Wisconsin Golf

This is a tough post for me to make. My plans were to play all three Whistling Strait courses (includes Blackwolf Run) before leaving Wisconsin but today I canceled playing the Straits course, the more famous of the three and also the more expensive, due to the weather conditions.

After playing Blackwolf Run in 50 degree weather, raining most of the round and winds gusting to 40 mph and then next day playing Whistling Straits Irish course in 50 degree weather and winds gusting to 20-30 mph I decided my money would be better spent on a future date. Don't get me wrong in that I don't mind playing in lite rain, or even 50 degree temps or even some gusting winds but all three!! Sheesh! I love golf, but not enough to fork out the kind of money they want for the Straits Course to shoot 100+ in cold, dreary, windy weather. Yuck! I'll wait until I can talk some other of my fool-hearty friends into coming up when the weather is nice.

As it was both Blackwolf Run and the Irish courses are beautiful in the own way. I personally like Blackwolf Run better but just taking a couple glimpses at the Straits Course I'm sure it would have won out of the three. Would have been my new No. 1, I don't think so. TPC Sawgrass and The Quarry and Giant's Ridge, I believe, would have still nudged it out. But that final decision will have to wait for another day. And look at the bright side, I'm about $500 richer! lol

Blackwolf Run
#2


#5


#7


Whistling Straits - Irish Course
#2


#10


#13


#18


On to Illinois if the weather cooperates.

Minnesota

I've got a new favorite golf course. Before it was TPC Sawgrass but now it is The Quarry (Golf Digest #19) at Giant's Ridge. This course as the most interesting layout I've seen thus far. You really have to think through each whole and it's still very fair. Love this course. My only disappointment was I didn't get to play the Legends course at Giant's Ridge. It had just been aerated so the greens wouldn't have been worth putting on.

The Quarry #7















#13














#16














#18















Both of the other two courses were great courses too. And what was neat about those two courses was that the threesome I got paired with on the first course I got to play with also on the second course. What's really horrible though is I took all their money. lol Really, it was completely unintentional too. I generally play horrible when money is on the line but for some reason I played well the second day. It was basically a skins game and a closest to the pin on all par 3s - each worth $1, so the most you could lose was $13. I ended up winning most of the skins and all of the par 3s. Walked away with $17 bucks. Oh yeah, the fourth player had to leave before we teed off. Seems he hurt his back getting his bags out of the car.

Enjoy the picks.

The Classic at Madden's Resort - Golf Digest #42
#3


#11


Deacon's Lodge #12 - Golf Digest #52


#17

North Dakota

On my way to Minnesota so it's time to tell you about North Dakota golf. Well, to be honest of the three courses I played, and although they were beautiful courses, two of them were nothing to shout home to mom about. I thought, and again they were very well maintained courses, that The Links of North Dakota and Hawktree (No. 66) were a bit over-priced for what you ended up getting. Heck, Hawktree with a cart cost you almost $90.

Now the Bully Pulpit was another story altogether. On this journey I'm come to look for those holes that either give me a good challenge or take my breadth away. Well, you write home to mom because holes 14-17 are just that. I didn't even want to hit my tee shots. Just grab a chair, sit down and enjoy the scenery and watch other golfers try to hit the fairway! lol It was that beautiful. I dare say it has been the most beautiful stretch of four holes I've yet to see.

Well worth a trip just for this one course.

Hole #7 and Hawktree



The Links of North Dakota



Bully Pulpit:

No. 4


In order No.s 14 - 17.




x

Montana Golf

Well everyone, I'm back on the road again after spending three days on the Gallatin River camping and four days and my daughter's house in Billings, MT. Prior to those two events I did complete my venture into Montana golf courses. Not much to say here!! Sorry Montana!

Besides the Old Works in Anaconda, MT I didn't see much of anything special of public courses. And while the "black" sand was kind of neat to see I wouldn't go out of my way just to play there unless you happen to be in the area.

Off to North Dakota!!

Anaconda #7
















Anaconda #18



Big Sky

Idaho Golf

Well, its done. I've finished golfing in the State of Idaho. My plan was to play the three courses names in the "Top 100 Public Access Golf Courses" but I kept getting the recommendation to play a Jack Nicholas course in Sandpoint so I also played it. In all I played in order #79 - Osprey Meadows at Tamarak Resort; #69 - Coeur D'Alene; #93 - Circling Raven; and The Idaho Club.

My personal opinion is that if I were to ever come back I'd never play Coeur d'Alene again. It really is an over-priced resort course that offers some challenges and has it's own special type of beauty but I don't think it was entirely worth the price I paid. I'd definitely play the other three but my two favorites were Osprey Meadows and The Idaho Club.

Osprey Meadows, set in a resort atmosphere but without the resort price was absolutely gorgeous, well manicured, challenging but fair. The Idaho Club on the other hand was just as gorgeous (maybe more so) but absolutely brutal. In fact it is so brutal I quit keeping score. Yeah, that tough. Gove and McCarron, both PGA Professionals are members and from the tips Gove shot a 69 and McCaron shot a 72. I attempted to play the 6500 yard tees and was brutalized. Did I say the course was brutal!!! BRUTAL!!! next, it'll be the White Tees for me. At least I'll be able to make each other fairways (I think)??!

An I have to apologize up front that I don't have any pics of Osprey Meadows. I know I took some but I just can't find them. If I do I'll add them later.

Coeur d'Alene:
#4

#14

My Caddie (Jason) and me on #14 (Floating Green)

The Hotel


Circling Raven:
#8

#12

#13


The Idaho Club:
#12

#14

#15