To enhance the golfing experience of its guests, The Meadows at Mystic Lake has redesigned Hole #3, which now includes a water feature. The redesign brings additional challenge and drama to the highly regarded golf hole, nicknamed “Prairie,” with its new water feature.
With the long dogleg left leading to a green that is now surrounded by water, Prairie is nearly impossible to negotiate in two shots. A basswood tree just left of the green frames the area. A strategic style of play from tee to the large island green on the hole is required. Like most of the par fives at The Meadows, Hole #3 will require three quality shots to get on the green in regulation.
The improvements include:
A new 6,500 square foot bentgrass green that is shaped by the surrounding landforms
Limestone rock retaining walls that define the front, right, and backsides of the green
A completely reshaped pond with a new re-circulating water feature that continues The Meadows signature feature of active water throughout the golf course.
Walking bridge
A re-aligned bentgrass fairway that flows along three ponds that define the left side of the golf hole
Naturalized fescue rough surrounds and native prairie grasses that serve as the backdrop to the golf hole
“The improvements on Hole #3 continue the goal that the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has established of making The Meadows at Mystic Lake one of the top golf courses in the country. The willingness to constantly improve the playing challenge with new design features while providing superior playing conditions and great customer service has made The Meadows one of the best golf courses in the state of Minnesota,” said Golf Course Architect Paul Miller who redesigned the hole. Miller was part of the firm Gill Miller Inc. with Garrett Gill which designed The Meadows at Mystic Lake when the course first opened in 2005. Construction on the re-design was done by Meadows staff.
As The Meadows at Mystic Lake matures into one of the Midwest’s best golf courses, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community continues to look for ways to enhance the course by adding amenities that complement both the course and the cultural traditions of the Dakota people. Holes are named after animals and themes important to the Dakota, and prairie plantings make up the rough. The importance of caring for the environment is typified in a tree inventory in place to track the health of each large tree on the golf course. In addition, water conservation practices are utilized with the use of reclaimed water for irrigation purposes.
