Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Olympic Hills delivers a bold, modern test with major length, great conditioning, and inventive greens. Recent renovations elevated both playability and everyday drama, earning a perennial spot among Minnesota’s best. Expect demanding holes, scenic fescue corridors, and a polished private club feel.
Olympic Hills is a case study in modern private-club reinvention, transformed in the 2010s by Ron Prichard from a dense, tree-lined layout into a more strategic, visually open, championship course. Fescue-laced fairways now flow across rolling terrain with ample risk/reward decisions, while green complexes feature subtle undulation and expanded surrounds after Tyler Rae’s recent refinement work. Multiple tees create dramatic variety in length and challenge, and wide sightlines have reintroduced wind as a major playing factor—a rare touch for the Minneapolis area.
Ron Prichard's renovation reimagined the routing, opening up land movement and strategic vistas while maintaining a stern championship challenge.
At 624 yards from the tips, No. 6 is a grueling three-shotter that defines the Olympic Hills challenge. Wide fescue lines and creative landing zones demand precision on every shot. The green is reachable only by the boldest, and even then, recovery areas punish anything less than three excellent swings.
Stay disciplined with each layup, pick conservative angles, and avoid long grass at all costs—forcing a birdie is a recipe for a big number.
Missing short or left near the approach runs brings thick fescue and impossible angles into play.
Expect pristine turf, crisp fairways, and fast, true greens—maintenance is consistently top-notch.
Standard private-club pace; foursomes usually keep moving, but members prize thoughtful, deliberate play.
Polished, modern private-club feel—high standards without excessive stuffiness.
Traditional private-club attire (collared shirts, appropriate shorts/pants); confirm specifics ahead of your round.
You’ll face several stout par 3s and long approaches—dial in your hybrid and 4-iron before arriving.
With wide-open corridors and recent tree clearing, sudden gusts can surprise—light wind gear pays off.
Several par 5s require thoughtful second shots to set up your third—study the yardages and know your preferred layup numbers.
Greens are undulating but playable—strong chipping and lag putting will save you strokes.
Club founded and course opened, designed by Charles Maddox.
Major three-year renovation project launched under Ron Prichard.
Reopened after full-course transformation, earning accolades as a 'brand-new' course.
Recognized by Golf Digest as #11 in Best in State for Minnesota.
Continued state Top-15 recognition, cementing reputation among Minnesota’s elite privates.
Maintained strong conditioning, with further tweaks by Tyler Rae opening up new sightlines and tuning greens.
The 2013–2015 Ron Prichard-led transformation stripped out much of the woodland, opened sweeping fescue corridors, and created modern green complexes. Members almost universally describe the post-renovation experience as a complete reinvention rather than a mere update.
Olympic Hills features two par 5s—Nos. 6 and 18—stretching over 540 yards, with No. 6 topping out at 624 yards from the back tees. These holes are legendary among members for their relentless length and demanding three-shot strategy.
After years as a tree-lined club, recent decades have seen wide-scale fescue planting, giving the course a windswept, visually striking style distinct from most Minneapolis-area layouts. It’s a look-and-feel that both intimidates and inspires.
Though Olympic Hills has never hosted a top professional or USGA championship, it consistently draws respect as a 'player’s course' and a proving ground for the area’s best amateur and club-level competitions.
Ron Prichard’s multi-year transformation in the 2010s was so extensive, Golf Digest called it a 'brand-new course.'
The fescue corridors create a distinct aesthetic rarely found west of the Mississippi in Minnesota.
Olympic Hills is regularly ranked among the top dozen private courses in the state, but has never hosted a major professional event.
The course rating of 76.2 from the back tees is among the highest in Minnesota.
Its original design roots trace back to the creative local architect Charles Maddox, now almost entirely transformed.
A beloved public championship-caliber design with bold movement and strong conditioning.
Host of Ryder Cup and U.S. Opens—one of Minnesota’s true championship venues.
A favorite daily-fee layout with fescue, firm terrain, and standout strategic holes.
A storied, classic course with a top reputation and beautiful cityside setting.
Accessibly located and frequently praised for its conditioning and playable design.
Eden Prairie, Bloomington, or Edina for best access to private and public courses, dining, and easy airport access.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? Brings a comparable level of challenge — a familiar feeling, expressed in Wolf Creek Golf Club's own setting.
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 Trump National Golf Club Bedminster – Old Course's own setting.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Sycamore Hills Golf Club asks for the same disciplined decision-making and offers similarly polished playing surfaces, making it a compelling counterpart to Olympic Hills Golf Club.
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Classic, challenging Ross architecture with New England charm
Community Sentiment
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