Brightwood Hills Golf Course

Brightwood Hills Golf Course is a municipal facility in New Brighton, a first-ring suburb immediately north of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Designed by Leo Johnson and opened in the mid-twentieth century, the course serves the northern Twin Cities metro area as an accessible public option in a region with strong golf participation rates. The layout occupies gently rolling terrain characteristic of the glacial outwash plains that define much of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul landscape. The course reflects the practical municipal design philosophy common to Johnson's work in Minnesota during this era, emphasizing playability for a wide range of golfers while incorporating the natural contours of the property. The routing makes use of the site's moderate elevation changes, with fairways that move through stands of mature hardwoods and open areas. Water features appear on several holes, typical of courses built in this part of the state where wetlands and drainage patterns influence design decisions. As a municipal course, Brightwood Hills functions as a community golf resource, hosting local leagues, junior programs, and daily-fee play. The facility provides straightforward golf in a suburban setting, maintaining the role that mid-century public courses continue to play in Minnesota's golf culture. The course operates within the standard expectations for municipal golf in the Twin Cities area, offering an established layout that has served neighborhood golfers for several decades.