— It has been a long-time coming for Mark Haugejorde.
His dream — that started during a car ride on May 22, 2021 — is reality.
As of August 20, all 18 holes are playable at
.
“It’s a bit surreal, actually,” said Haugejorde, president of Tepetonka Club LLC and a New London-Spicer High School grad in 1974. He was the co-state boys golf champion in 1973 with Northfield’s Brad Cook and Albert Lea’s Mark Knutson. “It’s been a journey, but our members are thrilled, and that’s what makes it all worth it.”
Tepetonka, which can be translated to big tent, is the first private, destination golf resort in Minnesota and is located in the heart of Lake Andrew Township.
Course layout for the 18-hole and 9-hole courses at Tepetonka Club in rural New London.
Contributed / Tepetonka Club
It is on 228 acres, which includes a short course coming in spring 2027, and plays as a par-70 across 6,765 yards.
The course features 100 feet of elevation changes, cedar trees and the meandering Shakopee Creek — which comes into play on six holes — in rural New London,
.
Up to 90 golfers can play at Tepetonka Club each day, Haugejorde said.
Members can either fly into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport or Willmar Municipal Airport.
“It has exceeded my highest expectations and they were very high,” Haugejorde said. “We’ve tied so many of the fairways together — it is a spectacular landscape to enjoy while you’re in the middle of playing golf.”
All the other on-course facilities remain under construction, including the nine-hole course, clubhouse and lodging.
Tepetonka Club, which features 100 feet of elevation changes, cedar trees and the meandering Shakopee Creek, opened all 18 holes for play on August 20 in rural New London.
Contributed / Tepetonka Club
CBS Television sportscaster Jim Nantz, Haugejorde’s friend and former men’s golf teammate the University of Houston, is a design consultant for the short course called “The Gjallarhorn.”
“Jim is one of one,” said Haugejorde, who played 15 holes with Nantz on July 24. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have him as we’ve seen this come to life.”
There are two lodges — Wakanwi and Skol — and 36 total rooms will be available next year between its event centers and villas, Haugejorde noted.
Wakanwi, meaning sacred view, is in tribute to Native Americans. Skol, meaning cheers, parallels with the Minnesota Vikings connection.
“We too will blow the horn and invite people to come inside and have some fun after their golf,” Haugejorde said.
Another lodging option will soon be Tepetonka Ranch, a four-season, off-course lodge for members and guests, which is the temporary clubhouse.
Tepetonka Club, which is a two-hour drive from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, opened all 18 holes for play on August 20 in rural New London.
Contributed / Tepetonka Club
It features both a main house and an upper cabin that will be available for booking starting October 16.
There is also Tepetonka Beach Club, a property on Green Lake’s shorefront with luxury accommodations.
Members and their guests will also be able to enjoy sporting clays, pheasant hunts, hiking and trail adventures, hobby farm activities, winter sports and bonfires and spa and wellness during their stays at Tepetonka Club.
“Never in my wildest imagination did I think there would be such an incredible piece of land so close to New London-Spicer that would turn into something that is going to be an award-winning golf experience,” Haugejorde said. “It complements what was started where I grew up at Little Crow Golf Resort.”
He is following in his father’s footsteps.
Geoff Ogilvy, one of OCM Golf’s leaders who was the U.S. Open champion in 2006, tees off at Tepetonka Club in rural New London.
Contributed / Tepetonka Club
Tepetonka, in homage to Tepetonka Hotel,
which operated on the north shore of Green Lake in the early 1900s
, is expected to employ 50-60 people in-season and roughly 20 full-time employees, according to Haugejorde.
Those employees will serve those with memberships,
, and any of their guests.
“We never want the course to be crowded,” Haugejorde said. “We also want people to be able to play fast.”
Two local companies — Duninick Golf, a nationwide brand which first developed Little Crow Country Club as a company, and Marcus Construction — are the general contractors for Tepetonka.
KemperSports, based out of Chicago, Illinois, will manage the club.
OCM Golf — led by Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead — designed the course. It is based out of Australia.
“That is the best decision I’ve made — was to bring on board a team from Australia that I’d never met, that had never been on site. It was during COVID — they were stuck in Australia — we did everything by Zoom,” Haugejorde said. “It has turned out to be incredible what they’ve done and they’ve risen to the top of the design firms in the country.”