Hazeltine National stands as a grand, immaculately prepared stage for major championship golf. Its brutal fairways and infamous greens consistently test the world’s best, giving every round a brush with golfing history.
Hazeltine National is a sprawling, muscular parkland design engineered from its beginnings as a major championship crucible. Robert Trent Jones Sr. sculpted the original with broad fairways, deep strategic bunkering, and greens built to survive the world’s best. Rees Jones has since refined and lengthened the layout for the demands of modern championship play, including complete reworking of green complexes and the headline 2021 elevation of the 16th’s tee. The result is a course that prizes power and precision equally—where each shot must be calculated, and even slight misses are punished at the highest level.
Robert Trent Jones Sr. was a master of championship architecture; Rees Jones, his son, is celebrated as the “Open Doctor” for championship retrofits. Hazeltine remains a living template of their philosophies.
A brawny dogleg left framed by water on the left and a thick stand of trees right. The green sits perched beyond bunkers and a lake, demanding absolute commitment on the approach.
Play a left-center tee shot to open the green, but don't challenge the water—angles matter to access tough pins.
Anything left flirts with the lake, and missed drives right will block out your approach or bring bogey into immediate play.
USGA-level conditioning: firm, fast, immaculately kept fairways and greens prepared for tournament play.
Methodical and orderly—expect a deliberate round with private-club efficiency, not resort-speed turnover.
Grand, championship-focused, and purposeful—every round feels like a rehearsal for a major.
No denim. Collared or mock-neck shirts and appropriate golf bottoms required. No leggings unless beneath skorts or covered.
Practice long, quick lags: Hazeltine’s greens are vast and tournament-paced.
Work on shaping both draws and fades—fairway bunkers and rough demand precision.
Visualize every approach—championship pressure is in the DNA, and patience is vital here.
Hone club selection for exposed holes, especially the all-new 16th.
Hazeltine National Golf Club opens, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Hosts its first championship: U.S. Women's Open
Hosts the U.S. Open; Tony Jacklin wins
Second U.S. Open staged at Hazeltine
Y.E. Yang upsets Tiger Woods to win PGA Championship
Ryder Cup: United States wins over Europe 17–11
Hosts the U.S. Amateur; José Luis Ballester wins
Hazeltine was conceived with championships in mind—the rare club whose founding mandate was to one day host the U.S. Open. Decades later, its flexibility and imposing scale have paid off, with golf’s grandest stages routinely returning to Chaska.
In 2021, Hazeltine’s 16th was supercharged with elevated tees, creating a fresh challenge and a jaw-dropping view down the fairway. The new wind exposure and visual intimidation demand a nerveless drive—especially with a trophy on the line.
Every golf fan remembers Y.E. Yang stunning Tiger Woods at the 2009 PGA. That moment, at Hazeltine, certified the course as a theater for true sporting upsets—and fueled its legend as one of America’s toughest closing stretches.
Hazeltine’s destiny as a major team venue is far from over: after the 2016 Ryder Cup, it will be the first U.S. course to host the event twice, with the 2029 edition already locked in—ensuring more drama is yet to come.
The only U.S. course awarded two Ryder Cups (2016, upcoming 2029).
The club’s land was specifically chosen to future-proof it for championship growth.
In 2009, Hazeltine hosted the only men’s major ever won in a head-to-head Tiger Woods Sunday duel.
Hazeltine’s 16th received a dramatic, modern update in 2021, making it one of the Midwest’s boldest risk/reward holes.
Despite the scale, the course can still play under 5,200 yards from the shortest tees.
Outstanding public pairing right next door—great value and championship-caliber layout.
Best metro-area municipal: easy logistics, fun routing, and parkland appeal.
Minnesota’s most historic, ultra-exclusive private—top-three state ranking.
Modern elite private—a members club often cited as a state best.
Historic public tournament pedigree and classic architecture in the Twin Cities area.
Chaska, Eden Prairie, or downtown Minneapolis for best access and big-city amenities.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: If Hazeltine National Golf Club is your kind of course, Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course) is worth a look because it brings a comparable level of challenge and puts the same premium on presentation.
Why it matches: What links these two? Brings a comparable level of challenge and puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Oakmont Country Club's own setting.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. TPC Southwind offers similarly polished playing surfaces, making it a compelling counterpart to Hazeltine National Golf Club.
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