The Little Darling Par 3 course is situated on an incredible piece of property with spectacular views, gentle rolling hills and valleys, mature trees, and a plethora of beautiful native grass. The Little Darling course was designed and built to appeal to a wide variety of golfers. Regardless of your age or skill level, The Little Darling will provide an experience you will not soon forget. Each of the nine par 3 holes are uniquely designed and include multiple teeing grounds to offer a wide variety of shots for everyone – young and old, skilled golfer or the beginner. The vistas, along with the amazing and picturesque settings, will enhance your senses and help you forget, if only for a while, the cares of the outside world. We hope you enjoy your round on The Little Darling!

HOLE # 1

The “State”ment

As you gaze down the 1^st hole prior to your opening tee shot on The Little Darling par 3 course, you will quickly realize you are about to enjoy an amazing experience on a very special venue!  This scenic starting hole, with multiple sets of tees, varies from a 100 to 155-yard downhill par 3 guarded by grass bunkers and a wetland on the right along with beautiful trees, foliage, and a preserve on the left.  A generous fairway (a common theme on The Little Darling Course) leading to the green provides a nice option for the youngsters or lesser skilled golfers to run their golf ball to the green for a chance at a birdie on the starting hole.  The spectacular starting hole has a green shaped like the great state of Minnesota which is visible from the 1^st tee, the 9^th green and the future “Little Darling Lookout” on the 2^nd level of the Junior Learning Center.  The Minnesota green is yet another unique feature on a golf course that is destined to become one of the premiere par 3 courses in the country!  

HOLE # 2

The Bowl

The Bowl is a fitting name for the 2^nd hole as you observe the stunning green complex, surrounded by a ridge, giving it the appearance of its namesake.  The back tee plays slightly uphill at 165 yards across the wetlands to a large green with plenty of room for errant shots.  The Bowl will help deflect many of the less than perfect shots towards the green making it an extremely fun and entertaining hole to play early in your round.  There is a forward tee available via a short uphill ride or walk towards a mature group of trees.  The forward tee provides an easier option and gives golfers the opportunity to play the 2^nd hole at 100 to 120 yards, with no forced carry, making it a friendly and comfortable hole for everyone.  

HOLE # 3

The Vista

The 3^rd hole is an incredible looking par 3 facing to the west.  It measures from 175 to 200 yards from the back tees with views and ground contours that are magnificent.  A set of mid-range tees provides a shot of 130 – 145 yards and the front tees measure a more manageable 80 to 100 yards giving golfers the choice to play a less demanding hole.  The 3^rd green is large and measures some 9000 square feet!  It sits diagonally to the tee and is protected by grass bunkers on the left and a slight ridge on the left side of the green.  The 50+ yard long green provides a wide variety of pin placements that will easily change the appearance and challenge of this scenic hole.   As you observe the beautiful views from every direction, you will quickly realize The Little Darling Par 3 course is something very special indeed.

HOLE # 4

The Tabletop

The 4^th hole is a short, but gorgeous, uphill par 3 playing from 100 to 160 yards to a generous green perched on the top of a hill, giving it the appearance of a tabletop.  With grass bunkers to the left of the green and mounding to the right and back, the 4^th hole will provide plenty of birdie opportunities.  As you look around while on the 4^th green, you can easily see much of The Little Darling course with its amazing natural topography.  You won’t feel like you’re in the city as you take in the wonderful sights in all directions.  No matter your score, the natural characteristics of this remarkable property will generate a calmness and a connection with mother nature that will be rare indeed.

HOLE # 5

The Sumac

The 5^th hole takes you down the south side of the property with the teeing ground up against a long row of sumac – a flowering plant that is extremely colorful in the fall.  The slightly uphill par 3 plays from 100 to 150 yards and is a real beauty.  With two strategically placed waste bunkers in the wide fairway , this picturesque par 3 is visually more intimidating than it actually plays.  There is a generous opening at the front of the green, that will accept a variety of shots, giving players a terrific opportunity to score birdies and pars.  A beautiful sand bunker with native grass on the back ridge protects the left side of the green.  As you arrive on the 5^th green and look to the north, you get a bird’s eye view of the magnificent 3^rd and 7^th hole green complexes.  As you complete the 5^th hole on The Little Darling course you now realize how special this parcel of land is for this remarkable par 3 course.  It feels like a little slice of heaven!

HOLE # 6

The Rim

As you make the short walk or ride from the 5^th green to the 6^th tee, you will quickly become enamored with the attractiveness of what may well be a signature hole on The Little Darling course.  From an elevated back tee, you will play the 6^th hole at approximately 135 yards to a wide green and surround sitting on the top of the property.  Native grass strategically placed at the back of the green gives this green complex a beautiful and unique view from both sets of tees.    The large valley, wetland, and massive grass bunkers in front of the green gives the hole a dramatic appearance and will make it look much more difficult that it actually is.  A well-placed shot to this hole will provide another opportunity to make a birdie or par.  The forward tee is located down the hill to the west and presents a less challenging shot of 80 to 90 yards with plenty of fairway to run the ball up to the green.  As you make your way to the green complex and look back to the east, you will feel like you are standing on top of the world.  It is a splendid hole with terrific views wherever you turn.  

HOLE # 7

The Hollow

The 7^th hole will be the favorite of many.  The breathtaking 90 to 130-yard downhill hole is as good as it gets.  Framed by trees to the left and rear of the green, a small pond with large rocks embedded in the bank to the right, and plenty of native grass in full view, you will hit your tee shot to a deep, but narrow, green.   The bluegrass covered banks to the left and rear of the green will deflect an errant shot towards the pin making it an extremely fun and exciting hole for everyone.  With much of the Little Darling course now in full view from this elevated teeing ground, you will want to take in the compelling beauty of the property’s natural contours, various trees and grasses, and its beautiful wetlands.  Should you make birdie on the 7^th hole, you will have the opportunity to ring the “Birdie Bell” at the back of the green alerting everyone on the course that another under par score has been achieved on this spectacular hole.  After completing the 7^th hole, you will stroll up the hill to the 8^th tee via one of the prettiest walks on the course.  Through trees and plenty of native grass, you will now get the feeling (if you don’t already have it) that you are playing a very special and unique par 3 course.  Any stress and worldly cares you may have had when teeing off on The Little Darling course have now evaporated as you take in the splendid vistas in every direction. 

HOLE # 8

The Dunes

This beautiful, and exceptional, par 3 will let you catch your breath as you turn back to the clubhouse and begin contemplating your upcoming fun times on the Little Darling Lookout.  With multiple teeing grounds that vary from 100 to 200 yards, the 8^th hole provides a great opportunity to put your shot in close and make birdie before heading to the home hole.  As you peer at the 8^th green, with the 9^th hole and Little Darling Learning Center and Clubhouse in the background, you will now realize what an extraordinary experience this venue is for all who play it.  The spectacular dunes that border each side of the 8^th fairway, along with the striking waste bunker framing the left side, give the hole a noteworthy visual appearance.   Shaping your tee shot through, or over, the dunes to the 8^th green will be both fun and scenic.   Your arrival to the 8^th green will give you yet another breathtaking set of views.  It won’t be easy to keep your concentration as you line up your short putt for birdie!

HOLE # 9

The Finisher

The Little Darling home hole is a great way to finish your round on this amazing par 3 course.  Most of the play will be from the teeing ground located to the northeast of the 8^th green.  A large pond is in full view to the right of the hole along with a grove of trees and a variety of native grass that is prevalent on the property.  From 4 different sets of teeing grounds, the finishing hole will play from 100 to 210 yards to another generous green complex.  With your friends and family watching from the Little Darling Lookout, you are poised to bring them to their feet with a magnificent shot to finish your round.  For the bravehearted golfers, there 2 sets of back tees – one to the north of 8 green and one down the hill to the south of the 8^th green.  From the bottom of the valley, you look right back at the clubhouse and are faced with an uphill tee shot over the pond, native grass, and a ridge with distinctive shapes to a beautiful green complex.  A birdie here gets you bragging rights and, most likely, a win with your friends.  Imagine the fun as you finish your round and meet everyone on the Little Darling Lookout for a drink and snack to share some of your golf stories.  As you complete your round on The Little Darling course, you are already planning your next visit to this outstanding par 3 venue.  You won’t ever tire of playing The Little Darling with family and friends.  And if you weren’t completely happy with your round of golf today, you are only a short walk away from our world class practice facility where you can hone your skills and prepare for the next big game.  It doesn’t get any better than this!