Hazeltine National Golf Club
Hazeltine National Golf Club
| Location | Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, MN |
|---|---|
| Designer | Led by Shea Design with input from Hazeltine’s General Manager, Phil Anderson, and designer Jordan Brookens |
Hazeltine National Golf Club, a championship-ready member patio finished with Millboard decking.
Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota is known worldwide for championship golf. Host of the 2016 Ryder Cup and preparing to welcome the event again in 2028, the club wanted its off-course spaces to live up to the same standard as its iconic fairways. The new member patio was conceived as a social hub where members could gather before and after rounds, enjoy views across the course and experience the club’s hospitality at its best.
To achieve this, the design team selected Millboard decking and complementary Millboard products to bring warmth, comfort and long-term performance to a demanding setting that must cope with heavy usage and extreme weather.
The brief was clear. The patio needed to feel like a natural extension of the clubhouse interior, while embracing the drama of the course outside. Members move constantly between bays, bar, practice facilities and short course, so the surface had to be comfortable underfoot, offer exceptional slip resistance when wet and visually refined enough for everyday use and major events alike.
Design and material selection
Shea Design and the Hazeltine team had already seen Millboard decking performing in other premium hospitality environments. Those earlier experiences, combined with the club’s own research, gave them confidence to specify Millboard products for such a high-profile space.
Durability was a central consideration. The patio would experience year-round use, from snow and ice in winter to intense summer sun. The surface also needed to withstand a busy footfall without quickly showing wear. Site visits to existing Millboard decking installations and technical consultations helped the team confirm that the unique wood-free composition and textured surface would stand up to club life, while remaining highly fade resistant for seasons to come.
Aesthetics were equally important. Hazeltine’s brand is grounded in understated luxury: calm, classic and distinctly golf-focused. Millboard decking offered the grain definition and tonal variation of timber, yet without the ongoing staining, sanding or sealing that a traditional deck of this scale would demand. The chosen tone complements the clubhouse finishes indoors, creating a smooth visual transition as members step outside.
Overcoming technical challenges
The ground conditions beneath the new patio presented a particular challenge. With a gravel substrate and the potential for movement across seasons, a standard timber frame risked warping over time. The solution was a Plas-Pro subframe beneath the Millboard decking, creating a stable, moisture-resistant structure that would not rot, swell or twist.
This approach allowed precise levelling and consistent board alignment across the entire terrace. It also helped to manage drainage, guiding water away from the building and preventing standing puddles on the surface. For a golf club where members may be walking in from the short course or performance centre, that exceptional slip resistance underfoot is a practical advantage as well as a safety benefit.
Creating a multi-layered member space
Millboard decking was not limited to the primary walking surface. The design team used Millboard products to frame areas of patio pavers, subtly zoning different parts of the terrace while keeping a unified look. The result is a series of outdoor “rooms” where members can dine, share a drink or watch groups finishing their round.
Bespoke booth-style seating was built using Millboard products to run in line with the outdoor tables. This built-in approach frees up floor space, maximises capacity and creates an intimate, almost lounge-like feel despite the open-air setting. Millboard planters, detailed to match the decking, introduce greenery and gentle screening without interrupting sightlines to the course.
Every detail supports circulation. Routes between the clubhouse, practice areas and short course are clear and comfortable, with Millboard decking providing smooth transitions that feel more like an interior floor finish than a traditional external deck.
Performance and member feedback
Since completion, the member patio has quickly become one of the most used spaces on site. Members move seamlessly from early-morning coffee to late-evening drinks, with the patio acting as a social bridge between the serious business of championship golf and the relaxed friendships that surround it.
Hazeltine’s leadership has been particularly pleased with the long-term appearance of the terrace. The exceptional fade resistance of the Millboard decking has helped preserve the clean, contemporary feel of the space, despite exposure to year-round sunlight. The surface is comfortable to walk on, resists standing water and avoids the splintering or surface checking that can occur with natural timber.
Phil Anderson and the wider team have described the new patio as bringing a completely new level of finish to the club, one that feels entirely in keeping with Hazeltine’s status as a multi-time Ryder Cup venue. The space now reflects the club’s broader vision: championship-standard in every aspect, from fairway to front step.
Why Millboard products suit golf and leisure environments
The Hazeltine project highlights the strengths of Millboard decking and associated products in premium golf and leisure settings:
- Comfort and safety for members and guests
A surface that provides exceptional slip resistance helping to maintain grip in wet conditions, an important consideration where players move between greens, practice areas and the clubhouse all day long.
- Resilience under heavy use
The wood-free construction resists water and pest damage, while the durable surface handles year-round use exceptionally well, requiring only a gentle wash to keep it looking at its best.
- Design freedom
Being able to use the same finish for walkways, seating and planters allows designers to create cohesive club terraces and outdoor hospitality spaces with a consistent, high-end look.
- Low maintenance for busy operations
For clubs that host major tournaments as well as everyday member play, the reduced maintenance demands of Millboard products free up time and resources, without compromising on appearance.
At Hazeltine National Golf Club, these advantages have combined to create a member patio that feels completely at home in a world-class golf environment, ready to welcome members, guests and future Ryder Cup crowds.
Plan your own championship-worthy space
If you are designing a golf club patio, clubhouse terrace or outdoor hospitality area and would like to explore what Millboard decking and cladding could bring to your project:
- Order a sample to experience the texture, tone and quality of Millboard products first hand.
- Visit a Millboard Experience Centre to see full installations and discuss technical options for complex sites.
- View more case studies to discover how other venues are using Millboard decking and cladding in high-profile, high-performance environments.
Bring the same attention to detail found on your fairways to the spaces where members gather, celebrate and connect. Millboard products can help you create outdoor areas that feel every bit as considered as the course itself.
The Urban Nature Project at the Natural History Museum
