Madden's Resort (The Classic)

Overview: The Classic at Madden's on Gull Lake is a resort course built through towering northern Minnesota oaks and quiet lake-country terrain near Brainerd. Scott Hoffmann created an 18-hole, par-72 layout that rewards thoughtful positioning and precise iron play while keeping the surrounding landscape present on every hole. At 7,102 yards from the Tour tees, it has championship length, yet the multiple tee positions and carefully shaped landing areas give the course a broad range of playable lines. The setting is peaceful because the golf stays at the center of the experience.

History: Construction began in 1992 and the course opened in 1997 after a deliberate five-year process. Hoffmann designed and managed the build with input from John Harris, Warren Rebholz, Geoffrey Cornish, and the Madden's team. The Classic quickly appeared on Golf Digest's public-course lists and has remained the resort's signature layout. Its early success also helped extend the Brainerd Lakes golf season beyond the traditional summer-resort calendar.

Did You Know? The Classic was designed in-house by Hoffmann, who had spent decades as Madden's superintendent before taking on the course project. That combination of design, construction, and long-term turf knowledge shaped the course's identity and later informed the resort's approach to maintaining its bentgrass putting surfaces.