Lake Minnetonka Chilly Open

Since 1984, Minnesota’s most improbable sporting tradition has returned each February to Wayzata Bay: four nine-hole golf courses carved directly into the ice of Lake Minnetonka, played with tennis balls and golf clubs or hockey sticks, by over 2,200 golfers dressed in themed costumes, across a single Saturday that the local community treats with the reverence normally reserved for a public holiday. The 41st annual Wayzata Chilly Open takes place February 7, 2026, with the theme “Live from Wayzata… It’s the Chilly Open!” inspired by Saturday Night Live, which translates in practice to a frozen lake surface populated with thousands of people dressed as sketch comedy characters playing arguably the least conventional form of golf in the Northern Hemisphere. The event is organized by the Wayzata West Metro Chamber as a fundraiser for local community programming, and its scale and reputation routinely draw participants from outside Minnesota and occasionally from international locations.

The Tournament Structure and Everything Surrounding It

Tee times are offered at 10 AM, noon (sold out for 2026), and 2 PM. Amateur tickets are priced at $60 per golfer and cover one round of nine holes. Pro tickets at $115 include a brunch ticket redeemable at the 6Smith restaurant. The 19th Hole Hospitality Tent at the course finish line offers the event’s signature Chili Cook-Off, with more than 10 local restaurants competing for the trophy and every attendee sampling the full field. Each participating restaurant produces its own version of the bowl, which means the 19th Hole experience is genuinely varied rather than a single-vendor food operation. All-you-can-eat chili is included with golf participation. A Snowga session with YogaSix Minnetonka runs at 9 AM before the first tee time, a 45-minute outdoor yoga class on the ice designed to prepare participants for the physical and psychological demands of competitive frozen-lake golf. Snowkiting demonstrations operate throughout the day alongside the tournament. The Final Swing Rooftop Party at 6Smith in downtown Wayzata runs from 1 to 5 PM for those who finish early and want to transition from ice to indoors with a DJ, dancing, and drinks.

Logistics: This is a fully pre-ticketed event. No walk-up participation is available. Hennepin County Water Patrol and the City of Wayzata prohibit the sale and service of alcohol on the ice; the event is BYOB for on-ice consumption, with open containers prohibited off the ice and in the beach parking area. Use a designated driver or rideshare service. The event proceeds regardless of weather on a frozen lake; check ice conditions and organizer communications in the week leading up to the date.

Wayzata and the Lake Minnetonka Setting

Wayzata occupies the northeast shore of Lake Minnetonka, the largest lake in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and one of the most heavily used recreational lakes in Minnesota across all four seasons. The town’s compact downtown of independent restaurants, waterfront public access, and a working marina sits within walking distance of Wayzata Bay, which gives the Chilly Open its intimate spectator geography: you can watch golfers on the course from the shore, walk to lunch in under 10 minutes, and return to the ice without a vehicle. For families and visitors making the Chilly Open the centerpiece of a Lake Minnetonka weekend, Lake.com lists the Family-Friendly Retreat Near All the Best of Minneapolis as a vacation rental option that positions guests within easy reach of both the lake and the Twin Cities metro area.