The Wilderness at Fortune Bay
Plan your round at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay is a Jeffrey D. Brauer design at Fortune Bay Resort Casino near Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota, owned by the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. The routing plays through pines, granite ridges, wetlands and ponds, with Lake Vermilion coming into view on several holes and along the 13th. It plays to par 72 and 7,207 yards from the Gold tees (75.6 rating, 147 slope). Golfweek has ranked it among Minnesota's top public courses.
- Resort
- 18 holes
- Par 72
- Designed by Jeffrey D. Brauer
Course strategy
Read the card before you play it
Walk the course
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay hole by hole
Par 3Par 4Par 5
Hole 1
562
yds ·White
The White Pine. A long opening par 5 from elevated tees among white and red pines. Exposed ledge rock splits the upper and lower fairways.
Hole 2
426
yds ·White
The Pine Marten. A long par 4 played from a granite ridge down to the fairway, with a large white ledge outcropping guarding the left side.
Hole 3
166
yds ·White
The Walleye. A long par 3 reached by a cart path through dense evergreens, with a pond in front of the tee and a large wetland alongside.
Hole 4
330
yds ·White
The Blue Heron. A medium-length par 4 from a granite ridge that rewards a long tee shot. Ledge rock divides the upper and lower fairways.
Hole 5
313
yds ·White
The Ruffed Grouse. The tees sit on the course's highest point with a view of Lake Vermilion. A swale about four feet deep runs through the middle of the green, so the approach has to finish on the right side.
Hole 6
375
yds ·White
The Bear. A long par 4 with tee views over the eighth fairway to a large wetland and Lake Vermilion beyond.
Hole 7
124
yds ·White
The Osprey. A short par 3 played from tees roughly 50 feet above the green, over a wetland toward Lake Vermilion and the hills.
Hole 8
456
yds ·White
The Timberwolf. A reachable par 5 with a wide fairway and boulders in the landing area. The second shot can carry a large pond and the paw-print bunker, or you can lay up at several points.
Hole 9
342
yds ·White
The Beaver. The tee shot drops into a valley with a large target bunker in play, and the green sits beyond a pond that must be carried. Rapids flow into the pond beside the green.
Hole 10
403
yds ·White
The Moose. A strong par 4 that opens the back nine, with the tee sets offering different angles. You can aim for the open middle of the green or challenge the bunkers for a flag near the edge.
Hole 11
383
yds ·White
The Cedar. The second of two long par 4s to start the back nine.
Hole 12
129
yds ·White
The Loon. A par 3 across a large, winding pond to a peninsula green. If you are unsure of the carry, there is room to miss long beyond the green.
Hole 13
301
yds ·White
The Muskellunge. The signature hole, a short par 4 running along the shore of Lake Vermilion.
Hole 14
341
yds ·White
The Lynx. A medium-length par 4 with a long waste bunker down the right side and views of Lake Vermilion.
Hole 15
458
yds ·White
The Red Pine. The first of two straight par 5s, reachable in two. Both sides of the fairway let you bank the ball back toward the center of the green, and a triple-trunk red pine stands beside the tees.
Hole 16
486
yds ·White
The Eagle. The fairway splits into upper and lower lanes. The upper lane over the rock outcropping gives a downhill assist toward a small, elevated green that overlooks the pond on hole 8.
Hole 17
144
yds ·White
The Deer. A straightforward par 3 with little trouble unless the pin is back right, where the back bunker comes into play.
Hole 18
408
yds ·White
The Turtle. A strong finishing par 4 that the course calls its toughest approach. A waterfall cascades into the pond by the green, and the clubhouse sits behind and right of the green.
ScorecardView the full scorecard+
Distances in yards
| Hole | Par | Hcp | Gold | Blue | White | Green |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 3 | 649 | 587 | 562 | 470 |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | 472 | 453 | 426 | 385 |
| 3 | 3 | 15 | 220 | 193 | 166 | 133 |
| 4 | 4 | 7 | 410 | 393 | 330 | 305 |
| 5 | 4 | 13 | 364 | 348 | 313 | 279 |
| 6 | 4 | 1 | 464 | 435 | 375 | 331 |
| 7 | 3 | 17 | 157 | 139 | 124 | 115 |
| 8 | 5 | 9 | 525 | 511 | 456 | 381 |
| 9 | 4 | 11 | 396 | 369 | 342 | 265 |
| Out | 36 | 3,657 | 3,428 | 3,094 | 2,664 | |
| 10 | 4 | 10 | 455 | 430 | 403 | 343 |
| 11 | 4 | 8 | 465 | 427 | 383 | 333 |
| 12 | 3 | 16 | 166 | 157 | 129 | 107 |
| 13 | 4 | 14 | 340 | 325 | 301 | 277 |
| 14 | 4 | 12 | 392 | 374 | 341 | 304 |
| 15 | 5 | 6 | 530 | 507 | 458 | 376 |
| 16 | 5 | 2 | 540 | 517 | 486 | 438 |
| 17 | 3 | 18 | 189 | 174 | 144 | 114 |
| 18 | 4 | 4 | 473 | 433 | 408 | 368 |
| In | 36 | 3,550 | 3,344 | 3,053 | 2,660 | |
| Total | 72 | 7,207 | 6,772 | 6,147 | 5,324 | |
| Rating / Slope | 75.6 / 147 | 73.3 / 142 | 70.3 / 129 | 66.7 / 121 | ||
| Women's rating / slope | — | — | — | 71.4 / 128 | ||
Before you go
Everything to know on arrival
Know before you go
- ✓Wear a collared shirt with pants or shorts; no jeans, t-shirts or cut-offs.
- ✓Par 3s are cart-path only, so plan to use the drop zones.
- ✓Cancel at least 48 hours ahead to avoid a charge.
- ✓No outside food or beverage is allowed.
- ✓Budget about 4 1/2 hours for the round.
- ✓Replace divots and leave bunker rakes in the bunkers.
- ✓The opening hole is a 649-yard par 5 from the Gold tees, so warm up first.
Dress code
A collared shirt with dress pants or shorts is required. Blue jeans, t-shirts and cut-off shorts are not allowed.
Carts & walking
The par 3s are cart-path only, and drop zones are provided. Ride-alongs are allowed based on cart availability, and additional fees may apply.
Practice facilities
The Wilderness has a driving range and a putting green; see the driving range page for details.
Food & drink
The Wilderness Grill is the on-site restaurant and bar. No outside food or beverage is allowed on the course.
Pace of play
The course was rated by the USGA for a pace of play of 4 1/2 hours or less, and staff work to keep rounds on that pace. Foursomes are standard, and fivesomes need clearance from the Head Golf Professional.
Policies
Cancel or change a tee time at least 48 hours ahead; late cancellations and no-shows are charged. Call the golf shop at 218-753-8917. Rain checks are issued for unfinished holes, based on the rate paid and holes played. Stay-and-play packages with Fortune Bay Resort Casino are offered, but the course takes public tee times.
Quick answers
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay at a glance
Is The Wilderness at Fortune Bay open to the public?
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay is a resort course — check with the course for who can book tee times.
How many holes does The Wilderness at Fortune Bay have, and what's the par?
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay has 18 holes and plays to a par of 72, from 5,324 to 7,207 yards depending on the tees.
Is there a hole-by-hole guide to The Wilderness at Fortune Bay?
Yes. This guide covers The Wilderness at Fortune Bay hole by hole, with the course's own notes on its holes. You can also fly a hole free on its interactive 3D map, then unlock the rest.
Who designed The Wilderness at Fortune Bay?
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay was designed by Jeffrey D. Brauer.
What's the dress code at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay?
A collared shirt with dress pants or shorts is required. Blue jeans, t-shirts and cut-off shorts are not allowed.
What are the cart and walking rules at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay?
The par 3s are cart-path only, and drop zones are provided. Ride-alongs are allowed based on cart availability, and additional fees may apply.
What practice facilities does The Wilderness at Fortune Bay have?
The Wilderness has a driving range and a putting green; see the driving range page for details.
What's the pace of play at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay?
The course was rated by the USGA for a pace of play of 4 1/2 hours or less, and staff work to keep rounds on that pace. Foursomes are standard, and fivesomes need clearance from the Head Golf Professional.
What food and drink does The Wilderness at Fortune Bay have?
The Wilderness Grill is the on-site restaurant and bar. No outside food or beverage is allowed on the course.
How do you book a tee time at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay?
Book online through the course's tee-time page, or call 800-992-4680.
Where is The Wilderness at Fortune Bay?
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay is at 1450 Bois Forte Rd, Tower, MN 55790.
Info last reviewed November 3, 2026. Policies change — confirm with the course before your round.
3D course map
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay hole by hole, in 3D.
Fly down each hole on real 3D imagery: tilt, turn and zoom to see the landing areas, the hazards and the green before you play.
Fly hole 1 free
The real 3D map, no account needed.
Want every hole?
$4 gets you every hole of this course in 3D, up to 100 times. Your credits never expire. You'll create a free maps.golf golfer account first.
The 3D course map is made by maps.golf. It isn’t affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by The Wilderness at Fortune Bay.
More course guides
3D mapEagle Creek Golf Club
Orlando
18 holes · Par 73 · Public
3D mapHighlands Reserve Golf Club
Davenport
18 holes · Par 72 · Public
3D mapIsland Hills Golf Club
Centreville
18 holes · Par 72 · Resort
3D mapKiawah Island – Ocean Course
Kiawah Island
18 holes · Par 72 · Resort
Aerial imagery: USDA NAIP. Some hole outlines © OpenStreetMap contributors.
All course guides →- #10 of 198 · Hardest golf courses by slope rating
- #37 of 221 · Longest golf courses by yardage
Want this for your own course?
The map below is a real maps.golf embed — the same interactive 3D map a visitor sees dropped directly into The Wilderness at Fortune Bay's own website.