Wyoming Golf

Well, I'm done with golfing in Wyoming; well, at least this time around. While in Wyoming I golfed at three golf courses, none of which were in the Top 100 and while they were beautiful in there own way I can understand why. The only one that might have come close would have been Devil's Tower and it wasn't even the most expensive. Just goes to show you can find some really nice courses and they don't have to cost a mint to play.

The three courses I played were Devil's Tower in Hulett; Powder Horn in Sheridan; and Teton Pines in Wilson (Jackson). Teton Pines is Dick Cheney's golf course. Unfortunately he wasn't available to play a round of golf with me. Dang!

Powder Horn while being the most expensive was the least impressive but the fact I played for free mitigated my disappointment. When I got there around 7:40am their computers were down so they told me to pay after my round. When I finished and went to pay they were so back-logged with members trying to get on the course the guy I talked to told me to just go ahead and take off. Cool!

Powder Horn - Look out over #3


Teton Pines really did have the most magnificent views but if it weren't for the mountains the course would be pretty ordinary when compared to other upscale courses. Yes, I'm finding most of the nice courses I play are well manicured and the greens are testy. Maybe I'm getting tired eyes from playing so many nice courses. Or I'm simply looking for something truly majestic!

Teton Pines #2


Teton Pines - Looking over #3


Teton Pines #4


Which is what you get when playing Devil's Tower, especially the back nine. The back nine is the newer of the 18 holes and the architect really did himself proud. Views are beautiful and the course itself is challenging but fair. And the 18th is one of those holes where you are hitting off of ledge and watching the ball sky before dropping a quarter mile to the fairway. It really is a neat feeling watching it take off into the upper atmosphere! lol

Devils Tower - #1 Back Tee


Devil's Tower - #10 from the Tee


Devil's Tower - #12


Devil's Tower - #16 - Chipped in for a birdie!!


Devil's Tower - #18


Now off to Idaho for three of the Top 100 golf courses of 2008.

Wild Horse, Gothenburg, NE

The first thing you notice when you set up on the first tee is that the fairways are wild, very wild. What you shortly find out is that they need to be. The fairways are cut very short and balls run for miles; well it seems anyway. If you think you only hit a 220-240 yard drive think again. On the fairways the ball might run 250-300 and strangely enough there are strategically placed bunkers right where you think you'd never reach. Have fun!

All-in-all, the course is beautiful and well manicured. Like I said above the fairways are cut short and the greens are smooth and hold there line when you can find it. Ha! I've never been so afraid of hitting putts on any course, even TPC Sawgrass. These greens were super fast. Barely tap the ball and boom, its gone! You know you're in trouble when after paying for the round the pro tells you you'd better go hit some practice putts. So right, so very right.

BTW - Love the 150 yard markers (below).

Looking away from Clubhouse


Looking out over #3


My ball buried in #14 bunker.


150 Yard Markers

Harverster Golf Club - #49

Harvester Golf Club is truly a dream course, not only in Iowa, but anywhere. The fairways and greens were pristine. And when you rolled your putt the lines held true; well that is if you can actually hit a straight putt. lol A definite stop if you one to play one of the better golf courses around.

The workers were busy fixing most of the bunkers but lucky for me I didn't hit into any. Nada!!! The fairways were wide and forgiving for the most part thus the reason I hit 11 of 14. I think I'm getting use to my new driver. Ha! Just in time to receive the new one I bought recently. I'll let you know what it is if I ever get it.

Shot 40-43 for an 83. had two birdies on the first 7 holes but had 3 DBs. Yuck! Two of the par 5s where against the wind and I couldn't reach either in 3 and one of them I actually flew the green on my fourth.

#3 of of #2 Green


New #3 Bunker


Overview of Part of Front 9


#14



#17


#18 from above the Green

TPC Sawgrass - Champion Course

Well I've done it. My golfing, at least for purposes of this trip, in Florida is complete. I've enjoyed all the Florida courses but I must say my experience at Sawgrass the best.

Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of downsides in that the fairways were recently sanded and the greens recently aerated, but the experience was wonderful and almost every hole was breathtaking. I can see why "The Players" is the course the PGA pros continually go back to to play their championship.

I was suppose to tee off at 10am but arrive early and told them I could go off earlier if possible. There were reports of thunderstorms rolling in around noon and wanted to get my full round in.

When I pulled up the marshal told me I would be playing alone. Dang! I hate playing alone. One of the joys of golfing is the camaraderie you experience during the round. Well, they tried to accommodate me by having one of the workers golf with me. Ha! He wasn't great and on top of that was having a bad day golfing. He was a very friendly fella though and I did enjoy his company but I'd prefer to play with a group. The two other golfers that were suppose to be in my group arrived earlier than I and took off without me.

The one good thing about my playing alone is that instead of sharing a caddie I had my own caddie without having to pay an up-charge. Nice. But my previous experience with my own caddie didn't go well. I'm happy to say this time it went very well. Especially on the greens. Mark, my caddie, was a pleasure to be around and even though I didn't get his last name I'd definitely recommend him to anyone else playing to play. I only wish I could have tipped him better but I do have to keep my costs down.

Warning: When you walk up to the first tee be aware that its a scary hole to start from. Picture below.

And the best of all: I parred No. 17 - The Island Green. No mulligans, gimmies, nada! Pure 7-iron to the Sunday pin placement and two-putted for par!! Fantastic!

If I ever do play again it'll be when the course is in better shape and I have my son Matt with me. Len, you can come too but you have to pay your own way!! lol

Pelican Bay North

Slept in the Jeep last night in order to stay close to Pelican Bay North where I played this morning. Had to have a tune up before playing TPC Sawgrass tomorrow. Haven't touched a club in over two weeks. Shot 85 with two doubles and no birdies from the blues. Played this same course in November of 2008 and shot 88 so I improved by 3 strokes.

The course is testy with pretty tight fairways and water everywhere so I consider myself lucky having only one water ball. My driving was fair, where I did miss a fairway is wasn't by much. Its my second shot that is letting me down. Putting is holding its own with 5 1-putts and no 3-putts.

Forgot to take pictures but my favorite hole #15: 420 yard, raised tee, fairway is split with a stream about 260 yards away.

Wish me luck tomorrow!