
Golden Valley Course
Golden Valley Country Club
About this course
Golden Valley Country Club occupies rolling terrain in the western suburbs of Minneapolis, designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1926 during the architect's most prolific period. The course represents Tillinghast's work in the Upper Midwest, where he adapted his strategic design principles to the region's deciduous forests and glacially shaped landforms. Ron Forse later completed a restoration to return features closer to Tillinghast's original intent, addressing changes that had accumulated over decades of maintenance practices and membership preferences. The routing moves through mature hardwood corridors with elevation changes that provide natural contours for green sites and strategic bunkering. Tillinghast's characteristic deep bunkers and angled fairway hazards remain central to the design, rewarding precise positioning over simple distance. The property's topography creates variety in hole character, with some holes playing across slopes and others utilizing ridgelines for dramatic green complexes. Golden Valley functions as a traditional private club serving the Minneapolis area, with a membership drawn from the surrounding communities. The course has hosted regional amateur competitions over its history, contributing to Minnesota's golf culture without seeking the tournament profile of some other Twin Cities venues. The club maintains the course conditions expected of an established Tillinghast design, balancing playability for members with preservation of the architect's strategic elements. The setting remains relatively wooded and secluded despite suburban development in the broader Golden Valley area.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in MN
Quick facts
- Location
- Golden Valley, MN, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1914
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- A .W. Tillinghast, Ron Forse
- Par
- 73
- Length
- 7,004 yards
- Difficulty
- 74.6/144
- Course Vaults score
- 8.5
Getting there
Golden Valley Country Club is most easily reached via Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), situated roughly twenty minutes southeast of the club's location in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities. The drive from MSP traces a straightforward path northwest through the urban and suburban landscape of Minneapolis, transitioning from interstate corridors into the tree-lined residential streets that characterize Golden Valley's established neighborhoods. For those arriving by private aviation, Flying Cloud Airport (FCM) and Crystal Airport (CYS) both sit within minutes of the club, offering discreet alternatives to the major hub. The final approach winds through the quiet, manicured streets of this affluent suburb, where mature oaks and maples frame the entrance to Golden Valley Country Club - a serene arrival that belies the metropolitan convenience just beyond.

FAQ
Common questions about Golden Valley
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Golden Valley has a Course Vaults score of 8.5 out of 10 based on 48 logged golfers.
Golden Valley was designed by A .W. Tillinghast and Ron Forse.
Golden Valley is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Golden Valley is 73.
Golden Valley plays 7,004 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Golden Valley is 144.





