The Links of North Dakota

The Links of North Dakota sits in the northwestern corner of the state near Ray, a small community in Williams County roughly thirty miles from the Montana border. Designed by Stephen Kay and opened in the early 2000s, the course occupies rolling prairie terrain characteristic of this agricultural region, where the landscape transitions between cultivated farmland and native grassland. The setting offers expansive views across open country, with few trees and exposure to the prevailing winds that sweep across the northern Great Plains. Kay's design works with the natural contours of the land, incorporating the site's existing elevation changes into a routing that emphasizes ground game options and firm playing conditions typical of links-inspired layouts. The course features wide fairways and large, undulating greens that reward strategic positioning and creative shot-making. Fescue grasses frame many holes, reinforcing the visual connection to traditional links golf while suiting the region's climate and maintenance practices. The Links of North Dakota represents a relatively rare example of a full-length regulation course in this sparsely populated part of the state, where golf facilities are few and often modest in scale. The club serves both local residents and travelers drawn to the area's oil industry, which has shaped the region's economy and demographics in recent decades. The course provides a distinctive golfing experience in an isolated setting, where the remoteness and prairie character define much of the appeal.