The Ultimate Guide to Twin Cities Country Clubs & Golf Courses

The Twin Cities has an absurd number of fantastic golf clubs.

Some are ultra-exclusive and have waiting lists longer than a Lake Minnetonka boat parade. Others are family-focused clubs where the golf is great, but the pool, tennis courts, and summer social scene are equally important.

If you're considering joining a club, moving into a golf community, or simply wondering where your neighbors disappear to every Saturday morning, here's the insider guide.

The Elite Tier

Interlachen Country Club (Edina)

Private

Interlachen is the crown jewel of Twin Cities golf. Consistently ranked among the finest courses in America, it has hosted multiple major championships and remains one of Minnesota's most prestigious memberships.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $100,000+

• Monthly Dues: $1,000-$1,500+

• Waiting List: Often several years

The vibe:
Old-money prestige. If Minnesota had golf royalty, this would be Buckingham Palace.

The Minikahda Club (Minneapolis)

Private

Perched above Bde Maka Ska with arguably the most spectacular clubhouse views in Minnesota, Minikahda blends tradition, history, and championship golf.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $75,000-$100,000+

• Monthly Dues: $900-$1,400

The vibe:
Classic Minneapolis sophistication.

Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska)

Private

Home of the Ryder Cup and numerous major championships, Hazeltine is one of the most recognized golf clubs in America.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $50,000-$75,000

• Monthly Dues: Approximately $1,400+

The vibe:
Serious golf. Very serious golf.

Spring Hill Golf Club (Wayzata)

Private

Designed by Tom Fazio, Spring Hill is widely considered one of the best pure golf experiences in Minnesota.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $75,000-$100,000+

• Monthly Dues: $1,000+

The vibe:
Quiet luxury. Lake Minnetonka money without the need to show it.

Windsong Farm Golf Club (Independence)

Ultra-Private

Windsong may be Minnesota's most exclusive golf club.

Approximate Cost:

• Invitation-based membership

• Costs not publicly disclosed

The vibe:
If you know, you know.

The Lake Minnetonka Favorites

Lafayette Club

Private

If your family loves Lake Minnetonka as much as golf, Lafayette belongs near the top of your list.

Located directly on Crystal Bay, members enjoy boating, tennis, swimming, dining, social events, and golf privileges through partnerships and club programs.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $25,000-$50,000

• Monthly Dues: $500-$900

The vibe:
Summer on Lake Minnetonka wrapped into a country club.

This is one of the clubs I hear people talk about most often around the lake because it's truly a lifestyle club.

Bearpath Golf & Country Club (Eden Prairie)

Private

The only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Minnesota.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: Around $45,000

• Monthly Dues: $1,000+

The vibe:
Golf-centric luxury.

Olympic Hills Golf Club (Eden Prairie)

Private

One of the fastest-growing memberships in the western suburbs.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $40,000-$50,000

• Monthly Dues: Approximately $1,000+

The vibe:
Family-friendly and approachable.

The Historic East Metro Clubs

Town & Country Club

Private

Minnesota's oldest country club and home to Minnesota's first golf course. The Mississippi River views alone are worth the visit.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $50,000-$75,000

• Monthly Dues: $900-$1,200

The vibe:
Historic elegance.

White Bear Yacht Club

Private

Despite the name, it boasts one of Minnesota's most respected golf courses.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: Around $50,000

• Monthly Dues: Approximately $1,200

The vibe:
Generational membership and East Metro prestige.

Dellwood Country Club

Private

Perhaps the most family-focused luxury club in Minnesota, featuring pools, dining, social events, and golf.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $25,000-$50,000 depending on membership level

• Monthly Dues: Vary by membership

The vibe:
Country club meets resort.

Midland Hills Golf Course

Private

A hidden gem in Roseville with an exceptionally loyal membership.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $20,000-$40,000

• Monthly Dues: $700-$1,000

The vibe:
Friendly, welcoming, understated.

Southview Country Club

Private

One of the strongest value propositions among private clubs in the metro.

Approximate Cost:

• Initiation: $10,000-$30,000

• Monthly Dues: $500-$800

The vibe:
Great golf without the country-club ego.

Best Public Golf Courses

If you don't want the initiation fee that rivals a down payment on a lake home, these are outstanding public options.

Chaska Town Course

Public

Often ranked among Minnesota's best public courses.

Rush Creek Golf Club

Public

Maple Grove's pride and joy.

Keller Golf Course

Public

Historic PGA Tour venue and one of the best municipal courses in America.

Braemar Golf Course

Public

A favorite among western suburb golfers.

Troy Burne

Public

Technically Wisconsin, but Twin Cities golfers treat it like a local course.

Edinburgh USA

Public

Championship links-style golf in Brooklyn Park.

Stacy's Lake Minnetonka Take

If I were joining a club strictly for golf, I'd look at Hazeltine, Spring Hill, Interlachen, and Windsong.

If I wanted the best family experience, I'd look at Lafayette, Dellwood, Olympic Hills, and Edina Country Club.

If I wanted the best combination of Lake Minnetonka lifestyle, social events, swimming, tennis, and networking, Lafayette is incredibly hard to beat.

And if you're wondering whether country club membership impacts home values...

Absolutely.

Some neighborhoods around these clubs command significant premiums because buyers aren't just purchasing a home. They're buying access to a lifestyle, a social circle, and often decades of family traditions.

That's especially true around Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata, Minnetonka Beach, Deephaven, and the western suburbs where golf and lake life tend to go hand in hand.