I have reached the point with the state of Minnesota where I am ready to declare my top 10 golf courses. Most of the top tier golf hovers around the Minneapolis St Paul area, but the entire state offers plenty of golf goodness, particularly as you head into northern Minnesota.
I looked at each one of these golf courses with a keen eye. I stared at them straight on, upside down, and even tossed em around a bit to make sure that this top 10 list was well shaken out. The competition was tight and after the dust had settled, there was very little difference between the #1 course on this list and the #10 course, a true mark of a top tier golf state.
Each golf course below has received two bullet points describing highlights that should receive special consideration if you are planning a visit.
10. Northland Country Club - Duluth, MN
The views of Lake Superior will do a great job of distracting you from all of the 3 putts that you will undoubtedly have on these Donald Ross greens. The greens slope hard as the course winds its way up the hillside and then turns around to give the golfer uninterrupted views of Lake Superior. Even though Northland is only 6,825 yards from the back tees, there is still significant challenge for all skill levels.
Lunch or drinks from the clubhouse balcony is a must. A quality spot to watch golfers come into 18 green and place “will he 3 putt” bets with your buddies.
The Portland Matle Shoppe in downtown Duluth receives a 10/10 post round pjkoenig recommendation.
9. Minneapolis Golf Club - Minneapolis, MN
Willie Park and Donald Ross have teamed up to provide some of the finest golden age golf in the Minneapolis area. With a recent regrass project being completed, all fairways, greens, and tee boxes have been brought up to modern standards with bent grass.
Easy drive from downtown Minneapolis
Minneapolis has provided a fun and challenging golf experience since 1916. The course is a definitive example that good course design can be timeless.
8. The Classic at Maddens Resort - Brainerd, MN
The 3rd green on The Classic from behind the trees
Designed by Course Superintendent, Scott Hoffman, the Classic is one of the finest options for public golf in the state of Minnesota. The course seamlessly winds through towering oaks and finds it’s way right up to the water’s edge one several of Minnesota’s “10,000” lakes.
The 3rd green almost feels like it should be under water. With one of the most unique approaches in the state, the 3rd hole is scenic, strategic and fun.
The golf bridge scene at The Classic is one of the strongest in the entire midwest.
7. Hazeltine National - Chaska, MN
As the future site of the 2029 Ryder Cup, Hazeltine is the only golf club in the USA that has been selected to host the Ryder Cup for a second time. This Robert Trent Jones design is the reigning champion when it comes to tournament golf in Minnesota.
During the 2002 PGA Championship, I climbed a camera pole to get a good view of the 18th green, I almost fell to my death as Rich Beam managed to hold off a charging Tiger Woods.
The meeting of the 10th and 16th greens is my favorite spot on the golf course. Both of these par 4’s are exceptionally good and the fact that they share a spot on the lake gives my heart joy.
The hot spot at Hazeltine is #10 and #16
6. Spring Hill Golf Course - Wayzata, MN
If I was handing out an award for the best fall golf course in America, Spring Hill might just take home the hardware. As is usually the case with Tom Fazio courses, Spring Hill is one of the most scenic in the entire state. The team actually had to move very little earth and the result is one of Fazio’s most natural feeling designs.
The par 5 13th is the best par 5 in Minnesota.
During my visit to Spring Hill, I managed to accomplish the bookend birdie feat. With birdies on #1 and #18, I filled the middle of the round with heartbreak and devastation.
5. The Minikahda Club - Minneapolis, MN
With striking views of downtown, not only is this Willie Watson/Donald Ross design a favorite amongst local golfers, but it also has a long and storied history. The club hosted the US Open in 1916 when Chick Evans became the third amateur ever to win the golf tournament. Chick would later finish runner up to Bobby Jones when Minikahda hosted the 1927 US Amateur.
Founded in 1898, Minikahda is the oldest country club west of the Mississippi.
The club was originally founded by a group of picnickers that took a particular liking to the land just above Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun). I would picnic here any day of the week.
Uptown and Downtown Minneapolis are just a stone’s throw away from Minikahda.
4. White Bear Yacht Club - Dellwood, MN
The 17th hole at White Bear Yacht is one of the best par 3’s in Minnesota.
Not only is the fun meter wildly high at White Bear Yacht Club, every other meter is also off of the charts. The downside is that the golf course is consistently under appreciated and under recognized. The Willie Watson/Donald Ross course design has magnificent natural undulations that make the course interesting and unique at every turn. White Bear Yacht reminds me of other excellent courses like Yale and Greywalls that harness a similar usage of such topography.
There is a White Bear aiming statue for the blind tee shot on 18.
The tee shot on 12 is one of the most fun in Minnesota. The golfer plays their tee shot directly across Dellwood Road and down the fairway. Similar to the experience that the first hole at Cypress Point provides.
The White Bear “Marker” on 18.
The view from the 9th hole shows the modest golf shop.
3. The Quarry at Giants Ridge - Biwabik, MN
The 15th green at the Quarry course at Giants Ridge
This Quarry at Giants Ridge starts of slow and then immediately lets you know that it’s a serious contender on the 2nd hole. The Quarry doesn’t slow down afterwards and delivers a ton of variety and a plethora of shot options on almost every golf hole.
The 13th hole has been confirmed as one of Minneapolis’ greatest short par 4’s. There must be 12 different ways to play the golf hole and each one is just as fun as the next.
My personal favorite was the ninth hole. It’s short, scenic, and full of bogey traps.
The 2nd hole stands out as one of the states best par 5’s.
The short par 3 11th hole at The Quarry.
The deliciously good 9th hole at The Quarry.
2. Windsong Farms - Maple Plain, MN
The view from above “The Song”
GOLF SILO ALERT!
Golf in the state of Minnesota just doesn’t get much better than this. The property is completely void of housing distractions and every golf hole provides an opportunity to enjoy a world class view. You won’t find a pool or tennis courts at Windsong, it’s just pure golf at it’s finest. This John Fought/Tom Lehman design will quench even the thirstiest of golf nerds.
The golf silo at Windsong is the best golf silo in the state of Minnesota.
The course is aptly named. The wind can get whipping at Windsong.
1. Interlachen - Minneapolis, MN
The scene of the RGV Tour’s 500th birdie was a 40 foot birdie bomb on the 18th hole.
I looked for ways to do it, but I simply could not find any good reason to dethrone the golf course that has long been seen as the very best in The North Star State. No place embraces their history quite like Interlachen and there is plenty of history to embrace. The golf course was originally designed by Scottish golf professional, Willie Watson, in 1910. In 1921 Donald Ross arrived as the premier architect of his time and completed a full renovation of the golf course. His timeless design gave Interlachen national recognition and helped to secure the 1930 U.S. Open. Willie Kidd, Robert Trent Jones, Geoffrey Cornish, and Brian Silva have all touched the golf course since then, but the design remains predominantly Donald “Mother Effing” Ross. Few architects earn the affectionate “Mother Effing” middle name moniker here on pjkoenig.com but Donald is one of them.
Interlachen means between two lakes in German.
During 2018’s RGV Tour, I arrived at the golf course with officially 499 tour birdies. I waited until the very last second to make birdie #500 on the 18th hole by running in an unlikely 50 foot birdie bomb. My caddy, Kayleigh, who had been waiting patiently for birdie #500 to happen and I celebrated like we had just won the US Open.
The clubhouse is almost as good as the golf course itself. Be sure to spend some time inside if you have the chance to visit the club.
Did I miss a course that is top 10 worthy? Do you have a serious gripe? Let your opinions fly in the comments.