Best Golf Courses to Play on a Twin Cities Business Trip

Updated March 2023

If you live in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul you know the area is a golfer’s paradise with its bounty of great golf courses within short driving distances. But if you travel for work and like to tee it up at each destination, the Twin Cities golf scene to get both jobs done. The biggest challenge is choosing which course to play, but we have that figured out for you.

On any business trip, time can be of the essence and logistics a concern, so we have narrowed the list of courses to a select few that should work with your schedule. Whether you’re hoping to squeeze in a round near the airport before you leave town or have a car to drive a little further, the Twin Cities golfing community has you covered. Here are the best golf courses to play on a Twin Cities business trip.

The Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport in Bloomington is located near the center of the Twin Cities. The Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau is the perfect place to start when planning your business or golf trip to the area. The organization oversees a collection of Top Brand Hotels and creates warm memories for everyone who visits. It offers unique experiences that rival some of the top destinations in the country and boasts the world famous Mall of America. A short drive from the Mall of America, you’ll find Braemar Golf Course in Edina. The recently updated golf course is a local favorite with 18 championship holes of golf. The parkland layout is extremely playable and fun for all levels. 

Just to the south is Prior Lake, Minnesota, home to three outstanding Twin Cities courses. Legends Club is a perfect blend of the Minnesota northwoods and its wide open prairies. It also features some of the most challenging and beautiful par threes in the state, while The Wilds Golf Club, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, offers fantastic views with breathtaking elevation changes on the course.  The Meadows at Mystic Lake is a short jaunt from Chaska and delivers a unique experience that pairs golf with gaming at its elegant casino and hotel.

On the edges of the Twin Cities to the south you will find Willingers Golf Club in Northfield. Willingers’ 280 acre tract is set in a 40-acre forest with 60 acres of natural wetlands and has been named Golf Digest’s “4 ½ Stars for Best Places to Play Golf” and Golf Magazine’s “Top 5 Best Value Courses.” To the west in Jordan, Minnesota, check out Ridges at Sand Creek. It is consistently top rated by Twin Cities Golf Guide, “Ridges” features a challenging combination of links style and tree-lined fairway golf. A unique Minnesota golf destination awaits you a short drive from Ridges at Stonebrooke Golf Club in Shakopee which features the unique ferry ride across O’Dowd Lake after your tee shot on hole No. 8. It is a short cruise you won’t soon forget.

Also in the western suburbs are two gorgeous tracks for your business trip “boondoggle”. Chaska Town Course in Chaska has been named a Top 100 Municipal Golf Course in the U.S. by Golfweek, and is often used as a secondary course when the nearby Hazeltine National G.C. (home to the 2016 and 2029  Ryder Cup Matches) hosts one of its big events. Chaska Town Course offers plenty of challenges and is ready to serve up some great golf memories.

Drive east and you’ll find more Twin Cities gems. Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury, StoneRidge Golf Course in Stillwater and Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo. Prestwick is found east of the airport, where elevation changes offer expansive vistas and even greater golf challenges. The course has been recognized as one of the Best Public Golf Experiences in Minnesota by the Star Tribune newspaper. A 15-minute drive north from Prestwick is The Royal Golf Club, appropriately named as the course was designed by golf royalty – the late Arnold Palmer and Annika Sorenstam. Set in the rolling hills of the St. Croix Valley, you’ll feel like your world’s away from your last business meeting. Finally, be sure to set aside time to experience StoneRidge Golf Course and make sure your flat stick is ready to go to work. It’s a links style course with native grasses that will have you convinced you’re teeing it up overseas. 

There are many excellent golfing options in the Twin Cities metro area and all within an hour from the local airport. Next time your business travels take you to Minneapolis and St. Paul, pack your clubs and hit the course!