The Links of North Dakota

Overview: The Links of North Dakota is a public Stephen Kay design on the bluffs above Lake Sakakawea near Ray. The course uses rolling prairie, native grasses, sandy waste areas and broad views rather than a manufactured resort landscape. Kay moved relatively little earth when placing the holes, so uneven lies, exposed ridges and the wind are central to the playing experience. The championship layout reaches 7,112 yards at par 72, with shorter tee positions allowing the same rugged ground to be approached at a more manageable scale. The absence of trees opens the sight lines, but it also makes club selection and trajectory important on almost every hole.

History: The course opened in 1996 as an ambitious North Dakota interpretation of links golf. Stephen Kay's routing was built around the existing bluffs and the edge of the lake, preserving the land's natural movement instead of flattening it into a conventional parkland course. Its remote setting became part of the identity: the course was created as a destination for golfers looking for a quiet, landscape-led round, while also serving the surrounding western North Dakota communities. Over time it has gained national recognition and has frequently been listed as the state's leading course.

Did You Know? Lake Sakakawea is the visual anchor, but water is not the main hazard on the course. The stronger test comes from the wind, changing lies and the native ground around the fairways, which is why a calm-looking hole can demand a very different shot when the weather shifts.