Minneapolis GC (Minneapolis, MN)

(pictured above is the 3rd hole, illustrating the fantastic 

terrain and bunkering at Minneapolis GC)

Minneapolis Golf Club is the prototypical suburban metropolis championship golf course.  Known as “MGC” to everyone in the Twin Cities, it is wedged into the western suburb of St Louis Park.  St Louis Park is most famous for being the childhood homes of Thomas Friedman and The Coen Brothers.  But in this northwest pocket of St Louis Park lies nothing political, economical, or cinema related.  It is home to one of the best golf courses in the Midwest.

According to a friend of mine, longtime Minnesota PGA professional Don Berry of Edinburgh USA called Minneapolis GC, “quite possibly the best championship golf course in the Twin Cities.”  These are lofty words when there are local gems such as Hazeltine, Interlachen and Minikahda within 30 minutes of Minneapolis.  MGC has hosted the 1951 PGA Championship and a few US Amateur’s as well.  However, like many old school city courses, there simply lacks the room to host an event of any significance in this day and age.

From the moment you drive into the parking lot, you aren’t blown away.  The clubhouse is nothing extravagant but everything you need.  The men's locker room is an old school green cage locker room tucked into the side of the clubhouse, and members love it that way.  There's a grill room and bar, dining area, and that’s it.  But we must remember, outside of the pool, this is a golf club.  From a golf standpoint, everything is done right.  The course is a tough yet fair challenge for all handicaps and the conditioning is superb.  Even the little things are done right.  From the large white playing towels, wooden tees long and short, bright ball markers, simple and efficient ball repair tools, available caddies, walking strips mowed from the back tees, you name it, its covered.  A lot of credit for this goes to the staff of longtime head professional Dan Simpson and superintendent Dale Caldwell.  And let’s be honest, golf is why people join MGC.

Minneapolis was designed by Willie Park in 1916, then tweaked by Donald Ross in 1928.  It is a typical parkland layout, but with a fantastic variety of golf holes. There are short and long par 3’s, 4’s and 5’s.  As Tom Doak says, variety is the “spice of life” when it comes to golf course architecture – and variety is abundant at this course.  In terms of conditioning, it generally plays firm and fast.  The course is actually situated on a unique pocket of sand in western Minneapolis, so when it rains, the course is back to playing condition in no time. 

The 10th hole must be noted.  The signature hole at MGC, it is also arguably the best - and arguably the most difficult - par 3 in the state.  It plays 225 yards from the tips, slightly downhill, with bunkers left and right, a left to right sloping green, and absolutely ZERO room for error.  When in doubt, lay it up short of the green for a chance at an up and in par.  A great hole, especially in the summer with the MGC flower logo built into the hill, a nice touch. The course flows through some great terrain and there are many great holes throughout, but the last 5 holes are outstanding.  The 14th is a risk reward dogleg left par 4 of about 320 yards, 15 is a 560 yard par 5, 16 is a deceptively uphill 220 yard par 3, 17 is a deceptively tough par 4, and then the outstanding 460 yard 18th.  18 heads back to the clubhouse and is arguably the best hole on the course.  You can’t ask for much more than that out of a finish.

In terms of improvements, there isn’t a lot.  There isn’t a full range, which isn’t uncommon for many city courses these days, but a drawback nonetheless.  One aspect I am critical of is the fact that the course has not been updated in terms of tree removal.  Sun and air flow are absolutely critical to healthy turf and there are several areas of the golf course that suffer due to excessive shade from trees.  One can only look to the tree removal programs carried out by Oakmont (Pittsburgh), St George’s G&CC (Toronto) or nearby Minikahda to see the positive benefits from the removal of unnecessary trees.  Strolling through the clubhouse, you can see the old photos of the course, showing what it looked like with minimal trees on the property.  Variety and conditioning would only improve if a moderate tree removal program was undertaken by the membership.  

All in all, MGC is one of the best golf experiences in the Minneapolis area, if not all the Midwest.

Hit ‘em well.

-MG