Black Bear Golf Complex

Backus sits in the heart of Cass County, deep in Minnesota's lake country, where the landscape is defined by glacial terrain, dense stands of pine and birch, and more named lakes than most states can count. This is classic north-woods Minnesota — the kind of place where the air smells of pine resin and the pace of life slows to match the surroundings. Golf in this part of the state tends to feel unhurried and unpretentious, woven into the fabric of a region built around outdoor recreation.

Black Bear Golf Complex draws its name straight from the wildlife that shares this corner of Minnesota, and the "complex" designation suggests a facility built to serve a broad range of golfers — from serious players working through a full 18 to families and newcomers looking for an approachable round.

For visitors making the drive up from the Twin Cities or staying at one of the countless lakeside resorts nearby, a round here is less about the scorecard and more about being outside in one of the Upper Midwest's most naturally striking settings.