While surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty in Minnesota, it’s impossible not to run into a golfer’s dream.
Beautiful hills, green forests, and calm water bodies make the region’s scenic beauty within the backdrop magnificent and relaxing.
However, Minnesota is special for golfing because of the landscape and unique opportunity to play on top-ranked public golf courses.
From a first-time golfer to a professional golfer, everybody in Minnesota will find something explicitly adorable.
The best public golf courses in Minnesota afford every opportunity for professionals and can accommodate the Sunday golfer who wants to play just for fun.
List of the Best Public Golf Courses in Minnesota
Below are 14 public golf courses in Minnesota that are a must-play. Try out whether you’re a local searching for a new golf course or a tourist who wants to enjoy an unforgettable day.
- The Quarry at Giants Ridge
- The Wilderness at Fortune Bay
- Madden’s on Gull Lake – The Classic
- Rush Creek Golf Club
- StoneRidge Golf Club
- The Legend at Giants Ridge
- Deacon’s Lodge
- Legends Club
- The Jewel Golf Club
- TPC Twin Cities
- Superior National at Lutsen
- Edinburgh USA
- Chaska Town Course
- Long Prairie Country Club
Detailed Review of the Best Public Golf Courses in Minnesota
1. The Quarry at Giants Ridge
- Location: Biwabik, Minnesota
- Length: 7,201 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Jeffrey D. Brauer
- Year Built: 2003
- Championships Hosted: Minnesota State High School League Championships, Minnesota Golf Association Championships, USGA Qualifying Events, NCAA Regional Tournaments, and Minnesota Section PGA Championships.
Giants Ridge, located in Biwabik, Minnesota, is one of the best public golf courses in the state and one of the best in the country.
Located in a sand and gravel mining site, the course has a difficult terrain with high slopes and well positioned bunkers located in a beautiful environment.
Golfers should expect the course to be hilly and have tight fairways and greens because of the elevation changes and the strategic bunkering on this course.
Furthermore, the course provides the most favorable conditions from mid May to mid September and therefore it’s the best time to visit if you are interested in golfing.
2. The Wilderness at Fortune Bay
- Location: Tower, Minnesota
- Length: 7,207 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Jeffrey D. Brauer
- Year Built: 2004
- Championships Hosted: Minnesota Golf Association Tournaments, USGA Qualifying Competitions, Minnesota Section PGA Events, National Native American Invitational Championships, and Fortune Bay Championship Tournament.
Some of the unique features of this course include its myriad of holes and scenic beauty, which put it among the best courses in Minnesota.
It is preferable to play from May to September since this is when the course is in its best state.
Since its official debut in 2004, The Wilderness has drawn rave reviews and has become one of the most respected courses in Minnesota.
3. Madden’s on Gull Lake – The Classic
- Location: Brainerd, Minnesota
- Length: 6,968 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Scott Hoffman
- Year Built: 1997
- Championships Hosted: Minnesota Golf Association Events, USGA Qualifying Matches, Minnesota Section PGA Tournaments, Women’s State Amateur Championships, and Junior Golf Association Competitions.
The head course at Madden’s on Gull Lake is well-kept. Ahain, this public golf course has narrow fairways, water coming into play on several holes, and well-placed sand traps.
The Madden’s on Gull Lake – The Classic course is recommended to be played from early spring up to the early autumn since the weather and the course conditions are ideal.
4. Rush Creek Golf Club
- Location: Maple Grove, Minnesota
- Length: 7,306 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Bob Cupp, John Fought
- Year Built: 1996
- Championships Hosted: U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship
Ideally, the Rush Creek Golf Club is very well-manicured and the surrounding landscape makes it more appealing to golf lovers.
It’s most ideal for playing golf when the weather is warm and the grass on the course is well-trimmed.
Water hazards, greens, and fairway bunkers are strategically positioned to present a challenge to the golfers.
5. StoneRidge Golf Club
- Location: Stillwater, Minnesota
- Length: 7,013 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Bobby Weed
- Year Built: 2000
- Championships Hosted: Minnesota Golf Association Tournaments, USGA Qualifying Matches, Minnesota Section PGA Events, Women’s State Amateur Championships and Junior Golf Association Competitions.
StoneRidge Golf Club in Stillwater is especially scenic from the middle of May to early October and gives great vistas of the Oklahoma countryside.
Located in Rocklin, StoneRidge was established in the year 2000 and ever since then it has been a favorite destination for golf lovers who want to have a tough and interesting time on the greens.
It nurtures several important events, including the Women’s State Amateur Championships and USGA Qualifying Matches.
6. The Legend at Giants Ridge
- Location: Biwabik, Minnesota
- Length: 6,930 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Jeffrey D. Brauer, Lanny Wadkins
- Year Built: 1997
- Championships Hosted: PGA Tour Events (including U.S. Open and PGA Championship), LPGA Tour Events, PGA Champions Tour Events, Amateur Championships, and Corporate and Charity Tournaments.
The Legend at Giants Ridge is another of the best golf courses in Minnesota that is actually open to the public.
It provides an entirely different environment and topographical configuration from what is presented in The Quarry.
This course guides the golfer through the Northwoods and offers an average Minnesota golfing experience.
7. Deacon’s Lodge
- Location: Breezy Point, Minnesota
- Length: 6,964 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Arnold Palmer
- Year Built: 1999
Deacon’s Lodge in Breezy Point is dedicated to Arnold Palmer’s father and has a very difficult course, wonderful views and well-groomed terrain.
This Palmer Signature Course is located in the Brainerd Lakes area and is a perfect example of the beautiful area and the great golfing experience.
The best time to play is during the later part of spring through the summer season or until the early autumn.
Players will encounter a hilly layout, water, and sand that present challenges that need mastery.
Deacon’s Lodge was established in the year 1999, and it has since then become a beacon of challenge and excitement in the hearts of golf lovers as a tribute to Arnold Palmer.
8. Legends Club
- Location: Prior Lake, Minnesota
- Length: 7,063 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Gill Miller
- Year Built: 2001
While The Quarry is unique and provides a different atmosphere from most courses, The Legend at Giants Ridge takes the golfer on a trip through the Northwoods.
This course has been designed by Jeffrey D. Brauer and Lanny Wadkins with thick stands, uneven terrains, and water hazards that makes this course distinct.
Ideally, it is advisable to play during summer when the natural playing field is at its best.
Since its inception in 1997, The Legend has been privileged to host several important events, including PGA Tour Events as well as Corporate and Charity Tournaments that have further enhanced the status of the course.
9. The Jewel Golf Club
- Location: Lake City, Minnesota
- Length: 7,050 yards
- Par: 71
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Hale Irwin
- Year Built: 2005
Located in Lake City, The Jewel Golf Club is a scenic course designed by three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin.
The course is set along the bluffs of the Mississippi River for stunning views but still promises a challenging layout.
With its rolling terrain, strategically placed bunkers, and water hazards, The Jewel provides a memorable golfing experience.
10. TPC Twin Cities
- Location: Blaine, Minnesota
- Length: 7,164 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Arnold Palmer, Tom Lehman
- Year Built: 2000
- Championships Hosted: 3M Open
TPC Twin Cities has been designed by Arnold Palmer and Tom Lehman and is an ideal place for golfing as it offers the right combination of challenge and fun.
The best time is during the summer, particularly at the time when the 3M Open is being held.
It’s important to note that the fairways, greens, water, and strategically placed bunkers are well-designed.
11. Superior National at Lutsen
- Location: Lutsen, Minnesota
- Length: 6,687 yards
- Par: 71
- Total Holes: 27
- Designer(s): Joel Goldstrand and Jeffrey D. Brauer (renovation)
- Year Built: 1991
Superior National at Lutsen offers a unique golfing experience with breathtaking Lake Superior and the Sawtooth Mountains views.
Joel Goldstrand and Jeffrey D. Brauer designed it to feature dramatic elevation changes, challenging bunkers, and beautiful water hazards.
It is a must-play for golfers visiting the North Shore.
12. Edinburgh USA
- Location: Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
- Length: 6,840 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones Jr.
- Year Built: 1987
This par-72 layout is a 6,900-yard, tree-lined course in Brooklyn Park designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. It features water hazards, wide fairways, and large greens.
Edinburgh, USA, is often referred to as a club with several professional events and is noted for its great playing surfaces and demanding layout.
13. Chaska Town Course
- Location: Chaska, Minnesota
- Length: 6,817 yards
- Par: 72
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Arthur Hills
- Year Built: 1997
It is a municipal golf course designed and styled to be as challenging and professional as the other private courses.
This course is close to one of the finest golfing facilities in the United States of America, the Hazeltine National Golf Club.
The Chaska Town Course has hilly landforms, sufficient water bodies, and strategically placed sand traps.
14. Long Prairie Country Club
- Location: Long Prairie, MN
- Length: 6,106 yards
- Par: 71
- Total Holes: 18
- Designer(s): Joel Goldstrand
- Year Built: 1960
- Championships Hosted: Local club tournaments
The Long Prairie Country Club is relatively easy to use and of moderate difficulty in the length of its layout.
However, the number of holes requires a rigorous approach. On the positive side, it has well-maintained green and friendly staff.
The Frequently Asked Questions About Best Public Golf Courses In Minnesota
According to the data, there are 505 golf courses in Minnesota, of which 349 are public, 111 municipal, and 45 private.
Minnesota, the state described as having the highest density of golfers in the country, is experiencing the decline of what seems to have been its favorite sport.
At least once per year, 652,000 people golfed in Minnesota, but this is a decreasing factor, and so is the number of courses in the state, according to KSTP.
It is stated that an 18-hole course with all short par 3s may require as few as 30 acres; an intermediate length or executive course with 18 holes of par 3s and 4s would require 75-100 acres, and a full-size par 72 may need 120-200 acres.
For beginners, you should select courses with nine holes or fewer or shorter tees.
Again, newbie golfers may have to avoid risky factors like water margins, sand traps, or dense lines of trees.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of best golf courses in Minnesota. All promise diversity in terms of designs and course features. Still, you will experience the state’s beautiful and exciting natural scenery.
Minnesota’s best golf courses are aimed at all levels of playing. So, be ready to enjoy yourself playing golf to the fullest.
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