot putt and someone from the gallery yelled the now legendary line, “NICE PUTT ALLISS”.

Shank
Hitting a shank, or having the shanks is a term associated with hitting a
very bad shot or hitting several bad shots. A shank is a shot that is struck by the hosel of the club, and not the clubface, producing a shot that goes to the right for a right handed player. Be warned, however; some of the more superstitious golfers consider it very bad luck to even hear the word around the course.

Slice
Sometimes called a banana ball, hitting a slice is when you strike your ball, it starts out on a trajectory left of your goal, but spins far right of the target area (opposite directions if you are left-handed). If you ever hear someone say they hit a “fade”, that is a shot that slightly curves to the right, making it less drastic than a slice. A slice is a more harsh error.

Hook
A hook is the opposite of a slice- starting its trajectory right of your goal and curving far left (again, opposite directions if you are left handed). Rarely used intentionally, hooking your ball usually indicates an error in your swing, but is sometimes used to get out of a tight space or to curve your shot around obstacles. A hook with a smaller curve is called a draw, and is much more commonly used.

“Time to Put On the Sunblock”
You’d never go to the beach without your sunblock, right? Well, if you’re having one of those days where you find yourself in the sand and hitting it in every bunker on the course, then you better have your “sunscreen lotion” handy!

A Danny Devito
You hit an incredible approach shot and you confidently head up to the green for a short-medium length birdie putt! You grab the putter, read the green, line up the putt, and pray it goes in. Right when you make contact you know you made a huge mistake… You completely misread the putt and your second putt is now farther away. You just encountered a mean 5 footer, “A Danny Devito”.


When a sport has an avid following, there are bound to be a few terms thrown around that are only understood by the die-hard fans of the game, and golf is a prime example. Brush up on a few of these golf terms to be prepared for the lingo of the links on your next golf outing at Blueberry Pines.

Monday, May 25, 2015

The Etiquette of Golf

Spring has arrived, and golf season is quickly approaching. If you are interested in playing golf, you may want to know these seven basic etiquette rules before you take on your first 18 holes.



1. Repair the Green and Bunkers
On the green make sure to repair your ball mark, in the bunker make sure you rake the bunker when finished. If you see other marks on the green or notice that the bunker hasn’t been raked, it’s common courtesy to tidy up those areas as well. Leaving these areas unmaintained can be a nuisance to others.

2. Keep Quiet
One of the best things about golf is that it’s a social game, but you should always show consideration for the other golfers around you. Losing your temper or laughing loudly could disturb other golfers’ focus, so make sure you are quiet during another golfer’s swing.

3. Dress to Impress
Sweat pants and T-shirts may be acceptable for other recreational activities, but when golfing, it is common courtesy to dress appropriately. Female golfers should consider wearing longer shorts and a nice shirt. Men should consider wearing a collared shirt and dress pants or shorts. Guys no tank tops or muscle shirts please.

 4. Step Away from Your Cell Phone
There are three main reasons you should put down your cell phone while playing golf: First you may lose your focus- when continuity is interrupted it could affect the result of your game. Secondly, cell phones interrupt other golfers. When you are using your cell phone, your voice level tends to be higher than usual. Lastly, Cell phones slow down play for both you and others around you.

5. Early is On Time, and On Time is Late!
It is important to be early for your tee-time. Then keeping up with the group ahead keeps the pace of your golf game up to par. If the group behind you starts to catch up, let them jump ahead of your group and play through. If it is busy golf course, letting groups through may not be an option if there are solid groups behind the group behind you, this slows the entire golf course down 8 minutes per group let through. Play ready golf and play with undue delay.

6. Stay Inbounds!
Typically white stakes or lines mark the boundary line on a golf course. If you hit the ball out of bounds, the penalty is a stroke-plus-distance, meaning you add one stroke to your score and count all hits. Constantly hitting the ball out of bounds can cause your group to slow down! If you can, check out the course overview before you take on 18 holes.

 7. Golf Cart Driving
No one likes to see a reckless golf cart driver on the course. Taking sharp turns or parking to close to the green can ruin the grass. To help keep the grass well maintained, utilize the cart path as much as possible. If you absolutely have to drive on the grass, make sure you are steering clear of greens and tee boxes and do not drive too close to water hazards, mounds or bunkers.

Now that you know theses 7 etiquette rules, take the day off and head to the course! Check out our membership options membership options or standard rates, and make a plan for the upcoming golf season!

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

5 Tips to Remember When Choosing Golf Clubs



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With golf season and summer right around the corner hopefully you are thinking about taking up the game of golf. If you are, you’re probably thinking about which clubs to purchase. If you are a beginner, golf clubs can be expensive, so it is very important to know a little something about the clubs you put in your golf bag before you purchase them. Here are five tips that can help you on your search for the right clubs:

1. When choosing a driver it is important to remember that shorter may be better than longer. Most manufactures today are producing drivers for experienced players that are too long for beginners. With a shorter club you have a better chance of hitting the ball squarely. Also, if you tend to miss the “sweet spot” on your current driver frequently, you should get a driver with a maximum forgiveness rating (many golf club manufacturers provide this information).

2. Consider using your 3-wood as a driver. If you get more distance with your 3-wood off the tee, making this simple change could help you drop a few strokes off of your game.

3. When it comes to choosing the right golf clubs for you, grip size and type, shaft length and type, plus the lie angle of the club-head can all be very important. Golfers come in all shapes and sizes with their own unique swinging techniques. Having a set that is the right fit for your swing will make it easier for you to learn and improve your game.

4. To find the golf clubs that best fit your golfing style your best bet may be getting fitted for golf clubs right here at Blueberry Pines Golf Course. This is a great way to test out which clubs work for you and which ones don’t. For instance, if your club is too long, light, or heavy for your golf swing type, it will limit your ability to properly hit the ball squarely at impact. Having a golf set that is completely wrong for you when you're trying to learn can make it much more difficult or even impossible to get any better.

5. If you struggle with long irons, which most players do, you should consider trying a hybrid. Hybrids can be an easier-to-hit alternative to long irons. Hybrid clubs have a more forgiving club face, and lower center of gravity which gives it easier “swingablilty.”

Now that you are on the right track to finding the right clubs, it’s time to put them to use! Blueberry Pines is a great golf course for any level of golfer. Check out our memberships options here.

If you have any questions call (218) 564-4653 or email bbpgolf@wcta.net

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Blueberry Pines Golf Course Ground Conditions

With the golf season finally underway, one may be wondering about the conditions of our golf course after the winter. The answer is simple-  very well!


 
The greens are still in the thawing stage, but the frost is just about gone. We have been busily watering the greens with a tank to add some much-needed moisture into the topsoil, which is very dry from lack of precipitation during the winter. We will continue to do this until we can turn on the irrigation system, which will hopefully be in just a couple of weeks. This lack of water also means that we cannot yet mow the greens yet. We will be mowing them as soon as the weather permits. The lack of snow this winter helped our course to quickly get ready for golfers to start hitting the links. Thanks to our lack of snow and our sandy, dry soil, the golf course was able to open this year on the earliest opening date in Blueberry Pines history! (March 13, 2015)


As for the rest of our course, it came through the winter exceptionally well, considering it was exposed to the elements through most of it. Despite our mild winter, our grounds crew is and will be continually cleaning up. We are still unfortunately seeing the after effects of the fire two years ago, due to the fact that bark beetles have moved into some of the damaged trees. We had to remove some of these trees, and are keeping up with cutting down other dead trees. However, that should not compromise the beauty of the course. It remains to be seen how our mild winter and lack of snowfall will affect the trees.


We are looking forward to another wonderful season, and hope to see you out here golfing all summer long!

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Join us for our Valentine's Day Sweetheart Dinner

Treat yourself to a special evening at Blueberry Pines Golf, Dining and Event Center this Valentine’s Day. We are featuring our Sweetheart Dinner for Two as well as Single Entrées..


We will do our best treat you like royalty from the time you walk in our doors to the time you return home. Our goal is to make this Valentine’s a joyous experience for you and your special someone.
 

The Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Menu will include:


Appetizers
  • Crab Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp with Beurre Blanc Sauce - $11.95
  • Seafood Stuffed Portabella Mushroom Caps with Lemon and Garlic Butter Cream - $10.95
  • Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip Bread Bowl Served with Garlic Naan Triangles - $8.95


Single Entrées
All single entrees listed below include Soup & Salad Bar with choice of Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Wild Rice Pilaf or Baked Potato.
  • Grilled 12oz. Certified Angus New York Steak - $21.95
  • Hand Carved Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus - $21.95
  • Airline Breast of Chicken with Pesto, Bacon Fettuccine Alfredo - $18.95
  • Breaded or Broiled Canadian Walleye (Two Fillets) - $21.95


Sweetheart Dinner for Two
All Dinner for Two entrées listed below include Soup & Salad Bar with choice of Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Wild Rice Pilaf or Baked Potato.
  • Roast Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus and Garlic Lime Shrimp Skewers for Two - $50.00
  • Seafood Trio for Two - $55.00
    • Hand Breaded Fish Filet, Shrimp Skewer and Bacon Wrapped Scallops
  • Roast Beef Tenderloin Béarnaise for Two - $54.00
  • Sliced Roast Beef Tenderloin Béarnaise and Broiled Lobster Tails for Two - $59.00


Homemade Desserts
  • Chocolate Velvet Finale - $14.95
    • Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Petit Fours, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Red Velvet Heart Cake with Champagne for Two
  • New York Style Cheese Cake - $5.95
  • Lemon Blueberry Tart - $5.95
  • Chocolate Kahlua Cake - $5.95
 


Also joining us this Valentine's Day at Blueberry Pines is the excellent Don Holmen, performing live with soft, relaxing, fun music. Between the mix of delicious food and great music we are sure your night will be filled with wonderful memories. Seats fill up fast! Please reserve your table today: 218-564-4653.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Your Best Choice for your Big Day

 The question has been popped, the date has been set, but now what? Where do you
start?  You should start by giving Blueberry Pines Event Manager & Executive Chef,
Kyle Wheatley a call.  From our picture perfect fairways, all the way to our delicious
event menus, Blueberry Pines can be the perfect fit for your big day.

Blueberry Pines offers beautiful landscape that can provide a gorgeous backdrop for
photography.  Our greenery and picturesque fairways create a rich texture and colors
that will make your wedding pictures come to life.  Our setting is great for cocktails and
pre-wedding snacks, as well as providing the kids a place to exhaust some energy
before the ceremony.  Worried about parking?  Don’t be!  Our parking area is spacious
and provides close walking distance to our event center.



Our gorgeous three story clubhouse provides exclusivity.  Our banquet facility can seat
up to 300 of your family and friends comfortably, guaranteeing the bride and groom a
party full of people they love. If you are considering an outdoor wedding, Blueberry
Pines offers a beautiful outdoor Gazebo and outdoor seating area.





Blueberry Pines offers five different event menus that offer everything from a backyard
BBQ to Chef Carved Prime Rib.  Our catering staff always does their best to insure a
worry free experience and would be happy to provide answers to any questions that you
may have.

If you choose to have your wedding at Blueberry Pines, we will do everything we can to
ensure it is a joyous occasion.  We are also happy to help with any additional banquet
needs, such as a Groom’s Dinner.  We have a complete set of services to help make
your event a success and planners to assist you to ensure everything goes smoothly.
For more information and a customized quote, please be sure to use our request form.

Friday, January 23, 2015

The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Golf

Beloved by people of all ages and personalities, golf is a constantly exciting game. It provides many benefits to your health, your athletic ability, and your social group. Whether you are looking to start playing for the first time or looking to return to the game, below are ten good reasons why you should play the game of golf.


1. Improve Your Physical Health
While Mark Twain call golf “a good walk spoiled,” regularly playing golf can benefit your health in many ways. Brisk walking provides light cardiovascular exercise and excellent circulation for your body. Golf helps to lower the risk of injury and aching bones, and in return will revitalize muscular flexibility. Also, carrying your own equipment—a weight-bearing exercise—will help improve your bone health and increase your metabolism.


2. Improve Your Mental Health
Golf is a therapeutic and stress-relieving sport that requires concentration. A temporary reprieve from the hectic schedule of life will improve your mental health significantly, allowing you to center and refocus after. The social aspect of golf and sharing a common interest with others can increase self-esteem and happiness while lifting depression and improving your outlook on life.


3. It is a Brain Exercise
No matter the outcome, you are sure to employ a number of strategies in your game that will exercise different areas of your brain. Problem-solving through the use of geometry and spatial reasoning to strategize your aim will provide a great workout for the left hemisphere of your brain, while the visualization techniques you use to imagine your swing will exercise the right hemisphere of your brain. This creative workout will stimulate the tracking functions in your brain as well.


4. Sharpen Your Focus and Coordination
By concentrating on your swing and imagining where the aim of your ball will travel, you are training your brain to focus on a target. Playing golf repeatedly will train you to focus on tasks and control your thought processing. Golf exercises your coordination as well, as you utilize precision strokes and balance to play.


5. Surround Yourself with Nature
Golfing gives you the opportunity to breathe in fresh air. With hundreds of beautiful golf courses around the country, it is not hard to embrace nature’s beautiful and winding views of oceans, forests, mountains, and more. Being on the course will help you soak up some extra sunrays. The Vitamin D provided by the sun will help increase your energy levels, improve your attitude, generate healthy cell growth, and aid in your calcium absorption. Plus, all the added health benefits will help you sleep soundly.


6. A Challenge for Every Athlete
No matter how competitive you are in sports, every different game of golf presents a new challenge -- a new personal best to beat or a new terrain to conquer. Golf is an excellent game for those who seek competition, and it is among only a handful of sports that has tournaments readily available for non-professional athletes around the world.


7. Learn Etiquette and Good Social Habits
Because there are no referees in the game, unspoken etiquette rules are how players govern both themselves and fellow competitors. Etiquette rules prove useful on and off the course. It allows you to practice personal responsibility and self-regulate your temper. It emphasizes respect and consideration for your peers and for the space in which you play.


8. A Game for Everybody
Simply put, anybody can play golf, regardless of age, gender or previous athletic ability. It’s a sport that can bond generations, heal disagreements and spark friendships regardless of whether you are a novice or a master of the game. A perfect union of socializing and exercising, it’s not hard to understand why people consider golf to be a life-long sport.


9. Network Your Way Through the Course
The nature of golf provides a relaxed atmosphere where you can socialize with peers and where you can easily make innumerable contacts. A round of golf can shed light on the integrity, personality, and habits of a playing partner. Being proficient at golf may help you make business deals and provide great opportunities for your professional life and personal connections.


10. New Trends
While the game itself can be traced back to 15th century Scotland, new trends always emerge in golf that keeps it relevant today. These trends address broadening the game further for a younger, more diverse group of people, and accommodating a generation where instant gratification trumps the rewarding game of golf.


These top ten reasons are only the tip of the iceberg for why golf is such a great sport to play. To discover why you should golf, visit Blueberry Pines Golf, Dining & Event Center located in beautiful Northern Minnesota near Park Rapids and Menahga, Minnesota. This beautiful championship 18-hole golf course features ‘towering trees, rolling hills, and a spring-fed streams’ plus offers individual golf outings as well as golf events and tournaments throughout out the year. Don’t wait to figure out why golf is the game for you!