Golden Valley Course
Golden Valley, MN, USA
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.
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
Unranked
Best in USA
Unranked
Best in MN
All courses
Golfers say this Golden Age Tillinghast design stands out as a distinctive experience in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, with most praising the recent renovations that have enhanced the layout's character. Reviewers note the course's unusual urban setting creates a memorable sense of place, with city sounds and church bells adding atmosphere rather than distraction, though some suggest the routing across different parcels may not appeal to everyone initially. The design features six par 5s and draws particular praise from architecture purists who appreciate its classic pedigree and strategic qualities. Some mention tree coverage remains heavy in spots, likely necessary given the tight urban environment, while others find the layout grows more appealing with repeat play.
8.5
43 players
One of the few places I’ve been where the noise around the course actually contributes to the experience rather than detracts from it. You feel like you’re in the city while playing it. A constant hum and random noise, with some church bells in the background every hour that adds to the sense of place. The course sits on a few different paddocks, all very different from each other, but it’s quite the piece of land. Much different than a lot of the other high profile courses in the MSP area, and I think it might not be everyone’s taste at first but would be a grower the more you play it.
A rare Midwest Tillinghast. Liked playing it before the renovation and have heard it’s even better now.
Golden Age gem. Must play for any Minnesota purist.
Very Nostalgic of this course, played it a lot my freshman year fall, a little too many trees but need it otherwise you need a helmet to play. Really fun, love playing 6 par 5s.
Public courses closest to Golden Valley.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Golden Valley has a Course Vaults score of 8.5 out of 10 based on 20 explicit golfer ratings.
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.
