The first Seth Raynor designed golf course that I had the privilege to explore was Shoreacres just outside of Chicago. After laying my eyes on the geometrically shaped cross bunker on the very first hole, I loudly proclaimed, “What the hell is this?” It was unlike anything I had seen before.
Even though designs like this had been around for over 100 years, I had no clue about them. By the time I had reached the 3rd hole, I was already in love. The rest of the round was an exploration of an entirely different kind of golf course design. I knew afterwards that I was going to find and play as many Seth Raynor courses that I possibly could. I quickly learned that CB McDonald and Seth Raynor had taken the most interesting golf holes from the golf courses of the British Isles and brought them over to the United States. Each “template” design was similar to the original but built specifically for the land upon which it resided. This trip to Shoreacres had sparked a golf adventure like no other.
Many years and many Seth Raynor courses later, I had the privilege to photograph a relatively unheralded Raynor design just outside of Minneapolis called Midland Hills. All the hits are here, they just don’t get the publicity or appreciation that some of Raynor’s other designs do. I invite you to join the exploration and follow along with my photographic journey through Midland Hills.
Hole #1 - Par 4 - 340 Yards - Double Plateau
Midland Hills opens with a blind approach to a short and sometimes reachable par 4. The fun starts on the green with the always bold “Double Plateau” green. If you look closely at the photograph below you can see the two plateaus on the front left and back edge. A curious little pot bunker looms back left. The first hole is a great opportunity to start your round with a birdie.
Hole #2 - Par 4 - 390 Yards - Road
The difficulty meter jumps up quickly on the “Road” hole at Midland. Modeled after the 17th hole at the Old Course in St Andrews, the 17th favors the bold play down the right hand side of the fairway. Instead of the Old Course hotel, there are trees and out of bounds to consider. Those that bail out to the left are met with a much more difficult angle into the green.
Hole #3 - Par 4 - 420 Yards - Punchbowl
The third hole features some of the most dramatic topography at Midland Hills and boasts what some might consider the signature hole. There is a lone fairway bunker that should be avoided which will set up a dramatic download shot towards this “punch bowl” shaped green. The Minneapolis skyline looms to the golfer’s right and smiles are all but guaranteed.
Hole #4 - Par 3 - 145 Yards - Short
The “short” template isn’t too difficult to figure out and certainly is not difficult to identify at Midland Hills. Located in the heart of the front nine, the short template is perfectly situated for interaction and excitment. The green is protected by a series of bunkers making this one-shotter a lot of fun to play. The back bunker is particularly treacherous.
Hole #5 - Par 4 - 435 Yards - Maiden
Another one of Midland’s flags is on display at the end of this long uphill par 4. The “Maiden” template originates from the 6th hole at Royal St George’s and refers to the green design alone. Large and undulating with humps in the back of the green, the Maiden template often resembles the Double Plateau. This particular green is one of the largest in the state of Minnesota.
Hole #6 - Par 5 - 580 Yards - Lauderdale
The longest golf hole at Midland Hills resides on the far edge of the property. There is an elevated tee box that provides skyline views and this beast spills down the hill. Only the longest hitters will even think about going for this green in two. Most golfers will elect to lay up short of the pond and attack with a wedge.
Hole #7 - Par 3 - 190 Yards - Eden
The “Eden” template is named after the 11th hole at St Andrews which features 4 distinct bunkers. While not always a strict rule, a proper “Eden” template has a left bunker called the “Hill”, a pot bunker on the right named the “Strath”, an “Eden” bunker behind the green and the “Cockleshell” or “Shelly” bunker short and right of the green.
Hole #8 - Par 4 - 365 Yards - Knoll
The “Knoll” template at Midland Hills can certainly rival some of the more notable “Knoll” designs at places like Fishers Island and Piping Rock. This volcano like green and surrounding areas ensure that only the well struck golf shots will find and stay on the putting surface. The short nature of the hole gives it an extra dose of fun.
Hole #9 - Par 4 - 405 Yards - Cape
Whether you are golfing In the morning mist or the afternoon sunlight, this a solid finish to the opening nine at Midland Hills. The “Cape” template tempts you to bite off as much as you can handle with a drive down the right hand side. Bailing out to the left offers a much more difficult angle into a green protected by two diagonal bunkers.
Hole #10 - Par 5 - 575 Yards - Valley
A massive fairway awaits you at the beginning of the back nine. After two shots through the valley, the golfer is left with an uphill approach to an undulating green. As you can tell from the turf maintenance in the picture below, Jim Urbina continues to make sure that Midland Hills represents Seth Raynor’s original intent with tweaks to the green surrounds and fairways following a complete restoration in 2020.
Hole #11 - Par 4 - 430 Yards - Westward Ho!
The 11th hole at Midland represents a stunning use of exceptional terrain to create one of the best par 4’s on the property. Traversing undulations, the longest hole on the golf course requires two great shots in order to find the green. Avoid the fairway bunkering at all costs.
Hole #12 - Par 3 - 240 Yards - Biarritz
After 11 holes of Raynor golf, it is time to put on the ‘ritz. Named after the chasm hole in Biarritz France, the “Biarritz” template is one of the most notable designs in golf. These holes are almost always around 200+ yards with massive greens that can span up to 80 yards in length. There is always a massive ravine or swale running through the putting surface. Bunkers left and right frame this beauty.
Hole #13 - Par 4 - 395 Yards - Leven
The “Leven” template is always one of the most fun to play and during my visit, it was also one of my favorites to photograph in the early morning light. The views above and below the trees both resulted in some of my favorite moments at Midland Hills.
Hole #14 - Par 4 - 460 Yards - Alps
The “Alps” hole is always one of my favorite holes to play in the Seth Raynor lineup. The origins of the “Alps” hole comes from Scotland and Prestwick’s current 17th hole. The idea is a simple one, obscure the putting surface with large mounds and bunkering in front of the green. The Alps hole is sure to test the uncertainties of golfers that will need to fire blindly at a target that they cannot see. Fortunately, relief comes in the form of a punch bowl shaped green that funnels the golf shots onto the surface for a chance at birdie.
Hole #15 - Par 4 - 380 Yards - Pond
The 15th hole is straight and one of the shorter par 4’s at Midland Hills. Be sure to lay back of the pond from the tee and then strike with a short iron. With plateaus and undulations on the surface, this green can produce some seriously challenging putts.
Hole #16 - Par 3 - 210 Yards - Redan
The Redan template typically ranges from 180-230 yards with a right to left sloped green that is protected by a bunker on the short left side. Most easily identified by a defining shoulder on the right edge of the green, the thrill of the redan is to play your shot into the right hand side of the surface and watch it feed towards the hole.
The Redan at Midland Hills is far from your typical template. Compared to Camargo, Shoreacres or Fishers Island one might not even recognize it as a redan. The biggest difference is the punchbowl or potato chip nature of the green. The typical right to left slope of the redan can also send your golf ball from left to right due to the mounding in the front left of the green. It is a great variation on one of the most popular templates in golf.
Hole #17 - Par 5 - 550 Yards - Long
We go back to St Andrews and the 14th hole to find the inspiration for the Long template. Unfortunately for short hitters, this golf hole is exactly what it sounds like, long. Avoid the lone and penal fairway bunker and find the middle of the green with your third shot. A false front awaits those who play without conviction.
Hole #18 - Par 4 - 365 Yards - Home
Just as we began our round at Midland Hills, we finish with another player friendly opportunity to finish with a birdie. This short par 4 plays directly towards the clubhouse and on those warm September evenings there will be a handful of golfers on the nearby patio watching the action conclude. Hole a putt and wave to your friends because Midland Hills is one fun place to golf your ball.
