l
DESTINATIONS
OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
x
FALL 2018
x
obsports.com
I
t's in the land of 10,000 lakes, so it's
no surprise that water plays a big
factor in making Somerby Golf Club
one of the premier private golf clubs
in the Upper Midwest. From the me-
andering creek to the grassy marshlands
that provide natural ambiance, Somerby is
an oasis in more ways than one.
Located just outside Rochester, Min-
nesota, the third-largest city in the state,
the native landscape the course is situated
on makes it one of the most visually strik-
ing layouts in the region. Designed by
John Fought and Tom Lehman, it is seam-
lessly integrated into the surrounding land
that "echos the grace and essence of golf's
illustrious Golden Age," said the club's
Director of Membership, Christi Jorde.
The wetland areas are perfectly blended
with holes that play along several lakes
and ponds. And though water does come
into play often on the 7,209-yard track,
those hazards are mitigated in part by
wide, generous fairways that make the
course eminently playable.
"While the slope and ratings may seem
daunting, the course is fair," Jorde said.
"By offering golfers a variety of shot op-
tions, the course is flexible enough for the
novice, yet provides enough strategically
placed hazards to challenge even the most
accomplished golfers."
Those hazards include shimmering
ponds and lakes, fescue-covered hillocks
and flourishing wetlands, with the course
designed to preserve them in order to sus-
tain the native environment.
Along with its natural splendor, the lay-
out features several memorable holes.
Among them are the stunning and testy
par-4 10th that plays downhill away from
the clubhouse, the signature 14th that gen-
tly guides players toward a menacing
water feature protecting an island green,
and the daunting 454-yard, par-4 16th
hole, which challenges golfers with vary-
ing wind directions.
"The hole plays very long," Jorde said,
"leaving a lengthy second shot into a two-
tiered green with the potential for fun and
difficult pin positions."
In addition to the impeccable golf
course, Somerby offers a beautifully de-
signed 35,000-square-foot clubhouse that
resembles a traditional large estate home
that ranks among "the most spectacular
new golf and social activity centers in the
area," Jorde said.
HOT
LINKS
›› TAKE a tour of
Somerby Golf Club.
................................................
›› CHECK OUT video
of the golf course.
................................................
›› DISCOVER more
about the property.
................................................
›› INQUIRE about
memberships.
SCROLL through the slideshow to view
more photos from Somerby Golf Club.
........................................................................
<<
SOMERBY GOLF CLUB
BYRON, MINNESOTA
