Golf in Minneapolis
The Twin Cities punch far above their weight in golf. Within an hour of downtown you have a Ryder Cup colossus in Hazeltine, a Donald Ross gem where Bobby Jones sealed the Grand Slam, the oldest club west of the Mississippi, a current PGA Tour stop, and a deep bench of genuinely good public courses. Long, green summers and light until ten at night make it one of America's most underrated golf cities.
Photo: Hazeltine National Golf Club via Google.
Why golf in Minneapolis
Minneapolis and St. Paul sit at the heart of one of the most golf mad regions in the United States, a metro that loves the game and crams a full season into a short, glorious summer. The quality runs deep. Hazeltine National in Chaska has staged two US Opens, two PGA Championships and the 2016 Ryder Cup, while Interlachen in Edina is the Donald Ross course where Bobby Jones won the 1930 US Open on his way to the Grand Slam. Add the historic Minikahda Club, the oldest country club west of the Mississippi, and TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, which hosts the 3M Open on the PGA Tour each summer, and the championship pedigree rivals far bigger names.
What makes the Twin Cities a real trip, rather than a single bucket list round, is the strength in depth below the famous private clubs. The public golf is excellent and well priced, from Arthur Hills at Chaska Town Course to Tom Weiskopf at The Wilds, and the city itself is easy, walkable and full of good food and lakeside hotels. The summer days are enormous, with daylight stretching past ten in June and July, so an early start and a twilight nine in the same day is a normal thing to do here.
The courses that matter
Hazeltine National · Robert Trent Jones, 1962
The region's championship colossus in Chaska, a par 72 stretching past 7,600 yards. It has hosted two US Opens, two PGA Championships and the 2016 Ryder Cup, the United States' first win in the match in eight years. Private, but the marquee name in Minnesota golf.
Interlachen Country Club · Donald Ross, 1921
A classical Donald Ross parkland in Edina where Bobby Jones won the 1930 US Open on his way to the Grand Slam, and which later hosted the 2008 US Women's Open. Restored crowned greens and a true sense of history. Private, members and guests.
The Minikahda Club · 1898
The oldest country club west of the Mississippi, on a bluff above Lake Calhoun, now Bde Maka Ska, minutes from downtown. It hosted the 1916 US Open won by amateur Chick Evans and the 1957 Walker Cup. Historic, central and private.
TPC Twin Cities · Arnold Palmer with Tom Lehman, 2000
An Arnold Palmer design in Blaine shaped with local hero Tom Lehman, now the home of the 3M Open on the PGA Tour. Water, prairie grasses and a strong closing stretch make it a true tour test. Private, with tournament access in July.
Spring Hill Golf Club · Tom Fazio, 2000
An exclusive Tom Fazio design in the lake country at Wayzata, west of the city, routed through rolling, sandy terrain. One of the most admired modern courses in the state and a fixture near the top of Minnesota rankings. Highly private.
Chaska Town Course · Arthur Hills, 1996
The pick of the metro's public golf, an Arthur Hills design that hosted the 2006 US Amateur. Generous, beautifully conditioned municipal golf on a big site near Hazeltine, and a course any visitor can book. Excellent value.
The Wilds Golf Club · Tom Weiskopf, 1995
A Tom Weiskopf design in Prior Lake, southwest of the city, with dramatic elevation change and wide, rolling fairways through woodland and wetland. A longtime favourite of Twin Cities golfers and open to visitors. Public.
Bunker Hills Golf Club · Coon Rapids
A 27 hole public complex north of the city, long enough and good enough to have hosted Champions Tour golf. Pine lined, sandy and well kept, with three nine hole loops that give plenty of variety for a group. Public.
Keller Golf Course · St. Paul
A storied municipal in Maplewood that once hosted the St. Paul Open, the PGA Championship and the Western Open, fully renovated in recent years. Affordable, history rich public golf on the St. Paul side. Public.
The Meadows at Mystic Lake · Prior Lake
A modern resort course attached to the Mystic Lake casino and hotel, framed by prairie and wetland, regularly rated among the best public courses in the state. An easy, all in one base for a relaxed golf and resort stay. Public.
Designers, opening years and championship history verified June 2026 from the clubs and recognized course databases. Hazeltine is a Robert Trent Jones design that hosted the 2016 Ryder Cup; Interlachen is a Donald Ross course and the site of Bobby Jones' 1930 US Open; Minikahda, founded 1898, hosted the 1916 US Open; TPC Twin Cities hosts the 3M Open. Access and conditioning change, so confirm tee times and any visitor policy with each club before planning.
When to go: the Minneapolis golf season
| Window | What to expect |
|---|---|
| May | The season opens in earnest as courses green up; cooler and changeable, with good value and quiet tee sheets before the summer rush |
| Jun to Aug | Peak summer and the prime window: warm, long days with light past 9pm, courses in top condition and the 3M Open in town in July; book ahead |
| Sep to Oct | Crisp, colorful autumn golf with firm turf and fewer crowds, the most pleasant time to play before the cold arrives by late October |
| Nov to Apr | Winter shuts the courses down completely under snow and frost; not a window for a golf trip, though the city is a lively cold weather break |
May to October is the golf season, with June to August the peak. Green fees and rates change by season and year; always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there, costs and where to stay
Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is a major Delta hub with direct flights across the United States and to Europe, just 20 minutes from either downtown by car or light rail. The courses are spread around the metro, with the championship names clustered to the southwest around Chaska and Prior Lake and the public golf scattered through the suburbs, so a hire car is essential to link several rounds. Distances are short by American standards, with most courses inside a 45 minute drive of the city.
Costs are reasonable for the quality. Public green fees are fair and the private clubs are the main expense, accessible through a member or as part of a planned trip. Most visiting golfers base in downtown Minneapolis or near the lakes for the food, breweries and waterfront, or stay out at a resort like Mystic Lake to keep golf, dining and lodging in one place. We can pair the right base with the best tee times and handle the transfers as one package.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts in the Twin Cities, or read the wider United States golf hub.
Plan a Minneapolis golf trip
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and who is in the group, and a concierge will build a Twin Cities itinerary around the championship names and the best public golf, costed to the head, with no obligation.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, championship history and the regional season verified June 2026; green fees indicative for the 2026 season. Last reviewed June 2026.