Valleywood Golf Course

Valleywood Golf Course sits in Apple Valley, a southern suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area in Minnesota. Designed by Don Herfort and opened in the 1960s, the course serves as a municipal facility operated by the city, providing accessible public golf to the region's residents. Herfort, a Minnesota-based architect, designed several courses throughout the upper Midwest during this era, typically working with modest budgets to create functional layouts on available land. The course occupies relatively flat to gently rolling terrain characteristic of the Minnesota River valley region. The routing incorporates mature tree-lined fairways that have developed over the decades since opening, with oaks and other hardwoods framing holes and defining playing corridors. Water features appear on several holes, reflecting the area's natural drainage patterns and adding strategic interest to the layout. The design follows straightforward principles common to municipal courses of its vintage, emphasizing playability for a wide range of skill levels while maintaining enough challenge for regular play. As a city-owned facility, Valleywood serves a broad membership base and welcomes daily-fee players throughout the season. The course operates within the typical Minnesota golf calendar, closing during winter months and opening in spring when conditions allow. The layout provides a neighborhood golf experience for Apple Valley and surrounding communities, functioning as both a recreational amenity and a gathering place for local golfers.