Keller Golf Course
Keller Golf Course is a public golf course in Maplewood, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul. It is owned and operated by Ramsey County.
Keller hosted the St. Paul Open, a PGA Tour event, from 1930 to 1968. It has also hosted two major championships, the 1932 and 1954 PGA Championships; and the 1949 Western Open, which was often considered a major at the time. In the 1970s, it was home to the LPGA Tour's Patty Berg Classic.
History
[edit]Keller Golf Course opened in 1929.[1] It was designed by Paul Coates, a Ramsey County civil engineer, who reportedly visited some of America's great golf courses to learn the basics of course architecture.[2] The original clubhouse was designed by architect Cap Wigington.
In October, 2012, The course was closed for major renovations under the direction of architect Richard Mandell,[1] and reopened in July, 2014. The course's original layout was retained but the fairways were converted to bent grass, and all of the greens and bunkers were replaced and brought up to modern standards. Mandell's work was recognized by Golf magazine as the "Best Municipal Renovation" of 2014. Additionally, the clubhouse and pro shop were demolished and replaced with new buildings.[2]
Major tournaments hosted
[edit]| Year | Tournament | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | U.S. Amateur Public Links | Charles Ferarra |
| 1932 | PGA Championship | Olin Dutra |
| 1949 | Western Open | Sam Snead |
| 1954 | PGA Championship | Chick Harbert |
- St. Paul Open: 1930–1968
- Patty Berg Classic: 1973–1980
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b Olson, Rochelle (January 22, 2012). "Aging Keller Golf Course to get upgrades". Star Tribune.
- ^ a b Berhow, Josh (December 22, 2021). "Why this muni (where Sam Snead won and gangsters played) was my favorite course of 2021". Golf. Retrieved March 28, 2023.