Top 10 Golf Courses in Minnesota
Minnesota punches well above its weight in American golf. The Twin Cities metropolitan area alone contains several courses that rank among the finest in the Midwest, and the Iron Range in the northeast holds a genuine gem in Giants Ridge. The state's golf is defined by mature parkland corridors, deep glacial lakes visible from tee boxes, and the wind that rolls off the prairie with little obstruction. The season is compressed — serious play runs from late April through mid-October — which concentrates both the golfing population and the maintenance budget into months when the turf is at its best. Major championships have visited the state repeatedly, cementing its reputation as a destination for serious golf.
1. Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska
Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed Hazeltine in 1962 on instructions from the USGA to create a course that could host national championships. It has done so with distinction: three U.S. Opens (1970, 1991, and 2016), two U.S. Women's Opens, a PGA Championship, and two Ryder Cups (2016). The layout uses the shores of Lake Hazeltine as a natural boundary for several holes, with the par-3 16th playing directly toward the water. Remodeling work over the decades has kept the course contemporary without erasing Jones's original vision. Hazeltine is a private club; guest access is limited to member invitations and occasional charity events.
2. Interlachen Country Club, Edina
Donald Ross designed Interlachen in 1911, and the club's place in golf history was secured when Bobby Jones completed the Grand Slam at the 1930 U.S. Open held here. The parkland layout winds through a suburb of Minneapolis with Ross's characteristic crowned greens, shallow bunkers, and strategic bunkering that rewards positional play from the tee. The course has been sensitively updated while retaining its golden-age character. Interlachen hosted the 2008 U.S. Women's Open and remains one of the most respected private clubs in the upper Midwest.
3. Windsong Farm Golf Club, Independence
Tom Fazio designed Windsong Farm in 1993 as a private retreat northwest of Minneapolis. The layout moves through rolling glacial terrain with considerable contour in the fairways and substantial elevation change by Minnesota standards. Fazio's routing makes maximum use of the natural land — wetland corridors and stands of mature hardwood frame the holes without feeling artificial. The greens are large and complex, the fairways generous off the tee but demanding precise placement to open up approach angles. Access is through member invitation only.
4. The Quarry at Giants Ridge, Biwabik
Originally opened in 2003 and designed by Jeff Brauer, The Quarry at Giants Ridge is a public-access course built in an abandoned iron ore pit in the Mesabi Range. The exposed rock walls of the former quarry form dramatic backdrops on several holes, and the routing uses the natural bowl of the old mine workings to create a layout with a genuinely unique visual identity. Giants Ridge is a full resort destination on the Iron Range — remote by Twin Cities standards but worth the drive. Green fees are reasonable by destination-course standards.
5. Rush Creek Golf Club, Maple Grove
Designed by Steve Halberg and opened in 1996, Rush Creek is a public course that has consistently ranked among the best values in Minnesota. The layout uses the Rush Creek wetland corridor extensively, with several holes crossing or skirting water. The 18th is a strong risk-reward par 5 with water guarding the green for those attempting to reach in two. Rush Creek hosted a Champions Tour event in the early 2000s. It remains one of the best public-access options in the Twin Cities area at a moderate green fee.
6. The Wilds Golf Club, Prior Lake
Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed The Wilds in 1995 as part of a residential development southwest of Minneapolis. The course plays through a mix of open prairie and wooded corridors with considerable water — the property contains numerous ponds and wetland areas that come into play on multiple holes. The par-3 eighth, playing across a natural wetland basin, is the visual centerpiece. The Wilds is semi-private with public tee times available; it is a good-value option for visitors to the Prior Lake and Shakopee area.
7. Minikahda Club, Minneapolis
Designed by Robert Foulis in 1898, Minikahda is the oldest private golf club in Minnesota. The layout sits in a Minneapolis suburb and has been refined over more than a century, retaining a classic parkland character with mature trees, small greens, and tight corridors. The 1916 U.S. Open was played here, won by Chick Evans with the first sub-300 score in Open history. The club is private with access for members and their guests; the historic character of the grounds makes it one of the most atmospheric venues in the state.
8. Keller Golf Course, Maplewood
Designed in the 1920s and one of the oldest public courses in Minnesota, Keller hosted the PGA Championship in 1932, 1936, and 1954 — three times in 22 years, an unusual distinction for a public layout. The parkland course plays at modest length by modern standards but remains a well-maintained facility with genuine championship pedigree. Green fees are accessible, making it one of the most historically significant affordable rounds in the state.
9. Edinburgh USA, Brooklyn Park
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened in 1987, Edinburgh USA is a municipal course operated by the city of Brooklyn Park with a design quality that far exceeds its public-sector budget constraints. The layout uses natural wetlands extensively and has hosted the LPGA Tour's 3M Championship multiple times. The par-3 18th — a short but nerve-wracking finisher over water — provides a memorable conclusion to the round. Edinburgh is one of the best public-access courses in the Twin Cities and green fees are moderate.
10. Superior National at Lutsen, Lutsen
Designed by Don Herfort and situated along the North Shore of Lake Superior in the Boundary Waters region, Superior National is one of the most scenically dramatic public courses in Minnesota. The layout cuts through boreal forest with the Poplar River running through the property and Superior visible on several elevated tee shots. The course plays at elevation — some holes sit well above the valley floor — which adds visual grandeur to a competent routing. Lutsen is a destination resort; the golf season runs from late May through mid-September.
Minnesota's golf is at its finest between June and early September, when long days and warm temperatures bring the parkland courses into peak condition. The Twin Cities offer a dense concentration of high-quality layouts within a short drive, while the Iron Range and North Shore provide destination golf with genuine natural drama. Green fees across the state are generally moderate by national standards, and the tradition of public-access golf — from Keller's championship history to Rush Creek's modern appeal — is strong. Open the map to discover Minnesota's full range of courses across the metro area and beyond.