An aerial shot of the historic Lafayette Club on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. Photo: Lafayette Club
The historic club has entered into a reciprocity agreement with Windsong Farm Golf Club.
For over a century, the iconic Spanish Mission-style Lafayette Club has stood on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, surrounded by the rolling greens of its 9-hole golf course. Now, a new agreement with Windsong Golf Club in nearby Independence is expanding opportunities for members of both clubs.
Steve Doyle, chair of the Golf and Grounds committee, says that the partnership has been in the works since late 2023. “What made the most sense, of course, was to identify an area club, which offered amenities Lafayette didn’t have—like an18-hole golf course,” Doyle says. “But it was equally important that the potential partner-club be within easy driving distance and—of critical importance—a similar club culture. It was key that our members would mesh well.”
Windsong Farm Golf Club was identified as having the best synergy with Lafayette Club in terms of shared amenities. “Windsong is purely a golf club (no pool or racquet courts), which features an 18-hole, world-class golf course (with a second 18-hole course opening this season), dining room, guest house and walking trails,” Doyle says. In return, Lafayette Club offers Windsong Farm members access to its historic 9-hole golf course as well as its ballroom, bar, clubhouse featuring formal and informal dining rooms, fitness center, meeting rooms, pickleball and tennis courts and slips for 22 boats on Crystal Bay.
Doyle says that in December, the two clubs signed a five-year reciprocity agreement, beginning in the 2025 season. “From our standpoint, Lafayette can now offer its golf members access to two championship Windsong golf courses through a weekly lottery—a significant golf amenity upgrade for no additional cost—and one we feel will be very attractive to prospective golf members,” he says.
What was your experience golfing at Windsong Farm?
I’ve played the original championship South Course and found it all a golfer can handle in length and tough, pristine course conditions. I was not surprised that it requires you to hit every club in your bag. The terrain is really where prairie meets woodlands. The fairways are generous, but the greens are large, undulating and fast, with well-placed bunkering, requiring a certain level of precision. It’s a big-boy course, especially when the prevailing winds are blowing (a daily occurrence).
An aerial view of Windsong Farm Golf Club. Photo: Spencer Barrett at Perspective Co.
The Windsong South Course was co-designed by our home-state British Open Champion golfer Tom Lehman whom, by happy coincidence, Lafayette has just hired as our architect of record to advise on our Golf and Grounds master plan. There won’t be any significant course redesign or rerouting, but he’ll consult on small tweaks to our famed 125-year-old William Watson-designed course.
I walked the newer Windsong North Course while still under construction last fall with [Windsong Farm owner] David Meyer, and it will be a more approachable and playable 18-hole course for golfers, still lengthy enough at 6,483 yards from the tips with plenty of bunkering and multi-tiered greens. You won’t want to miss on the wrong side!
How do the golf experiences at Windsong Farm and Lafayette Club differ?
They will be two totally different golfing experiences. Lafayette golfers will be able to use [a] driver more often and face longer second shots into the green. The putting greens will be larger, generally more rolling and speedier than what they face at home.
For Windsong players coming to Lafayette I might warn: Underestimate our 9-hole course at your peril! What we lack in yardage (The Front and Back 9 are played from different tee markers.) is more than countered by small, inverted dinner plate-type greens, which fall off quickly, surrounded by white sand bunkers and approaches from tight lies requiring deft skills. Only one green features anything approaching a level putt. Bogies can pile up quickly. I feel Minnesota’s third oldest golf course still stands the test of time as being a fun and challenging time for both the accomplished as well as less-experienced golfers.
Golf course greens at Lafayette Club overlooking the lake. Photo: Lafayette Club
What are the limits to the daily access to Windsong Farm’s two 18-hole courses for Lafayette Club members?
For now, Windsong provides six (once daily) tee times a week, but when the new North Course opens for guest play, we will be given one additional time per day on that layout, so a total of 12 tee times weekly.
Lafayette Golf, Racquet Sports and Social Members (excluding non-residents) will have access to non-golf amenities at Windsong Farm. Can you elaborate on what members can expect?
Our members will have use of Windsong’s dining room and bar, walking and snowshoe trails and skating pond. We also have the opportunity to reserve, space permitting, the exclusive Murphy House, which sleeps eight guests—a unique and secluded getaway, overlooking the course and the scenic rolling countryside.
Photo: Spencer Barrett at Perspective Co.
What has been the feedback from Lafayette Club members regarding the reciprocity agreement?
The feedback from Lafayette golf members has been overwhelmingly positive. Of some 500 golfing members at Lafayette, approximately half registered to be part of the weekly draw for tee times. As the summer season begins in earnest, I would expect to see an uptick in our members taking the short ride into the countryside to dine at Windsong, overlooking the expansive rolling views of the former horse and livestock ranch. By the same token, Windsong members have begun to take advantage of their daily Lafayette tee times and access to the racquet courts, pool and fitness, dining rooms, 1882 Bar and boat slips.
Of course, we are mindful of the possibility of overcrowding at key times for some of our amenities and will be regularly monitoring use to ensure Lafayette members continue to enjoy their usual availability and positive experience.
We welcome the energy and vibrancy new guests will bring to the halls of our century-old clubhouse and foresee this unique reciprocity partnership as being a win-win for both of our esteemed clubs in terms of upgraded membership enhancements, elevated vitality and co-mingling of club cultures.
Lafayette Club
2800 Northview Road, Minnetonka Beach; 952.471.8493
Facebook: Lafayette Club
Instagram: @lafayette.club.mn
Windsong Farm Golf Club
18 Golf Walk, Independence; 763.479.7161
Facebook: Windsong Farm Golf Club
Instagram: @windsongfarmgolf
