Where to Play Golf Near Hazeltine National

Golfers love to watch golf. Non-golfers don’t understand it, but golfers do get the drama of a big tournament.

Most golfers, however, can only watch so much golf before they need to get into the action themselves. So, when thousands of golfers descend on the Twin Cities next fall to watch the Ryder Cup Matches at Hazeltine National Golf Club, they are going to want to hit the links, as well. Here is our quick primer on where to play golf near Hazeltine.

Hazeltine is a private club, and certainly will be off limits during the biennial Ryder Cup Matches between the United States and Europe. But the Twin Cities are loaded with great golf courses that can help you scratch that golfing itch. You can drive across town or walk across the street from Hazeltine to find a great golf course, but they are all worth the trip. Let’s take a look at some nearby courses.

• Chaska Town Course – Chaska
  This excellent track is located about two miles, as the golf ball flies, away from the Hazeltine grounds. With Lake Bavaria bordering its north end, Chaska Town Course is a beauty in its own right. Chaska Town Course has been used as a second course during some of Hazeltine’s national championships (such as the 2006 U.S. Amateur), so you know it will provide a great challenge. Get your tee times early since it is so close to Hazeltine.
• Stonebrooke Golf Club – Shakopee
  A 13-mile drive from Hazeltine will take you to Shakopee where Stonebrooke Golf Club is located and an exciting round awaits. The hilly and challenging Stonebrooke Course includes its famous par four 8^th hole that requires a drive over Lake O’Dowd and includes a ferry ride to your second shot. The conditioning is top notch, and the clubhouse is a great place to spend time after the round.
• Braemar Golf Course – Edina
  In nearby Edina (15 miles away), Braemar Golf Club is home to a great golf experience. With 27 holes (plus an executive nine) on-site, and a large driving range, you are sure to find time to swing a golf club. The course has been rated among the top 75 public golf courses in the nation by Golf Digest and has also been named by Golf for Women Magazine as one of its top 100 Women Friendly Courses, which makes it a great place for everyone in your group.
• Rush Creek Golf Club – Maple Grove
  Head north from Hazeltine about 23 miles and you will find the beautiful and beguiling Rush Creek Golf Club amongst the rolling hills and marshes of rural Maple Grove. This championship track has hosted a former LPGA event and the 2004 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship won by Ryan Moore. Rush Creek provides a stern test of golf in a gorgeous setting—which describes the tough par 5 finishing hole that winds around the course’s namesake rush-filled marsh.
• The Wilds Golf Club – Prior Lake
  Take a drive to the east for 13 miles to find The Wilds Golf Club, a Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish design nestled is some marshland of its own. With more than 150 feet of elevation changes and water in play on almost half the holes, The Wilds has plenty of surprises around every turn. If you happen to venture out there next fall, The Wilds always offers the “pay the temperature,” discount for green fees, which in Minnesota can sometimes provide some great savings.

Find a great course for a quick 18 and then hustle back to Hazeltine to watch the pros embroiled in a heated competition. It doesn’t get any better than that for lovers of the game.