What does your dream wedding look like? Is it all about the dress, the guests, the flowers or the cake? Everybody's vision is different, but if the actual size of your reception is not part of that vision, you may want to consider limiting the guest list – even if you keep the same budget. Why? Before you start inviting Aunt Wanda, Ed from Accounting, and your best friend middle school (who you haven't seen in years), you may want to consider the advantages of keeping the guest list under 200. Here are five benefits of a more intimate wedding.

Although most golfers believe in the adage that "you drive for show and you putt for dough," North Oaks member Erik Rasmussen made a lot of hay with his driver this season. He didn't make any money (at least directly), but he did something almost as valuable for a guy who plays four or five times a week. Erik slashed five strokes off his handicap this summer, mostly by working on his driver.

Director of Instruction Grant Shafranski worked with him to move the ball up in his stance and swing up on the ball to take advantage of the driver's technology. The results are 15 extra yards on his drives and a handicap that dipped from +10 at the start of the season to +5 by the end of August.

"It was eight months of work to get there," he says, "but I'm a better player because I'm hitting it straighter than I did before, but I'm also 15 yards longer." 

That's a club-and-a-half or a two-club difference on approach shots, which makes a huge impact on his game.

"If you think about your misses with a nine-iron instead of a seven-iron or a seven-iron instead of a five-iron, you understand," Erik says. "It's just that much easier because I'm that much closer."

If Marci Marrone has learned anything about golf this summer it's that a) you don't have to be a scratch golfer to enjoy yourself on the course, and b) all golf teachers are not created equal. In fact, that's the reason she's learned a lot about golf this summer!

After 24 years as a social member, Marci decided to give golf a try. And when Marci tries something, she really tries it, so she signed up for the two-month trial golf membership, attended a bunch of Ladies Clinics, and scheduled ten private lessons with Director of Instruction Grant Shafranski. 

"My friends all said, 'that's a lifetime of lessons,' but I really knew nothing about golf, and getting the trial membership inspired me to really try to do it right. Ten lessons taught me what I needed to know." 

She's also played about 15 times so far this summer, mostly with boyfriend Nick Alfano. And the results are both a happy golfer and a more engaged member.  

"I have really just enjoyed the whole thing," she says. "I spent more time in the club this year than I have in the past 24 years. 

When most people think about North Oaks Golf Club, the first thing that comes to mind is the golf. But Scott and Stephanie Paul have a different reaction. They think about all the great experiences their young children are having.

Frankly, they also think about the golf, but with three kids under 7, they were too busy to play much golf this summer, so they decided to start with a social membership. “We’ll probably look into a golf membership next year,” Stephanie explains, "but this was such a good decision for us and the boys and the whole family. All the activities have been wonderful for the kids, so it's just been great."

In fact, in their first half-year as members, the family has already discovered a number of must-do kids activities, turned the club into an extra place for family fun, and oldest son Archie even found the hidden prize at the club's annual winter medallion hunt – which he traded in for an epic Nerf Wars birthday party. "The boys just love it," Stephanie says, "and they haven't even gotten to go to the Halloween party or Christmas events yet."

If you love golf and you value the environment, there are few jobs better than Golf Course Superintendent at North Oaks Golf Club. "Look, I've got the greatest job ever," says Brian Boll, who holds that title. "My office is unbelievable!"

That office is more than the golf course. It's all 167 acres that were once part of the James J. Hill Preserve, and Boll is passionate about maintaining them for a club that was founded on a commitment to protect their natural land, water, and wildlife for generations to come.

"North Oaks is unique because we are part of this tremendous flyway and waterway that includes Pleasant Lake," he says. "It's so cool seeing the different wildlife come through this travel way in different parts of the year."

And although some might expect that to require a balancing act between golf course management and his environmental responsibilities, Boll and the NOGC leadership feel they go hand-in-hand.

The wedding is approaching and you are the maid-of-honor – or bridesmaid, or mother-of-the-bride, etc. – and now it’s time to throw a bridal shower. Congratulations, that's a wonderful responsibility. But it can also be a lot of work – and stress!  

Bridal showers come in all shapes and sizes these days. From a casual gathering of close friends to a large traditional get-together with extended family, friends, and neighbors. Regardless of size and style, there’s one sure way to save yourself some party planning stress: book a venue!

With so many other things to think about, like guest list, games, party theme, invitations, and more, consider the benefits of hosting the shower at a venue like North Oaks Golf Club. 

Golf can be intimidating. That's not a secret. Heck, the rules and etiquette would be enough to scare away some folks, even if it wasn't so hard to hit the ball hard and on-target. 

In fact, just going out on the course can be more daunting for some beginners than playing the 18th at Augusta would be for a pro. Yet it doesn't have to be that way. You should be able to learn the basics and be able to go out on a course and have some fun. And you can!

Inspired by the popular Couch to 5K (C25K) program, which lays out a simple 9-step training plan to turn a couch potato into a 5k runner, we've decided to lay out some similar steps for a beginning golfer. 

It's your big day! You want to make your wedding wonderful and memorable, so you searched through all the bridal magazines and found some of the biggest trends. But the problem with trends is that they can fade almost as quickly as a week-old wedding bouquet. For example, candy bars were hot – until they weren't. 

Looking for ways to socialize with other parents or couples? Would you like to spend time with people beyond your partner, parents, kids, colleagues, and a few close friends? No need to worry! You're in the same boat as most responsible and busy adults. If you're hankering for some adult socialization or creating new connections for your kids, a private club community may be the perfect answer. Not only are there activities for you and your partner, but your kids have plenty to do, too.

Golf clubs provide a unique opportunity to meet people who live in your community and enjoy the same types of activities. Golfers get a chance to meet other golfers through tournaments and leagues. Adults can socialize at special dinners and events. Families with children can meet other families with children at activities designed specifically for kids. And the kids can make new friends at golf or tennis lessons. The club is a venue where friendships can grow and last a lifetime. The built-in activities, dining options, and events make going out and  socializing a breeze.

If you love golf, you probably understand the most obvious benefits of belonging to a private club. Who wouldn't want to hone their game on a scenic course like North Oaks, work with our excellent instructors, and meet other people who love the game as much as you do? Throw in a place for family gatherings and the opportunity to host friends and business associates at the club, and you understand why private golf clubs are so popular.  

But there are also some hidden perks to private golf club membership that aren't quite as well known. The perks that can best be described as "you've got a guy for golf."

What do we mean? It seems like everybody has at least one friend who has "a guy" for everything. An insider who has all the connections. Suits? He's got a guy. Hookups for tickets? He's got a guy. A great mechanic? He's got a guy. And when you belong to a private golf club, it feels like you've got a guy. Or, more exactly, multiple guys for golf.