Wahpeton at Dakota Winds Golf Course

Dakota Winds Golf Course sits in Hankinson, a small town in southeastern North Dakota near the state's border with South Dakota. Designed by Joel Goldstrand, a regional architect who has worked on several courses across the upper Midwest, the layout reflects the characteristic terrain of the Red River Valley region—generally flat to gently rolling farmland with open prairie vistas. The course serves the communities of Hankinson and nearby Wahpeton, providing public golf access in an area where courses are relatively sparse.

The design works within the natural topography of southeastern North Dakota, where dramatic elevation changes are uncommon but subtle land movement and prevailing winds become significant factors in play. Goldstrand's routing likely emphasizes strategic bunkering and green complexes to create interest on terrain that doesn't offer pronounced natural features. Wind is a persistent element across this part of the Great Plains, affecting club selection and shot-making throughout the round.

Dakota Winds functions as a community course, offering recreational golf in a rural setting where the game serves both local residents and visitors traveling through the region. The facility provides a straightforward golf experience characteristic of small-town public courses across the northern plains—unpretentious, accessible, and shaped by the agricultural landscape that surrounds it. The course represents the kind of regional golf infrastructure that sustains the game in less populated areas of the upper Midwest.