Highland National includes strategic bunkering, water features that serve as the backbone for drainage and irrigation, multiple tees and mature trees that directly impact the play on many of the golf holes. In completing the golf course design Paul Miller incorporated a large bunker in the shape of the comic strip character Snoopy to honor the strong golf contributions of Charles Schultz.

Key issues in the renovation included addressing major drainage problems on the majority of the north side golf holes. The new design resolved the drainage problems by incorporating a series of interconnected ponds that serve as dramatic playing features on six of the new golf holes.

Warren Rebholz, former Executive Director of the Minnesota Golf Association was quoted in the Star Tribune about Highland National: “They've saved all the good stuff and added other good stuff. They should be proud of themselves because it's a real fine golf course. It's all new, but it feels old because of the mature trees.”