Lehman Design Group is nearing completion of a 45-hole golf project at Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Work has involved turning the resort’s two 18-hole courses – Bobby’s Legacy and Dutch Legacy – into a revised 27-hole layout named The Dutch and a new 18-hole course called Lehman Legacy.

Contractor Duininck Golf has carried out the renovations, with Lehman Legacy expected to open for member play on 1 September.

“Our priority is focused on giving every single golfer the best possible experience, every day,” said Eric Peterson, general manager at Cragun’s Resort. “There were so many teeing areas that made for better green complexes and vice versa. The playing corridors feel so much more expansive now on most of the renovated holes. It’s the same beautiful land, just used so very differently.

“Dreams do come true. But sometimes the reality is better than the dream.”

Tom Lehman’s design team has expanded playing corridors by clearing trees and changing the location of landing areas.

“We wanted to dramatically improve playability along with building something completely new,” said Jack Wawro, director of golf at Cragun’s Resort. “What we now have is a really amazing offering, where arguably some of the best land on the property wasn’t even being used for golf before.”

Jacob Cooper, project superintendent at Duininck Golf, said: “Tom Lehman likes to focus on keeping his key features off parallel lines. He’ll go to the turning point on a hole and make sure all visual lines are broken up both ways, so the overall appearance is more natural.”

Cragun will host the PGA Tour Canada’s 2022 CRMC Championship on its Lehman Legacy course from 25 to 28 August.