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.