One of the University of Minnesota’s most iconic recreational sites is preparing to shut its gates for good. The Les Bolstad Golf Course, a 141-acre property located in Falcon Heights along Larpenteur Avenue, will officially close following the 2025 golf season. The U of M announced that the course is no longer financially sustainable, citing high maintenance costs and the need to refocus on core academic and research priorities amid a challenging budget year.
The course, named after longtime U of M golf coach Les Bolstad, has long been used for recreational play and cross-country meets, but it hasn’t seen major investment in years. As part of its 2026 budget planning, the U is also considering its largest tuition hikes in years—6.5% for in-state students and 7.5% for out-of-state—making the decision to sell non-essential land more urgent.
The university’s John W. Mooty Golf Facility and Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium will not be included in the sale. But what happens to the land is up for debate. Falcon Heights residents have expressed strong interest in converting the course into a public park. A 2024 community survey showed support for keeping it green, but the city also acknowledged that the land is zoned for single-family housing. If sold to a private developer, the site could become a new residential neighborhood in the heart of the east metro.
For now, Minnesotans have one more season to enjoy the historic fairways of Les Bolstad. After that, its future lies in the hands of buyers—and the city’s zoning board.
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