Links of North Dakota

The Links of North Dakota is where the xenophobes go to experience the thrill of British and Irish links golf. The course is routed across sandy ground on Lake Sakakawea – this huge body of water was created when part of the Missouri River was dammed. The Links of North Dakota truly represents an authentic flavour of links-like golf in the US homeland.

Stephen Kay designed the course and it turned into a labour love, which came to a near perfect conclusion thanks to expert shaper Marvin Schlaugh. Writing in the excellent Secrets of the Great Golf Course Architects by Michael Patrick Shiels, Stephen Kay commented, “The topography was something you’d see in Ireland; sandy soil all over the site, several feet deep without a rock in it! The entire state of North Dakota is clay and horrible soil – except for this one little 250-acre hill with sandy loam soil. It was perfect for a golf course… I looked around and realised that the Good Lord was about to let me build my first Top 100 golf course.”

Completing the authenticity, the Links of North Dakota is completely devoid of water but plenty of bunkers, undulating fairways and fickle winds will interfere with proceedings. Five tee boxes provide plenty of options for golfers of all abilities so playing the Links of North Dakota need not be a torrid experience.

“The entire construction process, for eighteen holes, required us to move only 7,000 yards of dirt.” Said Kay. But most importantly for the world of golf, the Links of North Dakota is open to visiting golfers for a relatively modest green fee of around 60 bucks.