Spring Hill Golf Club

The verdict

Spring Hill Golf Club is one of the most exclusive and discreet private clubs in American golf, a Tom Fazio design that opened around the turn of the millennium near Wayzata and Lake Minnetonka, west of Minneapolis. Built for a small membership that plays relatively few rounds a year, it is the kind of club most golfers never see, conditioned to a flawless standard and routed by Fazio across handsome rolling terrain. It plays as a par 72 of about 7,020 yards.

The appeal is the rarity. Where the Twin Cities have several great clubs, Spring Hill is defined by its seclusion and the quality of a Fazio layout maintained with almost no wear. For the traveling golfer it is among the hardest tee times to come by, reached only through a member, but for those who do gain access it delivers a serene, beautifully presented round that feels a world away from the busier clubs nearby.

The holes worth the trip

Spring Hill is classic Fazio in its presentation, generous and handsome off the tee with the trouble framed clearly and the real test waiting around the greens. The rolling ground gives the holes movement and variety, mature trees and water provide definition, and the immaculate conditioning, helped by a membership that plays lightly, lets the course run firm and pure. It is golf without crowds, a setting as much as a test.

The green complexes are where Fazio asks his questions, contoured to reward the approach played from the correct angle and to punish the lazy line off the tee. The par 3s are varied and well defended, the par 5s tempt the strong player, and the par 72 length is enough to stretch a low handicap while staying playable and enjoyable for a guest. The pleasure here is as much in the peace and polish as in the difficulty.

What the rare visitor remembers is the sense of privilege and quiet. Spring Hill is built for solitude and perfection, a private retreat where the round unfolds without pressure on flawless turf. That seclusion, more than any single hole, is what sets it apart among the great clubs of the upper Midwest.

Where to stay nearby

Most visitors base themselves in Minneapolis, about 30 minutes east, where downtown and the lakeside neighborhoods offer the full range of luxury hotels, dining and culture for a rewarding golf trip. A Twin Cities base keeps the other great Minnesota courses within reach for a multi day itinerary.

Closer to the club, the towns around Lake Minnetonka, including Wayzata and Excelsior, offer refined lakeside hotels and inns for golfers who want a quieter base near the course. It is an ideal region to build a Minnesota golf trip around, pairing Spring Hill, where access allows, with the best of the Twin Cities. We can build the lodging and the routing around the round you want to play.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Minneapolis and Lake Minnetonka.