Southern Hills Course
Farmington, MN, USA




Southern Hills, nestled in the rolling farmland south of the Twin Cities, presents a deceptively challenging parkland experience. The original design, while not attributed to a celebrated name, has been subtly molded over the years by the steady hands of its dedicated greenskeepers. Southern Hills favors a strategic game rather than raw power; tight, tree-lined fairways and subtly undulating greens reward thoughtful club selection and precise approach shots. The course plays shorter than its yardage suggests, but clever bunkering around the greens, coupled with the prevailing winds whistling across the open fields, require players to be both accurate and adaptable. While Southern Hills hasn't hosted national championships, its annual club championship is fiercely contested, often drawing large galleries from the local community. The atmosphere is relaxed yet competitive, reflective of a membership that values camaraderie and sportsmanship above all else. Stories abound of friendly wagers on the first tee and lively post-round discussions in the clubhouse, creating a palpable sense of belonging. Southern Hills Golf Course has a rich history with the farming community of Farmington. Many of its founding members were local farmers who, after a long day in the fields, would gather at the course for a friendly nine holes. This connection to the land remains strong, with the course often hosting charity events and tournaments to support local agricultural initiatives. After a round, members congregate at the bar where the club's signature "Farmington Fix" – a concoction of local whiskey, apple cider, and a splash of ginger ale – is savored, a fitting tribute to the area's rural heritage and the unpretentious charm of Southern Hills.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Unranked
Best in USA
Unranked
Best in MN
Public: #36
Golfers say this underrated metro-area course offers a fun and varied layout with interesting elevation changes, strategic angles, and a solid mix of hole lengths, though the five par-3s can create bottlenecks that push weekend rounds toward five hours. Most praise the routing and design as engaging and gettable in calm conditions, with greens that can run fast when properly maintained. Some find conditioning inconsistent, noting that fairways and green speeds don't always match the layout's potential, particularly outside peak season. Reviewers note the course has become less of a value in recent years due to price increases, though many still consider it a solid option worth playing.
Really fun layout, really gettable (wind dependent). Greens are really good in the morning. Depending on if players fix their ball marks and pick up their feet the greens typically hold up throughout the day. Rounds can drag out to the 5 hour mark on weekends, there’s a few gettable par 4s, every par 5 and 5 par 3s so there are some serious bottle necks. Overall it’s a fun place to play.
Really solid layout/design. Fun variations, uphill/downhill, long/short. Underrated metro track for sure. Conditions (at least this May) were not good. If this course had better fairways and faster greens it would be much higher
Under rated course, very fun routing to play
Underrated farmland course 30 minutes outside MSP. Can get the greens really moving when they want to and plenty of interesting holes where angles actually matter. Unfortunately they’ve raised the price in recent years so it’s not as much of a value as it used to be
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FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Southern Hills has a Course Vaults score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 11 explicit golfer ratings.
Southern Hills was designed by Joel Goldstrand.
Yes. Southern Hills is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Southern Hills is 71.
Southern Hills plays 6,343 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Southern Hills is 137.