What a wonderful time to be a part of North Oaks Golf Club. The visionary plan created by members in 2016, to chart the future of our Club, has already paid off with stunning updates to the clubhouse and patio area. The new dining and entertainment spaces are a hit with members, but now the real fun is about to begin.
In the years to come, the addition of family-friendly amenities will help elevate the membership experience and ensure we remain a premier Club in the Twin Cities for decades to come.Lehman Master Plan 2.0
As we grow to please new families, we know our golf course must remain a destination for anyone with a passion for the game. It is the heart of our community. To achieve this, we engaged golf legend and Minnesota native Tom Lehman to direct a major overhaul. The goal is to polish our gem of a course and become even better stewards of the precious land North Oaks Golf Club inhabits.
The upgrades over the next three years that the Lehman Design Group will lead include:
- Adding 300 yards to the course from the furthest tees
- Adding additional forward tees to accommodate new players of all levels
- Making the course par 71 from all tees
- Squaring tee boxes
- Redefining grass lines
- Creating aesthetic enhancements
Starting in 2023, members will be able to sharpen their short games in the new “Wedge World” practice area near the clubhouse. Along with a beautiful putting surface, it will include two greenside bunkers and plenty of chipping space.
Stewards for the Future
A sensor-driven irrigation system to reduce water usage and maintain healthy playing surfaces all season long is being added to the course. Bunker renovations, which will reduce overall bunkers by 14% and keep the course fun and challenging for today’s standards, are slated for 2025. In 2026, a new Turf Maintenance Facility will open to provide our grounds crew with the space and resources they need to deliver world-class playing conditions every day.
“Our goal was to rekindle the strategy as it was originally intended,” says Lehman. “At North Oaks Golf Club, I want golfers to experience the Stanley Thompson legacy. It’s a fun course, it’s beautiful, and it challenges you.”
Fun For All
As exciting as it will be to see the course beautified for the next generation of golfers, it is the amenities and Club extras in consideration that really has members buzzing.
“Our members want the Club to be a place of fun and relaxation for everyone,” says Ben Peltier, North Oaks Golf Club Board Chair. “We are dedicated to growing and adapting and offering members the activities they want the most. Members are driving this plan forward.”
Part of the recent work at North Oaks was connecting additional acreage to the city sewer lines. This essential and forward-thinking approach means more buildings and amenities will be possible in the future.
Members will play an important role in selecting which of these projects moves forward. We recognize the ever-changing needs of members as they search for more ways to enjoy their Club experience. The 10-year vision plan we put forth in 2016 provides a roadmap that we trust will suit the varying interests of our membership.
