14 Best Golf Courses in North Dakota
When you picture a golf trip, North Dakota probably is not the first place that comes to mind. It should be. The state hides courses carved into the Badlands and draped over rolling prairie. A few of them hold their own against far flashier destinations. Tee off among the rock formations at Bully Pulpit, ride the prairie wind at Hawktree, or chase the links lines at King's Walk. These fourteen courses make the case better than any brochure could.
Bully Pulpit Golf Course
Few American courses make a first impression like Bully Pulpit. It is cut straight into the rugged North Dakota Badlands just outside Medora, and USA Today has ranked it the number one public course in the country. The design team of Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry used the buttes, river valleys, and natural rock formations to build holes you will not forget, especially the dramatic stretch through the badlands themselves.
You will find it about 35 miles from Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport in Dickinson and roughly 135 miles west of Bismarck. It is fully public, tee times book online, and peak summer rounds start around $147 while spring and fall dip closer to $107. Midday and sunset rates run cheaper, and every green fee comes with a cart and warm-up balls.
There is no resort attached, but the Sagebrush Grill, a stocked pro shop, a range, and rentals cover the basics. Bed down at the historic Rough Riders Hotel in downtown Medora or one of the nearby cabins and lodges. Come between late May and September, when the Badlands scenery is at its best.
King's Walk Golf Course
Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay put their names on King's Walk, and it shows. Out in Grand Forks, the layout borrows Scottish links ideas and drops them onto open North Dakota prairie, and the result is a public course that regularly lands on best-of lists for the Upper Midwest.
It sits about 10 miles from Grand Forks International Airport, so it is an easy one to reach. Tee times book online, you can play daily-fee or grab a seasonal membership that starts around $1,175 for 2026, and rounds run from roughly $24 for a junior eighteen to about $52 for prime weekend adult play, with carts charged separately.
The practice facilities are generous, and the Eagles Crest Grill handles food and drinks before or after. Hotels cluster nearby along South Columbia Road, including the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson. Late spring through early fall is the sweet spot, weather-wise.
Hawktree Golf Club
Hawktree is the course that quietly surprises first-time visitors to North Dakota. Set on the rolling prairie hills north of Bismarck, this Jim Engh design opened in 2000 and plays like a destination course, with big elevation changes, native grasses, deep black bunkers, and a wind that reshapes every round.
You are about 15 minutes from Bismarck Municipal Airport. It is fully public, tee times book online, and rounds run from around $66 in the spring and fall shoulder seasons to roughly $140 at peak summer, sometimes covering a group of two to four players. Senior and military rates exist, carts cost extra, and a yearly membership starts near $3,000.
On site you get a range, practice greens, a full pro shop, lessons, and the Hawktree Bar & Grill. There is no lodging at the course, but Bismarck hotels like the Radisson Hotel Bismarck and EverSpring Suites are close. June through September is prime, when the fescue and prairie are at their peak.
The Links of North Dakota
Perched above Lake Sakakawea in the state's northwest corner, The Links of North Dakota serves up some of the best scenery of any course here. Stephen Kay's design leans into that setting with elevated tees, wide lake views, and big swings in elevation from hole to hole.
It is roughly 40 miles from Williston and about an hour from Williston Basin International Airport, so it feels genuinely remote. Members and the public both play, tee times book online, and adult eighteen-hole rates start at $79.50 early in the season and reach $95.40 at peak, carts not included.
The clubhouse has a restaurant and bar, a pro shop, a range, and a practice area, plus on-site lodging in the form of cabins and RV sites. Cabins start around $195 a night and campsites around $60 a day, so you can wake up steps from the first tee. It is a summer course at heart.
Oxbow Country Club
Just south of Fargo, Oxbow Country Club is one of North Dakota's top private clubs. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed it and oversaw a full renovation in 2019, and the championship course now stretches past 7,400 yards from the tips, with water features, modern bunkering, and conditioning to match. Multiple tee boxes keep it playable for everyone else.
The club is about 20 minutes from Fargo's Hector International Airport. It runs as a private membership club, so access is tighter than the public courses and green fees are not posted publicly, since you request them through the club. Membership covers unlimited golf, cart, practice facilities, clubhouse access, and dining.
Beyond golf, Oxbow leans country club in the best way, with a resort-style pool, spa, indoor simulators, a pro shop, a range, family programming, and a restaurant. Visiting guests can stay at Fargo hotels like the Hotel Donaldson or Jasper Hotel. Summer shows the course at its best.
Fargo Country Club
Founded in the late 1800s, Fargo Country Club is one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in the state. It pairs an eighteen-hole championship course with a separate nine-hole executive layout, so there is room for serious players and families alike. Mature trees, Red River scenery, and a classic parkland feel give it a timeless look.
The club is minutes from downtown Fargo and about 10 minutes from Hector International Airport. Membership is the main way in, though members can bring guests, and there are several membership tiers. Pricing, initiation, and guest fees are available only on request.
Amenities run deep, with multiple dining venues, a range, practice facilities, tennis courts, a pool, locker rooms, and year-round social programming, plus a full pro shop and Troon Privé privileges for eligible members. Guests who get a round in will find the Radisson Blu Fargo and Hotel Donaldson nearby. Late May through September brings the best conditions.
Beowulf Golf Club
Formerly the Minot Country Club, Beowulf Golf Club reinvented itself while keeping the championship course that built its name. Jim Engh redesigned the layout on the southwest side of Minot after the 2011 flood forced a move, and it now plays with dramatic elevation changes, rolling prairie, strategic bunkering, wide views, and a dozen bridge crossings.
It is about 10 miles from Minot International Airport. Beowulf is private, so play is reserved for members and guests, and green fees are available on request. Membership includes the course, practice facilities, indoor simulators, and a modern clubhouse.
The clubhouse handles dining, a full bar, event space, and views over several holes. There is no lodging on site, but the Hyatt House Minot and Staybridge Suites Minot are close. Late May through September is when the course and prairie look their best.
Edgewood Golf Course
Edgewood has been a Fargo favorite for generations, and it remains one of the most enjoyable public rounds in the state. It runs along the Red River in the heart of Fargo, with mature trees, water in play, and a traditional parkland layout. The central location puts it less than 15 minutes from Hector International Airport and within easy reach of downtown.
As a public municipal course, Edgewood welcomes every skill level and books tee times online. Eighteen holes run roughly $29 to $45 depending on the day, the time, the season, and residency, and evenings come cheaper. Juniors, seniors, and twilight players get discounts too.
You get a clubhouse, a pro shop, a practice putting green, and casual dining. There is no lodging on site, but the Jasper Hotel, Radisson Blu Fargo, and Hotel Donaldson are all nearby. June through September is ideal, when Fargo's long days stretch evening rounds along the river.
Bois de Sioux Golf Course
Bois de Sioux might be the most unusual round in the country, since it straddles the North Dakota and Minnesota border. It sits in Wahpeton, about 75 miles from Fargo and roughly 10 minutes from the small Wahpeton Municipal Airport. The layout follows the natural Red River Valley, so it plays flat but scenic, framed by tall trees and water.
This is a public municipal course with affordable daily-fee golf. Eighteen holes run from about $23 to $57 depending on weekday or weekend play, and the top rate includes a cart, though the course walks easily. Tee times book online, and locals can grab a membership.
The clubhouse has a pro shop, casual dining, and a practice putting green. There is no resort lodging on site, but chain hotels and motels in Wahpeton and Breckenridge across the river, like the AmericInn by Wyndham Wahpeton, do the job. Late May through early September brings the most reliable conditions.
Riverwood Golf Course
Riverwood is one of Bismarck's most popular municipal layouts, loved for its tree-lined fairways and its setting along the Missouri River. The Leo Johnson design plays as a traditional parkland course, and it sits just minutes from downtown Bismarck and about 15 minutes from the airport.
It is public, eighteen holes run around $40, and there are cheaper rates for juniors, seniors, and nine-hole rounds. A season pass goes for $875 for 2026. Carts cost extra, either $13 or $26 depending on whether you play nine or eighteen, and you can book online or by phone.
The clubhouse has a pro shop, casual dining, and a patio over several holes, plus a range and putting green. There is no lodging here, but Bismarck hotels like the Radisson or Residence Inn are close. June through September is when the river setting looks its best.
Souris Valley Golf Course
Souris Valley is a popular public course in Minot, a classic parkland round shaped by the winding Souris River. Built as a par-72 stretching roughly 6,700 yards, it rewards accuracy over power, with tree-lined fairways and several water crossings. You are about 10 minutes from Minot International Airport and a short drive from downtown.
This is a daily-fee public course, with eighteen holes around $43 and a cart adding about $46. Juniors, seniors, military, and nine-hole players get discounts, and frequent golfers can join for around $839 a year despite the public status.
On site you will find a full clubhouse, a pro shop, a practice range, lessons, and a snack bar. There is no lodging, but Minot hotels like the Staybridge Suites or Hyatt House are a short drive. June through early September brings the most consistent conditions.
Prairie West Golf Course
Prairie West delivers one of the most scenic municipal rounds in the state. It is in Mandan, just across the Missouri River from Bismarck and about 15 minutes from the airport. Leo Johnson designed it to blend rolling prairie, native grasses, and wide-open views that show off the landscape.
Since it is public, you can play daily-fee or join. Eighteen holes cost $37 and nine holes $27, with discounts for juniors and seniors. Season passes are popular, at $795 for an adult and $1,750 for a family, and carts add $11 or $22 per seat depending on how far you play.
The clubhouse has a pro shop, event space, and casual dining, plus a range and putting green. There is no lodging on site, but Bismarck hotels like the Days Inn by Wyndham Bismarck or EverSpring Suites are close. June through September is the window, when the wind eases and the course peaks.
Painted Woods Golf Course
Painted Woods is one of North Dakota's quieter finds, set among rolling prairie in Washburn. It opened as a nine-hole course in 1978 and finally grew to eighteen in 2014, and the current layout works in Painted Woods Creek, which comes into play on several holes. You are about 35 minutes from Bismarck Municipal Airport, and it is a stop on the Lewis and Clark Golf Trail.
This is a public course with friendly green fees, from about $22 for nine holes on a weekday without a cart to $67 for eighteen on a weekend with one. Certain days, like Tuesdays, run cheaper, and twilight play is always an option. Book online or by phone, and out-of-towners can join for around $450 a year while locals pay $600.
The clubhouse has a bar and grill overlooking the course, a range, and a pro shop. Because it is remote, the closest beds are small inns like the Dakota Rose Inn or Underwood Inn. Late May through early September is when the creek-side fairways are greenest.
Rose Creek Golf Course
Rose Creek, in south Fargo, is a refined but easygoing public course. Richard Phelps designed it with generous landing areas, big bentgrass greens, and a modern layout that suits beginners and veterans alike. It is just 10 minutes from Hector International Airport.
Booking is straightforward online. The 2026 green fees run $45 for eighteen holes and $29 for nine, with lower pricing for juniors, seniors, certain days, and twilight rounds. However you time it, this stays one of the more affordable rounds in the state.
You get a range, practice greens, a pro shop, banquet space, beverage cart service, and CJ's Tavern for food and drinks. There is no lodging on site, but the SpringHill Suites by Marriott and Holiday Inn Fargo are a short drive. Late May through September is best, when Fargo's long daylight stretches tee times.
Put North Dakota on Your Golf Radar
North Dakota probably is not on your golf bucket list yet, but these fourteen courses make a strong case for it. Nowhere else can you play under the Badlands cliffs at Bully Pulpit one day and lean into the prairie wind at Hawktree the next. Each one has a real sense of place. Even the low-key municipal tracks around Fargo, Bismarck, and Minot deliver surprisingly good rounds, with wide skies, open tee sheets, and scenery that feels purely North Dakotan.
