Minikahda Club

This private club has an extensive history, including hosting the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, Walker Cup, Curtis Cup and U.S. Women's Amateur as well as the Western Open and Trans-Miss.

The club was formed in the winter of 1898. In the spring of 1899, the original nines holes were designed by the first club pro at Minikahda, William Watson, Town and Country professional Robert Foulis and original Minikahda member C.T. Jaffray. When the club purchased additional land, Jaffray and then M... [more]

This private club has an extensive history, including hosting the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, Walker Cup, Curtis Cup and U.S. Women's Amateur as well as the Western Open and Trans-Miss.

The club was formed in the winter of 1898. In the spring of 1899, the original nines holes were designed by the first club pro at Minikahda, William Watson, Town and Country professional Robert Foulis and original Minikahda member C.T. Jaffray. When the club purchased additional land, Jaffray and then Minikahda golf pro Robert Taylor routed an 18-hole layout in 1906-1907, much of which still exists. In 1908, Thomas Bendelow was hired to upgrade the design. After harsh reviews of the course followed the 1916 U.S. Open (won by Chick Evans) Donald Ross was brought in to bring the design up the highest standards, which he did. The work, due to World War I, was not completed until 1920. Since that time, other than the creation of a new 8th hole, the routing has remained much the same. In 2003, using the original hole-by-hole Donald Ross drawings, golf course Ron Prichard recaptured the Ross design intent.

The name 'Minikahda' was invented by member William C. Edgar who combined two words from local Native American dialects to make one that could mean, "by the side of the water," since the club sits on the shore of Lake Calhoun. The club emblem is patterned after a shield carried by Sioux chief, Swift Dog, which is on display in the clubhouse.

  theelvoid - 6/4/09