Here’s The Tee: 6 Best Golf Courses in the Greater Grand Forks Area

Imagine this – it’s a beautiful Friday afternoon. The sun is shining. The sky is blue. There’s no wind, but it’s not quite hot enough to break a sweat. You cut out from work a little early, but it doesn’t matter because your boss did too. You just met three of your best friends at the pro shop and you’ve made it to the first tee box. There’s no group in front of you, and the group behind you has told you to take your time because they’re in no hurry at all. Pure, North Dakota Summer, bliss.

If you’re anything like me, you love to golf. With that being said, if you consistently hit good shots, speak kindly to your clubs, and have never considered listing your putter on Facebook marketplace in the clubhouse parking lot after a round, we may not have quite as much in common. Regardless, whether you’re a competitor or a casual golfer, here are my recommendations on the best places to play that beautiful game that giveth and taketh away.

This course is true to its name – a course made for a king. It is the best kept in the local area and offers a challenging yet rewarding layout. It is an Arnold Palmer course, and a tremendous amount of detail went into ensuring that the golfer is the main focus of the architecture. There are fair amounts of sand and water that really keep play interesting. If you can avoid the fescue of the rough, you will love this course. If you can’t, well… the clubhouse has a great bar!

Lincoln is the perfect city course for people just getting into golf or for those that need to knock the rust off. It’s a 9-hole that borders Belmont Street offering straight fairways, true playing greens, and a very large margin for error. There is not much variety between holes – which is something that a novice, like me, loves. It’s a great confidence builder and an awesome place to play a quick, casual round. Whether you hook or slice, you’re almost guaranteed to find a fairway – it just may not be the hole you’re playing.

GFCC is a private course, so your chances to play may be few and far between. That being said, if you get the opportunity – you better take it. This course is pristine. It is gorgeously manicured and due to its private nature, it never feels crowded. There are awesome tee shots throughout the course with great elevation changes throughout 18 holes. If you’re willing to spend the money, this is an awesome place to get after it.

If playing golf in every state is on your bucket list, Valley Golf Course is an awesome spot to cross off Minnesota. Right across the river from Downtown Grand Forks, Valley is an 18-hole, half-links, half-wooded hybrid course that offers a great challenge. The front 9 holes are on the eastern side of the course and feature notable water hazards and very few trees. There are several wide-open holes to really grip it and rip it on. The back 9 is completely opposite – lots of trees, creeks, and narrow fairways. It requires much more precision and control. All in all, you’re basically getting two golf courses for the price of one. The layout is so unique and a round with a cart is also very affordable. I highly recommend checking it out!

If you’ve driven down Demers Ave in the summertime, you’ve probably seen dozens of dimpled balls scattered in the street, serving as the evidence of a badly hooked tee shot. These balls were launched into the road from none other than Ray Richards Golf Course. Ray’s is the UND course located in the middle of Grand Forks. It is a fun, but deceptively difficult course. Between blind tee shots, a treacherous creek, and waist high cat tails, the course will make you earn it. Nonetheless, this course is a great place to sneak away for 9 holes and is very accessible, given its location. Whether you bomb drives or have a better short game, this course caters to all golfers and is a fun course for anyone who plays it.

Do you live in Grand Forks and want a change of scenery? Maybe get out of the hustle and bustle of the big city? Well then you should take a scenic drive down Hwy 2 to Larimore, North Dakota, best known for its dam and Willy’s bar. In this city, you will find that Larimore Golf Course is a hidden gem encapsulated in small town North Dakota. Much like the city of Larimore, the golf course has an undeniable charm. It is a 9 hole with some of the most beautiful views in Eastern North Dakota. This course offers a two hole with 150ft elevation drops from the tee box to the green, and a par 5 that overlooks the dam like something from a postcard.  The course does not offer tee times during the weekdays, which is perfect if you’re just looking to walk up and play. This flexibility along with the natural beauty of the course makes it a must play in the Greater Grand Forks area.

So, what are you waiting for? Call your buddies, make a tee time, throw a few free mulligans in the bag, and go get out there!