TCG Ultimate Golf Buddy Trips - North Dakota
play The 6 Best Public Golf Courses in North Dakota
Here’s a full 5-day Golf Buddy Trip itinerary from Minnesota that visits the 6 best public courses in North Dakota and gives you best nearby places to eat, drink and sleep!
QUICK SUMMARY:
Twin Cities, MN → Grand Forks (King’s Walk GC) → Minot (Beowolf Golf Club) → Ray/Williston area (The Links of North Dakota) → Medora (Bully Pulpit) → South Heart/Dickinson (Pheasant Country GC) → Bismarck (Hawktree GC) → Twin Cities, MN
day 1: 🏌️COURSE #1 - King’s Walk Golf Course (Grand Forks, ND)
Why start here: Begin your roadtrip with a 4.5 hour drove from the Twin Cities to King’s Walk GC, an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature course with a prairie-links feel, sculpted bunkers, bentgrass greens, practice area, pro shop, and Eagle’s Crest Grill on site.
🏠 Stay:
Rather than staying the night in Grand Forks, after your dinner at the course, drive 3 hours west and stay in Minot, ND so you have time for 36 holes on day #2. Best places to stay in Minot include Staybridge Suites Minot, Hampon Inn & Suites & Spark by Hilton Minot.
🍽️ Eat:
The best easy post-round move is Eagle’s Crest Grill at the course so you can get on the road ASAP for a good nights rest before 36 holes on Day 2.
🍺 Drink:
If you enjoy local craft beer, stop by Half Brothers Brewing Company in downtown Grand Forks.
🚗 Drive after golf:
Grand Forks to Minot is a 3 hour drive and is a classic Northern Plains drive featuring wide-open landscapes, big skies, and the subtle beauty of the prairie.
day 2 (Am):🏌️course #2 - BEOWOLF GOLF CLUB (minot, nd)
Why Second: Beowulf Golf Club is widely considered one of the premier public golf courses in North Dakota. Located on the south side of Minot, the course was designed by noted architect Jim Engh and opened after the original Minot Country Club course was destroyed by the devastating Souris River flood of 2011. The new course was built on higher ground featuring dramatic natural terrain, valleys, elevation changes, and sweeping prairie views.
🍽️ Eat:
Ironhorse Kitchen+Bar offers excellent steaks, burgers, wings and an elevated pub fare with whiskey and cocktails. The Starving Rooster offers wood fired pizzas and a great craft beer selection.
🍺 Drink:
Atypical Brewery & Barrelworks is the local favorite in Minot for local craft beer and an outside patio. Blue Rider offers craft beers and ciders in a fun downtown vibe.
🚗 Drive after golf:
After your morning round, drive 2 hours to The Links of North Dakota for a late afternoon round.
day 2 (pm): 🏌️Course #3 - The Links of North Dakota (Ray, nd)
Why 3rd: It keeps you moving west instead of dropping south too early. The Links sits above Lake Sakakawea and is one of the state’s signature destination rounds. The course describes itself as a true links-style layout with minimal earth-moving, strong wind exposure, five tee sets, and lodging on site via cabins and RV stalls.
🏠 Stay:
Best play is onsite cabins at The Links if available. If you want a fuller hotel setup, base in Williston; official tourism listings include the Grand Williston Hotel & Conference Center.
🍽️ Eat:
If you stay on property or in Williston, Tavern at The Grand is a solid convenient dinner choice with steaks, burgers, pasta, and award-winning appetizers.
🍺 Drink:
Williston’s official tourism guide points visitors to a broad food-and-drink scene, and 701 Chophouse is one of the city’s featured upscale options.
🚗 Drive after golf:
From here, it’s a 2.5 hour drive south/southwest into the Badlands for Medora where Bully Pulpit, Golf Digest’s #94 Best Public Course in America, awaits your clubs and your camera.
day 3: 🏌️course #4 - Bully Pulpit Golf Course (Medora, nd)
Why 4th: Once you’ve come down from the northwest, Medora is a marquee bucket list stop. Bully Pulpit is the Badlands round — featuring dramatic terrain, Little Missouri River setting, and the famous finishing stretch through the buttes. North Dakota Tourism highlights holes 14–16 as the signature holes (aka OMG Corner), and Golf Digest continues to rank it among the best in America.
🏠 Stay:
It is absolutely essential that you stay in Medora at Rough Riders Hotel to get the authentic North Dakota Badlands lodging experience. Be sure to go out at night for star gazing - with Medora considered one of the best areas in the United States.
🍽️ Eat:
Top dinner move is Theodore’s Dining Room. For a more iconic Medora experience, Pitchfork Steak Fondue is the memorable group option when in season.
🍺 Drink:
Best golf buddy-trip answer is TR’s Tavern in Medora for evening cocktails and conversation.
🚗 Drive after your Stay:
Bully Pulpit to Pheasant Country Golf Course is an easy 30 minute drive.
day 4: 🏌️course #5 - Pheasant Country Golf Course (South Heart, nd)
Why 5th: It is the perfect bridge stop between Medora and Bismarck. North Dakota Tourism calls it the “Best Hidden 18-Hole Golf Course in North Dakota,” and highlights recent upgrades including GPS carts, new tee boxes, irrigation improvements, cart paths, rerouted/lengthened holes, Birdies Bar & Grill, and an indoor simulator.
🏠 Stay:
Best practical overnight is Dickinson, not tiny South Heart. Pheasant Country specifically notes a package partnership with Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham in Dickinson, and official Dickinson tourism listings show a deep hotel inventory.
🍽️ Eat:
Easy answer is Birdies Bar & Grill right at the course.
🍺 Drink:
For an in-town option after golf, Phat Fish Brewing in Dickinson is a good brewery stop for craft beer afficianados.
🚗 Drive after golf:
Head to the last course on the trip with an easy 90 minute drive East to Bismarck, ND for Hawktree Golf Club.
day 5: 🏌️course #6 - Hawktree Golf Club (Bismarck, nd)
Why 6th and last:
It gives you a strong finish in the largest city on your route, which is ideal for one final round before the 5.5 hour return drive back to the Twin Cities. Hawktree is an award-winning links-style course known for big elevation change, Burnt Creek, and its distinctive black coal-slag bunkers.
🏠 Stay:
If you don’t want to drive back that evening, consider Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Bismark for the overnight stay.
🍽️ Eat:
Most convenient post-round choice is the Hawktree Bar & Grill on site.
🍺 Drink:
The 2 most popular local craft breweries in Bismark are Laughing Sun Brewing and Gideon’s Brewing Co.
Recommended trip flow
Day 1: Leave the Twin Cities at 7:00AM, drive 4.5 hrs to play King’s Walk GC in Grand Forks, ND at 1:00PM, then drive 3 hours west to stay overnight in Minot, ND at Staybridge Suites or Holiday Inn Express.
Day 2: Play early morning round (8:00AM) at Beowolf Golf Club, then drive 2 hours and play late afternoon round (3:30PM) at The Links of North Dakota. Stay overnight at The Links or at Grand Williston Hotel & Conference Center in Williston. Sunset in June in Williston is 9:10PM.
Day 3: Leave at 6:30AM and drive 2.5 hours to Medora play Bully Pulpit mid-morning (10:30AM), explore the Medora area during the afternoon/evening, then stay at the historic Rough Rider Hotel overnight in Medora.
Day 4: Leave at 9:00AM and drive 30 minutes to play Pheasant Country Golf Course late morning (10:30AM), stay overnight in Dickinson at Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham. Explore Dickinson afternoon/evening or play another round at PCGC.
Day 5: Leave at 7:00AM and drive 1.5 hrs to Bismarck to play Hawktree mid-morning (9:30AM) then drive 5.5 hours back to the Twin Cities.
Best golf buddy-trip picks by stop
Best golf atmosphere stay: onsite cabins at The Links or Rough Riders Hotel in Medora.
Best food stop: Theodore’s Dining Room in Medora.
Best drinks stop: Half Brothers in Grand Forks, TR’s Tavern in Medora, or Laughing Sun in Bismarck.
Most scenic rounds: Bully Pulpit, The Links, Hawktree.
