Northern Links Golf Course sets the bar for public golf in Sioux Falls. On a clear morning up on North Cliff, you can feel the difference before you even reach the first tee — the kind of course that makes you reconsider your handicap.
The 18-hole championship layout here is designed to challenge without punishing, which is a harder balance to pull off than most designers admit. Northern Links draws recreational golfers, competitive players prepping for tournaments, and anyone who wants to practice seriously — with a driving range and practice facilities that let you work on your game before the round actually counts.
Locals pick Northern Links because well-maintained greens are the baseline expectation, not the selling point — and the course consistently delivers. The design rewards smart play over raw power, which keeps regulars coming back to figure it out. If you're going to spend several hours somewhere in Sioux Falls, it might as well be a course that respects your time.