North Oaks Golf Club

The Community

In less than 100 years, since pioneer days, the civilization of our great nation has managed to damage more than preserve nature and land as known by our forebears.

Mr. C. D. Gilfillan, an early pioneer to this area, purchased what is now North Oaks with the intent of preserving the land, wildlife and water area which was the base of the St. Paul fresh water system.  A year after the water rights to this unit of land were sold to the city of St. Paul (1882), James J. Hill purchased the land with the intent of amplifying the goals of Mr. Gilfillan.  His successor, Mr. L. W. Hill, Sr., managed to carry on this tradition of conservation during his lifetime.

Shortly before the death of L. W. Hill, Sr. in 1949, his sons and daughter formed the North Oaks Company.  Under the direction and caring of L. W. Hill, Jr. and with the aid of research by the University of Minnesota, the aim was, and still is, a properly balanced population of wildlife in one of the most striking habitats in the area.  A unique system of conservation, engineering and residential planning has made North Oaks the elite community which it is today.

The Golf Club

The North Oaks Golf Club grew from a desire to further the community and provide a place for it to flourish.  The first facilities were built in 1950, and the golf course, one of the finest in the state, was designed by Stanley Thompson.  Thompson is renowned for his superb course designs, including those at Banff Springs and Jasper Park in the Canadian Rockies.  His passion for natural beauty and community is deeply reflected in the North Oaks course, which blends seamlessly with its surroundings and nearby residences.

The Club and its facilities have changed a great deal since their beginnings.  Tennis courts were added in 1958, and the clubhouse was expanded in both 1965 and 1981 and then completely rebuilt in 1991 to support the needs of its expanding membership.

The fall of 2007 brought a new chapter to the North Oaks Golf Club history.  Tom Lehman, lead architect of Lehman Design Group, modernized the classic Thompson track through rebuilding and adding bunkers with new, white sand and subtly changing the fairway contours.  The facelift also included the establishment of a forward set of tees.

Today, the North Oaks Golf Club offers a warm and comfortable atmosphere.  The golf course continues to offer a rare blend of scenery and play that challenges and satisfies golfers of every handicap.  And as the Club continues to grow, it stands as a testimony to the ideals of its founders.