Best of 2016: Top 15 golf courses in Minnesota

There was no bigger year for Minnesota than 2016, as the Ryder Cup was staged in epic fashion at Hazeltine National. The spotlight also gave Minnesota's resort and public courses around Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as the resort areas to the north like the Iron Range and Brainerd areas, a chance to show off their layouts.

The following 15 courses in Minnesota earned the best ratings and reviews throughout the year.

To compile our state lists, we used a similar method to that of our our national Top 50 ranking. A course's score is based on their overall (50%) rating and subcategory average (50%). Reviews are weighted based on how prolific that reviewer is on Golf Advisor, and a course receives a bump in their rating if their score is better than that reviewer's average score.

Don't see your favorite Minnesota golf course? You can make your voice heard by writing a review here.

Top courses by subcategory in Minnesota in 2016

Course layout: The Jewel Golf Club
Course conditions: The Jewel Golf Club
Value: Timber Creek Golf Course
Off-course amenities: Eagle Valley Golf Club
Pace of play: The Jewel Golf Club
Staff friendliness: Princeton Golf Club

Top 15 courses in Minnesota in 2016

Montgomery


Stillwater


Elbow Lake


Stillwater


Forest Lake


Oakdale


Brainerd


Annandale


Woodbury


Breezy Point


Biwabik


Tower


Prior Lake


Chaska


Lake City
No. 11 in the U.S. in 2016

Brandon Tucker is the Sr. Managing Editor for GolfPass and was the founding editor of Golf Advisor in 2014, he was the managing editor for Golf Channel Digital's Courses & Travel. To date, his golf travels have taken him to over two dozen countries and nearly 600 golf courses worldwide. While he's played some of the most prestigious courses in the world, Tucker's favorite way to play the game is on a great muni in under three hours. Follow Brandon on Twitter at @BrandonTucker and on Instagram at @btuck34.
2 Comments
Default User Avatar
Commented on

The ranking is based on how people rated it on golfadvisor.

Commented on

Where is Interlaken,Somerset,White Bear,Northlands,Hazeltine to name a few obvious omissions?

Related Links

There are dozens of ways to play three days for golf for less than $200 in Minnesota's Twin Cities. And you don't even have to skip the big "name" courses to pull it off.
3 Min Read
Here's a "best of" for public golf courses and resorts in Minnesota, a beautiful state that doesn't get the credit it deserves.
3 Min Read
Minnesota may be the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but it also has a collection of outstanding golf courses. Here are some of the best.
2 Min Read
View Twin Cities tee times and specials on GolfNow
More from the author
9 Min Read
March 13, 2023
App makers are racing to improve their apps for the Apple Watch, the world's most popular wearable.
5 Min Read
December 7, 2021
It may be the private club capital of Florida, but golfers endorse these public-access courses.
4 Min Read
December 3, 2021
It's never been easier to design custom hats, golf balls, clubs, headcovers and more.
2 Min Read
November 30, 2021
It's possible this little ditty finds you scooping up the last bit of cranberry pie crumbs out of the tray. Thanksgiving may have passed but the effects of celebratory eating around the table, and also possibly social imbibing during all the various football games throughout the weekend, are sticking with us. To our bellies and elsewhere.
4 Min Read
November 23, 2021
We scoured the web of golf and found holiday savings up to 50% off.
12 Min Read
November 18, 2021
Golfers can choose from a wide variety of portable launch monitor price points and user experiences. Here is what's new and the best ones to consider to improve your golf.
Popular
6 Images
May 17, 2023
View the future golf course sites for the PGA Championship, pro golf's major championship conducted by the PGA of America.
2 Min Read
May 9, 2023
Famous layouts and some hidden gems are part of the championship's storied history.
33 Min Read
May 15, 2023
Long before TopGolf became popular, golfers who wanted to play after dark had to search for golf courses lit by floodlights for night-time play. We've found 65 such facilities in 23 states. Here's a convenient guide to help you get your golf fix at night.
2 Min Read
May 15, 2023
These prestigious golf courses will prepare to host the United State's Golf Association's top championship for women.
Now Reading
Best of 2016: Top 15 golf courses in Minnesota