University of Minnesota Golf Course

The golf course does not generate funding needed for the extensive repairs and upkeep that would ensure its ongoing viability. The University is in a constrained economic environment and must ensure every investment is core to our mission. In unpredictable times, it’s more important than ever to be clear about who we are and strategic in how we deploy resources. 

The course will remain open through the 2025 season and close as usual in the fall. Activities scheduled for the remainder of the year will proceed as planned. The course will not reopen in spring 2026.

The University’s employment policies and contracts will determine the transition details for individual staff during the transition. The University is working closely with affected employees to support a smooth transition and retain valued talent as much as possible.

The approximately 141 acres of the golf course property on both the north and south sides of Larpenteur Avenue West are included in the sale. The property will be sold as-is and will include the existing structures on the site such as the original club house. The John W. Mooty Golf Facility and associated short game outdoor training area, used by the Men’s and Women’s Golf teams, as well as Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium, used by the Women’s Soccer team, are not included in the sale. The KUOM radio tower that serves the University’s Radio K station is located on land that is not part of the sale and will remain under the ownership of the University of Minnesota.

Selling the property will eliminate the need for significant capital investment of more than $10 million in deferred maintenance and infrastructure upgrades that would otherwise be required to keep the course viable. The sale represents both avoided capital investments, ongoing operation costs, and a financial return that will be used to support the University’s mission, particularly on the St. Paul campus. We will obtain two independent appraisals to help guide expectations and set fair market value. The final sale price will depend on market conditions, land use potential, and negotiations with prospective buyers. 

The University intends to reinvest proceeds from the sale into areas more directly aligned with the core mission of teaching, research, and service. Final decisions will be made through the appropriate governance and budget processes, but our focus is on supporting long-term institutional priorities, with an emphasis on the St. Paul campus.

The University has explored donor interest in the past, including through a public-private partnership RFP in 2019 and other development conversations. Despite these efforts, no donors or partners came forward to support the level of investment required (estimated at over $10 million) to replace failing infrastructure and modernize outdated facilities. In the current financial environment, we must focus philanthropic engagement on areas with greater mission alignment and donor interest.

The University’s 2021 Twin Cities Campus Plan identified this land as an "opportunity area" rather than space needed for future academic, research, or agricultural use. The site’s location, topography, and infrastructure limitations make it less suitable for core University functions. Selling the land allows us to avoid substantial deferred maintenance costs and redirect resources toward strategic priorities that better serve our students, faculty, and the public.

Gopher Athletics’ commitment to the Men’s and Women’s golf teams remains unchanged. The John W. Mooty Golf Facility and short game outdoor training area are not included in the sale. Athletics will work with the golf programs to make sure that the teams are still able to practice at a championship level. 

The decision to close the course at the end of the 2025 season is driven by the University’s long-term stewardship responsibilities and the time-intensive process required to prepare the property for sale. Preparing a complex site like this for disposition involves a range of necessary steps, such as environmental assessments, land use and zoning evaluations, property surveys, appraisals, and development of the sale strategy. These efforts are already underway and would not be feasible while actively operating the course.

Once a prospective buyer has been selected, they will need unfettered access to the site to complete invasive geotechnical and environmental assessments, including soil borings. We anticipate this to be scheduled starting in Spring of 2026.  Continuing to operate the course indefinitely until closing on the sale would delay this process, incur additional costs, and create logistical issues with operations, employees, patrons, and potential buyers. Announcing closure now provides clarity and allows for a thoughtful, well-planned transition for all involved.

As part of the buyer’s due diligence, environmental assessments will be conducted and any remediation required would be specific to the site and under the supervision of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The University is following a careful and thorough process to responsibly address any issues that are needed to complete a sale. We have plans in place to maintain the property until a sale is complete. Our goal is to transition the property thoughtfully and responsibly, with long-term community and environmental impacts in mind.

The Board of Regents will vote when the University has a proposed agreement for sale of the land. 

You are invited to share your thoughts with the Board of Regents in their virtual forum.

Note: The virtual forum materials are reviewed by all members of the Board of Regents