Troy Burne Golf Club

295 Lindsay Road – Hudson, WI 54016
6,978 yards, Par 71 – 74.5/142

Can a top 100 golf course, revered in its state, remain relatively unknown to the broader golfing community? Surprisingly, Troy Burne Golf Club in Western Wisconsin does just that.

Despite being considered the best public course in the Twin Cities Metro area, this gem in the St. Croix River Valley often escapes the attention it deserves to the remainder of Wisconsin golfers. While most people I golf with across the central and eastern part of the state say they’ve heard of Troy Burne when I tell them it’s my home course, they haven’t made the trek towards Minnesota to play it and have yet to discover what makes this course so special.

The history of Troy Burne

Troy Burne may not be a golden era gem with a storied history of legendary figures or championship moments, but it compensates with world-class conditions, a local legend as the Head Pro and Tour-quality conditions that are second to none.

Troy Burne has had its moments in the national spotlight by hosting the Nationwide’s Scholarship America Showdown in 2004 and 2005, attracting notable golfers such as Jason Dufner, Brent Snedeker, Bill Haas and Kevin Stadler, who triumphed in a thrilling 3-hole playoff in 2004.

When the course opened in 1999, Golf Digest named it the best new public golf course in America, and it has since made their list of Top 100 Public Golf Courses in America from 2017 to 2020. Currently ranked fifteenth in the state, it surpasses powerhouses like Green Bay CC, The Club at Lac La Belle and Westmoor. Designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, with consulting from Minnesota legend Tom Lehman, Troy Burne shares its pedigree with legendary tracks like Erin Hills, Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Militia Hill Course and Wisconsin Dells’ Wild Rock.

This 6,978-yard, par 71 course features five challenging par threes and over 120 bunkers, most of which are greenside. While most golfers will play from the Championship tees at 6,424 yards, it’s still a formidable test with three of the four par fives playing over 500 yards and the challenging green on the 118-yard fifteenth.

I first laid eyes on Troy Burne in the summer of 2001 when I was sixteen. My dad told me we were heading to a lesser-known course down the road but surprised me by driving into Troy Burne. Little did I know that we were about to spend the morning at the best course I had ever played at that point.

Since then, I have considered Troy Burne my unofficial home course. It helps that the Head Pro is local golf legend Dave Tentis, my dad’s best friend since I was a kid. Tentis’s story and accomplishments deserve an article of their own, but it’s his incredibly good nature and smile that have always resonated with me. Dave and Troy Burne are a perfect match, offering unmatched service at an upscale public course that rivals many of the best private clubs in the area.

Troy Burne has enjoyed holding high accolades on state, regional and national lists over the years as a top-ranked track. In 2022, the course was sold to Bill Holst, known by Forbes Magazine as “The world’s most successful caviar entrepreneur” and the owner of five other golf courses in Minnesota.

Since, the club has seen many upgrades with the construction of a new wedding venue, the addition of three simulators, reworked sand traps and upgraded Yamaha electric carts with GPS.

Having played it countless times over the past twenty-plus years, there aren’t many courses that always thrill me quite like here. 

The putting green is situated directly behind the first tee box, taunting golfers as they can’t help but glance down the fairway and anticipate that opening drive.

The Golf Course

There are a few key points to remember when playing Troy Burne, which the starter will remind you of: “First, there are over 120 traps on the course—stay out of them! They are for looking at, not hitting into. Second, pay attention to the pin locations, play to the proper quadrant and stay below the hole! Third, you’re playing the best course in the Twin Cities and you’re not at work; have fun and enjoy!”

This is every hole at Troy Burne:

Hole 1 (Par 5, 600 yards, 5 hcp):

Troy Burne opens with a test of course management and control. This three-shot par five features a generous, flat fairway but plenty of potential trouble. Errant tee shots to the left will end up in or blocked by a grove of massive oaks, forcing a layup to an uncomfortable distance. Shots that stray right will encounter a steep hill and deep rough, resulting in a similarly difficult second shot.

The elevated green is best approached from the left side, but getting there means navigating around three large fairway bunkers stacked together and three more on the right. A total of fourteen traps guards this opening hole; remember, there are over 120 on the course.

It’s a challenging start that requires three excellent shots, followed by the tricky green. While birdies are possible for those who are dialed in, making par will feel like you’ve stolen a stroke early.

Hole 2 (Par 4, 444 yards, 3 hcp):

The second hole is a perplexing challenge, even after hundreds of rounds over twenty years. I’ve hit everything from driver to five iron, and find the water left more than the fairway.  This is the only hole in the world where I can hit the most beautiful draw, right into the drink!

It’s an incredible hole that can derail hopes of a great round early if you don’t give it your full attention tee to green.  The fairway is generous for those willing to lay back with less than a driver and play for a long second shot. However, it’s framed by a lake on the left and two large fairway bunkers that pinch the fairway from the right. Long drives can be rewarded with a scoring club into the large green, but everything slopes left, often leading to the penalty area.

The green is guarded by three more bunkers to the right and deep, with water lurking left and short of the putting surface.  This mid-length par four feels more like a par five, where walking off with a six doesn’t seem too bad.

Hole 3 (Par 3, 173 yards, 17 hcp):

The par three third completes one of the most challenging opening stretches I’ve encountered on any course. The green is protected by two very deep bunkers front left and right, ready to swallow up any shots that fall short. If you find yourself in one of these traps, you’ll understand why you were advised to avoid them—getting out requires a delicate sand shot from over ten feet below the putting surface. 

The green is divided by a subtle spine running across it, so hitting the correct quadrant is crucial. If the flag is positioned on the far right side, resist the temptation to go directly for it. Instead, aim for the middle of the green and be satisfied with a par. Of course, if you’re feeling bold, you can always go for glory—just be prepared for the consequences.

Hole 4 (Par 4, 342 yards, 15 hcp):

Hole four has much more bark than bite and is the only potentially drivable par four on the course.  Defended by twelve bunkers, four of which surround the green, big hitters will be tempted to take on this enticing shot with driver, especially when downwind.  However, I’ve always found that playing for position off the tee leads to more birdies than attempting the hero shot.

I’ve rarely had eagle putts here and have tallied far more three-putt pars than two-putt birdies. Great shots are rewarded with one of the tamest greens on the course, offering a fantastic opportunity to gain a stroke without being overly aggressive.

Hole 5 (par 5, 582 yards, 1 hcp):

Another monster par five, the fifth typically requires three shots for 99% of golfers at Troy Burne. Any hopes of reaching the green in two usually depend on favorable, but atypical, downwind conditions and two incredible shots. The hole plays straight and slightly downhill from tee to green. Five fairway bunkers await stray tee shots, and four more guard the green.

The elevated green has a small runway between two traps, primarily for walking rather than running the ball onto the green. Playing for position is crucial for scoring well here, with a solid approach needed into the boomerang-shaped green. I’ve managed one eagle and plenty of birdies on this hole, but it can also lead to big scores when things go awry.

Hole 6 (par 4, 364 yards, 11 hcp):

The sixth greets golfers with a wall of clustered traps straight ahead, with the ideal line over the right-center of them. Long hitters will take on the six towering traps for a shortcut to the wildest green in Western Wisconsin, while others will play it out to the right. Five more traps defend this short par four, but the real show is the green.

The green slopes severely back to front with a sneaky false front. The back right of the green, which looks unapproachable from the fairway, might actually be the most forgiving spot. I’ve had putts roll off the green and down the fairway when on the front. Four-putts from inside fifteen feet are not uncommon on the left side, and frustration can often lead to a pocketed ball and a walk of shame back to the cart.

Hole 7 (par 4, 391 yards, 13 hcp):

You’re greeted at the seventh with an elevated tee and a spectacular view of this great par four. This hole tends to play downwind, giving golfers the green light to let it rip! Long hitters will aim over the three stacked fairway bunkers on the right and find a large landing area that kicks toward the green, leaving a pitch shot into a large, flat green. The bailout area is to the left, guarded by two large fairway traps and three more deep through the fairway.

Out of the eleven traps that dot this hole, it’s the small pot bunker right in front of the green that grabs your attention, especially with a front pin. More often than not, a delicate touch is required to pinch the ball off the tour-quality tight fairways, over the trap, and to a tight pin. The trickiest pin placement is back right. While golfers will see a large green with plenty of room to work with, they might not notice the black hole collection area behind the green that can quickly kill the best of spirits.

Hole 8 (par 3, 222 yards, 9 hcp):

Maybe the most deceiving shot on the course might be the tee shot on this long par three. At 222 yards, it’s treacherous for a par three, but the hole looks even longer due to a fairway that drops off the tee and runs up to the green. This effect gives the illusion that the hole plays uphill, though the tee is relatively level with the putting surface.

With only two traps, the large, deep bunker guarding the left of the green is a magnet for tee shots, regardless of where the pin is on this incredibly large green. As much as I like this hole, its got my number as I’m more likely to make double than I am par.

Hole 9 (par 4, 488 yards, 7hcp):

Nine is a great finish to the front that typically plays downwind to an amphitheater green. Ten traps need to be navigated to find the easiest and flattest green on the course. Similar to the tee shot on the second, I often end up hitting an unwanted draw into the tall fescue left of the cart path, if not onto the road. It’s crazy how some shots live rent-free in your head; this tee shot is one of them for me. It’s also one of the few greens you can run the ball onto without having to squeeze past sand or onto an elevated putting surface. It’s a great scoring chance to end the front on a high note.

Hole 10 (par 4, 413 yards, 10 hcp):

The back nine at Troy Burne may be the most beautiful stretch of holes in all of Wisconsin, or at least in this neck of the woods.

It starts with a really strong dogleg left par four. The entire length of the hole is flanked on the left by a lake and a waste bunker that traps those who bite off more than they can chew. I once played this hole from the tips with Head Pro Dave Tentis, who showed off his ball control by hitting a towering fade that started over the water and found the fairway about seventy yards short of the green. He then teed up another ball and striped a boomerang draw around the corner, landing it within ten feet of his first shot.

There is a generous bailout straight ahead, but two fairway bunkers await errant shots, and three more guard the green. The approach is one of the hardest to commit to on the course, as it usually requires a carry over the corner of one of the greenside bunkers while avoiding the water that hugs the entire left side of the green. It’s a beautiful hole, but nothing compared to what comes next.

Hole 11 (par 3, 176 yards, 14 hcp):

The signature par three eleventh introduces what I call “Troy Burn’s Amen Corner” and, in my opinion, is a contender for the best in the state.

The stretch from eleven to fourteen is as beautiful and challenging as you’ll find anywhere, and the eleventh is particularly incredible with a backdrop that is both dramatic and stunning! I must warn you, the two traps left of the green are the most punishing on the course—deep, steep, and almost certain to send your second shot into the creek opposite the green.

A front pin practically begs for an ace, while a back-right pin dares you to take a bold approach. What newcomers may not realize is there’s a hack to this scoring on this green: any shots landing on the left will roll out and funnel toward the back-right corner. I’ve witnessed some incredible tee shots that rolled from the front-left uphill to the back-right, resulting in tap-in birdies.

Hole 12 (par 5, 491 yards, 6 hcp):

If ever there was a par four disguised as a par five, it’s the twelfth.  Granted, I always play the championship tees around the course and twelve plays at 452 yards from there, but the back tee is more dramatic and is possibly the best tee shot on the course. 

The entire hole hugs the shoreline from tee to green down the left side and plays downhill to a peninsula green.  Along the way, another eight traps add challenge to this reachable par five where the real defense lies is the green itself.  With three prominent pin positions, the front is the most accessible. The back-left pin seems daunting, appearing almost as if the flagstick is planted in the middle of the lake, but there’s more room to approach than meets the eye. The back shelf of the green, however, is particularly treacherous. My relationship with this hole swings between love and frustration like nowhere else on the course.

Hole 13 (par 3, 195 yards, 16 hcp):

This lengthy par three beautifully frames the lake on the left-hand side, playing from an elevated tee downhill to a spacious green. Seasoned golfers often utilize the subtle backboard on the deep left to nestle their tee shots close to a tucked pin. I have a special fondness for the thirteenth, as I’ve come closer to an ace here more times than anywhere else I can recall.

Hole 14 (par 4, 458 yards, 4 hcp):

One of the most demanding tee shots on the course runs alongside the lake you’ve enjoyed for the past three holes, this time on the left side of the fairway. This tee shot requires precision, ideally a slight fade to keep the ball dry and steer clear of a large cluster of traps on the right landing zone. The approach shot is arguably the finest on the course, playing uphill with the creek guarding the left and several additional traps. The small waterfall adds the perfect touch to this picturesque hole, which marks the conclusion of Troy Burne’s “Amen Corner.”

Hole 15 (par 3, 140 yards, 18 hcp):

Don’t let the number fool you—while you may be standing on the tee with a scoring club in hand, you’re about to confront the most demanding green on the course.

The first time you play it, you might look at the green and think I’m crazy and don’t know what I’m talking about. But when you find yourself grinding out a six-footer to avoid a four-putt on the shortest hole on the course, you’ll look back and wonder what just happened. The green on fifteen is deceptively large and incredibly challenging. A spine snakes across the putting surface, and being on the wrong side of it can spell trouble.

There’s more break than meets the eye, and putts coming off the spine are much faster than you anticipate. It’s a truly enjoyable hole that catches unsuspecting golfers off guard.

The small pot bunker in front of the green used to be a deep, stacked sod bunker that was hell to be in. Pressure from members led to its removal years ago, replaced with a more manageable trap—a decision I disagree with. I would love to see the stacked sod bunker make a comeback.

Hole 16 (par 5, 608 yards, 2 hcp):

The longest hole on the course is a true three-shot par five that demands precision from even the longest hitters to come to terms with the fact they won’t reach the green in two from the tips. The tee shot is daunting, with the lake from hole ten on the left and out-of-bounds on the right—making it especially treacherous for golfers battling a nasty slice like myself.

The second shot is all about positioning to avoid the six traps that greedily snatch wayward shots. The approach to the largest green on the course is elevated some fifteen feet to twenty from the bottom of the fairway, reminiscent of hole five, adds another layer of challenge. Despite its length, this hole offers a good opportunity for a late birdie to seal the match.

Hole 17 (par 4, 434 yards, 12 hcp):

If you’re open to a course having multiple signature holes, the seventeenth at Troy Burne would undoubtedly be the second. It’s a stunning downhill par four with a pond at the end of the fairway, ensuring you stay honest off the tee. Three fairway bunkers along the left side frame the hole, with two more strategically placed around the green. The approach shot leads to a generous green protected by the pond on the right.

One of my most memorable shots happened on this hole about six or seven years ago, when I hit a high draw with a seven-iron over the pond and stuck it to within a foot for a tap-in birdie. My dad still talks about that shot almost every time we ride down the fairway.

Hole 18 (par 4, 467 yards, 8 hcp):

Where seventeenth was the grand crescendo to Troy Burne’s beautiful symphony of golf, eighteen is a nice coda to end on. 

A lengthy par four with no tricks or thrills, just a strong finishing hole that demands you remain focused as you come home.  Avoid the two large traps and fescue the right and play for the left of the fairway.  Your second will require a strong shot that needs to carry onto one of the more forgiving greens on the course, similar to nine. 

If you’ve run out of steam, or let nerves get the better of you, you can find trouble short left of the green in a deep depression, leaving a challenging uphill shot out of thick rough and over two looming traps. 

It’s a satisfying finish to a round of golf and a respectful nod to those who take on the challenge of one of Wisconsin’s finest courses.

Reflecting on one of my most memorable shots on the seventeenth during a defining round of golf for me, that unlikely birdie was one of seven I managed that day. While that sounds impressive and almost unbelievable, what’s even more astonishing is that I only made one par, resulting in a staggering 86 strokes carded.

That’s the kind of challenge Troy Burne presents. You can quickly find yourself derailed if you let your guard down and try to overpower the course. Yet, you can also be rewarded with birdies by capitalizing on opportunities when they arise.

Regardless how you play it, the first step is making a tee time to experience Troy Burne for yourself – then you’ll understand what all the fuss is about.