White Bear Yacht Course
Dellwood, MN, USA
White Bear Yacht Club isn't just a place where championships happen; it's where championship golf was defined in the upper Midwest. Carved into the rolling, wooded terrain of White Bear Lake, the course reflects a classic, early 20th-century parkland design, its fairways routed through stands of mature hardwoods and around the lake's picturesque bays. While not excessively long by modern standards, its strength lies in the strategic placement of bunkers and the subtle undulations of the greens, rewarding thoughtful play over brute force. Designed by the legendary Donald Ross in 1915, White Bear has seen careful stewardship over the years, retaining the core of Ross's original vision. Though not a frequent stop for major professional tournaments, the club has been a consistent proving ground for the region's top amateur players, hosting numerous state championships and USGA qualifiers. White Bear Yacht Club holds a respected place in the region's golf landscape as a storied, understated gem. It’s a club where generations have refined their game and where the traditions of golf are honored with a quiet reverence. The club's famed 'Sizzler' event, a member-guest tournament held annually for decades, embodies the spirit of camaraderie and competition that defines White Bear.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
All courses
Best in USA
All courses
Best in MN
All courses
Golfers say White Bear Yacht Club delivers a highly enjoyable Minnesota golf experience with distinctive lakeside character and notable land movement that creates varied shot-making opportunities. Most praise the course's collection of par 3s—particularly hole 12, which some call among the state's best—and appreciate recent renovations to holes 14, 17, and 18 that have strengthened the routing. Reviewers consistently note the staff's operational excellence and the fun, challenging nature of the rolling terrain, though they caution that out-of-bounds areas demand accurate driving. While one reviewer considers it somewhat overrated for the state, the consensus holds that WBYC merits its growing national recognition and offers memorable holes worth seeking out.
8.7
86 players
WBYC is too much fun. Awesome course and awesome staff. Highly recommend
Highlights - Lipped out a flop on 12 - Bird on 16 - Dart on 17 Great track
Phenomenal course with a unique lakeside setting. MN golf at its finest.
Don’t pass up the opportunity to play WBYC if you have the chance.
WBYC has a ton of character and it's no wonder it creeped into the T100 lists. It's justified. I haven't played the renovated 18th yet but I saw it in person. Way better hole. This course has oodles of fun shots to hit and you can definitely score if you can acquire some local knowledge.
Really really good-to-great course. A few holes that you’ll remember your whole life, one for the wrong reasons. Operationally flawless execution by the staff every time I’ve played there.
White Bear is the quintessential Minnesota experience. Play 18 challenging rolling holes and hangout by the lake for dinner after the round. OB lines the course in many areas so make sure you contain the ball off the tee.
‘Oh you’re from MN do you know White Bear…..” let me stop you right there. Yes I do know White Bear thx. Anyways, it’s probably the most overrated golf course in the state, granted it does have the best collection of par 3s in the state, but it does not crack top 5 in my opinion.
Land movement is insane, and the work they’ve done recently to 14, 17, and 18 has helped a lot. 12 may be the best hole in the state. No shot is the same.
Public courses closest to White Bear Yacht.
The journey to White Bear Yacht Club begins at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, a straightforward twenty-five-minute drive northeast into the wooded lake country that defines Minnesota's near-metro landscape. The route traces Interstate 35E as it climbs away from the Twin Cities, then peels east onto quieter county roads that wind through stands of oak and birch before opening onto the shimmering expanse of White Bear Lake. The final approach delivers you to Dellwood's discreet shoreline enclave, where the club's understated presence belies its century-plus legacy as one of the Upper Midwest's most storied private retreats - a place where sailboats and golf have shared the same hallowed ground since the Gilded Age.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
White Bear Yacht has a Course Vaults score of 8.7 out of 10 based on 54 explicit golfer ratings.
White Bear Yacht was designed by Donald Ross and Willie Watson.
White Bear Yacht is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at White Bear Yacht is 72.
White Bear Yacht plays 6,471 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at White Bear Yacht is 134.
