A Midwestern Fazio Masterstroke
Fazio is known for earth-shaping, but here he let Minnesota’s natural hills dictate the routing. The result is an inland course praised for its untouched, flowing feel and perfectly sited greens.
The verdict
Elite Fazio, Midwest’s natural gem
Spring Hill is a bold, rolling Tom Fazio design rated the #2 course in Minnesota and one of his most natural, dramatic inland routings. It’s fiercely protected, beautifully maintained, and delivers a pure private-club golf experience that’s a regional must for architecture lovers.
Course DNA
Difficulty
88
Scenery76
Conditioning91
Shot Variety80
Walkability69
Green Complexity82
Wow Factor79
Design Quality82
At a glance
Quick facts
Course Rating/Slope
74.2/152 (Championship tees)
Teeing Options
Seven sets, 5,120 to 7,042 yards
Club Status
Private, no public tee times
Elevation Movement
Significant natural rolling terrain
Minnesota Ranking
#2 in state by Golf Digest
Green Protection
Visually dramatic, bunkered Fazio surrounds
Back Nine Challenge
Long, demanding closing stretch
The design
The architecture
Spring Hill showcases Tom Fazio’s ability to craft top-tier championship tests that feel intrinsic to their landscape. Here, he used the site’s natural, rolling Minnesota topography to full effect, allowing holes to flow gracefully over dramatic rises, falls, and wooded knolls. Bunkering is bold yet strategic, with each placement challenging you to find the right line and wrest control of the hole. The greens are protected by deep hazards and demanding runoffs, blending Fazio’s refined shaping with genuine Midwest flavor. This is golf that tests every club—rewarding creativity, patience, and precision at every turn.
Tom Fazio found inspiration in Minnesota’s natural grandeur, letting the terrain shape one of his most organic, unforced championship designs.
Defining features
- Large-scale, naturalistic routing with significant elevation
- Strategic bunkering that frames tee and approach shots
- Greens set into hillsides, surrounded by deep bunkers
- Wide fairways, but angles and position critical
- Strong finishing stretch with lengthy par 4s and 5s
- Multiple tee sets for all skill levels
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 2
Hole 2
PAR
4
YARDAGE
474 yds
This opening brute is a classic Fazio demand: a long par 4 that bends with the terrain, framed by strategic bunkers and a green that perches on a subtle rise. The landing area invites boldness, but only precision pays off.
Play it smart
Find the fairway, favoring the side that opens up the green; club selection depends on the wind and pin.
Where it bites
Miss left and you’re in deep trouble—thick rough and fairway bunkers punish poor drives, and approaches from the wrong side are severely penalized by contour.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approach to uphill, well-defended green
Take an extra club and commit—underestimating elevation here leaves nasty recoveries.
Par 5 layup over cross bunker
Don’t get greedy—choose the layup distance that leaves your favorite wedge, not just advanced yardage.
Playing into a strong wind on long par 4
Stay disciplined—accept par as a win, and aim for the widest part of the green.
Tee shot on a dogleg with fairway bunkers
Visualize the ideal angle and commit to your line; don’t chase extra distance into trouble.
Chipping from tight run-off below the green
Use a lower-lofted club and focus on tempo—there’s little room for error on Fazio’s tight lies.
Downhill putt on fast surfaces
Err on the side of caution—these greens run true and fast; dying the ball at the hole saves strokes.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Impeccable private-club presentation—fast greens, pure fairways, always tournament ready.
Pace
Unrushed, orderly—expect a three-and-a-half to four-hour round with little delay.
Vibe
Exclusive and understated—serious about golf, with a country-club hush and respectful etiquette.
Dress code
Collared shirts, tailored shorts or slacks, no denim or athletic wear.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Choose the right tees
Pick the tee box that fits your carry yardages—too far back, and you’ll face brutal approach shots all day.
02
Practice your long irons
Several par 3s are deep; confidence with hybrids and long irons is a must.
03
Prepare for fast, subtle greens
Get a feel for quick surfaces; pace putting and green-reading are tested on every hole.
04
Leave time for arrival
Enjoy the setting and warm up without rushing; the club’s seclusion and private vibe set the tone for your round.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1999
Spring Hill Golf Club opens, designed by Tom Fazio
- 2001
Debuts among top 5 Golf Digest Minnesota courses
- 2012
Cemented as a Fazio signature; regularly top 2 in MN
- 2023
Once more ranked #2 in Minnesota, Golf Digest
- 2025
#106 in Golf Digest’s Second 100 Greatest
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Private, Exclusive, Polished
Spring Hill’s atmosphere is all about exclusivity: strict tee access, gleaming surfaces, and the hush of a Twin Cities members’ retreat. Conditioning is impeccable, and play moves smoothly at a private-club pace.
The Par 5s: Your Risk and Reward Barometer
Nos. 3, 5, 13, and 16 are four of Minnesota’s strongest par 5s—length is only the start of the challenge. Each rewards sharp thinking and biting off just enough to set up a real birdie look.
Never Hosted a Major, Still a Ranking Magnet
While Spring Hill doesn’t boast signature trophies or world-famous moments, it’s consistently awarded for its design. Its place on Golf Digest’s ‘Second 100’ and state lists makes it a must-play for regional connoisseurs.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Consistently ranked Minnesota’s #2 course by Golf Digest since opening.
2
Fazio shaped the routing with minimal earthmoving to maximize natural landforms.
3
The club has never hosted a major pro or USGA championship—prestige is purely architectural.
4
Course stretches nearly 2,000 yards from front to back tees.
5
Once among the youngest courses to enter Golf Digest’s top two in Minnesota.
Build the trip
If you’re crafting a west-metro Twin Cities golf trip
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Hazeltine National Golf Club
Private
Minnesota’s premier major championship venue—Ryder Cup, PGA Championship pedigree.
Interlachen Country Club
Private
Historic, world-ranked private club known for tradition and challenge.
Minikahda Club
Private
Classic Minneapolis private, championship-caliber layout.
The Golf Club at Gale Woods
Public
Best public access round in the area; scenic and well-maintained.
StoneRidge Golf Club
Public
Outstanding Metro public option with resort-grade conditioning.
Wayzata or Minnetonka—easy access to Spring Hill and the best west metro golf.
Course DNA
If You Like Spring Hill Golf Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.2
Ridgewood Country Club
Paramus, New JerseyWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Ridgewood Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Spring Hill Golf Club.
Strong DNA Match8.1
Whitemarsh Valley Country Club
Lafayette Hill, PennsylvaniaWhy it matches: If Spring Hill Golf Club is your kind of course, Whitemarsh Valley Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match8.1
TPC Boston
Norton, MassachusettsConditioning
Why it matches: TPC Boston is a natural next stop after Spring Hill Golf Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Community Sentiment
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