The Refuge at The Refuge Golf Club

The Refuge Golf Club in Oak Grove, Minnesota, opened in the late 1990s as a daily-fee facility designed by Don Herfort, a regional architect known for his work across the upper Midwest. The course occupies rolling terrain in the northern Twin Cities suburbs, where natural wetlands, mature hardwoods, and native grasses shape much of the routing. Herfort's design philosophy typically emphasizes strategic options from the tee and greens that reward accurate approach play, and The Refuge reflects this approach with fairways that encourage thoughtful club selection and green complexes that vary in size and contour.

The layout moves through a mix of open and wooded corridors, with water hazards appearing on several holes as part of the property's natural drainage patterns. Elevation changes are moderate but noticeable, providing variety in stance and perspective throughout the round. The course serves a broad public audience in the northern metro area, offering a walkable test that accommodates players of different skill levels through multiple tee options.

The Refuge operates as a straightforward daily-fee course without the tournament history or national recognition of Minnesota's more prominent designs, but it represents the kind of accessible, well-maintained public golf that defines much of the state's golf culture. The facility includes standard practice areas and a clubhouse suited to casual outings and local league play.