Not long after I began this ongoing folly of researching and writing about Minnesota’s lost golf courses in 2012, I published a map of the state’s lost courses on Google. It was on the rudimentary side, sort of the Google Maps version of chiseling onto the wall of the cave with a sharpened stone.
I recently finished Version 2 of the map, and it is, I think and hope, much better. There are more courses on it, as I have since uncovered a handful many scads, to use proper scientific terminology, that I missed in my book and have listed 41 42 43 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 55 56 58 59 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 82 85 courses (updated as of February 2022) that have closed up shop since the year 2000. I have color-coded the locators into eras in which the courses were abandoned (before 1950, 1950-99 and 2000-present) and added more information on many of the courses.
Without further adieu (as in adieu to the 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 160 162 163 166 168 169 174 175 176 177 182 184 185 188 190 191 192 195 197 199 200!! 201 202 203 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 233 248 and counting courses currently included), the map can be found here: Minnesota’s lost golf courses: The map
Latest posts by Joe Bissen (see all)
- Another lost routing: Hilltop, Columbia Heights - June 19, 2024
- Two lost routes: First, Antlers Park - June 17, 2024
- Tree trouble and townball: Naeseth Country Club, Wanamingo - May 6, 2024
Joe
There was a golf course east of Owatonna -Hiden Creek which closed in 2010. It was only open for a few years but I do know it was open in 2007 and I think I played there in 2008
Swing and a miss by me, Rob. I knew about Hidden Creek but inexplicably failed to include it. Thanks for weighing in. My Google map and website entry have been updated.
Do you have details on Rolling Green par 3 in Fairmont? I played there as a kid, but has probably been closed for 10-15 years.
I don’t have any info on Rolling Green Fairways, other than what I can find on Internet searches. It appears to have closed in 2002 or 2003. But thanks for bringing it to my attention; I need to add another lost course to my map and website.
Looks to me as though there might be a disc course there now, or near there. Updates or more info appreciated.
Hey there Joe –
There was a golf course in Moorhead in the 80’s off of US 75 – South of town – it is pretty clear on the 1991 aerial photo right around 40th st S. I know I played on it at least once in the 80’s when I lived there. It is not Town and Country – that one was on the north side of town – played there a couple of times also.
It may have closed due to repeated flooding or development as that area is all houses now.
Hi, Dave, thanks for the note.
I’m not familiar with golf courses in the Moorhead area. Could it have been Village Green, which according to its website opened as a nine-holer in 1981 before expanding to 18 in in 1994? It’s roughly at 40th Avenue South and 40th Street South.