Minnesota ranks number one in the nation in golfers per capita, and some 480 courses have been carved into the Minnesota countryside to meet demand. Greens fees are a veritable bargain, and the season usually runs from April through October, though over the past several years warmer-than-average autumns have extended playing time into November and even a few Decembers.

The season may run year-round in Arizona, Florida, and other hotspots, but who wants to walk nine holes under the sun of a Southern summer?

Minnesota’s two best courses are Interlachen in Edina and Hazeltine National in Chaska, which both Golf Digest and Golf magazines rank in their top 100 for the United States—but you’ll have to befriend a member to get a whack at them.

A few of the best public courses are The Classic at Madden’s (Brainerd), Dacotah Ridge (Morton), Giants Ridge (Biwabik), Legends (Prior Lake), The Pines at Grand View Lodge (Nisswa), Rush Creek (Maple Grove), Superior National (Lutsen), and Wilds (Prior Lake).

Explore Minnesota Tourism’s Explore Minnesota Golf brochure lists 300 courses and their website (www.golf.exploreminnesota.com) has a searchable database with detailed information about all of the state’s courses.