Minnesota
"My favorite courses around the Twin Cities based on proximity"
Within 30min of St Paul
StoneRidge Golf Club (Stillwater)
Legends Golf Club (Prior Lake)
Braemar Golf Course (Edina)
Keller Golf Course (Maplewood)
Oak Marsh Golf Course (Oakdale)
Loggers Trail Golf Course (Stillwater)
Inver Wood Golf Course (Inver Grove Heights)
Eagle Valley Golf Course (Woodbury)
Prestwick Golf Club (Woodbury)
Crystal Lake Gold Club (Lakeville)
Hastings Golf Club (Hastings)
Hidden Greens Golf Course (Hastings)
Chomonix Golf Course (Lino Lakes)
Within 45min of St Paul
Rush Creek Golf Club (Maple Grove)
The Meadows at Mystic Lake (Prior Lake)
Chaska Town Course (Chaska)
Baker National Golf Course (Hamel)
Edinburgh USA Golf Course (Brooklyn Park)
The Wilds Golf Club (Prior Lake)
Willinger's Golf Club (Northfield)
The Links at Northfork (Ramsey)
Victory Links Golf Course (Blaine)
The Summit Golf Club (Cannon Falls)
Fox Hollow Golf Club (St Michael)
Stonebrooke Golf Course (Shakopee)
Boulder Pointe Golf Course (Elko)
Cannon Golf Club (Cannon Falls)
Bunker Hills Golf Club (Blaine)
Within 1hr of St Paul
The Refuge Golf Club (Oak Grove)
Riverwood National Golf Course (Monticello)
Zumbrota Golf Club (Zumbrota)
Stonebrooke Golf Course (Shakopee)
Mississippi National Highlands Course (Red Wing)
Legacy Golf (Fairbault)
Deer Run Golf Club (Victoria)
Mississippi National Lowlands Course (Red Wing)
Within 1hr 30min of St Paul
The Jewel Golf Club (Lake City)
Purple Hawk Country Club (Cambridge)
Mount Frontenac Golf Course (Frontenac)
Albion Ridges Golf Club (Annandale)
Lake Pepin Golf Course (Lake City)
Great for Beginners
18-Hole Courses
Como Park Golf Course (St Paul)
Phalen Golf Course (St Paul)
Goodrich Golf Course (St Paul)
Lost Spur Golf Course (Eagan)
Oneka Ridge Golf Course (White Bear Lake)
Castlewood Golf Course (Forest Lake)
Notes: The 18-Hole Courses listed above meet at least one of the two criteria I would consider for a beginner golfer.
Course layout is very open with minimal hazards or trouble areas
Pace of Play is not a huge issue since the courses aren't incredibly busy,
Executive Style Courses
Applewood Hills Golf Course (Stillwater)
Gem Lake Hills Golf Course (White Bear Lake)
Inver Wood Executive Course [9-Holes] (White Bear Lake)
Brightwood Hills Golf Course [9-Holes] (New Brighton)
9-Hole Courses
Fort Snelling Golf Course (Fort Snelling)
Island Lake Golf Course (Shoreview)
Par 3 Courses
Cimarron Park Golf Course (Lake Elmo)
Roseville Cedarholm Golf Course (Roseville)
Mendota Heights Golf Course (Roseville)