History

The Minnetonka Country Club was organized in the autumn of 1916. A group of business men and club men purchased 47 acres of beautifully rolling land with a complete set of buildings at Manitou Forest, Lake Minnetonka. Sufficient adjoining land was purchased next to lay out a full eighteen hole course. The location was strategic, being three blocks from the car line and at the intersection of boulevards leading to the Upper Lake and the North Shore.

The original nine was designed by Scottish-born journeyman Tom Bendelow who designed over 400 courses between 1905 and 1929. His work survives to this day from coast to coast with the majority of his courses being located in the Midwest. His best known course design is Medinah in Chicago, most recently home to the 1999 PGA Championship. Construction was supervised by Robert Taylor of Minnikahda.

The Club prospered in the 1920's, and like the rest of the country, just made it through the great depression of the 1930's. As World War II approached, manpower became a problem, and it was difficult to maintain the course. Shortly, the most accessible nine holes were put together for play, and the rest of the course was abandoned to the wild.

The course was sold after World War II to an investor who ran it strictly as a 9 hole public golf course. The club changed hands again in 1954, and the restoration process began to reclaim the nine holes left to the wild and bring Minnetonka Country Club back to its full-size stature. The project was completed in 1959 and the decision was made to return the club to private country club status in 1960.

The original clubhouse nicknamed the Governor's mansion had been constructed in 1908. It housed the popular Riviera supper club during the 1950's and unfortunately was lost to a fire in 1958. The clubhouse in use at the time was remodeled in 1959. The club lost this clubhouse to fire on Thanksgiving of 1962. The current clubhouse in use today was constructed (as fire proof as possible) in 1963. The Gazebo room was added on in 1967 and the Ivory room was added on in 1970. The club offices were expanded in 1996, a large deck added in 1998, and the Ballroom was expanded in 1999.

There have been numerous projects to improve the golf course over the last few decades. Improved course drainage, additional blue tees added, major tree trimming to aid the growth of surrounding turf and help with a back swing or two, and the rebuilding of #1, #6, & #8 greens, (the new #8 green is now open and is receiving rave revues) to name a few. Minnetonka Country Club is committed to doing whatever is needed to make your golf experience the best in the area.