The Wilds Golf Club
The Wilds arrived in 1995 as one of the Twin Cities' first true upscale daily fee courses, a Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish design routed through rolling woodland and wetland in Prior Lake. A par 72 of about 7,025 yards with a slope of 140, it set a standard for public golf in the metro that it still holds today.
Photo: The Wilds Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
The Wilds helped change what Twin Cities golfers expected from a public course. When it opened in 1995, designed by the respected partnership of Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, it brought a level of design ambition and conditioning to daily fee golf in Prior Lake that the metro had mostly reserved for private clubs. It quickly drew acclaim and has remained one of the area's premier upscale public layouts.
It plays as a par 72 of about 7,025 yards, with a course rating near 74.7 and a slope of 140 that signal a serious test from the back tees. Weiskopf and Morrish routed it through rolling, wooded ground laced with wetland, so the round combines elevation change, forced carries and well defended greens. For a visiting golfer it is an easy, high quality stop on a Twin Cities itinerary, close to the city yet a world away in feel.
The Wilds Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1995
- Designer
- Weiskopf & Morrish
- Type
- Wooded, wetland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,025 yds
- Green fee
- From about $60
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from The Wilds Golf Club and leading course databases. The course was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and opened in 1995, a par 72 of about 7,025 yards with a course rating near 74.7 and a slope of 140. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $60 to $115 depending on season and day, with twilight the best value. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The terrain sets The Wilds apart from much of the metro's golf. Weiskopf and Morrish used the rolling, wooded ground to create elevation changes that you feel on tee shots and approaches alike, with several holes tumbling downhill or climbing to greens perched above the fairway. It is a course with movement and shape rather than a flat march.
Wetland and trees do the defending. Many holes ask for a carry or a precise line off the tee, with marsh and timber waiting for the loose shot, and the premium on driving accuracy is real, especially from the 7,025 yard back tees that earn the 140 slope. Pick the right markers and the course gives you room; reach for too much and it punishes quickly.
The greens complete the test. They are well bunkered and contoured, so a clean approach is rewarded and a miss leaves a delicate recovery, and reading them is as important as striking the ball. It all adds up to a layout that has held its place near the top of Twin Cities public golf for three decades, demanding yet thoroughly enjoyable.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Upscale public daily fee course open to visitors who book ahead; memberships also available |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 range about $60 to $115 depending on season and day; twilight is the best value; confirm at booking |
| Booking | Reserve online or by phone; summer weekend mornings fill early in the short Minnesota season, so book ahead |
| On the day | Cart friendly over the rolling, spread out routing; play the right tees, the back markers carry a 140 slope |
| Getting there | Prior Lake in the southwest Twin Cities metro, about 30 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and near Mystic Lake |
| Best months | May to early October, with high summer the most reliable and the shoulder season the best value |
Access and fee details verified June 2026. Pricing moves with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. See our United States green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
Prior Lake is anchored by the Mystic Lake resort and casino just minutes from the first tee, which makes a convenient golf base with hotel rooms, dining and entertainment on site. It pairs The Wilds with an easy, all in one stay for a group that wants golf by day and more to do at night.
For a wider choice, downtown Minneapolis is about 30 minutes north with its full range of hotels and restaurants, and it puts the rest of the metro's public golf within reach. It suits a buddies trip or a couples weekend that wants a strong, scenic test close to the city.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Wilds Golf Club.
Build a Twin Cities golf trip
We book the Wilds tee times, pair them with the best public golf around Minneapolis and St. Paul and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Wilds Golf Club questions
Who designed The Wilds Golf Club and when did it open?
The Wilds was designed by the team of Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and opened in 1995 in Prior Lake, in the southwest Twin Cities metro.
What is the par and length of The Wilds?
It plays as a par 72 of about 7,025 yards from the back tees, with a course rating around 74.7 and a slope of 140, across rolling wooded and wetland ground.
Is The Wilds public or private?
The Wilds is an upscale public daily fee course open to visitors who book ahead, with memberships also available. It does not require a private invitation to play.
What are the green fees at The Wilds Golf Club?
Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $60 to $115 depending on season and day, with twilight the best value. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.