pool & yacht club minnesota

Welcome to the Pool and Yacht Club

 where friends are family and memories are made.

The Pool and Yacht Club is located on the shores of the mighty Mississippi River in Lilydale, Minnesota. Just five minutes from downtown Saint Paul and ten minutes from downtown Minneapolis, it is the ideal spot to enjoy the riverside beauty, changing with every season! The friendliness of this unique club is never outdone, nor its superb food and service ever excelled. We extend our warmest welcome to our members and their guests... an invitation to enjoy the ultimate in cuisine and liqueurs.

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Pool and Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ Can't say enough nice things about Moe the general manager she makes you feel at home and welcomed there. ” in 2 reviews

“ Kevin , the Executive Chef, LOVES to talk about what he has been working on in the kitchen or the fresh order of seafood he has just received and how he is going to prepare it. ” in 2 reviews

“ Forgot to take photos of the generous buffet with ham, beef bites in what tasted like bourbon sauce, salmon with cream sauce, asparagus , broiled reds, etc. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

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1600 Lilydale Rd

St Paul, MN 55118

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What a holiday happy treat for Roseville Rotary! Forgot to take photos of the generous buffet with ham, beef bites in what tasted like bourbon sauce, salmon with cream sauce, asparagus, broiled reds, etc. and homemade cookies for dessert! Entertainment by the Swedish Institute Mens' Chorus was so fun, many songs in Swedish. Always love a night at Pool and Yacht!

Visited the P&Y Club for a party thrown by my office (roughly 55 people). The bar service was open the entire time and was not only very helpful, but also made the drinks strong (which is always a plus). The servers would even go around to the tables to refill all drinks and make new cocktails should you require it. I ordered an Old Fashioned (pictured) and it was fabulous. Our meal was pre-plated with pop-over buns as a starter, then a strawberry salad with vinaigrette, followed by the main course of potatoes, asparagus and cheese covered chicken with another, but different from the salad, vinaigrette. A tray of assorted desserts followed the main meal featuring mini cheese cakes; regular cakes such as chocolate, red velvet and carrot cake; along with mini apple pies and some brownies. The meal was amazing. The chicken was cooked well and was not at all dry and the seasoning on the main course was delicious. If you are looking to have a small event, I would definitely look into renting this space. Your dining overlooks the Mississippi and the room reminded me of the inside of a yacht.

Old Fashioned with Maker's Mark

Plated lunch of chicken with cheese and vinaigrette, potatoes, asparagus on a bed of spinach.

The worker were super rude. They did not feel welcoming at all. We came off the river wanting some dinner and did not want us.

A classic supper club crossed with an old timey private club (think dirty dancing) perched on the edge of the Mississippi River in St. Paul. You have to be a member (I think) to dine there and expect to be surrounded by lots of seniors. Their menu is loaded with all the classics - ribeye steak, baked potatoes (loaded), wedge salad with French and Roquefort (aka blue cheese) dressing, and not a bad value.

This is a supper-club in which you must be a member to dine. I was able to attend an event hosted here. The food was underwhelming. I think if you really like popovers, it may be your thing. Popovers don't really wow me in general, though. The baked potato was cooked well?!?! I can't say too much else about the food because it was generally unremarkable. As far as the atmosphere - I was shocked to learn the place had recently been remodeled. I felt like I was in the 90's. Things did seem well taken care of as opposed to warn down, but something about it didn't seem so new. Three stars = A-OK. I wouldn't seek it out on my own volition, and it wasn't horrible.

Love this place! The food is exquisite the staff are so friendly and nice! Kevin the chef greets you at your table making everybody feel so special. The place is usually packed so do call and make a reservation . I have dined in the bar and the restaurant both are delightful! Can't say enough nice things about Moe the general manager she makes you feel at home and welcomed there. Moe's skills at whipping up the table side bananas foster are beyond compare!

We just love this place! I've been coming here with my parents in the '70s and it remains one of our top favorite spots. Our friends always want to come here too. The food is wonderful!!!!! The staff exceptional!!!! The view is great and you can actually have a conversation and hear each other talk, which many places it's just too noisy.

Spent Friday afternoon at the Pool and Yacht Club with some kiddos. The pool is pretty bare bones. Small with a little water slide and a smaller kiddie pool. Still it is almost quaint in its simplicity with traditional green and white umbrellas and staff that wanders around bringing beverages and taking food orders. I liked the lifeguard on duty to keep a closer watch on my charges in the pool, so I could focus guilt free on my book for a few hours. There food menu also had plenty of kid friendly options, traditional fried food fare, and surprisingly some good looking healthy wraps and salads. I opted for the steak fajita with sweet potato chips. I watched a plate of nachos to be reckoned with go by as well. Not sure what a membership costs here, but imagine it is significantly more affordable than any country club. The pool was busy with stay at home moms, nannies, and their kids, but never so crowded that there wasn't enough room to play or swim. The facility is also fairly small compared to some of the larger community pools I've seen, so it isn't overly loud, easy to lose your companions, or impossible to find an empty chair to lounge.

I am just celebrating my 5th year of membership at The Pool and Yacht Club. I could not be happier with my membership. The setting is gorgeous in any season. Nestled riverside the views are always spectacular. My friends and family have enjoyed many celebrations, summer balcony dinners, happy hours and poolside chats. The team at Pool and Yacht are simply THE BEST!! From the minute you drive up the valet greets you, the host team makes you feel like they've been waiting all day to seat you at a special table. The service staff always deliver top notch service. They have tasted the specials and help you make decisions when there are so many awesome menu items to choose from. The Bartenders are friendly and creative with their mixes. Moe (the GM) makes you feel like a guest in her own home. She makes her rounds and visits with everyone. Moe's interactions make me, my friends and family feel special. Kevin, the Executive Chef, LOVES to talk about what he has been working on in the kitchen or the fresh order of seafood he has just received and how he is going to prepare it. He clearly loves his craft! The experience is I receive at P&Y is unmatched.

Great club with excellent management and staff. The food is fabulous and the staff is very professional and caring. They have great weekly specials, fun events and make sure their members have a wonderful experience.

1 other review that is not currently recommended

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Pool & Yacht Club

The members of The Pool and Yacht Club have enjoyed their own private get-away for almost 50 years. The Pool and Yacht Club would like you to join their satisfied members for your own private dining experiences. Imagine dining on the banks of the Mississippi or enjoying poolside service under the summer sun. You will be greeted by a service staff that knows you personally and holds your enjoyment as their top priority. You can expect all this and more at The Pool & Yacht Club.

Pool & Yacht Club 1600 Lilydale Rd Lilydale, Minnesota 55118

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An Insider’s Guide to the Twin Cities’ Private Country Clubs

Editors’ Note: This article first appeared in our Summer 2013 issue and remains one of our most read stories from our archives.

People still wear pressed tennis whites and go yachting. There are still women who call themselves “Babs.” But many of the Twin Cities’ private country clubs have changed, particularly since the Great Recession. Clubs with long-standing wait lists, like Interlachen and Woodhill , now find themselves with ample openings. Some, such as Dellwood Hills , have moved to a no-initiation model. Even the most exclusive clubs are offering terrific bargains for young people (half off the initiation fee for those under 40, for example).

“It used to be that country clubs were the domain of the truly well-connected,” confides one Woodhill member, who asked to not be named. “Now, clubs are clamoring for almost anyone with a wallet. Even Woodhill members are being asked to groom their contacts, to do recruiting.”

The glitz and formality of country clubs have faded, too. Woodhill and Minikahda used to host lavish parties for hundreds of people, à la The Great Gatsby . But galas have largely been replaced by patio BBQs and couples’ trivia nights. Once considered unthinkable, gentlemen at Woodhill are no longer required to wear neckties in the clubhouse after 6 p.m.

Which is not to say there aren’t real benefits to joining. If you want to tee off with Minnesota’s most powerful players, you will still find them at “the club.” Here’s your insider guide to the top venues.  

Photography by Wing Ta

Edina Country Club

Founded: 1923

The Basics: This lavish club is built around a core of nouveau riche. Transplants to Minnesota are sometimes advised to join Edina to build up social capital and then try for membership at the more prestigious Interlachen or Minikahda . The club is considered kid-friendly, especially since the 2008 hiring of Manager Carl Granberg, who added a slew of kid-centric offerings, such as pool-opening parties and kids’ etiquette classes. As of 2012, the club had 1.67 adults for every child. But for some, the place became a little too kid-friendly; there has been a moderate exodus of older members and empty nesters to Minikahda .  

Ancient History: The Edina Country Club was designed as a kind of community center. Real-estate mogul Samuel Thorpe bought a farm south of 50th Street with visions of an idyllic 585-home subdivision. At the heart of his “country club” neighborhood: an actual country club.  

Big Moment: A 1970 exhibition game between pro golfer Arnold Palmer and Gov. Wendy Anderson.  

Noteworthy Event: Easter Sunday Brunch with ham- and prime rib–carving stations, chicken Kiev, Cajun shrimp, and house-made chocolate eggs (hand decorated with edible paint, naturally). Don’t miss the roving Easter bunny, kids’ egg hunt and Easter Bunny-shaped ice sculpture.  

Clubhouse: The 65,000-square-foot shake and brick clubhouse is a sprawling, low-slung affair that overlooks the fifth green and sixth tee. Inside, off-white walls hem with dark-wood furnishings and gilt hardware.  

Golf Course: The original course is credited to Scottish-American designer Tom Bendelow, though he had a hand in only nine of its 18 holes. When the clubhouse was moved in 1959, the course was reoriented, and there have been issues ever since, mostly with winterkilled greens and awkward tees. The course was shut down for a year in 1996 so designer Roger Rulewich could do a complete overhaul. When that effort underwhelmed the membership, the club hired former Gophers golfer Tom Lehman to do a redesign in 2010 and again shut down the course for an entire year. Local golf blogger Jeff Shelman, a former sports scribbler at the Star Tribune , reviewed the new course, calling it “way more fun than before.”  

Other Amenities: An Olympic-sized pool, four clay and two hard-surface tennis courts, plus a winter clubhouse that offers two platform tennis courts and easy access to ice skating and hockey.  

The Damage: $50,000 initiation, $564 monthly dues, $75 monthly capital assessment for a golf membership. Members are also expected to spend $75 or more on food every month.

Getting In: The club offers 100 social memberships, 210 pool/tennis memberships and 375 golf memberships. New members are approved every third Thursday, but if you bring them a check and seem up-to-snuff, the club will get you into the facilities as soon as the next day. New members need one sponsor and two endorsers (endorsements can be as simple as an email to the general manager).

Notable Members: Plastic surgeon Doug Gervais; pro golfer John Harris; retailer Perry and Mary Mead, co-owners of Melly at the Galleria; Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Otteson; legendary venture capitalist Gordon Stofer of Cherry Tree Investments, who funded “Sesame Street Live”  

Networking Hot Spots: Cargill; Dalco Enterprises; Entegris; Ingenio; J.W. Hulme Co.; Lazard Middle Market; Preston Kelly; Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner; Steingart, McGrath & Moore; Thomson Reuters; QSR+

Interlachen Country Club

Founded: 1909

The Basics: Situated on the shores of Mirror Lake in Edina, this chummy club attracts a broad cross-section of new and old wealth. It’s much harder to get into than Edina, just two miles away. Interlachen has perhaps the most famous golf course in Minnesota; in recent years, it has hosted the Solheim Cup (2002) and the U.S. Women’s Open (2008).  

Ancient History: The club was established on 185 acres of farmland. Grain merchant Alvin Poehler was a major stakeholder in its early days.  

Big Moment: Bobby Jones’ famous shot in the 1930 U.S. Open, when he topped his shot into the pond and it skipped on the surface of the water to the far bank.  

Noteworthy Event: This July will mark the 45th anniversary of the Willie Kidd Invitational, named for the club’s long-deceased Scottish golf pro. People fly in from all over the country for the chance at a Willie Kidd Piper, a rubbed bronze statuette of a Scottish Highland bagpiper in full regalia.  

Clubhouse: The frame and timber Tudor-style clubhouse retains much of the masculine aura instilled by architect Cecil Bayless Chapman. The main dining room still has a soaring ceiling with exposed hardwood rafters. Details include mahogany-stained woodwork and scoop-back leather chairs.  

Golf Course: Designed by William Watson with revisions by Robert Trent Jones, Interlachen’s course is difficult, with many trees and nine water hazards. The signature hole is No. 18, where Bobby Jones accidentally skipped his ball across the water and ended the hole with a birdie.  

Other Amenities: A six-lane, 25-yard pool, seven clay and two-hard surface tennis courts, plus a wellness center that offers massage therapy, pedicures, manicures, facials and reflexology.  

The Damage: $60,000 initiation plus $680 in monthly dues for a golf membership. The monthly food and beverage minimum is $100.  

Getting In: The multi-step process involves a questionnaire about your golf skills, various meet-and-greets, two separate reviews by the membership committee, and six letters of recommendation.  

Notable Members: Arne and David Rovick, sons of Edina Realty Founder Emma Rovick; St. Cloud Times Publisher Scott Johnson; Opus Founder Gerald Rauenhorst; Bachman’s President Paul Bachman; MacPhail Center CEO Kyle Carpenter; Allina Health System CEO Emeritus Gordon Sprenger; former Target CEO Bob Ulrich; former UnitedHealthcare CEO Robert Sheehy; former PepsiAmericas CEO Bob Pohlad; John Remes, president at KARE 11; William Lindsay, MD, who performed the first heart transplant in Minnesota; Sports-show host Dave Mona; Malt-O-Meal board chair John Lettmann  

Networking Hot Spots: CarVal Investors; CBRE; Dain Rauscher; Ernst & Young; Faegre & Benson; Hays Companies; Hoyt Properties; Norwest Mezzanine Partners; Piper Jaffray; Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi; UBS

Minikahda Country Club

Founded: 1898

The Basics: Considered a transitional club between the more showy nouveau-riche clubs ( Edina , Wayzata ) and the decorous old-money clubs ( Woodhill , Somerset ), Minikahda is more prestigious than Interlachen and is difficult to get into.  

Ancient History: Minikahda was the first private club founded by the enterprising old-money families: the Washburns, the Crosbys, the Pillsburys, the Daytons. Situated right on the outskirts of Minneapolis, it originally served the milling barons who lived in the grand homes on Lake of the Isles. As those families began to migrate toward Lake Minnetonka, Minikahda was somewhat abandoned by the ultra-rich in favor of Woodhill.  

Big Moment: When the Archbishop of Canterbury visited in the early 1950s wearing his formal tailcoat and knee pants, and got very splashed by kids in the pool. (He laughed it off.)  

Noteworthy Event: Prim and proper luncheon for all past Aquatennial Queens, held each July. The menu is always the same: Minikahda chicken salad and sticky rolls.  

Clubhouse: The antebellum-style clubhouse has expansive views of Lake Calhoun. Members sit on the whitewashed grand portico and eat meals prepared by Ferris Shiffer, said to be the best private-club chef in Minnesota.  

Golf Course: In 2001, Minikahda hired Ron Prichard to return the course to a more undulating style, as envisioned by Scottish architect Donald Ross. He reconfigured all 18 holes, enlarged all the greens and dramatically lengthened the course. The signature hole is still No. 10, which starts off very steep and narrows down through a passage of old-growth trees.  

Other Amenities: A kidney-shaped pool that overlooks Lake Calhoun, six clay and one hard-surface tennis courts, and a separate paddle house for platform tennis.  

The Damage: $60,000 initiation plus $632 in monthly dues for a golf membership.  

Getting In: Applicants need a minimum of six sponsors. Expect a wait time of two months or more for your application to be considered. As of press time, there were 875 members; the club has a capacity of 915.  

Notable Members: Ecolab CEO Doug Baker; Constance Bakken, who bought herself a bank after divorcing Medtronic Founder Earl Bakken (also a member); Pillsbury heir and Washburn Crosby heir Robert L. Crosby; U.S. District Judge David Doty; Haskell’s CEO Jack Farrell; Rev. Douglas Fontaine, retired dean of the Cathedral of St. Mark; SimonDelivers Founder Simon Foster; Minnesota Monthly Publisher Steve Fox; Gabbert’s Founder Jim Gabbert; Rev. Tim Hart-Andersen, minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church; Peavey heir Frank Heffelfinger; former Brit’s Pub Owner Stuart Higgins; Rockefeller heir Alida Messinger; Target design chief Rich Varda; Rev. Canon Charles Vogt of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral; Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation Charlie Zelle  

Networking Hot Spots: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co; AWJ Capital Partners; Briggs and Morgan; C. Chase Company; Coldwell Banker Burnet; Dorsey & Whitney; Dougherty Financial Group; Gray Plant Mooty; Hillcrest Capital Partners; Lindquist & Vennum; McGough; RBC Wealth Management; Riverbridge Partners; TCF Bank  

North Oaks Golf Club

Founded: 1950

The Basics: Conceived and financed by the wealthy heirs of railroad baron James J. Hill, the North Oaks Golf Club has lost much of its prestige in its 63 years. Though the third-generation Hill heirs stayed involved until their deaths, the club is now populated mainly by lawyers, doctors and VP-level businesspeople from North Oaks and St. Paul. Members say they appreciate that their place lacks much of the social preening found in some other clubs.  

Ancient History: James J. Hill’s grandson, Louis Hill Jr., was caught up in the utopianism of the 1950s. Le Corbusier had his “radiant city.” Writer Ebenezer Howard envisioned a grand “garden city movement.” There was a feeling among power players and intellectuals that idyllic cities, towns and neighborhoods could be neatly and properly constructed. With that in mind, L. W. Hill Jr. convinced his fellow heirs that they could create a chaos-free community on their grandfather’s 4,000-acre farm. Thus, today we have North Oaks, a St. Paul suburb that is also a private, gated community. The golf club is part of that residential complex.  

Noteworthy Event: The Ray Vennewitz Acorn Men’s Invitational is the club’s much-anticipated guest/member tourney held each July.  

Clubhouse: Low and sprawling, the clubhouse has the feel of a high-dollar senior-living facility: clean, comfortable, rather antiseptic. The ballroom has fiberglass ceiling tiles. But there are nice views of the golf course.  

Golf Course: Designed in 1951 by Stanley Thompson, the 6,655-yard course was significantly renovated in 2007 by golfer Tom Lehman. Members say their course is quick, challenging and very underrated.  

The Damage: Initiation is $5,500 plus $593 in monthly dues. There is a $50 monthly food minimum for a golf membership.  

Getting In: Two letters of sponsorship are required. You do not have to live in the gated community to be a member.  

Notable Members: Former 3M CEO Lewis Lehr; Rev. Paul Morrissey, minister at the Church of St. Louis, King of France; Car dealer Lee Carlson, the father of FOX host Gretchen Carlson; Compulsive entrepreneur Tom Auth, who owns more than 30 different companies (from auto parts to chemical testing and wireless alarm systems)  

Networking Hot Spots: Cody Law Group; Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson; Homel Realty; Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt; Fredrikson & Byron; Brookdale Health; Johnstech International; White Pine Capital; Yaeger, Jungbauer & Barczak  

Town & Country Club

Founded: 1887

The Basics: Located near the Marshall Avenue–Lake Street bridge in St. Paul, this steady, low-priced club attracts midlevel VPs, St. Paul politicians and a surprising number of doctors.  

Ancient History: Before the great Minnesota barons were at Minikahda , White Bear Yacht or Woodhill , they were at Town & Country, the oldest private club in Minnesota. It was founded by the Nushkas, a social krewe born out of the first Winter Carnival, which included Lucius Pond Ordway and James J. Hill. True to its roots, the club originally had a toboggan slide and an official uniform: electric blue with astrakhan fur. The first version of the golf course employed tomato cans and fishing poles with red rags because members weren’t yet exactly sure how to play the unusual Scottish game.  

Clubhouse: Once a cool fin-de-siècle clubhouse designed by Cass Gilbert. But that was torn down in 1955 to go with standard dark brick. The main dining room has a nice view of the Mississippi River.  

Other Amenities: Four clay tennis courts and a swimming pool heated to 80 degrees.

The Damage: $8,750 initiation plus $667 monthly dues for a golf membership. The food and beverage minimum is $187.50 per quarter.

Getting In: Very easy. The membership coordinator will even find sponsors for you to meet if you don’t know anyone there.  

Notable Members: Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer; former Minnesota Gopher star tackle and World War II vet Ed Lechner; Nora McGuire, the first female golf pro in Minnesota; investor David Freeman, the former owner of the Nashville Predators; well-known car dealers Ron Saxon and Tom Krebsbach Jr.  

Networking Hot Spots: Advantus Capital Management; Dain Rauscher; First Farmers and Merchants Bank; ING; National Checking Company; Oberman Thompson; Schwan’s; UBS

Photography provided by Wayzata Country Club

Wayzata Country Club

Founded: 1956

The Basics: Where Woodhill is demure and secretive, Wayzata is glitzy and flashy: The two clubs are polar opposites, as different as Mark Dayton and David Koch. And yet, they are near neighbors, less than a mile apart, separated by a railroad track (literally). Culturally speaking, Wayzata is lively, fun-loving and very family-oriented. It also seems to attract more than its fair share of drama. Just Google Wayzata Country Club and “Ali Dunham” for one juicy tale that made it all the way to the TV show A Current Affair. The club has also attracted a few crooked characters, such as Denny Hecker and Tom Petters. In fact, a handful of members were accused of being co-conspirators in Petters’ $3.65-billion Ponzi scheme.  

Ancient History: For nearly 40 years, Woodhill was one of the few private clubs near Lake Minnetonka. As the area exploded with new residents after World War II, it was besieged with membership requests. This made Woodhill’s old-guard founders, who preferred to stay under the radar, quite uncomfortable. As such, the old-money families decided they needed a kind of pressure valve for their favorite club and so put up much of the early capital for Wayzata.  

Clubhouse: The Tudor cottage clubhouse is well-appointed outside and in. Even the lockers in the locker rooms have carved-wood doors.  

Golf Course: The splendid and tough 18-hole championship course is never lent to the Minnesota Golf Association for tournaments.  

The Damage: $35,000 initiation, $685 monthly dues, $100 monthly capital assessment plus a $160 bimonthly food minimum.  

Getting In: You need one primary and two supporting sponsors to write letters on your behalf. These letters, plus a formal membership application and credit report, are submitted to the board of directors for review. The process generally takes a couple of months.  

Other Amenities: Trap and skeet range, an Olympic-sized pool, six clay and two hard-surface tennis courts, two paddle tennis courts, a six-hole junior golf course, an ice rink in winter.  

Notable Members:  Former General Mills CEO Steve Sanger, former Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Publisher Vance Opperman, Gov. Wendy Anderson, TCF Bank CEO Bill Cooper, Archivers Founder Jann Olsten, professional golfer Tim Herron  

Networking Hot Spots: Campbell Mithun; C.H. Robinson; Deloitte & Touche; Fabcon; Fair Isaac; General Mills; Korn/Ferry; Kraus-Anderson; Medtronic; Merrill Lynch; Pentair; PricewaterhouseCoopers; RBC Wealth Management; Toro; U.S. Bancorp; Wells Fargo Home Mortgage  

White Bear Yacht Club

Founded: 1889

The Basics: Twenty miles northeast of St. Paul sits the White Bear Yacht Club, the only sailing-plus-golf club in the state.

Ancient History: Originally a summer hotel, the yacht club still rented rooms to vacationers through the 1920s. F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, spent the summer of 1921 at the club but were kicked out before September (probably for fighting, which they did all the time). In 1922, Fitzgerald published Winter Dreams , a short story about a caddie-turned-businessman who falls in love at Sherry Island Golf Club in Black Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Noteworthy Event: The Sailors BBQ features a competitive scow, a BBQ buffet on the Lakeside Lawn and cocktails galore.

Clubhouse: The clubhouse is an interesting mix of nautical and Nantucket: white clapboard and blue awnings next to bold arches and sweeping porticos. Currently, a $3.2-million renovation is underway. As of Memorial Day, club members can enjoy a new 25-yard competition pool, a kid’s splash pool and wading area, a new dining terrace with lake views, a new 1,200-square-foot lakeside pavilion with firepit and patio, a new tennis house, and a new on-course restroom. The club is also funding a shoreline restoration project.

Golf Course: The Donald Ross–designed course is separated from the clubhouse by Dellwood Avenue.  

Other Amenities: Four clay and two hard-surface tennis courts.

The Damage: Initiation is $26,550 initiation, $725 monthly dues.

Getting In: As of press time, there were 200 members; the club has a capacity of 225. Applicants need two letters of recommendation from club members. New members are approved the second Tuesday of the month.

Notable Members: Ordway family heirs Todd Nicholson, Horace Irvine III and Ford Nicholson; Regions Hospital CEO Brock Nelson; art dealer and Coldwell Banker Burnet Co-founder Dar Reedy

Networking Hot Spots: 3M; CentraCare Health System; Craig-Hallum Capital; Hallberg & McClain; Securian Financial Group; Smith Barney; St. Croix Orthopaedics; Western Bank

Woodhill Country Club

Founded: 1915

The Basics: Woodhill is an interesting contradiction. It’s unassuming on the outside but exceptionally hard to get into. The membership is mostly old, traditional, proper and conservative. This is, after all, the club that kicked out Gov. Mark Dayton when he brought black friends around the clubhouse in the early ’70s. (Dayton was accepted back into the fold after he married a Rockefeller heir in 1978, but he resigned his membership after he decided to run for U.S. Senate.)

Ancient History: When the old-money families had migrated from Kenwood to Lake Minnetonka, they needed a new private club, and they built a simple one, with no flourishes or special airs. The painted-brick exterior was designed with one purpose: to keep away potential kidnappers-for-ransom such as the gang that nabbed Minnesota brewer Bill Hamm in 1933 or St. Paul banker Ed Bremer in 1934. That wealth-based paranoia still influences Woodhill’s members in the 21st century — some of the older members still drive Chevys and Fords; many wear midrange clothing brands.  

Big Moment: When 19-year-old Jack Nicklaus shot a four-under-par 67 in 1959 to win the Trans-Mississippi Amateur.  

Noteworthy Event: There are lots of parties around the midsummer Woodhill Invitational golf tournament. Highlights include a cocktail party on the tennis courts and a black-tie dinner on Saturday night. But the biggest deal is the party held on the second night at one member’s home on Lake Minnetonka. Almost everyone arrives by fancy boat.  

Clubhouse: Pragmatic and generically pleasant (think Chippendale cane chairs with floral upholstery and rolled-arm sofas next to beige walls). Very few fancy details.  

Golf Course: Unlike many clubs that distinguish between golfers, swimmers, tennis players and socialites, Woodhill has just one membership category: in. As such, the Donald Ross–designed course is virtually empty half the time. The signature hole is No. 6, which starts very steep and is incredibly picturesque.  

Other Amenities: Ten clay tennis courts with a dedicated tennis clubhouse.

The Damage: $45,000 initiation, $741 in monthly dues.  

Getting In: A yearlong process of cocktail parties, dinners and more cocktail parties before you are thoroughly vetted and approved.  

Notable Members: Ned and Bob Dayton, scions of the department store fortune and first cousins to Gov. Mark Dayton; Phil Ordway, the real-estate investor and great-grandson of 3M Owner Lucius Pond Ordway; Fred Boos, owner of Grand View Lodge in Brainerd; Malt-O-Meal heir Conley Brooks Sr.; former North Stars, Twins and Vikings investor Wheelock Whitney; Executive Roger Headrick, who once owned the Minnesota Vikings; John J. Taylor III, who owns one of the top 10 beer-distribution companies in the country; Helen Waldron, granddaughter of John Pillsbury Snyder and great-great granddaughter of John Sargent Pillsbury, founder of Pillsbury  

Networking Hot Spots: If upward mobility is your aim, Woodhill isn’t your game.  

The governor’s office denies Governor Dayton was kicked out of Woodhill saying that’s “just a story.” His spokeswoman did confirm Dayton was once a Woodhill member but is not now.

The Best of the Best

Best Golf Hole No. 10 at Town and Country Club

Best Views Minikahda Club

Best Pro Shop Edina Country Club  

Best All-Around Club Wayzata Country Club  

Best Bar Snacks Minikahda Club  

Best Golf-Only Club Three-Way Tie: Hazeltine National Golf Club, Spring Hill Golf Club, Windsong Farm Golf Club

Hardest Club to Get Into Somerset Country Club, closely followed by Interlachen Country Club  

Best Signature Drink Bootleg from the Minikahda Club  

Best Locker Room Wayzata Country Club (newly renovated with Cambria quartz)

Best Ninth-Hole Shack Wayzata Country Club. You can hit the shack from 5 different holes. Insider tip: Bonnie Pipkorn makes the strongest libations.  

Most Swinging Club Bearpath Golf & Country Club  

Best Overall Community North Oaks Golf Club

Busiest Club Edina Country Club

Best Place to Have a Wedding Lafayette Club  

Best Range Tie: Hazeltine National Golf Club and Windsong Farm Golf Club  

Best Entrance Woodhill Country Club  

Best Caddie Program Interlachen Country Club  

Best Course Not Noted Minneapolis Golf Club

Best Swim Team Bearpath Golf & Country Club

Hardest Greens to Read Northland Country Club  

Most Appreciated Course Interlachen Country Club

Read this article as it appears in the magazine.

Tags: country club , golf , minneapolis , private club , st. paul

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Pool and Yacht Club

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

I have eaten at the Pool and Yacht Club many times over the years, and have never been disappointed. The specials are always unique, and the servers have consistently provided great advice for what to order. The menu has some classics like prime rib and... More

We went for a birthday dinner with a friend who is a member of the club. The location on the river was beautiful. The staff was attentive. Surprisingly large menu. Pretty good wine list. Steaks were excellent. One of the better meals we've had in... More

This private pool is clean and safe. Lifeguards are on duty. Food and beverage service is available. The kids come home tired, fed, and clean. It is very busy weekends in early June.

Excellent private club at reasonable pricing- very family friendly especially Summer's at the pool with full menu, wait staff and lifeguards-

Private club, but open to prospective members. Only fine dining restaurant taking advantage of the river front in the Metro. A quiet oasis with a great bill of fare. Reservations encouraged.

It is a nice place for a short meeting. The lunch is good, a little small in quantity and the prices a little high. Service is great.

We would tell anyone who was in town to stop at the Pool and Yacht. It is in the Top 5 for food and Drink, it is a members only club but they will let you tour the club and let you enjoy all the... More

My bro-in-law & wife are members and we were lucky enough to get a table for 10 so last minute when my sis-in-law came to town for a brief visit. The service was excellent and the food divine! Can't wait to go back! Enjoy!!

POOL AND YACHT CLUB, Saint Paul - Restaurant Reviews & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

Pools and Water Parks

From Battle Creek to Bunker Beach, these public pools and water parks are where it's at for family fun.

by Drew Wood

June 6, 2016

Jim Lupient Water Park in Northeast Minneapolis

Photo from Minneapolis Park & Recreation Boar

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Jim Lupient Water Park

Minneapolis

Replete with three slides, a copious splash pad, and even an adjacent 18-hole mini-golf course, Lupient in Northeast is one of the most underrated urban pools around. M–F 1–7 p.m., Sa–Su 11 a.m.–7 p.m., minneapolisparks.org

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Water Slides, Lap Swimming, Swimming Lessons, Water Sports, $5/Day Or Less

North Commons Water Park

The three-story speed and loop slides are the crown jewels here. M–F 1–7 p.m., Sa–Su 11 a.m.–7 p.m., minneapolisparks.org

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Lap Swimming, $5/Day Or Less

Como Regional Park Pool

Come for the lazy river, stay for the zipline. 2–7 p.m. daily, stpaul.gov

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Lazy River, Swimming Lessons, Zipline, Diving Boards/Platforms, Water Sports, Concessions, $5/Day Or Less

Highland Park Aquatic Center

Not as big as Como, but it does have a gnarly whale bone–themed splash pad. 12–7 p.m. daily,  stpaul.gov

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Water Slides, Lap Swimming, Swimming Lessons, Diving Boards/Platforms, Concessions

The Neighborhood Pool

West St. Paul

M–Sa 12–7 p.m., Su 1–7 p.m., wspmn.gov/763/Pool

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Water Slides, Lap Swimming, Concessions

Battle Creek Waterworks

All the usual suspects plus a three-story twisting slide. 11 a.m.–8  p.m. daily, ramseycounty.us

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Water Slides, Sand Areas, Concessions

Richfield Outdoor Pool

Hours vary, cityofrichfield.org

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Water Slides, Lap Swimming, Swimming Lessons, Diving Boards/Platforms, Water Sports, Concessions

Edina Aquatic Center

You’ve probably seen its focal point pirate ship looming over Highway 62, but did you know EAC also has a surf simulator? Opens daily at 10 a.m., edinaaquaticcenter.com

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Water Slides, Lap Swimming, Swimming Lessons, Zipline, Diving Boards/Platforms, Concessions

St. Louis Park Aquatic Center

St. Louis Park

One of the only pools around to offer a water obstacle course. Opens daily at 11 a.m., stlouispark.org

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Water Slides, Sand Areas, Lap Swimming, Swimming Lessons, Diving Boards/Platforms, Concessions

Bloomington Family Aquatic Center

Bloomington

Opens at 12 p.m. M–F, opens at 11 a.m. Sa–Su, bloomingtonmn.gov

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Water Slides, Lap Swimming, Diving Boards/Platforms, Concessions

Crystal Cove Aquatic Center

M–F 1:15–8:30 p.m., Sa–Su 1-7 p.m., crystalmn.gov

Features: Splash Pad/Water Park, Water Slides, Lap Swimming, Diving Boards/Platforms, Concessions

Cascade Bay Waterpark

This massive park has it all, right down to its Gorton’s Fisherman-esque mascot Captain C. Breeze and an adjacent mini golf course. Opens daily at 11 a.m., cityofeagan.com

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Lazy River, Water Slides, Sand Areas, Lap Swimming, Swimming Lessons, Concessions

Como Town Splash Zone!

The elaborate splash pad–only setup is included in the price of admission. Opens daily at 10 a.m., comotown.com

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground

Elm Creek Swim Pond

Maple Grove

One of two man-made filtered and chlorinated ponds in the urban core. 9 a.m.–8 p.m. daily,  threeriversparks.org

Features: Sand Areas, Concessions, $5/Day Or Less

Maple Grove Community Pool; photo courtesy of City of Maple Grove

Maple Grove Community Pool

A double-pool indoor/outdoor setup at the Maple Grove Community Center. Hours vary, maplegrovemn.gov  

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Lazy River, Water Slides, Lap Swimming, Swimming Lessons, Diving Boards/Platforms, Concessions

Bunker Beach Water Park

Coon Rapids

This place is pretty much the reason to drive to Coon Rapids during the summer. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. daily,  bunkerbeach.com

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Wave Pool, Lazy River, Water Slides, Sand Areas, Water Sports, Concessions

Lake Minnetonka Swimming Pond; photo by Derek J. Dickinson/Three Rivers Park District

Lake Minnetonka Swim Pond

Lake Minnetonka

The other acre-plus chlorified faux pond. 9 a.m.–8 p.m. daily, threeriversparks.org

Features:  Concessions, $5/Day Or Less

Soak City Waterpark

Valleyfair’s gargantuan water park dwarfs the competition both in scale and volume of Coppertoned bodies. Hours vary, valleyfair.com

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Wave Pool, Lazy River, Water Slides, Concessions

Hastings Family Aquatic Center; photo courtesy of City of Hastings

Hastings Family Aquatic Center

12–7 p.m. M,W,F, and Sa, 12–5 p.m. T, Th, and Su,  hastingsmn.gov

Features: Splash Pad/Water Playground, Water Slides, Lap Swimming, Swimming Lessons, Concessions

Other Rocky and All-Natural Water Options

Quarry Park Nature Preserve

On the Rocks

You know that scene in the 1979 bike racing flick Breaking Away where Dennis Quaid and Co. are cooling off at an idyllic Indiana rock-quarry-turned-swimming hole? Well, we’ve got one of those. A little more than an hour north from the cities in Waite Park, Quarry Park Nature Preserve has two quarries dedicated to swimming. Quarry #2 is 116 feet deep and surrounded by rock formations, making it perfect for cliff jumping. Quarry #11 is 40 feet deep with a vast sandy beach. Daily admission to the park is only $5.

Webber Natural Swimming Pool; photo courtesy of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Boards

Eschewing the use of chlorine and/or other chemicals to treat the water in favor of filtering it via—wait for it—plants in a nearby pond, Webber Natural Swimming Pool in the Camden neighborhood of Minneapolis is the first public pool in the country to be 100 percent naturally filtered. Take a dip in the 500-capacity pool for $3 per day. 

Members Only

Three private soaks worth a guest pass.

Photo courtesy of Dellwood Country Club

• What Lilydale’s Pool & Yacht Club lacks in glitz, the uber family-friendly pool and kiddie pool with poolside bar and grill service make up for in charm.
• Proving country club pools can be more than just lame rectangles, Dellwood Country Club ’s newly minted complex is more island resort than White Bear Lake-abutting country club, with a lazy river, cabanas, a heated lap pool, and a zero-entry kids area.
• One of the Twin Cities’ grande dames of urban country clubs, Minikahda Club built a rep around its storied golf course, but the real story is the pool and wading pool with one of the best views of Lake Calhoun you’ve never seen.

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