The Bois Fort Band of Chippewa had established a casino near Tower, MN and were aware of the success of Giant’s Ridge Legend Course, and the Quarry, then under construction.  They selected Jeffrey D Brauer to design their new course – to be called Wilderness, after their marketing theme of bring the “Wild to the Wilderness” with one design stipulation – they thought the Legend was too easy, and the Quarry too hard, and asked for a course that split the difference right down the middle.  We think we did that. 

The course weaves through beautiful woodlands, and skirts Lake Vermillion, featured on the 13th hole.  It also features many solid rock cliffs, some blasted away for golf, which set it apart from the other courses. 

The course starts with a double fairway, 600 yard par 5, giving golfers a taste of the mammoth sense of scale they will soon see.  The second uses a smooth rock outcrop as part of its cart path, and the 4th is another double fairway, one atop and one below a sheer rock outcropping.  The 5th used a clearing notch to set up the tee shot, while the green features a unique, deep swale running through the green. 

On the back nine, the short 12th, with its “T” shaped green and difficult pin position is a highlight, but followed up with the dramatic “Cape Hole” 13th, and the equally dramatic back to back par 5 holes at 15 and 16, before finishing with a strong par 4 below the clubhouse.