Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2020 - 51

LET US HELP YOU FIND A COURSE:
You can search by region, city, zip code and more at mngolf.org/courses.
The courses listed herein are member clubs of the MGA.
Their support through club and associate (individual)
membership is vital to the MGA mission to uphold and
promote the game of golf and its values for all golfers in
Minnesota.
A prime example of where golfers' interests and the general
public's greater good intersect is the Pebble Creek Golf
Club. The 27-hole municipal facility located in Becker was
recently named the 2019 MGA Member Club of the Year.
Municipal golf has long been a target of disgruntled citizenry
who object to their property taxes supporting what
they perceive to be an elitist pastime. Yet as Bill Morgan, staff
writer for the Becker Citizen-Tribune, so aptly illustrated in a
newspaper column (April 23, 2016), Pebble Creek is a " good
municipal business " that affords benefi ts to the larger community
through its support of high school athletics (cross
country and golf teams), charitable fund raising and basic
goodwill. All at the expense of $4 to $9 a year for the average
homeowner, which is well below other municipally managed
community services such as parks and recreation.
Operated by the City of Becker, the original 18-hole golf
course opened in 1987 and was created by golf architect Don
Herfort. Known as the " Red-White " course, the championship
18 holes play from 5,152 to 6,872 yards. An additional
nine holes designed by Williams, Gill and Associates opened
in 1995. It was originally called the Blue Course, but was
later rebranded as an entry-level course and renamed the
Local 9 (it plays from 2,465 to 2,829 yards). The clubhouse
includes a porch and banquet area accommodating about
250 people, and a driving range with a short-game area. In
2012, the city commissioned a master plan which included
course improvements like bunker renovations, tree removal
for better turf conditions, a cart path, landscaping improvements
and correction for drainage issues. Much of the master
plan work was completed in 2019.
Pebble Creek has hosted numerous MGA Senior Tour and
amateur championships. Its most recent was the 2019 MGA
Players' Championship, won by Andrew Israelson. To reach
the fi nal match, Israelson-a senior at North Dakota State-
needed four birdies on the back nine to defeat 66-year-old
local favorite, Steve Whittaker. The course hosts the annual
MSHSL Class A Boys' and Girls' State Tournaments, the
MIAC and UMAC championships, and is a frequent site for
USGA local and sectional qualifi ers.
Along with the staff at the MGA, I hope you fi nd the
2020 Golf Course Directory a valuable tool this golf season.
Inside the following pages you'll fi nd helpful golf facility
information such as names, phone numbers, green and
guest fees, directions, policies and of course, offi cial USGA
Handicap System Course and Slope ratings. You will also
fi nd entertaining and informative news items highlighting
Pebble Creek Golf Club's history and championships.
I know you'll fi nd the directory to be a trusted resource
for your golf library. The listings are subject to change-
calling ahead is always advisable. -W.P. Ryan, editor
mngolf.org
Directory 2020 MINNESOTAGOLFER
51
PHOTO BY PETER WONG
http://www.mngolf.org/courses http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Directory 2020

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