 |
|
About Baker National Golf Course History The 210-acre Baker National Golf Course is one of the outdoor recreation facilities offered within Three Rivers Park District' Baker Park Reserve. It was once the site of two farmsteads built in the 1850's by European settlers. Baker National property includes the site of the former Medina Golf Course, which was comprised of a 9-hole regulation and 9-hole executive golf course when purchased by the Park District in 1974. In 1988 and 89 Three Rivers Park District sold revenue bonds and initiated the Baker National Improvement Project. A nine-hole regulation course was added and the existing 9-hole regulation course was renovated to create the present date Baker National Championship Course that was fully completed in 1991. Also added was a 60-station natural grass driving range and 6,000-sq. ft. clubhouse. Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Hurdzan Golf Design, Columbus, Ohio, designed the 18-hole Championship Course. In 1996, the maintenance facility was improved and a professional maintenance shop added. Of historical interest is the site of the red barn, which provides a backdrop to the first green. The Red Barn was owned by the Spurzem family and was originally built in 1915. Time and weather took its toll on the barn structure. In 1997, the weakened barn was severely damaged by a windstorm. A new barn, replicating and commemorating the original structure was rebuilt in 1998. The executive-nine Evergreen Course was completely redesigned in 1999 and reopened for play in the summer of 2000. Today A combination of innovative management practices and extraordinary natural amenities has created a unique public golf facility at Baker National. As one of the finest public facilities in Minnesota, the Baker National Championship Course has hosted numerous state tournament events and was nominated by golf course architects for Golf Digest's 1991 annual survey of America's Best New Public Courses and was included on its 1996 list of America's Best 75 Public Golf Courses. Baker National earned these honors while applying stringent environmental management practices. In 1996 Baker National received the Links Magazine-Audubon International "1996 Best of Golf Award" in the category Golf and the Environment as a recognition of Baker National's environmental sensitivity and conservation of natural resources.
Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary In 1995, Baker National received the designation of "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" from Audubon International. This program, sponsored by the USGA, encourages courses to protect and conserve natural resources and preserve the character and integrity of the land. The 47th golf course in the nation to receive this honor, Baker National was the first public golf course in Minnesota and only the third course in the state to become certified in the program. Certified courses must demonstrate efforts to improve environmental quality in several areas: environmental planning, public/member involvement, wildlife and habitat management, integrated pest management, water quality management and water conservation practices. An Environmentally-Sensitive Approach Three Rivers Park District realizes that people come to Baker National to play golf. Shooting par is great, but it's even greater if the experience occurs in an aesthetically-pleasing, environmentally-sound setting. Native vegetation is the hallmark of the Baker landscape plan, from the impressive wildflower bed behind the clubhouse, to the native species of trees and shrubs throughout the course, to the attention paid to preserving the three wetlands which dot the course. The overall plan calls for eventual restoration of the "Big Woods" plant community, which historically dominated the area. Each of the 18 regulation course holes is identified with appealing signs that describe noteworthy wildlife, vegetation and geology of a particular hole. A major display in the Clubhouse not only provides a visual course layout for golfers to study, but also describes Baker National's environmentally-sensitive turf management program.
During the winter season, the Baker National Clubhouse is the trailhead for the Baker Park Reserve 11.5K (7.1 mi.) of cross country ski trails and a sliding hill. Ski rentals, fireplace, snack bar, merchandise items and lots of sitting room is available. |
Golf and Nature