Old Barn Resort Course, Minnesota, United States

3soltrekker 5:00 PM Aug 25, 2011

Old Barn Resort needs owner/manager attention, not better employees
When I have traveled outside the U.S. solo, I've liked staying at hostels. Here in the U.S. solo travelers more often get stuck paying for the invisible travel mate because a room is a room is a room. Anyway, hostels sometimes supply camaraderie, too. However, MN has all of about 3 hostels I know of, and one of them is at the Old Barn Resort, that also hosts camping, golf, and has the restaurant and bar in the barn. I have to agree with the others the showers at this place are god-awful (though the water pressure and temp are fine). Apparently, the owner has invested in the golf course and swimming pool instead of the bath facilities. The bath facilities are shared by hostelers and campers, and I would not want to stay there when the place is full. I saw the young woman who cleans the hostel early morning and I don't think it's her fault. It would be hard to get the bathroom facilities in shape no matter how hard you cleaned. In fact, the hostel room I stayed in was itself clean. The outside door was not locked at night though and I don't know if there was an attendant. There was a deadbolt lock on the room door; still, hostels should have attendants, just like motels do. About the restaurant service I write contrary to the other reviewer. The cook, whom I'd talked to by phone early morning, because it's apparently up to her to answer and take reservations, too, was still cooking at supper time. And, she was good at what she had to work with, and fast! The food was served piping hot. The bartender/waitperson was the only other staff there, and she was serving drinks and food, plus registering guests and fielding questions, all of which kept her very busy. Her jokes to customers were slightly edgy, but clever. One guy of seven people at a table was rudely calling to her across the room whilst she was busy. But she wasn't dawdling. And, while it took some time between being seated and ordering (though they had two rounds of drinks in between) after that table of seven ordered their meals, they got their food quickly. If that place had been any busier, I'd say the problem was not the employees but the management. Two staffers shouldn't have to handle all those functions and activities.

2Dougds9 5:00 PM Aug 3, 2015

Not up to par.
We played the course and found it scenic however the layout was atypical, the condition of the course was below average and the cost was not commensurate with the value. Tee boxes were ok on some holes and poor on others. Some fairways were not mowed and the greens were small and extremely slow. Some greens were not shaped well to receive shots. There was no information to let you know if the pins were front, back or middle. There were also no yardages given to water hazards off the tee. There are some very scenic holes, but the frustrations of playing the course overshadowed the atmosphere. I would not play this course again.