Coming to 3M Open? Experience Victory

Director of Golf at Victory Links, Scott Roth, knew by age 14 what he wanted to do in life. But, it wasn’t until he got a college internship at Disney World that Roth learned HOW to do what he wanted to do in life.

Victory Links Director of Golf Scott Roth

“My wife actually interned there before I did, and she loved it so much that she told me that I HAD to do it, so I did it, and I would recommend it to anybody, it was amazing,” Roth said. “The work ethic and the sense of responsibility that you leave with are second to none.”

While you won’t see Roth buzzing around Victory Links wearing mouse ears, his Disney experience still impacts his work and the mission at Victory Links in a very real way.

“In those few short months it was instilled in me those qualities of doing it better, doing it best, of going above and beyond, and I’ve taken that with me to every job I’ve ever worked at and now I’ve brought it here,” Roth said.

Like Disney World, Victory Links was originally created for and geared toward kids. Launched as the National Youth Golf Center, Victory Links is the only PGA Tour designed public course in the state of Minnesota. And while it’s among the busiest course in the state when it comes to youth golfers, Roth believes Victory Links is uniquely positioned to serve any golfer.

“People go out there and they’re amazed that it’s not a youth course, or an executive, or a pitch and putt. They’re like, ‘holy cow!’” Roth said. “But, with the 6 sets of tees, you could bring your granddaughter or grandson out, and you could have a tour player playing with an 8-year-old, and it works out just fine.”

These are exciting times at Victory Links as the course will host the pre-qualifying and qualifying events leading up to the inaugural 3M Open. That means hundreds of golfers from around the world will test the track at Victory Links, hoping for an opportunity to make their PGA dream come true.

“Who knows? Maybe somebody shows up for the pre-qualfier, they shoot well enough to make it into the Monday qualifier, then they go across the street to the TPC to the 3M Open, and they just excel there and all of a sudden their dream just unfolds right in front of them!” Roth said. “So, even to be a footnote to that is exciting for us, here.”

A late winter coating of ice wreaked havoc on the greens of many local courses this year but Victory Links came through unscathed. Now, Roth wants to encourage those who are planning to watch golf at the TPC Twin Cities to venture over and discover this hidden gem next door.

Three golfers play hole 11 at Victory Links (NSC).

“We’re hoping that two weeks prior to the 3M Open, we’re trying to provide plenty of open play to accommodate not only the people from the Twin Cities who have never even thought about this place, but if you’re from out-state, we’re trying to give you a clear shot at getting a round in here, to see how magical this place really is. I mean, it’s breath-taking in spots,” Roth said.

If the condition of the course doesn’t take your breath away, Roth is hoping that discounts aimed at families and at twilight will do the trick. It’s all about providing value and turning first time visitors into regular customers.

“We run everything through three pillars: simplicity, value and ‘is it right for our customers?’” Roth said. “We want to make sure that if you pay your hard-earned money, and you do something out here, that when you finish you say, ‘yeah, that was a good value,’ and it’s critical to us that you get that. I want to make sure that you get in your car and you say, ‘Now, that was fun.’”

Kind of like going to Disney World.