Keller

First opened for municipal play in 1929, Keller Golf Course in St Paul hosted the PGA Championship in 1932 and 1954. Richard Mandell oversaw an extensive renovation of this much underrated layout between October 2012 and July 2014.

“For a ‘muni’ Keller is a very good course,” commented Mr. Top 100 (Rudo) in his blog. “The land has very good movement and the course has a good routing… There are some very interesting holes, especially #4 and #17. The 4th is a flat 150-yard par 3 (from the back) to a good sized green with a 50-foot high oak tree sitting smack dab in front of the green. The canopy of the tree stops about 10 yards short of the front of the green. Trust me, it is quite a shock when one walks over to the 4th tee from the third green, but somehow it works. Because the hole is relatively short, the player has a lofted iron in their hands so that clearing the tree is not a huge issue.

The 17th presents a similar situation, this time on a 376-yard par 4, which turns slightly right and is uphill to a green sitting on the crest off a slight rise. Once again a large oak tree presents a real obstacle that makes the player consider how to play it off the tee.

Keller has two other superb par 3’s. #13 is 148 yards, slightly uphill, and requires a carry over wetlands to a shallow green and #15 is uphill 195 yards with a false front and a sharp drop off to the right and short. The four par 3’s at Keller are really the strongest aspect of the course.”