Afton Alps Golf Course

Afton Alps sits on the same hilly, wooded terrain that makes this corner of Washington County one of the Twin Cities metro's more dramatic pieces of geography. The property is best known as a ski area — one of Minnesota's busiest — and the golf course occupies those same glacier-carved ridges and ravines along the St. Croix River valley. That topography gives the layout an unusually vertical character for a Minnesota course, with elevation changes that are rare this side of the Driftless Region. Expect uneven lies, blind approaches, and holes that tumble down hillsides before climbing back up.

The surrounding landscape is genuinely beautiful: oak and maple canopy, river bluff views, and the kind of rolling terrain that keeps the round visually interesting from the first tee. Hastings itself sits just south at the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, a town with real historical character and easy access from the southeastern metro.

This is a casual, recreational layout that suits the ski-hill setting — approachable for families and beginners, but the terrain alone adds a layer of challenge that pure numbers won't capture. Conditions and maintenance reflect the course's role as an amenity within a broader outdoor recreation operation rather than a dedicated golf destination.