Golf in the Capital City
Golf in St. Paul is defined by terrain. The Mississippi River carves bluffs through the city, glacial activity left rolling ground and kettle depressions, and generations of park planning preserved large tracts of mature hardwood. The result is a collection of courses with genuine elevation change and tree-lined corridors — a contrast to the flat, wide-open layouts common across much of the upper Midwest.
The season is short, which shapes local golf culture. From late April through October, courses run at high utilization, twilight rates are competitive, and leagues fill weekday evenings. Players here tend to be efficient and weather-tolerant, and many courses have invested in drainage and turf management specifically to open earlier and close later than neighboring facilities.
What Makes a Course Worth Playing
Beyond scorecard difficulty, the factors that matter are routing variety, conditioning consistency, pace of play, practice facilities, and value relative to green fee. Municipal courses in St. Paul compete surprisingly well on conditioning because the city has invested in maintenance equipment and agronomy staff, while private clubs differentiate on design pedigree, club amenities, and tee-time availability.
The Top 10 Golf Courses in St. Paul
1. Town and Country Club
One of the oldest golf clubs in the United States, Town and Country Club occupies a dramatic site above the Mississippi River near the Marshall Avenue bridge. The layout uses the bluff line for significant elevation change, and its greens complexes reward precise approach play. The club's historical significance in American golf, combined with its classic routing and mature landscape, place it firmly at the top of any local list.
2. Somerset Country Club
Located just south of the city, Somerset is a classic parkland design known for immaculate conditioning, subtly contoured greens, and a strong set of par threes. The club is quiet and traditional in character, and its members frequently cite the walkability of the routing as a defining pleasure.
3. Highland National Golf Course
The flagship municipal course in St. Paul, Highland National is a full-length eighteen-hole layout that consistently earns praise as one of the best public values in the metro. The design features tree-lined fairways, meaningful elevation change, and well-defended greens, and the facility includes a driving range, practice greens, and a companion nine-hole course that make it a genuine golf hub for the city.
4. Como Golf Course
Set within the historic Como Park, this compact municipal layout is a favorite for quick rounds and beginning players. Short yardage, gentle terrain, and modest green fees make it accessible, while mature trees and park surroundings give it more character than its length suggests. It is one of the best places in the city to introduce a new golfer to the game.
5. Phalen Park Golf Course
Bordering Lake Phalen on the city's east side, Phalen Park offers water views, mature tree cover, and a routing that flows naturally with the park landscape. The course is well regarded for pace of play and value, and its integration with the surrounding regional park makes it a pleasant walk regardless of scoring outcome.
6. Keller Golf Course
A historic county-owned course just north of the city, Keller has hosted significant professional tournaments in its past and underwent a comprehensive renovation that modernized its infrastructure while preserving the original design character. Its clubhouse, conditioning, and championship pedigree make it one of the strongest public options in the region.
7. Goodrich Golf Course
Goodrich is a mature, tree-lined public course in the eastern suburbs that emphasizes accuracy over distance. Its established landscape, reasonable rates, and reliable conditioning make it a steady choice for league play and regular weekend rounds, and its narrower corridors offer a genuine test for players who spray the ball.
8. Manitou Ridge Golf Course
Set on rolling terrain northeast of St. Paul, Manitou Ridge is known for substantial elevation change and panoramic views from several holes. The topography produces uneven lies and downhill approaches that demand shot-shaping, making it one of the more interesting public layouts within a short drive of the city.
9. Midland Hills Country Club
Midland Hills is a classic private club layout north of the city, celebrated for its golden-age design characteristics: strategic bunkering, undulating greens, and routing that uses natural land movement rather than earth-moving. Restoration work in recent years has recovered original design features, drawing attention from architecture enthusiasts.
10. Oak Marsh and Regional Public Courses
The broader ring of public courses surrounding St. Paul — including wetland-integrated layouts to the east — rounds out the local golf offering. These courses typically feature more open terrain, water hazards, and modern design conventions, providing contrast to the tight, tree-lined city courses and giving local players meaningful variety within a thirty-minute radius.
Making the Most of a Short Season
Local golfers optimize in a few consistent ways. Early-season play, when courses are firm and rates are low, offers strong value. Twilight rounds during long June and July evenings can deliver eighteen holes at reduced cost. Municipal season passes pay off quickly for frequent players. And indoor simulator facilities, which have expanded significantly across the metro, allow swing maintenance through the winter months so players do not lose progress each year.
Trends in Local Golf
Participation has grown noticeably, particularly among younger players and women, prompting courses to add shorter tee options and more flexible formats. Simulator and entertainment-golf venues have broadened the funnel of new players. Sustainability practices — reduced irrigation footprints, naturalized rough areas, pollinator plantings — are increasingly standard, which suits Minnesota's environmental sensibilities. And technology adoption, from GPS-equipped carts to app-based booking and pace tracking, has become expected rather than novel.
Final Thoughts
St. Paul offers an unusually strong mix of golf for a mid-size city: historic private clubs with genuine architectural significance, municipal courses that deliver real quality at accessible prices, and varied terrain that makes rounds memorable. Whether you want a bluff-top classic, a quick nine in a city park, or a championship-caliber public test, the courses above cover the full range.