Close Menu
Midwest Golf Magazine
  • Home
  • Issues
  • Subscription Program
  • MGM/WCGT Golf Outings
  • News
  • Advertisers
  • Media Kit
    • Distribution
  • Contact
    • About
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Latest News
  • U.S. Women’s Open Preview: “Field of Dreams” Erin Hills Readies for Its Latest USGA Test  
  • 2025 Spring Issue
  • The Back Nine at The Muni 9-hole Putting Course Opens at Vernon Hills Golf Course
  • The Fountains Country Club in Lake Worth, Florida – Still Going Strong
  • Vokey WedgeWorks Introduces New Tour Toe Stamp Wedges
  • TRUE linkswear Debuts First Spike Shoes, The Lux2 Maven and Lux2 Player
  • First Tee Week: National campaign launches May 19th at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Celebrating Coaches Who Are Game Changers in Their Communities
  • SeatGeek to Power Ticketing for USGA Championships; Become Official Partner of U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally 
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Midwest Golf Magazine
  • Home
  • Issues
  • Subscription Program
  • MGM/WCGT Golf Outings
  • News
  • Advertisers
  • Media Kit
    • Distribution
  • Contact
    • About
Midwest Golf Magazine
You are at:Home»Chip Shots»Historic Theodore Wirth Golf Course in Minneapolis Celebrates Grand Opening following Renovation
Chip Shots

Historic Theodore Wirth Golf Course in Minneapolis Celebrates Grand Opening following Renovation

Glen TurkBy Glen TurkJuly 20, 2018No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Golfers in Minneapolis finally have a opportunity to play the newly renovated Theodore Wirth Golf Course.  The original nine-hole course opened in 1916 as Glenwood Golf Course and was later expanded to 18 holes in 1919.   The course was renamed to honor Theodore Wirth who was Director of Parks for the City of Minneapolis from 1909 to 1935. The course is one of five courses owned by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

The renovation involved the construction of three entirely new holes as well as a complete bunker renovation and installation of a new irrigation central control system.  Golf course architect and ASGCA member Kevin Norby noted that his firm first looked at the project in 2011 when the Park Board asked him to explore alternatives for reducing the impact which winter activities were having on turf quality.  Then, in 2014 the Loppet Foundation, approached the Park Board with the idea of expanding cross country skiing trails and constructing a new Adventure and Welcome Center which would offer mountain biking and a variety of winter activities.

Construction on the nearly 12 million dollar project, which was jointly funded by the Loppet Foundation and the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board, began in May of 2017.  According to Norby, “there was a lot of discussion and debate about losing the par 3 eighteenth hole.  It was a beautiful example of a short golden-age par three.”  As it turned out, aerial photographs of the original course showed another par 3 hole which had been abandoned in the 1960s.  That hole was a short uphill par 3 with a blind approach and surrounded by bunkers.  Norby added.  “we reinstated that hole but lowered it slightly to increase the green size and to improve visibility.  The resulting holes is a really nice replacement for the par 3 eighteenth that was lost. “

The par 4 seventeenth hole was replaced with an entirely new 360 yard par 4 that will now play as the finishing hole.   The hole doglegs slightly to the right with four strategically placed fairway and greenside bunkers.

The new greens were elevated and the bunkers and surrounds were designed to create a look which is consistent with the course’s 1920s styling.  Norby said, “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. We also renovated all of the existing bunkers to reduce their size and to provide a consistent golden-age look throughout the course.”

The reconstruction was completed by Duininck Golf, a certified member of the Golf Course Builder’s Association of American (GCBAA).

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Glen Turk
  • Website
  • Facebook

Glen Turk is a Wisconsin native who has been the Senior Writer/Editor of Midwest Golfing Magazine since 2006. Besides being an avid golfer, Glen enjoys traveling, music, and cheering on the finest professional sports team of all-time, the Green Bay Packers. Glen’s ultimate golf goal is to play in all fifty states and currently he is more than half way there. His other dream, albeit far-fetched, it to record an ace in all seven states of our distribution area. Thanks to an ace in Illinois in 2015, and one in Michigan in 2016, he has three down, four to go!

Related Posts

First Tee Week: National campaign launches May 19th at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Celebrating Coaches Who Are Game Changers in Their Communities

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Honored Among USA TODAY’s ‘10BEST Golf Destinations’

Upper Deck Introduces Fleer Ultra e-Pack 100 Card Set

Comments are closed.

Current Issue
Online Issue
Receive Special Golf Offers By Email

Web Sponsor
Follow
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Subscription Program Courses

Subscribe to Midwest Golfing Magazine for only $50 and receive free rounds of golf. Cart not included with the free rounds and must be purchased. View Details >> banner banner MajesticOaks-Blue banner banner Platteville banner trappersturn Whispering Springs northernbay oldhickory northbrook banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner banner

Follow Us
Midwest Golfing Magazine
Mission

Covering golf in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Copyright © Royle Publications - Greater Milwaukee Golf Show || Greater Madison Golf Show

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.