Theodore Wirth Golf Club – Northern Minnesota Golf Minutes From Downtown

The 18-hole golf course at Theodore Wirth Regional Park just emerged from a revitalizing renovation that builds upon its historic legacy while showcasing the park’s surprising natural beauty just minutes from downtown Minneapolis.

The nearly $12 million project included construction of three new holes, a complete bunker renovation and the installation of a new irrigation central control system.

“Golfers are a savvy, tight-knit group; we all talk, so word-of-mouth is huge in this business,” said Matt Just, Director of Golf Operations for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “Word is getting out that Theodore Wirth is dialed in right now. People are rediscovering the course, finding that the experience we offer easily exceeds the rate charged.”

Also included, as part of the project was the construction of The Trailhead, a new 14,000-square-foot outdoor adventure hub that serves the park’s Par 3 and Disc Golf courses with indoor and outdoor ticketing counters. The Trailhead is located a block down Theodore Wirth Parkway from the historic Theodore Wirth Chalet, where the 18-hole course is based.

The golf renovation was conducted as a collaboration between Kevin Norby of Herfort Norby Golf Course Architects and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Golf and Planning Departments. A new 18^th hole was carved out of an area that used to be forested hillside along the old 17^th and 18^th greens. The new 18^th hole is a 360-yard par 4 that aligns with the downtown Minneapolis skyline for a signature, postcard-perfect finishing hole.

The new short par 3 12^th hole is complimented by a paved cart path that loops through the woods and takes golfers to a crossing over Bassett Creek. The new greens were elevated, and the bunkers and surrounds were designed to create a look, which is consistent with the course’s 1920s style.

“We spent a lot of time working on the shaping of the greens and greenside surrounds, so they would match the style and character found throughout the rest of the course,” said Norby. “We also renovated all the existing bunkers to reduce the size and to provide a consistent, ‘golden-age’ look throughout the course.”

The renovation will also help reduce the impact winter activities have on turf quality and the playability on the golf course.

“You may be Over North, but you feel like you’re Up North”

Theodore Wirth Regional Park is the largest park in what The Trust for Public Land has named the best park system in America, according to its annual ParkScore Index, for the last six years. Just 10 minutes from the heart of downtown Minneapolis, the 740-acre park is blanketed with towering groves of pine, oak, birch and maple, virtually untouched for more than a century. It’s home to the oldest public wildflower garden in the United States, a Quaking Bog, several lakes, and Bassett Creek.

“The course offers a tremendous juxtaposition golfers won’t find anywhere else in Minnesota: One moment you feel like you’re in the middle of the city with the hustle and bustle of the skyline looming right there in front you, and after the turn you’re in the woods, with turkeys and deer strutting around while songbirds sing above,” said Just. “You may be Over North (what the locals call North Minneapolis), but you feel like you’re Up North.”

There’s a remarkable visual contrast between the front nine and back nine at Theodore Wirth Golf Club. The front nine rests along Bassett Creek, which is where the best Minneapolis skyline views are found. The back nine of the course is comprised of rolling hills and majestic, historic trees. Each hole features strategically placed sand bunkers, winding fairways and multiple sets of tee boxes to challenge players of all skill levels.

A Century Of History And Renewal

The latest renovation is part of a long line of course upgrades and additions. Theodore Wirth Golf Club is one of the oldest golf courses in Minnesota. It was originally built in 1916 and called Glenwood Golf Course, featuring nine holes, clay tees and sand greens.

Glenwood Golf Course was an immediate major attraction. In 1917 more than 50,000 rounds were played, prompting Theodore Wirth, the Superintendent of Minneapolis Parks at the time, to expand the course to 18 holes in 1919, build the Theodore Wirth Chalet in 1922, and expand the Chalet to two stories in 1923.

The greens were converted to grass in 1935 and the course and park were renamed after Wirth in 1938. A renewed burst of interest in golf in the 1960s led Minneapolis Parks to open the par 3 course in 1962 and redesign the back 9 of the 18-hole course in 1968.

More recently, the Theodore Wirth Chalet was updated in 1998, bronze statues of Theodore Wirth surrounded by playing children were installed outside the chalet in 2004, and disc golf was added to the Par 3 course in 2011.

A New Era Begins

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board just welcomed its first female Golf Manager, Roxann Maxey, to Theodore Wirth Golf Club. Maxey brings more than 20 years of experience in golf and facility operations through event management, food and beverage, business development, community outreach and marketing.

“I am enthusiastic about creating a sense of community around our great gem, Theodore Wirth Regional Park,” said Maxey. “It’s an exciting opportunity to become part of and build on the great legacy of Minneapolis Golf!”

Theodore Wirth Park is building quite the culinary reputation with two new dining options opening recently. Olivia’s Organic Café specializes in gluten-free meal options and boutique dining experiences serving golfers and park users out of the Theodore Wirth Chalet Clubhouse, and Cajun Twist offers authentic New Orleans cuisine through both indoor and outdoor counter service at The Trailhead.

“It’s like the new ‘Eat Street of the North,’” said Maxey.

The Trailhead outdoor recreation building opened on July 17, 2018. It’s operated by the Loppet Foundation, a nonprofit organization that puts on high-quality public events, youth education and outdoor recreation programs, with a focus on local youth and underserved communities.

The Trailhead supports the Par 3 and Disc Golf courses along with a plethora of other exciting outdoor recreation within the park, including mountain biking, cross-country skiing, winter tubing, trail running and large events. The large, striking, timber building compliments the historic, Swiss-style Theodore Wirth Chalet, which continues to support the 18-hole golf course as it has since its original construction nearly 100 years ago.

“Diversity is a big part of what makes Theodore Wirth Park great – the diversity of the people using the park and the diversity of recreational opportunities available within the park. It’s very accessible, but also can be challenging, whatever your skill level or interest may be,” said Just. “We’re confident and proud of the experience we offer at Wirth and are committed to continuing to grow, change and become leaders in the Minnesota golf community.”

All images courtesy Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.