Chaska, Minnesota
Chaska Town Course is a premier public venue that fuses championship-caliber test with everyday playability. Arthur Hills’ routing over oak groves, prairie, and marshland delivers strategic interest and robust conditioning, making it one of the Midwest’s best municipal experiences. While it’s not a bucket-list national destination, it’s a must-play for anyone passing through or planning a Twin Cities golf trip.
Catch a view of Hazeltine National from the Town Course’s higher prairie holes—a rare chance to experience two championship venues in one glance.
Arthur Hills’s design at Chaska Town Course delivers a championship-caliber parkland experience using a dynamic blend of open prairie, mature oaks, and natural marshland. Hills’s routing utilizes the broad property to create a test that shifts from wide, inviting corridors to strategic bottlenecks and water-guarded greens. The holes are varied—short par 4s tempt the bold, long par 4s and 5s demand power and precision, while a set of stout par 3s ramps up the approach challenge. The pure bent grass surfaces enhance both shotmaking and pace, and the entire course maintains a regional tournament readiness rarely found at a municipal venue.
Arthur Hills created a truly public yet tournament-worthy parkland test, leveraging the property’s blend of open and wooded ground.
This ultra-short par 4 is a signature gamble—reachable for big hitters, but extremely well-defended with bunkers and strategic angles. The hole’s length deceives, requiring careful club selection and daring nerves.
Consider laying back to your favorite wedge, or drive the green if your game is on—your approach is easier from the fairway, but the tight landing spot makes anything less than perfect nerve-wracking.
Miss left or long and bunkers or rough can swallow up a careless tee shot; overly aggressive plays often find trouble instead of reward.
Superbly maintained bent grass and professional-level conditioning
Generally reasonable—most rounds finish under four hours
Friendly, bustling municipal championship course
Standard golf attire; check official policies if unsure
Prime tee times, especially during tournament weeks, fill fast—secure your slot early.
It’s a pure public course but don’t expect slow greens or spotty lies—conditions are championship level.
With prairie wind and exposed holes, pack for sudden weather shifts even in summer.
A smart approach to the short par 4s and long par 3s can save your card before the turn.
Course opens, designed by Arthur Hills
Co-hosts National Amputee Tournament with Hazeltine National
Co-hosts U.S. Amateur; Horschel shoots USGA-record 60
Named Minnesota Golf Association Course of the Year
Planned to co-host U.S. Amateur with Hazeltine again
Chaska Town Course was intentionally built to complement neighboring Hazeltine National, and its routing ensures glimpses of the famed major venue from several vantage points. This 'major championship overflow' legacy is woven into every tournament week, adding extra electricity and purpose when elite events come to town.
During the 2006 U.S. Amateur, Billy Horschel fired an astonishing 60 at Chaska Town Course—the lowest round in USGA history at the time. His run sparked an enduring course legend and showed that bold play can be rewarded for those willing to take the risks.
Unlike most municipal layouts, Chaska Town Course was crafted from day one to meet the standards of regional and national championships, not just daily public golf. Every inch of its 285 acres reflects this ambition, blending friendly access with tournament muscle.
Players traverse open prairie holes before ducking into dense oak groves, with marsh carries and water features keeping things honest. This mix of landscapes is a defining aspect of the Town Course's routing—and a big part of its visual and strategic appeal.
Constructed specifically to co-host national events alongside Hazeltine National.
Site of the lowest round in USGA competition history: Billy Horschel’s 60.
Managed by the City of Chaska as a proud municipal asset.
Holes cross prairie, woods, and marsh—often all in one stretch.
Was voted Minnesota Golf Association Course of the Year in 2009.
Major championship history and world-class test
Distinct reversible routing experience right nearby
Top-ranked modern public and resort play
Sprawling resort-style public with big amenities
Strong east-metro public play and value
Minnetonka, Edina, or southwest Minneapolis for optimal metro access
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: If Chaska Town Course is your kind of course, Cripple Creek Golf & Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: If Chaska Town Course is your kind of course, Pelham Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: Gaston Country Club is a natural next stop after Chaska Town Course: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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