River Oaks Municipal at River Oaks Municipal Golf Club

River Oaks Municipal Golf Club sits in Cottage Grove, a southeastern suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Designed by Don Herfort and opened in the mid-1990s, the course serves the public golf community in Washington County, offering an accessible daily-fee option in a region with strong municipal golf traditions. Herfort, a Minnesota-based architect active during the state's golf expansion period, created layouts throughout the Upper Midwest that balanced playability with the natural terrain.

The course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of the St. Croix River valley region, with mature tree corridors and elevation changes that provide definition to the holes. The routing takes advantage of the property's natural contours, incorporating wetlands and native grasses that reflect Minnesota's prairie and woodland transition zone. Water features come into play on several holes, typical of courses built during this era when environmental regulations shaped design approaches around natural drainage patterns.

River Oaks functions as a neighborhood course for Cottage Grove and surrounding communities, providing year-round access during Minnesota's golf season, which typically runs from late April through October. The facility includes practice areas and serves golfers across skill levels, from beginners to experienced players seeking a straightforward test without excessive length or difficulty. The course represents the kind of municipal golf infrastructure that expanded significantly in Minnesota suburbs during the 1990s, when population growth created demand for affordable public golf options within reasonable driving distance of residential areas.