Best Golf Courses to Play on a Twin Cities Business Trip – Explore Minnesota Golf – The State of Golf

If you live in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul you know the area is a golfer’s paradise with its bounty of great golf courses within short driving distances. But if you travel for work and like to tee it up at each destination, this area is tailor-made (pun intended) to get both jobs done. The biggest challenge is choosing which course to play, but we have that figured it out for you.

On any business trip, time can be of the essence and logistics a concern, so we have narrowed the list of courses to a select few that should work with your schedule. Whether you need a round near the airport before you leave town or have a car to drive a little further to a favorite course, the Twin Cities golfing community has you covered. Here are the best golf courses to play on a Twin Cities business trip.

 Golf courses near the airport

The Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport is located near the center of the Twin Cities area, and there are a number of great courses within an hour’s drive that will provide you with that perfect beginning or ending to a great business trip. On the south side of the Cities, you will find Willingers Golf Club in Northfield. Willingers is set in a 40-acre forest and 60 acres of natural wetlands and has been given Golf Digest’s “4 ½ Stars for Best Places to Play Golf” and Golf Magazine’s “Top 5 Best Value Courses.”

The Ridges at Sand Creek in Jordan is a 44-minute drive from the airport and well worth the trip. Rated #1 by Twin Cities Golf Guide, Ridges features a challenging combination of link-style and tree-lined fairway golf. A little bit closer to the airport is Stonebrook Golf Club in Shakopee, which features the very unique ferry ride across Lake O’Dowd after your tee shot on hole No. 8. It can become a memorable cruise.

Meanwhile, nearby Prior Lake is home to an excellent pair of great Twin Cities courses. Legends Golf Club features some of the most challenging and beautiful par threes in the state, while The Wilds Golf Club offers fantastic views due to some amazing elevation changes on the course. You will be want to book this duo on your next trip to town.

Out in the western suburbs are two gorgeous tracks for your business trip breather on the links. Chaska Town Course in Chaska was ranked the 23rd Top 100 Municipal Golf Courses in the U.S. by Golfweek, and is often used as a secondary course when the nearby Hazeltine National G.C. (home to the 2016 Ryder Cup Matches) hosts one of its big events. CTC, itself, offers plenty of challenge and is ready to serve up some great golf memories.

A little bit further north (and less than an hour from the airport if you are on the right route) you will encounter Rush Creek Golf Club, which is a beautiful and challenging track nestled among the trees and marshlands of rural Maple Grove. If you have the time and conveyance, it is well-worth the trek.

On the north side of the Twin Cities lies Edinburgh USA in Brooklyn Park. It is home to a former LPGA tour event and features a challenging layout that includes water on nine different holes.

Finally, the two closest courses to MSP International (just 28 minutes away each) are Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury and Braemar Golf Course in Edina. Braemar lies to the west of the airport and is currently finishing up some major renovation at the course (turning 27 holes into 18) that the locals are very excited about. And Prestwick is found east of the airport, where elevation changes offer great vistas and even greater challenges. The course was rated a top three Best Public Golf Experiences in Minnesota in 2013 by the Star Tribune.

There are many excellent golfing options in the Twin Cities metro area and all within an hour from the local airport. Check one out on your next business to Minneapolis and St. Paul.