Afton Alps Golf Course

The rolling terrain carved from ancient glacial moraine creates dramatic elevation changes that test club selection on nearly every approach, with the back nine's clifftop holes offering commanding views of the St. Croix River Valley below. What separates this daily-fee gem from Minnesota's flatter tracks is how architect Joel Goldstrand routed holes through mature hardwood forests and across deep ravines, demanding precise iron play over forced carries. The conditioning punches well above its green fee price point, with bentgrass fairways that reward good drives and greens complex enough to make three-putts a real threat.