| Meadowlark Country Club is located on the | | | | children are above average." Evidence was a sign |
| southern edge of the city limits of Melrose, | | | | on the first tee box requesting all groups to limit |
| Minnesota. Melrose is the childhood home of my | | | | themselves to 5 players or less. I will also mention |
| wife, and I have played at Meadowlark Country | | | | that even playing with a 5-some we completed |
| Club many times over the years. In this article, I | | | | 18-holes in 4 hours. Slow play should not be |
| am going to cover not only the layout of the | | | | expected if you police yourself and play |
| course, but the unique sense of family that make | | | | "ready-golf". |
| up this and many other member owned, municipal | | | | Melrose is about the midway point between St. |
| or mom and pop operated 9-hole golf courses in | | | | Cloud and Alexandria on Interstate 94. This |
| Minnesota. | | | | makes a great place to stop and take a break |
| On the day in early May that I played Meadowlark | | | | when traveling from the Twin Cities to parts |
| Country Club most recently, my wife and I had | | | | farther north and west. And a 9-hole round of |
| made the trip for her to attend a family baby | | | | two hours or less can be a refreshing break to a |
| shower. I thought it would be nice to mix in some | | | | long car trip. |
| golf with my father-in-law one of my | | | | Meadowlark Country Club plays to a par of 72 for |
| brothers-in-law and a couple of nephews. You | | | | 18-holes and measures 6,278 yards for the middle |
| know that you are either part of a large family or | | | | tees. There are no dramatic elevation changes but |
| in a small town and maybe perhaps both when | | | | there are water hazards or sand traps that come |
| you arrive at the golf course with that many | | | | into play on every hole. If the wind is blowing |
| family members and you also discover upon | | | | across the prairie from the west or northwest |
| check in at the Pro-shop that one of your nieces | | | | the course plays completely different and you |
| is working behind the counter that afternoon. | | | | definitely need to be absolutely sure of your club |
| Melrose is similar to many small towns in | | | | selection. |
| Minnesota. The idyllic setting written about by | | | | To play Meadowlark Country Club, call |
| Garrison Keillor in his series of books about | | | | 320-256-4989 and ask the Pro-shop attendant on |
| fictional Lake Wobegon as well as the News from | | | | duty if you need a tee time that day. Many times |
| Lake Wobegon reported on his radio show A | | | | in the middle of the week you can walk right on |
| Prairie Home Companion. This is the type of place | | | | and virtually have the golf course to yourself. This |
| Keillor reminds us that this is where "the women | | | | is a great stop to break up a roadtrip to |
| are strong, the men are good looking, and all the | | | | Alexandria or parts farther north or west! |