The Quarry at Giants Ridge
On Minnesota's Iron Range, the Quarry at Giants Ridge turns a former mining landscape into one of the finest public courses in the upper Midwest. Jeffrey Brauer's 2003 design routes a par 72 across red rock, birch forest and reclaimed pit land.
Photo: Jared Kolle via Google.
The verdict
The Quarry at Giants Ridge is the standout of a celebrated public resort on Minnesota's Iron Range, a Jeffrey D. Brauer design that opened in 2003 north of Duluth in Biwabik. Brauer routed it across a reclaimed mining landscape, using exposed red rock, abandoned pits and dense birch and pine to create a course of real drama and variety. It plays as a par 72 of about 7,201 yards and has been a fixture in rankings of the best courses you can play in the state.
Unlike the private clubs of the Twin Cities, the Quarry welcomes the traveling golfer, which makes it one of the most accessible great experiences in the region. The resort pairs it with the well regarded Legend course, so a golf trip to the Iron Range can stand on two strong layouts plus lodging and the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota. For value, scenery and design quality on land few would imagine could hold golf, the Quarry is a rare find.
The Quarry at Giants Ridge at a glance
- Opened
- 2003
- Designer
- Jeffrey D. Brauer
- Type
- Resort, reclaimed mine land
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,201 yds
- Green fee
- Public resort, indicative
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases. The Quarry was designed by Jeffrey D. Brauer and opened in 2003, a par 72 of about 7,201 yards at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minnesota. It is a public resort course; green fees vary by season and package and are indicative for 2026, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Quarry earns its name on the back nine, where the routing plunges into a former mine and plays among red rock walls, deep cuts and water that fills the old pits. Brauer used the raw industrial scarring as a design asset, framing dramatic forced carries and bold risk and reward decisions against a backdrop unlike anything else in Minnesota golf. The front nine eases the player in through birch lined corridors before the land turns severe.
Variety is the strength. The par 5s offer genuine reachable temptation against danger, the par 3s play over rock and water at several lengths, and the greens are large and contoured to demand commitment on the approach. From the back tees at over 7,200 yards it is a stern test; from the forward tees it remains playable and thrilling for the resort golfer, which is the balance the best public courses strike.
What visitors remember is the spectacle. The contrast of green fairways against exposed red rock, the seclusion of the northern forest and the sense of golf reclaiming an industrial past make the Quarry a course you photograph as much as you play. It is the reason a golf trip to the Iron Range is worth the drive north.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public resort course at Giants Ridge; open to visitors and resort guests |
| Green fee | Varies by season and stay and play package; indicative for the 2026 season |
| Booking | Tee times bookable through the resort; book ahead for peak summer weekends |
| On the day | Carts available and recommended for the terrain; resort dress code; pair with the Legend course |
| Getting there | Biwabik on the Iron Range, about an hour north of Duluth and roughly three hours from Minneapolis |
| Best months | June through September, the heart of the short, scenic northern Minnesota golf season |
Green fees and access verified June 2026; rates vary by season and package, so always confirm directly with the resort before booking. The Quarry is public and bookable, which makes it one of the most accessible great courses in the region.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is Giants Ridge itself, where the resort's lodging puts the Quarry and the Legend course on your doorstep along with the lakes, trails and forest of the Iron Range. Staying on site makes the most of the short northern golf season and the easy pairing of two strong layouts over a couple of days.
For a broader trip, Duluth, about an hour south on Lake Superior, offers a wider choice of hotels and dining and a scenic drive up to the courses. It is an ideal region to build a northern Minnesota golf escape around, pairing the Quarry with the Legend and the outdoors of the Range. We can build the lodging and the routing around the rounds you want to play.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Giants Ridge and the Iron Range.
Build a northern Minnesota golf trip
We pair the Quarry at Giants Ridge with the Legend course and the best of the Iron Range, and book the lodging and transfers around your rounds. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Quarry at Giants Ridge questions
Who designed the Quarry at Giants Ridge and when did it open?
The Quarry was designed by Jeffrey D. Brauer and opened in 2003 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, Minnesota, built across a reclaimed mining landscape on the Iron Range.
What is the par and length of the Quarry?
The Quarry is a par 72 that stretches to about 7,201 yards from the back tees, with a dramatic back nine routed through a former mine pit.
Can visitors play the Quarry at Giants Ridge?
Yes. The Quarry is a public resort course, open to visitors and resort guests, and is bookable through Giants Ridge, often as part of a stay and play package.
Where is Giants Ridge and when is the best time to play?
Giants Ridge is in Biwabik on Minnesota's Iron Range, about an hour north of Duluth. The season runs from June through September, the heart of the northern Minnesota summer.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access and seasonal notes verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.