With more than 400 golf courses to play when visiting Minnesota, the choice will be determined by the type of courses that suit your game, or a variety of designs that increase the challenge.
Selecting the 10 best golf courses in Minnesota, is a time consuming, yet pleasurable business.
This task has been eased with a collaboration with TheGrint, our favorite mobile app that helps golfers track their handicap and stats. They have collected golf course reviews from millions of real golf rounds from real golfers.
Ranking in order 1 to 10
- Hazeltine National Golf Club
- Maddens on Gull Lake | The Classic
- The Minikahda Club | Minikahda
- Windsong Farm Golf Club
- Somerby Golf Club | Somerby
- Olympic Hills Golf Club
- Deacons Lodge Golf Club
- TPC Twin Cities
- Golden Valley Golf & Country Club | Golden Valley
- Midland Hills Golf Club
1. Hazeltine National Golf Club | Hazeltine National
- Site Link
- Location: Chaska, Minnesota.
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,015 meters off the Tips and 5,686 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 367-meter par 4 16th is the signature hole and the toughest on the course.
The fairway moves around Hazeltine Lake on the right and an outlet stream protects the left.
The peninsula green has no bunkers but requires precision on the approach.
Host to many of the major tournaments in the USA, this course was built to test the golf skills of the best players in the world.
The fairways are bordered by woods and many landing areas are pinched between some of the 100 bunkers on the layout.
Strategy and accuracy are required to tame this track.
Play it if you get the chance.
2. Maddens on Gull Lake | The Classic
- Site Link
- Location: Brainerd, Minnesota.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,492 meters off the Tips and 5,541 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 406-meter par 4 11th is the signature hole and the approach shot plays to a green over water on the right. 5 bunkers protect the rear and another bunker lies in wait short right.
A choice of 63 holes and 4 different courses are available.
This public classic course is a challenging layout carved through tall oaks.
A traditional course that hosts wetlands, ponds, creeks, and bunkers as you weave through the layout. Many wooden bridges enhance the beauty as they cross the course on 8 holes.
Judge the distance and hit it straight to keep your ball dry, and your score intact.
3. The Minikahda Club | Minikahda
- Site Link
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,229 meters off the Tips and 4,788 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
7 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 165-meter par 3 11th is the signature hole and plays over a pond from the tee.
Bunkers guard the green in the front and left.
The club and the course are steeped in tradition and the rolling forested terrain makes for a testing yet enjoyable fun outing.
The layout has been revamped many times and is a popular venue for many local golfers and tourists alike.
The collection of par 3s are impressive.
4. Windsong Farm Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Maple Plain, Minnesota.
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,537meters off the Tips and 5,765 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
3 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 304-meter par 4 3rd is my choice of signature hole.
It plays across the water from the tee, which continues down the left side.
The narrow fairway is protected on the right by bunkers, but a risk and reward hole at its best.
This links-style course has plenty of water and bunkers to curb the big hitter that only sees the wide-open spaces.
It feels like playing golf on a remote farm with a tranquil setting.
Risk and reward holes will excite the golfer keen on hitting the driver.
5. Somerby Golf Club | Somerby
- Site Link
- Location: Byron, Minnesota.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,590 meters off the Tips and 4,717 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole – No signature hole was established, but the layout has some incredibly challenging holes that could easily wear the mantle.
Somerby golf course with lush gently rolling hills, interspersed with clumps of trees, wetlands, and meandering creeks, is a “golden age” design.
Several lakes come into play and this daunting track will test the very best the golfer can produce on the day.
The Scottish-style links has deep bunkers and multiple undulating greens and are described by many as a “brute”.
Play from a tee that suits your game.
6. Olympic Hills Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,764 meters off the Tips and 4,571 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 162-meter par 3 4th is my choice of signature hole and although not long, presents a testing shot.
Playing slightly downhill over a pond to a large green, where the left pin position can be practically ungettable.
Olympic Hills has been described by many as tough.
The layout has some great holes that require precision and the fescue-lined fairways are generous, but miss them at your peril.
Water is ever-present and the course is a strategist’s delight.
7. Deacons Lodge Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Pequot Lakes, Minnesota.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,378 meters off the Tips and 5,568 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 183-meter par 3 17th is the signature hole and is an all carry par 3.
Bunkers front right and left protect the green and the Lake lurks at the back.
Designed by Arnold Palmer and named after his Dad, the course flows through wetlands, forests, and lakes.
Skill at playing from sloping lies will benefit the golfer and length, accuracy and good shot-making will keep a good scorecard.
8. TPC Twin Cities
- Site Link
- Location: Blaine, Minnesota.
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,793 meters off the Tips and 4,059 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The risk and reward 543-meter par 5 6th is my choice of signature hole.
Attacking and playing over the right side deep fescue grass off the tee, will shorten the hole considerably.
The approach to the wide green is across a pond and requires further strategy.
A wonderful golf hole.
TPC Twin Cities is an Arnold Palmer design that has memorable and great holes to challenge all skill levels.
Some of the fairways are narrow as they wind through the condos, and not too many flat lies await. Water also plays its part.
Host to the Championship Tour 3M tournament every summer, any opportunity to play should be accepted.
Play from a tee that suits your game.
9. Golden Valley Golf & Country Club | Golden Valley
- Site Link
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- Par: 73
- Length: 6,402 meters off the Tips and 5,509 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 169-meter par 3 17th is my choice of signature hole and plays downhill to the green.
A pond guards the front right and a large bunker protects the left. Either should be avoided and the testing green slopes steeply from back to front.
Play below the hole.
An old-school design, that is surrounded by houses and a railway track cuts through the property.
Straight forward golf that plays to fairways framed by trees and the fast greens present many false fronts.
A risk and reward approach off the tee and the approach shot is a feature of the track.
A good fun track that will be enjoyed by all.
10. Midland Hills Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: St Paul, Minnesota.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,277 meters off the Tips and 5,545 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
4 tee options available.
Signature Hole – No Signature hole was established and the restoration program set to incorporate most of the original layout of 100 years ago, should produce many signature holes.
Midland Hills golf course has undergone a major revamp in 2020 and the restoration program was initiated by an old map that showed the original planned layout a century ago.
An old classic-style layout is envisaged and the members anticipate something special.
Other courses outside the top 10
1. The Quarry at Giants Ridge | The Quarry
- Site Link
- Location: Biwabik, Minnesota.
PLAYER RATING
This course has got it all.
Elevated tees, forced carries, undulations, blind approaches, trench bunkers, and huge waste areas.
A great collection of par 5s.
2. Interlachen Country Club | Interlachen
- Site Link
- Location: Edina, Minnesota.
PLAYER RATING
Rolling terrain, with wide tree-lined fairways and plenty of water, are features of the course.
The small raised greens require precision target golf.
3. Stone Ridge Golf Club | Stone Ridge
- Site Link
- Location: Stillwater, Minnesota.
PLAYER RATING
Fashioned as an inland links, with rolling fairways framed by fescue and Kentucky bluegrass.
Large undulating greens are protected by odd-shaped bunkers.
A tough layout.
Final Thoughts
If undecided on where to play on these magnificent layouts, check out the Minnesota golf guides to assist you to make the final decision.
Don’t delay and make the play!
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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
