Best Golf Courses Near Minneapolis (And Getting Your Group There)
TL;DR: The best golf courses near Minneapolis, from championship venues like Hazeltine and TPC Twin Cities to the best public courses. Plus logistics for group golf outings with car service.
Minnesota has an embarrassing number of good golf courses for a state where the season is only 6-7 months. Within an hour of Minneapolis, you have courses that have hosted majors, Ryder Cups, and PGA Tour events - alongside excellent public courses that cost a fraction of comparable tracks in other states.
Here are the best courses near Minneapolis, organized by what you're looking for.
The Championship Courses
Hazeltine National Golf Club - Chaska (30 min from Minneapolis). Has hosted the Ryder Cup (2016), PGA Championship (multiple times), U.S. Open (2009), and U.S. Women's Open. Private club, but accessible through member invitations and certain events. If you get the chance, play it. The 16th hole along Lake Hazeltine is one of the most scenic holes in Midwest golf.
TPC Twin Cities - Blaine (25 min from Minneapolis). Home of the 3M Open on the PGA Tour. Semi-private - public play is available on certain days and through packages. The course is tour-quality and in excellent condition. Walking is tough here - the layout is spread out.
Interlachen Country Club - Edina (15 min from downtown). Private, historic. Hosted the 1930 U.S. Open (Bobby Jones' Grand Slam year) and the 2008 U.S. Women's Open. You need a member to get on. If you're a serious golfer and you know someone, this is the bucket list play.
Best Public Courses
The Wilds Golf Club - Prior Lake (35 min from Minneapolis). Designed by Tom Weiskopf. Links-style layout on rolling terrain. Consistently rated one of the best public courses in Minnesota. Green fees: $65-110 depending on day and time. Worth every dollar.
Rush Creek Golf Club - Maple Grove (25 min from Minneapolis). Hosted LPGA and USGA events. Prairie-links style, excellent conditions, great practice facility. Green fees: $55-95. The best value in championship-level public golf near Minneapolis.
Legends Club - Prior Lake. Two courses (Legends and Warrior). Both are strong, well-maintained, and reasonably priced. Good for groups because the tee time availability is better than the more exclusive courses.
Edinburgh USA - Brooklyn Park (20 min from Minneapolis). City-owned championship course that punches above its weight. Host of numerous state and USGA qualifiers. Green fees: $35-55. Best value on this list.
StoneRidge Golf Club - Stillwater (35 min from Minneapolis). Bobby Weed design with beautiful rolling terrain. The back nine overlooks the St. Croix River valley. Pair it with dinner in Stillwater for a full day.
The Hidden Gems
Dacotah Ridge - Morton (2 hours SW). If you're willing to drive, this is arguably the best course in the state. Built on prairie bluffs above the Minnesota River valley, run by the Lower Sioux Indian Community. Green fees are shockingly reasonable for the quality.
Giant's Ridge - Biwabik (3 hours north). Two courses (The Quarry and The Legend) in the Iron Range. The Quarry is consistently rated the #1 public course in the state. It's a haul from Minneapolis, but if you're doing a weekend on the Iron Range or North Shore, it's a must-play.
Cragun's Legacy Courses - Brainerd Lakes (2.5 hours north). Part of the Brainerd Lakes golf scene, which has 30+ courses in one area. Cragun's Legacy and Bobby's Legacy are the headliners. A popular choice for group golf trips from the Twin Cities.
Planning a Group Golf Day
Golf outings are one of the most common group transportation bookings for a reason. Here's the math:
4 golfers from different parts of the metro meeting at a course in Prior Lake or Chaska. That's 4 cars, 4 sets of directions, 4 parking spots, and at least 2 people who will be late because they underestimated the drive.
Or: one SUV picks everyone up in sequence, bags go in the back, the group arrives together, and everyone can have a couple beers on the back nine without doing math about their drive home.
For a corporate golf outing with clients, the car service isn't just convenient - it sets a tone. You're not asking your client to MapQuest their way to Hazeltine. You're sending a car.
The 19th hole problem. Every good round of golf ends at the clubhouse bar. And every time, someone has to watch their drinks because they're driving home. A car service makes the 19th hole part of the day instead of a constraint on it.
Tee Time Tips
Book early for weekend mornings. The good public courses in Minnesota sell out Saturday and Sunday AM tee times 1-2 weeks in advance during peak season (June-September).
Twilight rates save money. Most courses offer twilight rates starting at 2-3 PM. You get 12-14 holes in during Minnesota's long summer days, and the price drops 30-50%.
September and October are the sweet spot. The courses are in their best condition, the fall colors are turning, the crowds thin out after Labor Day, and the rates often drop. The best month to golf in Minnesota is September, hands down.
NS Limo provides group transportation for golf outings, corporate events, and day trips across Minnesota. Book online or call (320) 223-8146.