Best Golf Courses South Of The Twin Cities
Willinger's Golf Club
6900 Canby Trail
Northfield, MN 55057
(952) 652-2500
Willinger's Golf Club, located off Highway 19 west of Interstate 35 in rural Northfield, is one of the top layouts south of the metro. It's less than an hour south of the Twin Cities and offers a little bit of everything for golfers. The course opened in 1991 and straddles a 40-acre forest as well as 60 acres of naturally open water and wetlands. It has received high praise in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and the Twin Cities Golf Guide. Play a great, challenging course for as little as $30 this summer.
LeSueur Country Club
PO Box 163
LeSueur, MN 56058
(507) 665-6292
Head southwest of the Twin Cities a little more than an hour and hit one of the most entertaining layouts in Minnesota. LeSueur Country Club is located three miles southeast of LeSueur and is one of the most challenging courses in southern Minnesota. The fairways are cut pure, the greens are fast and you will be penalized for errant shots. The course was built in 1972. Play it for $49 this summer, or inquire about a season membership.
Meadows at Mystic Lake
2400 Mystic Lake Drive
Prior Lake, MN 55372
(952) 233-5533
The Meadows at Mystic Lake might be your best option if you want to take a day trip and not stray too far from the Twin Cities. The course, which opened in 2005, is located on the same site as Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake and was rated one of Golfweek Magazine's Best Casino Courses for 2010. Golfweek Magazine also rated it as one of Minnesota's five-best courses for 2010. Play a round of golf for $85 with a cart during the day, and take your chances inside the casino at night. Who knows, win enough and it could pay for a second round!
Legacy Golf Club
1515 Shumway Avenue
Faribault, MN 55021
(507) 332-7177
The Legacy Golf Club in Faribault offers a unique layout for golfers of all abilities about an hour south of the metro. The course is located next door to Shattuck-St. Mary's and features links-style holes as well as your traditional golf. The layout features shorter holes that will entice the long hitter to go for it all and winding doglegs that require precise shot making. The last hole even features a large tree conveniently placed in the middle of the fairway, impacting your shots off the tee and to the green. Play a fantastic course for as little as $25. Contact the clubhouse to inquire about season memberships.
Mississippi National Golf Links
409 Golf Links Drive
Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 388-1874
Head about an hour southeast of the Twin Cities and you can get a couple of golf options at Mississippi National Golf Links in Red Wing. A Tournament course with a traditional style layout was established in 1986 with rolling fairways and large greens. The course has hosted qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open, the U.S. Amateur and the Minnesota Section PGA Championship. An 18-hole Highlands course opened in 1999 and features views from high above the Mississippi River and its surrounding valleys. The course is located two miles south of Red Wing off Highway 61. Play a great course for as little as $28.
Crystal Lake Golf Club
16275 Innsbrook Drive
Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 432-6566
Want to play a quality course within a half hour of the Twin Cities? Head to Crystal Lake Golf Club in Lakeville. The course, a par-71, plays to just more than 6,300 yards from the back tees. It offers gently rolling hills and natural wetlands to provide a general challenge to golfers of all abilities. It also features both traditional holes and link-style holes. Play a great course for as little as $46.
Northfield Golf Club
707 Prairie Street
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-4026
Northfield Golf Club, located just minutes from the city's historic downtown district, has one of the most challenging layouts that golf in southern Minnesota can offer. The course features just enough water, doglegs and length to keep the average golfer on their toes at all times. With its lightning fast greens, being above the hole for any putt simply isn't an option. Play the semi-private course for as little as $40 this summer.
Emerald Greens Golf Course
14425 Goodwin Avenue
Hastings, MN 55033
(651) 480-8558
Head just minutes south and east of the Twin Cities metro for a quality golfing experience at Emerald Greens Golf Course in Hastings. The course hosts several leagues and high school tournaments, making it one of the busiest courses in the metro once the snow melts. The 36-hole layout there gives golfers of all abilities a chance to decide what challenge they want to take on for a particular day. Play it for rates as low as $31.
Southern Hills Golf Course
18950 Chippendale Avenue W
Farmington, MN 55024
(651) 463-4653
Looking for an affordable golfing option just a few minutes from the Twin Cities metro? Head to Southern Hills Golf Course in Farmington. Located near County Road 42 and Highway 3, it's a par-71 that's just more than 6,300 yards from the back tees. The facility also features a 300-yard driving range, a full-service clubhouse and golf shop. Play it for as little as $44 with a cart or just $29 walking during the week this summer.
Gopher Hills Golf Course
26155 Nicolai Avenue
Cannon Falls, MN 55009
(507) 263-2507
Want a great golfing experience for among the lowest price in the metro? It's just 30 minutes south and east of the Twin Cities metro at Gopher Hills Golf Course. The 27-hole facility is located in Cannon Falls, which is between Hastings and Red Wing. The course opened in 1995 with nine holes and features tree-lined fairways, several elevation changes and opportunities where players must weigh risk versus reward. In 1999 it became an 18-hole venue with a 9-hole executive course for the less experienced player. Play it for as little as $22 during the week and $29 on weekends and holidays.
Fountain Valley Golf Club
2830 220th Street W
Farmington, MN 55024
(651) 463-2121
Fountain Valley Golf Club in Farmington should be one of your top spots to play golf in the south metro this season. The course is located at the intersection of County Road 50 and Highway 3 and features the perfect mix to provide every golfer a challenge over 18 holes. It's more than 6,500 yards from the back tees, and when the wind blows early in the season, it affects every shot. Play it for as little as $24 this summer along with affordable weekend rates of $29 (walking) and $44 (riding).
Creeks Bend Golf Course
26826 Langford Avenue
New Prague, MN 56071
(952) 758-7200
One of the best courses south of the Twin Cities is about 40 minutes away in the small town of New Prague. Creeks Bend Golf Course opened in 1995 and was developed on 230 acres of wooded, rolling hills and is combined with more than 80 acres of ponds and wetlands. The course is named after the creek that bends around the layout and is next to a 1930s barn turned clubhouse. Water from the creek and marsh comes into play on nine holes. Play a fantastic layout for as little as $33.
The Summit Golf Club
31286 Highway 19 Boulevard
Cannon Falls, MN 55009
(507) 263-4648
One of the gems of golfing in southern Minnesota sits in Cannon Falls about 40 minutes away from the Twin Cities metro. The Summit Golf Club in Cannon Falls features a great test of golf with its 18-hole layout that features bentgrass fairways, tees and greens. One tee box on the back nine also features a 110-foot elevation drop from the tee to the fairway. The course plays to more than 7,000 yards from the back tees and is just as great a challenge from the regular tees. There's also a Par 3 course that's perfect for families or beginning players. Play The Summit for $35 during the week this summer and for $38 on the weekends.
Shoreland Country Club
PO Box 516
St. Peter, MN 56082
(507) 931-3470
If you're looking to go a little farther south in your golfing adventure, Shoreland Country Club in St. Peter might be the spot for you. It's located near Highway 169 and Highway 99 and is very close to the bluffs of the Minnesota River Valley as well as the shores of Lake Emily. It's only a par-69, but it's unique in that seven par-3s range in length from 110 to 215 yards, requiring precision shot making. It's also the only true golfing option in St. Peter. Play it for as little as $30 this summer. The course also offers season memberships.
Ridges at Sand Creek
21775 Ridges Dr
Jordan, MN 55352
(952) 492-2644
The Ridges at Sand Creek is continually called on the best values in golf by several local publications. The course, which is off Highway 169 and Highway 21 in Jordan, is just 20 minutes south of I-494 and Highway 169. The course was voted the "Golf Course of the Year" in 2009 by the Golf Course Owners Association. It's also the only public facility in Minnesota to be ranked in the top 50 of Golf World's "Reader Choice Awards" for 2010. The Ridges at Sand Creek features five sets of tees, large bent-grass greens and beautiful scenery. It's a course that was designed for everyone from the high handicapper to the scratch golfer. Play it for as little as $38 this summer.
- Jeff Wald is a Web Producer at WCCO-TV who is an avid golfer and has played several of the state's top courses.
