Leonard Country Club, previously named Leonard Sand Hills Golf Course is a Semi-Private, 9 hole golf course located in Leonard, North Dakota, an easy drive from Fargo west on I-94 to Casselton, then 15 minutes south on county road 18.
Leonard Country Club Golf Course first opened for play in 1960
The course at Leonard Country Club is very scenic. It was built in a natural setting without disturbing any of the natural surroundings. The fairways are wide open, and the greens are medium in size and speed. The terrain varies from rolling to hilly, and there is a long creek flowing throughout the course that comes into play on several holes. The course is well protected by the many large established trees in the sand hills of North Dakota.
#1 – 421 Yards – Par 4. Very challenging opening hole with the signature tree located right in the center of the fairway. Out of Bounds left & a lateral hazard right of the green makes a par a great score on any day.
#2 – 485 Yards – Par 5. Many say this is the most difficult hole on the course. It is a risk-reward hole with a creek running down the left side & through the fairway. If you hit a good tee shot, you can go over the creek on the second shot. However, with any wind or a short tee shot, a lay-up shot is required. The lay-up shot is very difficult as the fairway narrows & slopes towards the water. Finally, a narrow green with a great deal of slope is the final destination. You either love it or hate it, but it is definitely a challenge.
#3 – 258 Yards – Par 4. It sounds like an easy birdie on paper, but this hole gets a lot of people. It gets really tight by the green with nowhere to bail out. If you miss the green it will most likely be a penalty stroke, and even if you hit it straight it still has a very small sloped green to navigate. Great “Scramble” hole!!!
#4 – 401 Yards – Par 4. This is a tough hole. You tee off blind over a hill with a dog-leg left. You have to decide if you want to try cut the corner or bail to the right. There are several trees and a lateral hazard to the left, as well as a row of trees on the right. Even with a good drive this is a very tough green to hit as it small & sloped. (#1 Handicap Hole)
#5 – 200 Yards – Par 3. This is a very difficult Par 3. It is long and can be a bear with any cross winds or in your face. The hole provides a visual dilemma as you tee from an elevated position. You have to pick the right club and make a solid confident swing.
#6 – 530 Yards – Par 5. This hole is all about the drive. If you play tips, you are hitting through a narrow shoot with out of bounds on the left and steep sloped hills on the right. If you nail a good tee shot down the middle, birdie is in play. A poor drive and big numbers are possible. The second shot provides ample room to the right to bail out, but the green is small and tricky.
#7 – 319 Yards – Par 4. This is a fun hole that has a ravine that runs through it right in front of the green. Most people lay-up and play for a good approach shot. A “Big-Hitter” can go for the green, but there is a sand trap that protects the front, and the ravine has long rough that is tough to hit from. Also, over the back is “Dead”. Finally, there is an out-of-bounds along the entire left side, making an accurate tee shot very important. (Coffin Corner-These last 3 holes can make or break your round.)
#8 – 140 Yards – Par 3. You need a good tee shot. The back left falls off with a steep hill, and there are large pine trees right and left. You can birdie with a solid tee shot, but it is a tricky green to hit as wind can become a factor on club selection.
#9 – 278 Yards – Par 4. Leonard Country Club has a fun closing hole!!! You can drive the green with a perfect drive, but you have to hit up hill over the creek & trees with a dog-leg left. Even with a drive on the green it still does not mean birdie. This is a large sloped green that has delivered many 3 putts.