The Legend at Giants Ridge
The Legend is the course that put northern Minnesota golf on the map, a Jeff Brauer design opened in 1997 and routed through forest and along the lakes of the Iron Range. A par 72 of about 6,930 yards, it has been a fixture near the top of the state's public rankings ever since, and pairs with its sibling The Quarry for one of the Midwest's best value golf escapes.
Photo: Giants Ridge via Google.
The verdict
The Legend is the reason golfers drive three hours north of the Twin Cities. Opened in 1997 as the first course at the Giants Ridge resort in Biwabik, on the Mesabi Iron Range, it was designed by Jeffrey Brauer and quickly became one of the most acclaimed public courses in Minnesota, a position it has held for more than two decades.
It plays as a par 72 of about 6,930 yards, threaded through dense northern forest and around the shores of Sabin and Wynne lakes, with elevation changes and water that give the round both beauty and bite. The setting is the draw, but the routing has the substance to back it up, and paired with The Quarry, the resort's rugged 2003 sibling built on former mine land, it makes a complete golf trip in a quiet corner of the state.
The Legend at Giants Ridge at a glance
- Opened
- 1997
- Designer
- Jeff Brauer
- Type
- Forest, lakeside
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,930 yds
- Green fee
- From about $70
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Giants Ridge and leading course databases. The Legend was designed by Jeffrey Brauer and opened in 1997, a par 72 of about 6,930 yards through forest and along the Iron Range lakes. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $70 to $125 depending on season and day, with the best value through resort stay and play packages that include The Quarry. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The forest is the defining feature. Tree lined corridors give each hole its own room and its own demand, asking for an honest tee shot before the approach, and the changes in elevation across the Iron Range terrain keep the round visually engaging from start to finish. There is little of the flat, open feel many associate with the upper Midwest; this is golf through the woods.
Water raises the stakes on the holes that flirt with Sabin and Wynne lakes, where the shoreline frames the green and a slightly loose shot finds the hazard. These are the photographs people take home from Giants Ridge, and they are also the moments that decide a card, rewarding the player who picks a conservative line when the situation calls for it.
What ties the round together is balance. At about 6,930 yards the Legend never bullies you with length, instead asking for placement, a steady short game and good decisions around the greens. It is a course that an everyday golfer can enjoy and a strong player can still find a genuine test on, which is exactly why it has stayed near the top of Minnesota's public lists for so long.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort access; open to visitors who book ahead, with stay and play packages alongside the sister Quarry course |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 range about $70 to $125 depending on season and day; best value inside a multi round resort package; confirm at booking |
| Booking | Reserve online or by phone; the short northern season means summer weekends fill early, so book ahead |
| On the day | Carts standard over the spread out, forested routing; allow time to enjoy the lake holes and the setting |
| Getting there | Biwabik on the Iron Range, about three hours north of Minneapolis and an hour from Duluth |
| Best months | Late May to early October, with high summer the most reliable and the shoulder season the best value |
Access and fee details verified June 2026. Pricing moves with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. See our United States green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
The simplest base is the Giants Ridge resort itself, whose lodging and villas sit minutes from both the Legend and the Quarry and make a 36 hole day effortless. Staying on property is also the surest route to the best package pricing and prime tee times, and the resort works as a four season escape with the ski hill and the lakes on the doorstep.
For more variety, the small Iron Range towns nearby and the lakeside city of Duluth, about an hour south, give a wider choice of dining and lodging. It suits a buddies trip or a quiet couples escape built around scenic, value driven northern golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Giants Ridge.
Build a northern Minnesota golf trip
We book the Legend tee times, pair them with The Quarry and the best of Iron Range and Duluth golf and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Legend at Giants Ridge questions
Who designed The Legend at Giants Ridge and when did it open?
The Legend was designed by architect Jeffrey Brauer and opened in 1997 at the Giants Ridge resort in Biwabik on northern Minnesota's Iron Range.
What is the par and length of The Legend?
The Legend plays as a par 72 of about 6,930 yards from the back tees, routed through forest and along the shores of Sabin and Wynne lakes.
Is The Legend or The Quarry the better course at Giants Ridge?
Both rank among the best public courses in Minnesota. The Legend is the original 1997 course, scenic and forested by the lakes; The Quarry, opened in 2003 on former mine land, is the rugged, dramatic sibling. Most visitors play both on a Giants Ridge trip.
Can visitors play The Legend at Giants Ridge?
Yes. The Legend is a public resort course with stay and play packages alongside The Quarry. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $70 to $125 depending on season and day; always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.