Putt Like the Pros

Golf season is finally in (excuse the pun) full swing again in Minnesota. If you haven't been practicing in the off-season, chances are your game is a little rusty. Check out some of our putting tips to take your short game to the next level:

Take Address

Stand so that your eyes are over the ball. Stand in a position that is comfortable for you and ensures correct posture. Your body should maintain a consistent motion with your elbows held to your sides.

Be Flexible

Don’t play with a stiff body, flex your knees and keep your shoulders relaxed. Not only will this make your putt closer to perfection, but it will also keep you more relaxed while on the green. If you have a hard time relaxing your body during your putt, try moving further or closer to the ball and practice putting.

Left, Right, and Center

If you found that you need to move away from the ball, but yet still can’t sink the putt, step sideways. Try moving to your left or right and find your pendulum swing sweet spot. You will only make a perfect putt consistently when you learn to hit the ball dead square.

Take the shot

Remember to relax and keep a slow and controlled movement. Don’t worry about rushing through the putt. If you feel uncomfortable taking your time, don’t – we’ve all started somewhere. In no time, you will be putting like a pro and swinging low scoring games.

One of the best things you can do to improve your game is simple… practice! Get out on the green and take a few shots. For tee times, location, online specials and more, visit our website at Blueberrypinesgolf.com.

Top 10 Meals to Eat at Blueberry Pines

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:

#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 Tenderloin – Tender sliced roast pork tenderloin smothered in sauteed onions, mushrooms, and demi-glaze.

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

#5 Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops – 4 large sea scallops wrapped in bacon, broiled and served atop garlic aioli.

#6 Thai Shrimp Wrap – Tender 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 Pizza – A creation like no other - shrimp, sliced peaches and jalapeno with Thai sweet chili sauce on a flatbread crust.

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

#9 Chinese Chicken Salad – Tender 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 Alfredo – Fettuccine noodles tossed in our hand-crafted made from scratch Alfredo sauce one order at a time.

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!

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.

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.

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.

You Don't Need to Golf to Enjoy our Restaurant

Although we are known for our beautiful golf course, our restaurant is also a great reason to stop by Blueberry Pines. And, if you’re not keen on hitting the links - never fear; you definitely don’t have to be a golfer to have a good time.

At our Blueberry Pines Restaurant, we have a wide array of options that will please every member of your family. Whether you are taking the family out for a special occasion or just stopping in for a quick bite or cold drink from our full service lounge, you won’t be disappointed.

We have great dining specials and warm comfortable service at Blueberry Pines featuring succulent steaks, fresh seafood and a savory salad bar. Enjoy our mouthwatering Prime Rib or Beef Au Jus every Friday and Saturday Night plus indulge in our wonderful fresh seafood specials.

One of the guest favorites is our Sunday Brunch Buffet served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring a wide array of breakfast and dinner items, carving station, fresh fruits and dessert table. We also feature custom made omelets and butler style eggs benedict.

New Winter Hours Begin Monday, November 17, 2014

Winter Dining Hours

• Friday and Saturday: 11 am to 8:00 pm
• Sunday Brunch Buffet: 10 am to 2 pm

Winter Lounge Hours

• Friday and Saturday: 11 am to close
• Sunday: 10 am to 3 pm

 

Our menu has many great tasting options including:

 

Starters

We have 8 delicious starters to share with the family.

Soup and Salad

You can add the soup and salad bar to any item for only $4.00.

Pizza

Each of our pizza’s are built on a flatbread crust with a 5 cheese blend.

Pasta

You can add a grilled airline chicken breast or garlic lime shrimp skewer to your pasta options to give it a little extra flavor.

Sandwiches and Wraps

Served with kettle chips or fries, we have many sandwich or wrap options for your family to enjoy.

Small Basket Selections

These small basket selections are a great option for those with a smaller appetite. Children under 12 also receive a complimentary kids drink.

Entrees

From our Grilled Butchers Steak, Oak and Sugar Maple Smoked Pork Ribs or our Seafood Trio, we have many entree selections to cure the largest of appetites.

Our fabulous menu selections, paired with an excellent staff, are guaranteed to keep you and your family coming back. To view our full menu, follow this link.

Have you dined with us at Blueberry Pines? Leave us a comment and tell us about your experience!

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!