Dacotah Ridge - Minnesota - USA

If you’re looking for a fantastic public golf course offering in southern Minnesota, you’ve found it: Dacotah Ridge earns every accolade and more. Uncharacteristic for the region it resides in, Dacotah Ridge sports very few trees. In fact, they’re completely absent on 12 of the 18 holes, five of which hug a large pond in the middle of the property that provides for the best views on the course. The track’s challenges lie within a few blind shots you’ll encounter and the mammoth white bunkers, some of which are larger than the green beside them, which can be a bummer.

A few of the best holes: the par four 10th, a downhill approach shot the player needs to carry over Wabasha Creek to a thin green; the picturesque par three 11th, a drive that requires a carry to the green over the aforementioned pond; and the par five 18th, a dogleg left that possesses (no joke) about half the trees on the golf course. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find any single hole on the back not considered strong.

With Dacotah Ridge, Rees Jones gave southwest Minnesota its premier golf course. It’s worth the trip from the Twin Cities and one of the greatest values you'll find in a public track.