Northfield Golf Club

Northfield Golf Club, located in the historic college town of Northfield, Minnesota, traces its origins to Scottish golf professional Alex Findlay, who laid out courses across the American Midwest in the early twentieth century. The course has evolved through subsequent redesign work by Don Herfort and more recently Garrett Gill, reflecting the club's commitment to maintaining a layout that serves its membership while respecting the property's natural character. The course occupies rolling terrain typical of southeastern Minnesota, where the landscape transitions from the broader prairie to more varied topography shaped by the Cannon River valley system. The routing takes advantage of elevation changes and mature tree corridors that define holes and frame playing corridors. Northfield's design emphasizes strategic options from the tee and around the greens, with bunkering and green contours that reward thoughtful course management over pure distance. Northfield Golf Club functions as a traditional member-owned facility serving the local community, including faculty and families from Carleton College and St. Olaf College, both located in town. The club maintains a reputation for accessible, unpretentious golf in a setting that balances competitive play with recreational rounds. The course hosts regional amateur events and serves as a venue where multiple generations of Minnesota golfers have learned and refined their games within a layout that has adapted to modern equipment while preserving its fundamental strategic character.