Nine years after the Minneapolis Park Board first considered the idea in their annual report, Glenwood Park’s first golf course was constructed in 1916. The nine holes featured sand greens and clay tees. Play was free and an instructor was on hand to teach people the game. By the end of the season, 12,000 rounds had been played and an enthusiasts played a 1,000 more rounds during an unusually mild November.
Golfing was a big hit at Glenwood and 50,000 rounds were played the following season. In 1919 the course was extended to 18 holes and park commissioner, Theodore Wirth proposed that the two temporary shelters that had been constructed at the course should be abandoned in favor of a fine club house.
Construction began on Glenwood’s club house three years later. A native of Switzerland, Wirth recommended the Swiss Chalet architecture.The building was done in two stages. The second floor was added in 1923. In honor of his service and accomplishments the MInneapolis Park Board renamed Glenwood Park, parkway and lake for Theodore Wirth in 1938. The Chalet at Wirth Park was extensively remodeled and updated in 1998. Bronze statues of rowdy kids and Theodore Wirth between the parkway and the club house were installed in 2004.
