
Valleywood Course
Valleywood Golf Course

About this 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.
Quick facts
- Location
- Apple Valley, MN, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1975
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Don Herfort
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,407 yards
- Difficulty
- 71.1/119
- Course Vaults score
- 5.8
Getting there
Valleywood Golf Course sits in the rolling terrain south of Minneapolis-St. Paul, most easily reached via Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), roughly forty-five minutes to an hour's drive southwest through the suburban transition into Apple Valley's quieter exurban landscape. Private aviators will find options at nearby general aviation facilities, though MSP remains the primary commercial gateway for most visitors. The drive itself traces a gentle descent from the Twin Cities' urban core into the Minnesota River Valley, where the terrain begins to open into the wooded, undulating topography that defines this corner of the state - a fitting prelude to Valleywood's own sculpted fairways and native-grass character.

FAQ
Common questions about Valleywood
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Valleywood has a Course Vaults score of 5.8 out of 10 based on 20 logged golfers.
Valleywood was designed by Don Herfort.
Yes. Valleywood is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Valleywood is 71.
Valleywood plays 6,407 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Valleywood is 119.



