Game On

Game On

Has weather scotched your business golf outing? Challenge your clients in a different landscape.

Bunker Indoor Golf Center

So what if it’s raining at Hazeltine? Within the walls of this bunker-like building, you can play Torrey Pines, Sea Island, Pebble Beach and other world-class courses, complete with sunshine, crashing waves, fairway elevation and other vivid details on state-of-the art Full Swing golf simulators. Clients who didn’t get the memo about packing their golf shoes and clubs will do just fine with street shoes and rental clubs. Afterward, head five miles west to Victor’s on Water in Excelsior for a pint of locally sourced Big Island Blond Ale from Excelsior Brewing and a Keith Richards pizza strewn with sausage, burnt onions and smoked fontina. Bunker Indoor Golf, 14900 Hwy. 7, Mtka., 952-935-4110, bunkerindoor.com; Victor’s on Water, 205 Water St., Excelsior, 952-474-8879, victorsonwaterstreet.com

 

Golf Zone

For an “only in Minnesota” experience, take the city out of your clients with a visit to Golf Zone in Chaska. Located five miles south of Paisley Park, Golf Zone used to be called Rain, Snow or Shine for good reason. In any weather, you and your clients can occupy one of 40 heated stalls and hit balls into the woods until the cows come home. Once the bucket of balls is empty, it’s a three-minute drive to the legendary Lions Tap for a mug of draft beer, a bacon cheeseburger with Lions Tap signature seasoning, and fries. Golf Zone, 825 Flying Cloud Drive, Chaska, 952-445-1500, yourgolfzone.com; Lions Tap, 16180 Flying Cloud Dr., Eden Prairie, 952-934-5299, lionstap.com

 

Inside Edge Golf

For clients who’ve dreamed of playing the Old Course at St. Andrews—where golf was first played six centuries ago—an hour at Inside Edge is the next best thing. With eight aboutGolf PGA Tour simulators, including a three-screen Sim Surround, players can analyze and improve their ball spin rate, club-head movement and shot trajectory on more than 50 courses in Scotland, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and other exotic destinations. Once you’ve perfected your swing, retire to nearby Tavern 4 & 5, the cozy gastropub at the nexus of Highways 4 and 5. Order a round of Macallan 12 and connoisseur-quality fish and chips made with walleye dipped in craft-beer batter. Inside Edge Golf, 16502 W. 78th St., Eden Prairie, 952-937-6251, insideedgegolf.com; Tavern 4 & 5, 16396 Wagner Way, Eden Prairie, 952-934-4545, tavern4and5.com

 

Goodrich Golf Dome

When lightning is in the forecast, don’t risk incinerating your best account. Instead, cancel your tee time and head over to the Goodrich Golf Dome, where the weather is always warm and dry. The only year-round golf dome in the Twin Cities, Goodrich includes a heated 60-yard driving range and a chipping and putting green. After testing your skills, repair to the wood-paneled bar at Kincaid’s in downtown St. Paul for a round of Dark & Stormys and a platter of Buffalo wings. Goodrich Golf Dome, 1815 Van Dyke St., Maplewood, goodrichgolf dome.net; Kincaid’s, 380 St. Peter St., St. Paul, 651-602-9000, kincaids.com