Dacotah Ridge Golf Club, Morton, Minnesota ? the Only Rees Jones Golf Course in the State, and a 41/2-Star Rating from Golf Digest

Dacotah Ridge Golf Club is a championship course set amid the rolling hills and prairie landscapes of southwestern Minnesota, and is the only fully designed Rees Jones golf course in the state. The course is set on 240 acres of land, and features a rugged, prairie character that includes natural wetlands, mature trees, a 14-acre lake, and the winding Wabasha Creek.

The 18-hole, par-72 course plays to 7,109 yards from the longest tees, with a USGA rating of 73.9 and a slope rating of 134 on Bent grass. The course is essentially in the "middle of nowhere,'' bordered by farm fields and split by the Wabasha Creek, which comes into play on about half the holes.

The course features firm fairways with generous landing areas, yet the layout also demands a level of accuracy and caution as the native prairie grasses that border the short grass can grow to be knee-high during the season. The greens are said to be fast and true.

Some of the more noteworthy holes include No. 5, a short par-4 that plays to only 371 yards from the Blue tees. This hole is one of the more picturesque on the course, as it curves clockwise around a pond bordered by rocks. A large fairway bunker at about the midpoint awaits wayward shots, and another huge bunker guards the entire right side of the green.

Hole No. 11 is a very picturesque and challenging par-3, with a green that looks more like something expected on a seaside course. The hole only plays to 157 yards from the Blue tees, but calls for a carry over water to a green surrounded by water and breaker-like rock walls to the front and back left.

Hole No. 9 is a par-4 that plays to 404 yards from the Blue tees. Tee shots must find safety in an undulating fairway with a sloping drop-off area to the left. Approach shots must then cross a pond that fronts the entire green, which is guarded by a bunker left and scrub beyond.

At 552 yards from the Blue tees, Hole No. 18 is the longest on the course and plays along an undulating fairway that's shaped like a reverse letter c. For golfers trying to cut any corners, danger lurks in the form of several water hazards, bunkers, trees and native grasses.

Dacotah Ridge Golf Club has gathered a number of honors and awards over the years, including being rated the #3 course in the state for Golfweek's Best Courses You Can Play for 2008, a 4?-Star rating from Golf Digest, and being a Recommended Golf Course to Play in the Midwest by PGA Professionals Guide to Travel.

Practice facilities include a short-game area, and lessons are available. A Pro Shop with a wide selection of equipment and apparel is located in the Club House, which also features a full-service restaurant and bar, with seating for 110 people.