Fall aerial of Golden Eagle Golf Club, 18 holes woven through autumn-colored Northwoods forest and lakes

A Championship Course with a Local Heart

Golden Eagle Golf Club was built in 2001 and we are celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2026.

Aerial view of Golden Eagle's 210-acre property with fairways winding through the Northwoods and Eagle Lake beyond

Our History

Designed to Work with the Northwoods Preserve

Golden Eagle Golf Club opened in 2001 on 210 acres of what had been a private Northwoods preserve. Forests, wetlands, and dramatic elevation changes were already here, the kind of terrain most architects have to manufacture. The course was designed to work with it, not against it.

Elevated tees reveal sweeping views of Eagle Lake. Fairways wind through old-growth forest. Every hole has its own character because every hole had to answer to the land it was carved from.

The result is a true championship course that meets every skill level where they are. It plays as a serious challenge from the back tees, and as a fun, friendly round from the forward tees.

Original Eagle Lake Golf Course erosion control plan, the blueprint that mapped 18 holes across 210 acres of Northwoods preserve — The original Eagle Lake Golf Course site plan: 18 holes across 210 acres of Northwoods forest and Eagle Lake shoreline.

Building Golden Eagle

How It Started

From a private Northwoods preserve to one of Minnesota's top-rated courses.

Golden Eagle Today

Locally Owned & Professionally Managed

The Hatcher Family

In December 2023, local Minnesotans The Hatcher Family became the owner of Golden Eagle Golf Club. Brady, his wife Angie, and their three children have been coming to the Brainerd Lakes area for two decades. They have a cabin nearby, and Golden Eagle has been Brady’s favorite course for years.

Brady has spent the last 25+ years in medical device development and manufacturing, but always missed summers in the mid 90’s working outside in the park and athletic field maintenance. Ownership of Golden Eagle was the realization of a lifelong dream.

SVN | Northco has managed Golden Eagle for years, the same team before, during, and after the 2023 ownership transition. Based in Minneapolis, SVN | Northco is a full service investment, hospitality and real estate firm that has been a leader in the market since 1975, and specializes in a wide range of services related to the resort & golf industry including brokerage, consulting, management and investments. SVN | Northco also serves as head of SVN’s product council for resort properties and golf courses for the 200+ offices globally.

Our Awards

Voted The Best Golf Course in Minnesota

Golden Eagle has been recognized by Minnesota golfers in the Star Tribune's Minnesota's Best reader's choice awards five consecutive years, and voted #1 golf course in the Brainerd Lakes area by the Brainerd Dispatch's Best of the Best.

2025 Best of the Best, #1 Golf Course Brainerd Dispatch Brainerd Lakes Area
2025 Minnesota’s Best, Silver Star Tribune Best Golf Course
2024 Minnesota’s Best, Silver Star Tribune Best Golf Course
2023 Minnesota’s Best, Gold Star Tribune Best Golf Course
2022 Minnesota’s Best, Gold Star Tribune Best Golf Course
2021 Minnesota’s Best, Bronze (inaugural year) Star Tribune Best Golf Course

Minnesota's Best is the Star Tribune's annual reader's choice award, decided by over one million votes across Minnesota in categories including Minnesota Fun: Golf Course. The Brainerd Dispatch's Best of the Best recognizes excellence across the Brainerd Lakes Area, voted on by community members each year.

Golden Eagle Golf Club fairway winding through the Northwoods

Plan Your Visit

Come See What the Awards Are About

Book a tee time, plan a stay-and-play, or stop by to see it for yourself. We'll have a cart waiting.

Book a Tee Time Plan Your Stay & Play