I've played Southview only once, about five years ago, in a Scramble: Can remember very little about it, really -- possibly my fault as much as the golf course's.
I've played Hillcrest more often, and more recently (four or five times, two and three years ago), and I like it a lot -- particularly the back 9, which opens with a couple of terrific par-4s, then features, among other good holes, two very good par-3s and a wonderful par-5 with a steeply uphill approach and a hillside dotted with bunkers. It was in terrific shape every time I played it. (I don't know anything about the membership. I do know that they built an imposing new clubhouse a few years ago.)
I second Rick's nomination of StoneRidge, if it's convenient to your son.
I like North Oaks a lot, almost from beginning to end.
Two others to consider:
-- Town and Country Club -- a very quirky old course (oldest in Minnesota, I believe), with consecutive par-3s on the front side and closing 5-5-5-3. Lots of fun. Very convenient to downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. Last I heard, it wasn't at all unspeakably expensive to join.
-- University of Minnesota. $900 a year for U of M alumni -- a category VERY broadly defined, to include all members of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association. (You needn't have ever set foot in a U of M classroom to join the Association.) Rick Shefchik and I played it this summer, and found it in the best shape we'd ever seen it.