Page 2 - Golf_Raters_Guide_2020.indd

TOTTON HEFFELFINGER

Don Waryan, Joe Dey, & Tot Heffelfinger

n the 1950’s, a charge was led by former UGSA President,
ITotton Heffelfinger, to bring the U.S. Open back to the state

of Minnesota. As a member at Minikahda Club at the time Tot Heffelfinger
(host of the 1916 U.S. Open), it was apparent to Heffelfinger
the way golf was being played had outgrown the now considered short course with the same being said of
Interlachen Country Club (host of the 1930 U.S. Open). During the 1959 PGA Championship at Minneapolis Golf
Club, Heffelfinger and a group of syndicates began their campaign to build a new course worthy of hosting major
championships. Their campaign brought them into direct contact with renowned golf course architect, Robert
Trent Jones. As the reality of building a second course at Minikahda became increasingly smaller, Heffelfinger

and Jones began to pursue land in Chaska. Once the land was purchased, Heffelfinger stated, “We hope within
a few years to bring the National Open here. This will be the finest course in the middle west, the golfing
mecca of our area. It will be a championship course adaptable for big time tournaments and for member play.”