It won’t take you long to see what makes Baker National Golf Course in Medina, Minnesota unique. The opening hole at the Championship Course features a signature red barn next to the green, a pleasant sight that could even give you a nice kick toward the putting surface if you happen to miss the green long and right. The 6,762-yard course is a challenge from start to finish, with a course rating of 73.9 and a slope of 135, paying to a par of 72. Accuracy is key at Baker National because many of the already narrow fairways have tree trouble lurking while fairway and greenside bunkers await even the slightest mis-hits. Less than a 30-minute drive from Minneapolis, 42 minutes from St. Paul, and just over an hour from St. Cloud, Baker National offers a refreshing day on the golf course that’s accessible to most Minnesota residents. The course meanders through a nature reserve and is an Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary. In addition to the 18-hole championship course, the more than 200-acre facility includes a 9-hole executive course, a driving range and practice areas, and also offers the popular golf-soccer hybrid, footgolf. As a municipal course and part of the Three Rivers Parks District, Baker National remains affordable. An 18-hole round cost just under $45, and an adult season pass costs $1,300. Discounts are available for juniors and seniors. Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA, the Championship Course opened in 1991. Jeff May manages the course as the Golf Services Manager.