Minnewaska Golf Course

Minnewaska Golf Course sits in Glenwood, Minnesota, a small community in the west-central part of the state near Lake Minnewaska, one of the region's larger glacial lakes. The course was designed by Joel Goldstrand, a Minnesota-based architect who has worked on numerous layouts across the Upper Midwest, often creating accessible public courses that work with the natural terrain of prairie and lake country. The design reflects the rolling topography characteristic of this glacial landscape, where elevation changes and native grasses frame the playing corridors. The routing takes advantage of the area's natural contours, with holes that move across gentle ridges and through lower-lying areas. Water features appear on several holes, consistent with the lake-dotted character of this part of Minnesota. The course serves both local residents and visitors drawn to the Glenwood lakes region, functioning as a straightforward daily-fee facility that emphasizes playability across different skill levels. Glenwood itself is a regional hub for outdoor recreation, and the golf course fits into a broader landscape of fishing, boating, and seasonal tourism centered on the chain of lakes in Pope County. The layout provides a typical small-town Minnesota golf experience, where the design works within the existing land rather than imposing dramatic features, and where the pace and atmosphere reflect the community it serves.