Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Minnesota’s Cragun’s Resort opens Lehman 18 course

Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota, officially opened its new Lehman 18 course for play.

Lehman Design Group has overseen a 45-hole project at the resort, which hosts PGA Tour Canada’s CRMC Championship. As well as the new Lehman 18 course, named after the firm’s principal and Open champion Tom Lehman, the existing Robert Trent Jones, Jr-designed Bobby’s Legacy and Dutch Legacy courses are being transformed into a 27-hole layout called The Dutch. Construction work is being handled by Duininck Golf.

“Having grown up 90 minutes from here, it’s great to return to be a part of this resort’s golf legacy,” said Lehman, who has led the project alongside his design associate Chris Brands.

The Lehman 18 course – which has actually been in play since autumn 2022, following a soft opening – is almost 7,500 yards and has been laid out within a 1,000-acre wooded area. Its holes run around several natural wetland areas and alongside Stephens Lake, which comes into play most notably at the sixteenth, which requires (from the back tees) a 170-yard carry over the water.

The course features bunkers with revetted sod walls, in contrast to the fescue edges that are found on The Dutch.

Lehman highlighted the 627-yard par-five fourth as one of his favourite holes, where he advises avoiding the trio of bunkers that guard the right side of the fairway. Another huge bunker protects the green.

The Blue and White nines on The Dutch are already open and work on the third (Red) nine is now in progress and on track to open in 2024. The Dutch will host the CRMC Championship in 2024.

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  • Cragun's Resort
    Cragun’s Resort

    Tom Lehman tees off at the official opening of the Lehman 18 at Cragun’s Resort in Minnesota

  • Cragun's Resort
    Cragun’s Resort

    The 627-yard par-five fourth on the Lehman 18

  • Cragun's Resort
    Cragun’s Resort

    The course plays alongside Stephens Lake

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Cragun’s Resort
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