Biography
Joel Goldstrand, a relatively unknown figure in the world of golf course architecture, has considerably impacted the golf experience in the Upper Midwest of the United States. Goldstrand has designed and maintained over 100 golf courses, with most in the state of Minnesota. The courses are popular with locals and tourists, with some notable ones being the Sisseton and Wahpeton layouts at Dakota Magic Casino and Hotel, located an hour south of Fargo.
Goldstrand, who passed away in November 2022 at the age of 83, was a Minnesota native, hailing from the town of Worthington, located three hours southwest of Minneapolis and an hour east of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His golf journey began with the University of Houston, where he was part of two NCAA Championship wins. Moreover, during his professional golf career, he marked noteworthy performances, such as finishing 12th in the 1970 U.S. Open, held at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.
During his professional playing career, Goldstrand embarked on another commendable endeavour—he started the PGA Tour’s first Bible Study group. The group is active to date, paying testament to his influence in the golfing community. Post his playing career, he briefly served as the head golf professional at Minneapolis Golf Club until 1989, after which he pursued his passion for golf course design full-time. His contributions have enabled numerous golfers to enjoy golfing in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, and his legacy lives on in this domain.