Best Golf Courses in Minnesota

Minnesota is famously nicknamed the land of ten thousand lakes and has been consistently ranked among the top destinations for golfers.

It’s the only state that has ever hosted the Curtis Cup,  the Walker Cup, and all 13 USGA National Championships.

The 2008 U.S. Women’s Open, 2009, 2002, 1959, 1954, and 1932  PGA Championships are other championships ever held in Minnesota golf courses.

Whether you are a newbie or a professional golfer, you will easily find the nicest golf courses in Minnesota.

From the river valleys to rugged forests plus the suburban and city golf course, you will find the option that meets your needs and preferences.

List of the Best Golf Courses in Minnesota

Overall, the nicest golf courses in Minnesota include the following:

1. Hazeltine National Golf Club: “Best in Championship History”
2. Interlachen Country Club: “Best in Timeless Elegance”
3. Spring Hill Golf Club: “Best in Natural Challenge”
4. The Wilderness at Fortune Bay: “Best in Scenic Splendor”
5. Madden’s on Gull Lake (Classic): “Best in Rugged Beauty”
6. Giants Ridge (Quarry): “Best in Wilderness Adventure”
7. TPC Twin Cities: “Best in Palmer’s Legacy”
8. Minnesota Valley Country Club: “Best in Tradition and Prestige”
9. White Bear Yacht Club: “Best in Lakeside Charm”
10. Midland Hills Country Club: “Best in Rediscovered Heritage”
11. Olympic Hills Golf Club: “Best in Championship Prestige”
12. StoneRidge: “Best in Prairie Majesty”
13. Dacotah Ridge: “Best in Prairie Oasis”
14. Legends Club: “Best in Legendary Play”
15. Chaska Town Course: “Best in Championship Quality”
16. Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake (Dutch 27): “Best in Woodland Tranquility”

1. Hazeltine National Golf Club

Hazeltine National Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones and later remodeled by his son Rees Jones, faced controversies initially.

It underwent significant changes due to criticisms over the years. Despite this, it hosted prestigious championships like the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup.

2. Interlachen Country Club

Interlachen Country Club, established in 1911, gained prominence when Bobby Jones won the 1930 U.S. Open, a part of the game’s first Grand Slam.

Known for its hilly, tree-lined design, the course has small greens and numerous bunkers.

It hosted significant women’s professional golf events such as the 2002 Solheim Cup and the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open.

In 2023, Andrew Green commenced a significant restoration of the course originally designed by Willie Watson in 1922.

3. Spring Hill Golf Club

Spring Hill Golf Club, a private course in Wayzata, boasts a natural design by Tom Fazio.

While the course utilizes the existing rolling topography it features isolated holes, thick forests, and stunning maple tree displays in the fall.

The challenging layout of Spring Hill Golf Club includes tight fairways, marshlands, and elevated greens. That is one of Fazio’s remarkable designs.

4. The Wilderness at Fortune Bay

Situated 90 miles north of Duluth, The Wilderness at Fortune Bay is a 2004 creation by architect Jeff Brauer.

Carved from pristine wooded terrain along Lake Vermilion, the course features undulating landscapes, rock outcroppings, and greenside lakes.

It offers multiple option-laden holes, such as the 540-yard par-five 16th with upper and lower fairways divided by a granite ridge.

5. Madden’s on Gull Lake (Classic)

In the mid-1990s, Madden’s Resort in Brainerd commissioned superintendent Scott Hoffman to build a premier layout. The result was The Classic, established in 1996.

This rugged, hilly course is known for its liquid-filled gambler’s holes, including the 383-yard par-four 3rd with a peninsula green and the 418-yard par-four 5th with an all-carry approach.

6. Giants Ridge (Quarry)

Carved from a former rock and sand quarry within an old iron ore mine, Giants Ridge offers a rugged challenge in the northeastern Minnesota wilderness.

Architect Jeff Brauer incorporated towering sand piles, cavernous pits, and vast sand waste areas into the course.

Notable features include the drivable par-four 13th hole, offering three strategic choices for accessing the massive green.

7. TPC Twin Cities

Built on a former sod farm, TPC Twin Cities in Blaine features an Arnold Palmer design. Overall, this course is known for playing among native prairie grasses and includes 27 bodies of water.

Notable is the par-5 18th hole, guarded by a large lake on the right side of the fairway and the front of the green.

8. Minnesota Valley Country Club

Minnesota Valley Country Club in Bloomington is renowned as one of the top courses in Minnesota, as reflected in expert reviews and rankings.

9. White Bear Yacht Club

White Bear Yacht Club’s first nine holes were laid near the shore of White Bear Lake. Donald Ross is believed to have later added nine holes and remodeled the course.

The course features roly-poly land with slopes and ravines, untouched by modern alterations, offering visually and psychologically challenging gameplay.

Under Jim Urbina’s guidance, the surrounding forest canopy has been trimmed to highlight the course’s enthralling undulations.

Midland Hills Country Club lacked records of its original layout. In 2018, superintendent Mike Manthey discovered a hidden 1921 irrigation map, revealing Raynor’s vision for the course.

Using this map, designer Jim Urbina recreated and refined old templates like the Biarritz, Road, and Eden. That led to significant improvements and a first-time ranking in the Best in State.

11. Olympic Hills Golf Club

Architect Ron Prichard transformed Olympic Hills Golf Club’s existing layout making it feature among the nicest golf courses in Minnesota.

Recent renovation work by Tyler Rae focused on clearing trees to improve sightlines and tweaking green complexes for less severity.

The course boasts intriguing greensites of various shapes and sizes with a diverse range of holes.

12. StoneRidge

StoneRidge, located twenty-three miles east of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, is a Bobby Weed design that opened in 2000.

Known for its open, treeless layout, the course features shaved-down chipping areas and native prairie grasses.

Notable is the 511-yard par-five 11th, known as the “Barn Hole,” which demands a precise tee shot between an old white barn and a pair of oaks.

13. Dacotah Ridge

Dacotah Ridge is situated 106 miles southwest of Minneapolis.

It was opened in 2000 and has a prairie layout with moderately rolling terrain, native grasses, scattered trees, a 14-acre lake, and the winding Wabasha Creek.

The nearby Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel offers post-round entertainment.

14. Legends Club

The Legends Club holds top-10 status with swift-flowing creeks, wildlife-filled wetlands, multiple ponds, and a 30-acre lake.

This creation southwest of Minneapolis offers jumbo-size bunkers, wide fairways, and large greens, providing visual appeal and strategic interest throughout.

15. Chaska Town Course

Chaska Town Course features a mostly open, prairie-style layout with oaks, wetlands, and tall fescues, the course offers quality and value. Notably, Billy Horschel shot an 11-under-par 60 here during qualifying rounds.

16. Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake (Dutch 27)

Dutch 27 at Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake comprises the Red, White, and Blue nines.

The course features Lehman bunkering and hosts the PGA Tour Canada’s CRMC Championship.

It’s also set next to Stephens Lake amid a wooded sanctuary.

Final Thoughts

Minnesota truly is a golfer’s dream destination. The nicest golf courses in Minnesota have scenic views and meet the standards of international championship games.

From historic classics like Hazeltine National Golf Club to newer gems like Spring Hill Golf Club, there’s something for every golfer here.

If you’re chasing professional golf play amidst nature,  pack up your clubs, hit the fairways, and experience the magic of golfing in Minnesota.

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