MINNESOTA VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
🇺🇸 Bloomington, MN, USA
Designed by Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay


Minnesota Valley Country Club occupies rolling terrain along the Minnesota River valley in Bloomington, a southern suburb of Minneapolis. Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay designed the course, which opened in the early 1970s during Palmer's active period of design work with his longtime partner Seay. The layout reflects the design principles Palmer favored as both player and architect: strategic bunkering, generous landing areas that reward aggressive play, and greens that demand precise approach shots.
The routing takes advantage of the property's natural elevation changes and mature tree cover. Several holes play along ridgelines or down into valley corridors, creating variety in both shot values and visual character. The course moves through wooded sections and more open areas, with the Minnesota River valley providing a distinctive backdrop. Water comes into play on multiple holes, typical of courses built in this region during the era.
Minnesota Valley has served as a private club for over five decades, hosting regional amateur competitions and maintaining a membership drawn largely from the Twin Cities business and professional community. The club operates as a family-oriented facility with tennis and swimming amenities alongside golf. The course has undergone periodic updates to bunker styles and green complexes while preserving the fundamental Palmer-Seay routing and strategic design intent that defines the layout.
Reviews
Raynor design and one of the most underrated private clubs in Minneapolis. The renovation and re-route of holes 3 & 4 are mint. 5 par 5’s and gettable 4’s has this place a bombers paradise. Caution on the par 3’s…. toughest in the state? “ The pub” is the best club bar around.
This was the first golf course that made me think about architecture. Prior to playing MVCC, all I knew were some non-descript minis and a few private clubs that left a lot to be desired. Very unique club, a ton of fun. Not hard but not easy. The music coming out of the speakers around the putting green isn’t my favorite thing but you can’t win ‘em all.
Yep, another underrated gem, play it.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Minnesota Valley at Minnesota Valley Country Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.1 out of 10 based on 13 explicit golfer ratings.
Minnesota Valley was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay.
Minnesota Valley at Minnesota Valley Country Club is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Minnesota Valley is 73.
Minnesota Valley plays 6,787 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Minnesota Valley is 139.