Tom Vardon

Paul Coates

Minnesota

Harry Vardon may have been one of the most celebrated golfers during the early 20th Century, however his brother Tom was no slouch, especially in his adopted homeland of Minnesota. The younger Vardon served as head professional at the White Bear Yacht Club and designed more than 40 courses around the state, including the original nine at the Stillwater Country Club.

The club eventually hired another Minnesota neighbor, Paul Coates, to construct another nine holes, as well as reconfigure the existing nine in order to produce the optimal 18-hole route. The course plays to exactly 6,800 yards from its back tees and, although the terrain is never too wild, players can see how the land falls off to the east of the course as it runs down toward the St. Croix River, which serves as the border with Wisconsin.

Perhaps Vardon learned something from his time at White Bear: The No. 11 par five sits on topography that is similarly crumpled topography like that course’s infamous terrain. At just 493 yards from the back tees, it is certainly reachable in terms of distance, but whether the land will gift you the right bounce is another question entirely.

Stillwater Country Club

White Bear Yacht Club

North America

The original 9-hole layout at Stillwater Country Club was laid out by Tom Vardon, the golf professional at White Bear Yacht Club, who was the brother of the famous Harry Vardon. Architect Paul Coates added another nine in the late 1950s.