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.

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!

Learning the Lingo of the Links

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.

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!

5 Tips to Remember When Choosing Golf Clubs

 
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

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!

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!

Golf: It’s Good for your Health!

"Golf is a good walk spoiled.”

-Mark Twain

Here at Blueberry Pines Golf Course, we wholeheartedly disagree! Golf is not simply a good walk, it is a fun, active, rewarding way of life. Consider this - a 150 pound person will burn approximately 300 calories per hour just walking the course. That same person will burn 230 calories per hour using a golf cart. A person will also burn 200 calories per hour on the driving range.

There are many advantages of staying active by playing golf. The health benefits of this cardiographic exercise include reduced heart disease and lessened chances of suffering from diabetes and cancer. The act of swinging a golf club will increase a person's flexibility and build core strength. Most people agree that a round of golf relieves stress.

Golf is also a very social game. A round of golf is typically played with 4 people. During the round, people get a chance to really get to know their fellow players in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Some studies have shown that person's life is extended by two and a half years when they stay socially active.

In order to receive the same benefits as playing 18 holes of golf (walking), you would need to:

• Strength Train for 2 hours and 45 minutes
• Be Aerobically Active for 2 hours and 10 minutes
• Jogg on a Treadmill for 2 hours and 10 minutes

A good walk spoiled? No way! During your round you should be enjoying the company of your playing partners, communing with nature and enjoying that rare great shot! And best of all, after your round you can treat yourself to a cold beverage or some great food. After all, you just burned more than 1,000 calories!

Come visit us at Blueberry Pines and receive the best walk a person can get! To plan a group or corporate outing click here.

Why Join a Golf League?

As any avid golfer will tell you, time on the course involves more than a sport - it’s a way of life. And, there are few better ways to integrate it into your life than by joining a local golf league.

If league golfing isn't something you've ever tried , then let’s dispel a myth you might believe; you do not have to be an expert on the course in order to join a team. Many league golfers will tell you - they do it to see their friends, enjoy a few cocktails and improve their game in a fun, yet competitive environment.

If you’re kicking around the idea of getting a team together, here are some things we think makes that idea a good one.

ROUTINE

Life’s busy, and our responsibilities always seem to override our hobbies. By joining a league, you’re giving yourself that dedicated time out on the course. Hold it harmless; work/life balance is important!

HEALTH

Well, golf is a great form of activity, league or not, but as we previously mentioned, when you on a team with a set time and some accountability to your competitors, you tend to move at a more clipped pace. Also, if you really want to torch some calories, park the golf cart and walk the course!

SKILL-BUILDING

There’s a time and a place for puttering around the on the course, but like we said, when you’re league golfing, you’ve got to stick to a certain timeframe and make every shot count! This kind of focus helps take your game to another level!

SOCIAL

None of us are, or will become, Tiger Woods. And frankly, that’s more than fine with your typical league golfer.  But, with league golfing, you’ll probably meet a few new people who could become longtime golf partners, business connections and friends.

Have you been part of a league? What’s the best part? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Golf Course Weddings: Quiet, Elegant & Worry-Free

Whether you’re an avid golfer, or simply appreciate the pristine view, a golf course is an ideal place to host your wedding. 

Here at Blueberry Pines, we are delighted when couples choose us to host their big day; in fact, we can probably help alleviate some of the stress of the planning process with our services! Weddings are about love, joy and happiness; not worrying about if something will go wrong. The calming atmosphere at Blueberry Pines, will help reduce your stress and let you concentrate on your guests and bride or groom-to-be. 

Consider Blueberry Pines Golf Club for a worry-free event experience. We have a Professional staff ready to help you with all the details. We have a range of services and partners to ensure your special day is a grand success. Our beautifully furnished banquet facility allows for any amount of guests that you may have.

Weddings happen once in a lifetime, so we want to provide you with top notch service. Along with our excellent and worry-free service, the beautiful landscape and quiet atmosphere at Blueberry Pines will have you and your guests enjoying the special day from start to finish. They have the opportunity to explore the green outdoors and observe nature. When the
celebration is coming to an end, you can watch the beautiful dramatic sunset staging complete with a backdrop of the golf course.  

Along with outdoor options like in or near our beautiful Gazebo, we have indoor options as well to accommodate any of your desires on your special day!

Have your special occasion, corporate meeting, club gathering, or reunion at Blueberry Pines, and we'll ensure it's a success! We can help with any banquet or special meeting needs you may have. We have a complete set of services to make your meeting a success and have planners to assist you to ensure everything goes smoothly. For more information and a customized quote, make sure to use our request form.

The Beginning and Story of Blueberry Pines

Hard to believe, but Blueberry Pines was not always a golf outing destination. Truth be told, these 18 holes were once a Christmas tree farm - a 160 acre wonderland, complete with a spring-fed creek running through the center. 

Now, while a tree farm is certainly a worthy endeavor, we had bigger plans. After all, this area is a natural golf course - it’s peppered with pine trees and small bodies of water tucked into a hilly, rolling landscape. We wanted to create a challenging, beautiful, non-links course that any person can golf, no matter their skill level.

So, we tapped renowned golf course architect Joel Goldstrand, a professional with over 80 golf courses in his name, and began constructing a golf course in 1990. 

The process moved quickly, and Blueberry Pines Golf Course opened with 9 holes in the spring of 1992. This was soon followed with a full 18 holes ready for play, along with a bar / restaurant and event center, ready by autumn of that same year.

It hasn’t always been easy; in the spring of 1994, the course experienced a bad case of snow mold, killing nine greens and taking several months to repair. But, this was minor compared to what unfolded in 2013...

On May 14th of last year, what has come to be known as “The Green Valley Fire” started. It was approximately 13 miles long and 3 miles deep on the north side of the Golf Course. Crews managed to stop the fire before it damaged too much of the course, but it ravaged areas around holes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 2, 12, and 11. 

The repair process is ongoing; we’ve already cut down many, many damaged trees and will continue doing so throughout the summer, replanting where we need to as soon as possible. The landscape is definitely altered, with many more open spots and damaged trees, but Blueberry Pines will recover in no time. 

So, with that being said, what makes Blueberry Pines so special? 

• We have large, raised tee boxes with several tee option, allowing all players of different abilities to play from areas matching their unique skill levels. 
• Our sandy soils allow us to open earlier and close later. 
• Because we’re flanked by pines, we have very, very few leaves...and as any avid golfer knows, leaves are extremely bothersome…
• We have large, angulating greens (a Joel Goldstrand trademark.)
• Unique landscape features throughout our 18 holes - check them out in our photo gallery. 

Stepping away from course features, we’re also extremely proud of a few other Blueberry Pines qualities. These include but are not limited to:

• The beautiful outdoor views from the large windows of the clubhouse.
• Our dedicated, friendly staff.
• Some seriously tasty food.
• A warm, inviting and family-friendly environment, with a nice deck outside for outdoor dining
• The excellent Don Holman, performing live with soft, relaxing, fun music on Friday and Saturday evenings, and during Sunday brunch.

We welcome any type of event - business functions, weddings, funerals, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. - and will work with you to make sure your event is exactly what you want. 

Above all, we’re moving forward; we’re always looking for ways to improve our golf course, restaurant, and bar to accommodate everyone, whether local folks or those from far away. We seek to engage younger generations in the game of golf with social media, youth programs and special discounts. 

We’ve always been known as Blueberry Pines Golf Club, but the word “club” is misleading. We’re not a private organization; we’re open to the public, and our overarching goal is to make Blueberry Pines a centerpiece attraction for our area. That’s why we’ve changed our name to 
Blueberry Pines Golf, Dining, and Event Center. 

We hope you’ll stop by and see us soon!

Golf and Social Media: It's a Hole in One

Spring has sprung, and as that long, painful winter starts disappearing in the rearview mirror, thoughts of hitting the links are top of mind for many. 

With a great deal of natural beauty, extreme popularity, and the potential for boundless business success, Minnesota's golf courses stand to gain a lot from having a presence on social media platforms.

Here are a few reasons why we at Blueberry Pines, along with other courses, are “hitting the (web) links.”.

Social Media is organic advertising. 

Contrary to popular opinion, social media is not just for the youth of society anymore. According to a recent Huffington Post study, since 2012, the majority of major social media platforms have been reporting their strongest year-over-year growth in the 55-64 year-old bracket. Facebook reports 46% more in this age group. Google+ says they've increased this crew by 56%. And, believe it or not, a whopping 79% more of these folks are hash-tagging away on Twitter. 

And, as you might already assume, younger golfers (and even younger future golfers) are getting more of their information on everything from social media at the expense of traditional forms of marketing.  

By getting a golf course connected with social media, news, events and special deals are able to reach everybody, all at once.

Social media engages people

Thanks to platforms like Facebook and Twitter, our customers’ pictures, links to interesting articles or blurbs about special course promotions can grabbed and re-shared to their friends. Check-in features on sites like Facebook and Instagram let golfers tag pictures of our course, address included, in any status updates they might be launching. 

Best part? Those people our customers engage with online could just end up being future Blueberry Pines customers. 

By being on social media, our regular customers advertise for us, just by sharing the highlights of a good time!

GOLF COURSES ARE FOR EVERYONE

Places like Blueberry Pines are more than just places to play a round of golf. We also boast an events center, ready for weddings, corporate events, fundraisers and more.

Staying digitally connected is a great way to promote these features to all the non-golfers trolling the web, searching for the best place to host their special event. 

It’s a no-brainer; social media is a smooth and seamless as a great swing! So, as the warm weather ramps up, keep up with Blueberry Pines online!

The Most Prestigious of Them All: The Masters

The Masters Tournament…where a green jacket takes on a whole new meaning. To golfers, this is the Super Bowl of golf events; every golf fan looks forward to the day the Masters starts. There’s something about this PGA Major that is different from all others. In fact, Forbes ranked this golf major as the most prestigious of them all. But what makes this golf major so great? Here are the top five things that set the Masters apart: 

The location
The location of The Masters, Augusta National Golf Club, is every golfers dream course. The Masters is the only major that is played at the same course every year. This course is known for being extremely private with only a few select millionaires and former presidents given memberships. Even golf pros do not receive memberships unless a minimum of four Masters have been won.

Past Champions
The Masters honors former champions like no other tournament in the world. Once winning the Masters once, you can compete in the tournament for as long as you live. Another unique feature of the Masters is the Champions dinner the day before the competition. This dinner is typically decided by the previous year’s winner and is usually something of their home culture or favorite food.

The legend - Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones, the founder of Augusta National, is one of the greatest golfers of all time. He is known for having earned the grand slam: The U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, and British Open. He is the only person to ever do this, and he retired at the young age of 28 years old. After retirement  Jones focussed his efforts on being a course architect and has developed one of the greatest courses of all time.

The Moments 
In 1986, one of the all time greatest moments in golf history took place. Jack Nicklaus scored a 30 on the back nine of Augusta with a final round of 65 to take home his sixth, and most remembered, Green Jacket. Another legendary moment was Tiger’s chip from off the 16th green that famously rolled down from an extreme slope, pausing for a moment, and falling into the hole. Tiger receiving his fourth Green Jacket because of it. 

The Green Jacket
The Green Jacket crowns the king. It is truly a unique prize and is the most coveted item of clothing in the golf world. It is a symbol of greatness, and whomever wears this jacket, is truly a Master.

The Masters tournament is coming up, and as a golf fan, seeing the commercials every year in anticipation for the event gives a golfer chills. The countdown begins every year for the day the players arrive at Augusta to compete for the legendary Green Jacket and have their “once in a lifetime” moment like others before them. No words can describe the sense of accomplishment for those that have won this major, and we can’t wait to see who will win this year.

Get Ready…Golf Opener is Near

Ahh…golf opener. There’s nothing better than getting out on the course for the first time after the long winter months. The green, luscious view of the course, the fresh air and sunshine, and the great company of spending time with friends and family during an afternoon outing are all reasons why we love when golf season rolls around. These are all great things to look forward to, but what about your golf game? Make sure you’re prepared for your first round with this checklist:

#1 Equipment Inventory

If you haven’t looked at your bag since your last round of golf in the fall, it’s time to pull it out. Some things to check include: your grips, your clubs, and your bag. If you need to replace any of these items or fix them, now is the time.

#2 Tees, Balls, Gloves, and Markers

Before you head out on the course be sure to be fully stocked. Have your tees, balls, gloves, and markers easily accessible in your bag. Many golfers will need to replace their gloves from the previous season from normal wear and tear. Make sure to do so if your gloves have holes or tears in them, or no longer have adequate grip.

#3 Physical Fitness

Being physically fit is something that can help anybody’s golf game. We aren’t talking about spending hours at the gym or becoming a bodybuilder. Doing simple things like walking for 30 minutes a day can help. For other basic exercises to incorporate into your routine, Golfsmith published a great article.

#4 Lessons

Refresher lessons are great for every player - beginner to pro. Getting your body used to the game again and getting pointers you may not have known can make the game more enjoyable for you. For lessons at Blueberry Pines, please contact us, and we will take your golf game to the next level.

#5 Clothing

If you packed your golf clothes away, it’s time to pull them out and get them ready to wear again. If items no longer fit, purchase a few new pieces to add to your wardrobe. Also, check your shoes and the spikes. Replace the spikes if they are dull and if shoes no longer fit or are uncomfortable, purchase a new pair. There’s nothing worse than uncomfortable shoes on the golf course.

If you can check off all of the items on the checklist above prior to heading out on the golf course this spring you will be prepared and able to fully enjoy your first golf experience of the season!

Getting to Know Blueberry Pines

Blueberry Pines Golf, Dining, and Event Center, is a hidden gem nestled in the woods of Northern Minnesota, just eight miles south of Park Rapids in Menahga, MN. With the breathtaking views on the 18-hole Championship Golf Course, and the cozy, cabin-like feel of the clubhouse and Ice Creek restaurant, Blueberry Pines is a destination that once you experience you’ll want to keep coming back.

What makes Blueberry Pines so unique? For starters, its location. Blueberry Pines can be easy to miss while driving on the highway, but it is impossible to forget once you have experienced everything they have to offer. From setting your eyes on the large, majestic log cabin style clubhouse, lounge, and restaurant, to being greeted like an old friend from the friendly staff, you are sure to feel right at home.