Edinburgh USA - Minnesota - USA

Edinburgh USA, located in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, is a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design that is most known for three things: first, the LPGA tournament it hosted during the 1990s; secondly, the massive double green shared between the ninth and 18th holes; and third, the waterlogged par four 17th. Edinburgh is a complete misnomer, for this is much more Minnesota parkland than Scottish links. The course’s name choice was indeed really, really odd, but it shouldn’t change how view the layout. The par four fifth is a fantastic short hole with a water hazard that collects anything right and five bunkers around the green to protect par; it was unquestionably my favorite on the front nine. The aforementioned penultimate hole is one of Minnesota’s best par fours and asks for a forced carry on both shots to the green. The 17th will be the one you’ll recall long after you’ve completed a loop here. As for the negatives, a chunk of the course is benign, flat, and relatively uninteresting; take a look at the stretch of 13 through 16 and you’ll know what I mean. Overall, the back nine is the superior of the two, with 12, 17, and 18 playing as the best of the best. I’d be fine with putting Edinburgh USA solidly in the second tier of Minneapolis-St. Paul public golf courses, somewhere around my fifth favorite. There are enough of the cool features like the double green and the 17th to recommend Edinburgh USA.

The interesting part about golf in Minnesota rests with a golf citizenry fully involved with the sport. Although the season is short the percentage of golfers from among the total population of the State is the highest of any in the USA.

The diversity of the golf is also at a high level -- specifically when realizing the roots of the property is a municipally-owned layout.

For some odd reason I can't explain why Edinburgh USA doesn't get more attention.

The RTJ, Jr. layout is superbly routed because of a tough land site. In addition, the course has hosted to a range of events over the years and has shown itself quite well. The recent updating has also been a real plus.

To the architect's considerable credit, the routing navigates around housing and the golf experience is not compromised.

Water penalty areas have to be accounted for when playing but the architect smartly provides different options for different skill levels. The key when playing is realizing the famed movie admonition from Clint Eastwood of "Dirty Harry" fame -- 'a man's got to know his limitations."

Edinburgh USA also has 70 bunkers -- well-placed and needing to be accounted for when playing.

You see this early on at the brilliant par-4 3rd. The landing area pinched -- water penalty area on the right and bunkers hugging tightly to the left. The approach is also tested thoroughly. And RTJ, Jr. added an array of engaging greens that mandate careful attention.

The par-5 4th that follows is also testing and fun. Here the drive must account for a tapered fairway -- the longer you opt to go the more precise the execution must be. Strong players who achieve the optimum tee shot can go for the green but there's no automatic birdie if you fail to hit the correct shot.

The rest of the outward side continues the momentum and finishes with a fine par-5.

The inward side is even better. The routing moves in different directions throughout and the test is balanced with shotmaking challenges that mandate length and married to accuracy. One without the other is not a winning strategy.

The closing stretch ends on a high note with the penultimate hole -- a 397-yard par-4 -- flanked by water on the tee shot and then providing for a green fronted by the same penalty area with an array of bunkers waiting for the slightest pulled / pushed approach.

The ending par-4 18th at 454 turns left in the drive zone and features a shared green with the 9th. The range of pin locations is numerous and being able to gauge matters with clear purpose can be difficult.

Often times, when one encounters a course with five par-5 and five par-3 holes - the wherewithal for diverse holes at a high level can prove daunting. That's not the case here. Candidly, if the facility wanted to reduce par of two of the five par holes and play the course as a par-70 that's clearly an option.

Turf conditions have always been very good on the various visits I've made over the years. Those in the greater Minneapolis area should certainly see for themselves. I know the name may be off-putting for some, but credit RTJ, Jr., his team and the facility's management for a layout that stirs the blood at various moments and instills a clear desire to do it again once the round concludes. That's the clear mark of a course of distinction.

M. James Ward