From Burl Oaks to Crooked Water
In a bold local move, the club embraced Minnetrista’s Dakota roots and shed its old identity, with the kingfisher mascot celebrating native spirit and a reborn golf experience.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Crooked Water Golf Club
Minnetrista, Minnesota
Established
1970
Architect
Mark Mitchell (original), Jay Blasi (2025–2027 full redesign)
Access
Public
Par
Par 72
Length
3,017 – 6,749 yds
The verdict
A Complete Modern Makeover
Jay Blasi’s transformation of Crooked Water infuses the property with strategic excitement and variety, pairing new greens and bunkers with creative routing touches. The course now offers strong public-access championship golf in an upscale, revitalized setting.
Course DNA
Difficulty
77
Scenery67
Conditioning82
Shot Variety78
Walkability69
Green Complexity81
Wow Factor71
Design Quality81
At a glance
Quick facts
Rebranding history
Formerly Burl Oaks, reborn in 2025-26
Course architect
Jay Blasi’s full-scale redesign
Notable greens
Eighteen brand-new Blasi complexes
Course rating/slope
73.6 / 143 (Blue tees)
Practice facilities
New short course and range
Tee choices
Six sets, from Family to Blue
Dakota heritage
Name honors ‘Crooked Water’ roots
The design
The architecture
Jay Blasi’s renovation at Crooked Water is a ground-up transformation, leveraging the property’s mature setting but emphasizing bold, playable design. The redesign widened fairways, removed trees to unveil strategic lines, introduced dynamic new greens and visible bunkering, and used previously untouched land to inject novel hole sequences. The varied par-3s, scorable par-5s, and a finishing stretch that tests everything from tee placement to approach accuracy make for a thoroughly modern, accessible challenge that still rewards strategic thinking.
Blasi’s approach puts playability and engagement first, drawing inspiration from golden age classics but updating the bones for modern public-access golf.
Defining features
- Redesigned greens with bold contours
- Expanded corridor widths and sightlines
- Strategic bunkering supporting multiple angles
- Mix of short and long par 4s and 3s
- New drainage and turf upgrades
- Native kingfisher-branded wayfinding elements
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 4
The Long Dakota Bend
PAR
4
YARDAGE
419
A strong dogleg par 4 early in the round, stretching to 419 yards. The strategic shape rewards an accurate drive to the corner and a well-judged approach to a demanding, newly contoured green.
Play it smart
Thread your drive to the ideal landing area for a clean approach—cutting the corner risks trouble, but playing safe makes the approach tougher.
Where it bites
Miss left and thick rough or trees choke off any chance at par; approach from the wrong angle brings run-offs and deep bunkers into play.
Course management
Shots to think about
Shaping a drive into a dogleg par 4
Don’t get greedy with your line—play for position and a clean angle into Blasi’s new undulating greens.
Long iron to the 207-yard par 3
Play for the center and accept a two-putt; the green’s subtle breaks demand respect.
Decision moment on the par 5 sixteenth
Unless the wind is favorable and you’re flush, lay up short of trouble and wedge it close—the green complex is brutal from the wrong angle.
Wedge from tight fairway lies
The new turf gives options—consider a low-runner if the pin allows, especially on crowned greens.
Approaching the final hole under pressure
Trust your yardage and play to the safe zone; closing nerves plus a newly contoured green demand a steady hand and mindset.
Club selection into a plateau green
It’s better to be short for an uphill chip than long in the rear run-out; control your spin.
Watch
See it before you play it
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Lush new turf with sharp greens and fresh bunkers; still maturing but maintained to modern standards.
Pace
Moderate to brisk, with redesigned flow to support steady play especially in the morning and early afternoon.
Vibe
Welcoming, energetic, and proud of its Dakota cultural ties – a far cry from old-line stuffiness.
Dress code
Standard country club casual—collared shirts, no denim or gym gear, but not ultra-strict.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Bring the full bag
A range of par-3 lengths and long par-4s demand every club if you’re to score across the new Blasi routing.
02
Arrive early for the short course
Warm up with creative wedge shots and putting practice—the short course offers inspiration and fun before your round.
03
Check wind conditions
The exposed sections can play very differently with prevailing winds, so check the local forecast before teeing it up.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1970
Opened as Burl Oaks Golf Club
- 2025
Rebrands as Crooked Water Golf Club
- 2026
Debut of new course and major facility upgrades
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Jay Blasi’s Blank Slate Challenge
Blasi’s design brief was a dream: reroute, reshape, and rethink nearly every hole for 21st-century relevance, while building a strategic test that both welcomes newcomers and keeps avid players on their toes.
New Greens, New Game
With every putting surface rebuilt, regulars say the difference is night and day—creativity, run-offs, and pin positions now keep things lively long after the new course smell wears off.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The course’s new name is a direct homage to the Dakota meaning of 'Minnetrista'—Crooked Water.
2
The redesigned holes make use of acreage never in play during the Burl Oaks era.
3
A native kingfisher bird features prominently in the club’s new branding.
4
A brand-new dedicated short course accompanies the main 18.
5
Jay Blasi’s plan rerouted or reimagined every hole—truly a ground-up transformation.
Build the trip
If you’re planning a Twin Cities west-metro golf swing
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
The Loop at Chaska
Public
Modern, fun public-access course minutes away
Hazeltine National Golf Club
Private
Major-championship pedigree for those with access
Interlachen Country Club
Private
Classic private with historic elegance
StoneRidge Golf Club
Public
Destination-level public round east of town
Wild Marsh Golf Club
Public
Attractive public option northwest of the city
Chaska or Eden Prairie for easy access throughout the west metro
Course DNA
If You Like Crooked Water Golf Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.7
Quaker Ridge Golf Club
Scarsdale, New YorkWhy it matches: Quaker Ridge Golf Club is a natural next stop after Crooked Water Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match8.4
Orchard Lake Country Club
Orchard Lake, MichiganConditioning
Why it matches: Orchard Lake Country Club is a natural next stop after Crooked Water Golf Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Strong DNA Match8.4
Pepper Pike Club
Pepper Pike, OhioWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Pepper Pike Club's own setting.
Community Sentiment
See something inaccurate in this listing?