David A Parker Photography
David A Parker Photography
David A Parker Photography
White Bear Yacht Club
White Bear Yacht Club
55 Dellwood Ave
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
United States
Overview
Before he moved to California, where he laid the foundation of many of that state's best courses from the pre-Depression era, William Watson was a pioneer of golf in Minnesota. He arranged the first nine holes at White Bear Yacht Club in 1912 near the shore of White Bear Lake on some of the most roly-poly land imaginable. Several years later, Watson added another nine holes and proceeded to remodel the entire course. Donald Ross has long been rumored to have done the remodel work, but the club doesn't have evidence of this and is now of the mind that the course is entirely Watson's creation. The site's wildly rumpled, unmodified land is the heart and soul of White Bear Yacht Club. Modern architects would likely have leveled and softened the slopes and ravines, but here they bring the golf to life visually and psychologically, offering nary a level stance and asking the player to drive to high sides of the tilted fairways and hit approaches with extreme control. Over the last two decades, under the guidance of Jim Urbina, the surrounding canopy of forest has been pared back to better reveal the massive, enthralling undulations of the course, and several holes, including the par-3s at six and 11, as well as the 12th and 18th green complex, are currently being restored.
About
Awards
ranking history
100 Greatest: The course was part of Golf Digest's original 200 Toughest Courses list from 1967-'68.
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked 191st, 2017-'18.
Best in State: Ranked fourth, 2023-'26. Ranked fifth, 2011-'22. Ranked inside the top 5, 1991-2003. Ranked inside the top 10, 2005-'09.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 4th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Old school charm and character abound at WBYC. The type of routing that if it were built today doubtful it would have the roller coaster routing and wouldnt have used the unique lay of the land that it does. Jump at the opportunity to tee it up at White Bear Yacht Club."
Read More2025
Review
“WBYC is a wonderful natural playground. The brilliant use of the dramatic land movement makes the layout variety, shot options, and fun factor score very high. A memorable day I would love to repeat."
Read More2025
Review
“Among Pine Hills in Wisconsin, and Davenport in Iowa, this is one of the wildest and most fun and most intriguing courses in the Midwest. Draped over severe sloping hills, it’s a course that seems impossible to imagine, a sort of fever dream by Willie Watson and Donald Ross, in a good way. The hills are not just gimmick or things to avoid. They very much define the strategy of most holes. The greens are exceptional, great conditioning and interesting contours. Some false fronts, but everything fair. So many intriguing green sites mid the rolling hills. The bunkerless par five on the back nine leaves a narrow neck of an approach, with steep drop-offs left and right of the green. It’s truly in all-or-nothing shot on your second or third. These holes do not have names, at least on the scorecard, but they should, so you can know who you are falling in love with. She may treat you so poorly, but you don’t care… You are just simply happy to be in her presence, and you want it to last as long as possible. Literally every hole is awe inspiring for different reasons. The variety is extraordinary, given the land movement. Whenever you think the course can’t keep it up, that there must be a weak hole coming up next, it shows you something new and spectacular that you couldn’t have imagined."
Read More2025
Review
“Good example of Ross' expertise in routing. Very hilly site that could have become monotonous. Ross' set of holes is very creative. Would like to see some improvements in the condition of the fairways."
Read More2025
Review
“A wonderful traditional design with great land movement, leading to a lot of variety between holes."
Read More2025
Review
“A wonderful traditional design with great land movement, leading to a lot of variety between holes."
Read More2025
Review
“A unique and classic old-style course that is both playable and challenging."
Read More2025
Review
“This private old school design is located in St. Paul, 40 min NE of MSP airport, was designed by Donald Ross(1915). It features hilly terrain and push up greens."
Read More2025
Review
“Some tree removal has helped with the health of the turf. Course playing more " hard & fast". Feels like going back in time"
Read More2024
Review
“Great layout, with a lot of Donald Ross influence throughout. You'll need to enjoy blind shots to like this course, but if you do, the abundance of undulation across the course makes this place standout."
Read More2024
