maps.golfThe hardest golf courses in Minnesota, by slope rating
We ranked 24 Minnesota courses with a maps.golf guide using the numbers on their own scorecards. The Wilderness at Fortune Bay is the hardest: a slope of 147 from the Gold tees (course rating 75.6).
Updated November 5, 2026
| # | Course | Location | Slope | Rating | Tees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Wilderness at Fortune Bay | Tower, MN | 147 | 75.6 | Gold |
| 2 | The Quarry at Giants Ridge | Biwabik, MN | 146 | 75.6 | Gold |
| 3 | The Meadows | Moorhead, MN | 146 | 74.6 | Black |
| 4 | Victory Links Golf Course | Blaine, MN | 145 | 75.4 | Blue |
| 5 | The Classic at Madden's | Brainerd, MN | 144 | 75.0 | Tour |
| 6 | Legacy Courses at Cragun's – Lehman | Brainerd, MN | 138 | 76.4 | Tour |
| 7 | Territory Golf Club | St. Cloud, MN | 135 | 73.7 | Silver |
| 8 | Ridges at Sand Creek | Jordan, MN | 135 | 73.5 | Black |
| 9 | Black Bear Golf Course | Carlton, MN | 134 | 72.4 | Blue |
| 10 | The Jewel Golf Club | Lake City, MN | 133 | 73.8 | Black |
| 11 | Highland National Golf Course | Saint Paul, MN | 133 | 72.3 | Black |
| 12 | Bemidji Town & Country Club | Bemidji, MN | 130 | 71.6 | Blue |
| 13 | Crystal Lake Golf Club | Lakeville, MN | 129 | 70.4 | Black |
| 14 | Silver Bay Golf Course | Silver Bay, MN | 128 | — | Blue |
| 15 | Village Green Golf Course | Moorhead, MN | 127 | 72.3 | Blue |
| 16 | Alexandria Golf Club | Alexandria, MN | 127 | 71.8 | Black |
| 17 | Riverwood National | Otsego, MN | 127 | 71.0 | Blue |
| 18 | Hiawatha Golf Club | Minneapolis, MN | 126 | 71.2 | Blue |
| 19 | Goodrich Golf Course | Maplewood, MN | 121 | 69.1 | Blue |
| 20 | Green Lea Golf Course | Albert Lea, MN | 119 | 70.1 | Blue |
| 21 | Dodge Country Club | Dodge Center, MN | 119 | 70.0 | White |
| 22 | River Oaks Golf Course | Cottage Grove, MN | 118 | 69.3 | White |
| 23 | Glencoe Country Club | Glencoe, MN | 117 | 68.7 | Red |
| 24 | Dwan Golf Course | Bloomington, MN | 110 | 64.8 | Blue |
How we ranked them
Slope rating measures how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer; 113 is average and 155 is the maximum. Each course is ranked by the highest men's slope on its own scorecard, from whichever tees carry it. Ties go to the higher course rating.
The list covers courses with a free maps.golf guide whose scorecard we’ve published, and it updates on its own as new guides go live. Numbers are as printed on each course’s card; courses re-rate and re-tee, so check the course’s own scorecard before you play. Running one of these courses and see a wrong number? Tell us.
You’re welcome to cite or link this ranking; please credit maps.golf.