Golftime Midwest Summer 2019

SUMMER|FALL 2019

MIDWEST

SOARING HIGHER Gorgeous Galena’s Awesome Eagle Ridge Ready for Liftoff

BROWN DEER & BEYOND Milwaukee Offers Incredible Array for Golfers Everywhere

ACES & ALES

Chasing the Midwest’s Best Beer and Golf Pairings www.golftimemag.com

DON’T MISS! YOUR

GREATEST GOLF STO RIES

Beloit, Wisconsin

Award-winning staff with WI PGA & Golf Digest Indoor & outdoor facilities for year-round instruction Sam PuttLab, K-Vest, Trackman 4, TPI Certified Titleist Advanced Club Fitting Center Learn more at IronworksGolfLab.com Ph: 608.473.0095

Maximize Your Play Time

The best golf destinations cover a lot of ground beyond the 18th green.

French Lick Resort is the golf getaway with more to love.

We have 45 holes of golf, including championship courses by legendary designers Pete Dye and Donald Ross. Add in hundreds of ways to win at the casino, casual and fine dining plus other amenities, and the numbers are on your side for an epic golf trip. French Lick Resort brings it all together with golf, food, fun and gaming at one unforgettable destination.

For groups of 8 or more, give our golf group sales manager Alex Whiteman a call at 812-936-9300 (ext. 7227) to get the ball rolling.

Must be 21 years or older to enter the casino. Gambling Problem? Call 1.800.9.WITH.IT!

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Contents

Editor’s Note

6

88 Pro Golf Preview

Bump & Run

8

94 Midwest Select

Rules of the Game

17

Instructor’s Corner

19

Your Guide to Chicagoland and Surrounding Area Golf

104 The Back Nine

ON THE COVER: The 370-yard, par-4 17th on the General at Eagle Ridge.

THIS SPREAD: The sun sets over Milwaukee’s skyline at Pier Wisconsin.

Volume 14, Issue 2

Aces & Ales 34

52 Brown Deer & Beyond Milwaukee Offers Incredible Array for Golfers Everywhere

Chasing the Midwest’s Best Beer and Golf Pairings

62 Music To Our Ears

The Greatest Golf 46 Stories Ever Told

72

We Asked. You Answered. Here are the Best Golf Stories in the Midwest!

Branson’s Golf Scene Plays All the Right Notes

Bountiful Birmingham Alabama’s Capital a Calling for Golfers Everywhere

80 Summer Clearance

Check Out Some of this Year’s Best Deals in Gear and Garb

Courtesy Visit Milwaukee

Soaring Higher 22

Gorgeous Galena’s Awesome Eagle Ridge Ready for Liftoff

Editor’s Note

A Division of Killarney Golf Media, Inc. P.O. Box 14439 Madison, WI 53708

Phone: 608-280-8800 Fax: 866-877-9879

PRESIDENT John Hughes

GENERAL MANAGER Jim Kelsh

jim@killarneygolfmedia.com

MARKETING DIRECTOR AND SALES Sarah Starmer

sarah@killarneygolfmedia.com

EDITOR Don Shell

editor@golftimemag.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gary D’Amato Danny Freels Rob Hernandez Dennis McCann

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Nile Young Jr.

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Muddy Creek Creative

FOUNDER Kim Thompson

©Copyright 2019 Golftime All rights reserved.

Golftime is not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions or changes in information.

6

Y

our first birdie. Your craziest shot. That golf trip you take with your best buddies every year — and the trophy you finally took home last time. These moments fill the memories we make, and the stories we tell. At the end of the day, it’s the story that matters.

In this special Summer Issue, we certainly share our share of stories. But more importantly, we share your stories — some funny, some poignant, all authentic — in our very first Golftime Magazine Great Golf Story Contest. We were amazed at the quantity and the quality of your responses, and we’re grateful for those who took the time to share them with us. We share a few of our favorites with you, starting on page 44.

The story of our contest sponsor, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, continues to evolve, with new ownership and a rich history to build on. Don’t miss Dennis McCann’s cover story, starting on page 22.

We give you the perfect place to make your own memories, with a deep dive into the Milwaukee golf (and getaway) scene. From Brown Deer Park to the Bucks, brews and Brewers, there’s no shortage of places to start your next story. Check out Gary D’Amato’s story on page 34.

Of course, the best golf stories need to be told over a cold beverage or two, and we’ve paired plenty of both in our “birdies and beers” feature. We’ve tirelessly “researched” some of the Midwest’s best areas for craft beer and cool courses. (We’d do anything for our readers.) Drink it all in, starting on page 50.

Thirsty for more? Take a tour through a few of the South’s finest golf destinations. First, Gary shows us how the family-friendly Branson, Missouri, is transforming itself into a bona fide golf getaway, thanks to a Bass Pro Shops billionaire named Johnny Morris and a collection of incredible courses. Check out why Branson isn’t playing the same ol’ song anymore, starting on page 62.

Keep heading south (and keep turning pages), and you’ll find beautiful Birmingham, Alabama, a city undergoing a renaissance, with art galleries, museums, new restaurants and naturally, an inspiring golf scene. Don’t miss Danny Freels’ feature, beginning on 72.

As if you couldn’t tell, our Summer Issue is jam-packed with great stories from around the Midwest and beyond.

So please, read on, and then pass it on. If this issue has reminded us of anything, it’s that the best stories are always worth sharing.

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

A Masterpiece

BY ANDY NORTH & ROGER PACKARD

Trappers Turn Golf Club continues to inspire excellence with an unparalleled golf experience. Trappers Turn features 27 holes of award winning championship golf. Set amidst the scenic canyons of Wisconsin Dells, Trappers Turn is the destination for golfing enthusiasts.

Visit TrappersTurn.com for the best available rates.

GOLF DIGEST - “BEST PLACES TO PLAY”

1.800.221.TURN | WISCONSIN DELLS STAY & PLAY PACKAGES AVAILABLE

COURSE OF THE WORLD: Kingsbarns Golf Links Arguably the most spectacular example of Scottish golf, Kingsbarns Golf Links was originally built by the newly formed Kingsbarns Golfing Society in 1793, until it was converted back into farmland in 1850. The society built a new nine holes in 1922, until they, too, were put out to pasture during World War II. Then, at the turn of the 21st century, architect Kyle Phillips created what many call their favorite course in the world. Built on a two-mile strip of shoreline on the North Sea,

it’s easy to see why. Dramatic views, immaculate conditions and impeccable service make Kingsbarns a Top 100-ranked club in the world, and a must-play on any trip to the home of golf.

The ultimate way to play Scottish golf? Trust your trip to the travel pros at The Experience St Andrews (www.theexperiencestandrews.com).

Tell ‘em we sent you.

Visit www.kingsbarns.com.

Bump & Run

Photo by Nile Young Jr.

NEWS & NOTES FROM THE WORLD OF GOLF

Bump & Run

Building and Re-building

Midwest building boom alive in Michigan He gave birth to Michigan’s building boom when he built The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort in 1985, and now Jack Nicklaus is planning a rebirth for West Michigan’s Grand Haven Golf Club.

The course, originally designed by Bruce and Jerry Matthews in 1965, is closed for the 2019 season while Nicklaus and his design company completely renovate the course — renaming it American Dunes Golf Club, as a tribute to our military. The club is owned by John Rooney, father of Folds of Honor founder Dan Rooney.

The redesigned club plans to open on Memorial Day 2020.

Visit americandunesgolfclub.com for more.

But Michigan’s building boom doesn’t end there. Forest Dunes Golf Club is keeping it alive all by itself. Just two years after opening the much-heralded Tom Doak double-dip called The Loop, the world’s first “reversible” golf course (with both directions on America’s Top 100 list at Nos. 45 and 47), owner Lew

Thompson is adding a short course to his everexpanding destination in Northern Michigan.

Thompson tabbed Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns to build 10 holes, ranging from 55 yards to 155 yards. The course construction is underway and plans to open in 2020, also. Together with The Loop and the original Tom Weiskopfdesigned Dunes course (pictured), Thompson is building a fun, formidable golf destination.

Visit forestdunesgolf.com for more.

TIGER WATCH­– We’re tracking the return of Tiger Woods,

Photos by Nile Young Jr.

the golfer, and the new South Shore Golf Club project underway in Chicago: The Golfer: BLAZING

The Course: SIMMERING

If you didn’t get chills watching him don the Green Jacket with his fourth victory at The Masters in April, you need your pulse checked.

Following up with a top-10 at The Memorial and a strong finish at the U.S. Open has him sitting at No. 5 in the Official World Golf Rankings as of press time. Yeah, you could say he’s back.

By most accounts, the South Shore project — combining the Jackson Park and South Shore courses into one, championship TGR design — is progressing slowly. Public sentiment hasn’t been swayed, and the needed $30 million in private donations hasn’t been raised. Still developers Mark Rolfing, Brian Hogan and Mike Keiser are hopeful to make it a reality. Stay tuned.

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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Bump & Run

Talk About a Shotgun Start

The Big Beertha will kickstart your round You’re with your buddies, playing some golf, having some beverages. Looking for a way to kickstart your round? Fire one down in the Big Beertha, the golf beer bong you never knew you needed.

Designed to look just like a driver in your bag, the Big Beertha is actually a hollow beer bong able to easily hold a 12-ounce serving. Just unscrew the cap, tilt and let ‘er rip! It’s perfect for any buddies golf trip. ($49. bigbeertha.com)

TECH TALK: iGolf Rules from

ExpertGolf.com is your must-have app In case you’ve missed it, the USGA made some fairly dramatic changes for the average golfer in 2019, which makes its already-complex set of rules only slightly less confusing. But if you’re out on the course (and if you’re not playing with Golftime contributor and resident rules guru John Morrissett, see page 17), there’s an easy way to keep things straight: The iGolf Rules app from ExpertGolf.com.

With an easy interface and simple search feature, the app offers a quick way to keep your game (if not your ball) on the straight and narrow. There’s even one-click access to an overview of all the changes in 2019. ($14.99. expertgolf.com) 12

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Springs Course - Architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. North Nine Course - Architects Roger Packard and Andy North

Both Rated

by Golf Digest

GREAT GOLF and so much more in Spring Green, Wisconsin!

The House on the Rock Resort combines championship golf with breathtaking views and excellent service. While designing 27 holes of golf, three prestigious golf course architects took advantage of the amazing natural surroundings.

The House on the Rock Resort offers flexible packages, contemporary and casual dining, a Spa, and Fitness Center.

608-588-7000

www.thehouseontherock.com 400 Springs Dr. Spring Green, WI 53588

Enjoy the natural beauty and sites of this unique area including: The House on the Rock, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, The American Players Theatre and more.

Join us for an unforgettable Couple’s or Family Getaway, visit our website for more information.

Just 35 miles west of Madison, Wisconsin along the Wisconsin River.

Bump & Run

Home, Very Sweet Home

Evans Scholars get brand-new digs in Madison The Evans Scholars Foundation, a scholarship program for the country’s top caddies, is nearing completion on a major, multi-million renovation of its Wisconsin chapter’s house on Langdon Street in Madison.

The three-story building, originally built in 1965, was badly in need of nearly $4 million in renovations. Instead, the Western Golf Association, which supports the Evan Scholarship Foundation, hired nearby firm AG Architecture to completely rebuild the facility from the ground up.

Expected to open in August, the stunning new $6-million facility will house 90 students and caddies, have a two-story entryway, and lounge space throughout. Welcome home, indeed.

For more information, visit www.wgaesf.org.

Taking a Stand

Chiller Hybrid bag a cool customer Sometimes you wanna ride in the cart on the course.

Sometimes you wanna walk. But it’s tough to carry a beverage or two when you’re hoofin’ it around the course, at least until now. Meet Bag Boy’s new Chiller Hybrid Stand Bag, the happy medium between traditional stand bag and the cart variety. But as you’d expect from a bag named “Chiller,” it’s also a bag with a built-in beverage cart, complete with a removable insulated cooler bag that holds four 12-ounce cans, in addition to 10 pockets and 14-way dividers. We’ll drink — and walk — to that. ($190. bagboycompany.com.)

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Reverse Your Course at

e Loop

The Loop — Black No. 6/Red No. 12

Electric golf cars now available for e Loop experience.

Imagine playing a course in one direction one day, then reversing the routing and experiencing a completely different course the following day.

Introducing e Loop, Tom Doak’s Int reversible, links-style course. When combined with the original Forest Dunes course, a Tom Weiskopf design, you won’t nd two more contrasting styles of golf at one resort ... anywhere.

Forest Dunes No. 18

forestdunesgolf.com | (989) 275-0700 | info@forestdunesgolf.com Roscommon, Michigan

Rules of the Game

How Well Do You Know the 2019 Rules of Golf?

By John Morrissett

1 You hit your tee shot into the rough

and find it after searching for three-anda-half minutes. What is the ruling?

A: Play it!

B: The ball is lost, and you must play another ball from the teeing area.

Answer: b 2 You hit a long putt up close to the hole but, because you would have to stand in another player’s line to tap in, you decide to mark and lift the ball. You replace the ball, leave the ball-marker in place, tap in and pick up both the holed ball and the ball-marker in one move. What is the ruling?

A: No penalty.

B: One-stroke penalty.

Answer: b 3 Your ball is in a bunker. You play it but barely advance the ball, leaving it in the bunker and in a terrible lie in the sand underneath the lip. If you take unplayable ball relief, are you allowed to drop outside the bunker?

A: No. You lost that opportunity once you made that first stroke in the bunker.

B: Yes, for one penalty stroke.

C: Yes, for two penalty strokes.

Answer: c 4 Your ball is in a red penalty area. You

take several practice swings, touching the ground each time, and then remove a leaf next to your ball (but also within

the penalty area). What is the ruling in stroke play?

A: No penalty.

B: Two penalty strokes.

C: Four penalty strokes.

Answer: a 5 In playing a ball from the trees after a wayward tee shot, your ball strikes a tree and then strikes you in the leg. What is the ruling?

A: No penalty but you have to replay the stroke.

B: No penalty and play the ball as it lies.

C: A One-stroke penalty and play the ball as it lies.

D: A two-stroke penalty and play the ball as it lies.

Answer: b 6 Your ball lies under a tree. You approach the ball from behind so that a large branch will be moved out the way and no longer interfere with your backswing. Before you play, another player questions whether you are allowed to take your stance in that manner, so you back away. The tree branch returns to its original position, and you take your stance from another direction that does not disturb the branch. You play the ball.

What is the ruling in stroke play?

A: No penalty.

B: Two-stroke penalty.

Answer: a John Morrissett is Competitions Director at Erin Hills and former Director of Rules of Golf for the USGA. WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

17

Instructors Corner

Travis Becker PGA Professional

Chris Pytell PGA Professional

Travis Becker is the Director of Instruction and Club Fitting for the Ironworks Golf Academy located in Beloit, Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin PGA voted Travis the Teacher of the Year in both 2015 and 2019. He was also rated by his peers as one of Golf Digest’s “Best Teachers” in the state of Wisconsin. In 2016, Travis was selected by the Golf Channel Academy to become the only lead coach in the state of Wisconsin. In addition, Travis has been recognized

by Titleist as a Top 100 club fitter.

Chris Pytell has conducted more than 10,000 individual and group lessons since 1994.

He enjoys instructing men, women, and junior golfers of all ages and levels, having transformed many junior players into competitive collegiate golfers. Because he believes that the learning process accelerates when golf is taught at a simple level, his lessons concentrate on the fundamentals of the game. Chris still plays in 10–15 PGA tournaments annually, believing that by maintaining his competitive edge he will help his students achieve their full potential.

Ironworks Golf Academy

Skokie Sports Park

608-473-0095

847-674-1500, ext. 3100

625 3rd St., Suite 100, Beloit, WI 53511 www.ironworksgolflab.com

3459 Oakton St., Skokie, IL 60076 www.skokieparks.org

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Instructors Corner

Four Steps to Perfect Putting

Could your putting benefit from new practice techniques?

A

s a PGA teaching professional, I’ve helped over 1,000 players — from beginners to Tour pros — to improve their putting performance. Each improvement session starts with an in-depth interview learning about their history, present tendencies, and future goals. We then move into the nuts and bolts of good putting and check setup and stroke tendencies using video technology and SAM PuttLab. This collected data will assist to develop a road map to improved putting.

While it’s been an honor to help teach so many players in my career, I’ve learned a lot along the way, too. Here are a few of my secrets to putting success:

The Four-Step Process for Improvement — Lastly, try this four-step process to improve your putting. 1) Plan out your putt by reading the green and visualizing the golf ball rolling down your intended line and disappearing into the cup. 2) Next prepare yourself for the “feel” by making two or three realistic practice strokes. 3) Once your confidence factor has reached 100%, lock your eyes and stroke the putt. 4) Lastly, evaluate the ball roll. If you make the putt, give yourself some positive feedback. If you miss the putt, immediately return to the preparation stage and correct the feel of the stroke.

Putter Fit — First and foremost, an important factor is making sure the putter fits the player correctly. This includes observing putter head design, balance, toe hang, length, lie, loft, weight and grip. Each player receives specific practice drills keying on one or two areas of improvement. Remember, it takes 60 repetitions for 21 days to make something a habit! Keep at it.

Five ‘Must-Knows’ — I believe there are five key factors in improving your putting: First, you must understand the basics of green reading. Second, you must be able to aim your putter correctly. Third, you must be able to start your golf ball on your intended line.

Fourth, you must have the correct ball speed and fifth, you must have a confident mindset. Use these areas to evaluate your putting game after your round. Find out what area or areas were causing the misses and develop a practice plan.

Remember, improved technique and putting practice will pay off in lower scores and greater golf enjoyment!

Travis Becker, is two-time PGA Teacher of the Year in Wisconsin, and Director of Instruction & Club Fitting at Ironworks Golf Lab, Beloit, Wisconsin. Visit www.ironworksgolflab.com.

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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Featured Course

Arrowhead Golf Club ARROWHEAD GOLF CLUB IN WHEATON, Illinois, is widely TEE STATISTICS known and recognized for its beautifully maintained course, excepSouth/East Yards Par tional views, and professional and dedicated staff.

Red 4989 72 Arrowhead is a public golf course offering impeccable golf Gold 5542 72 White 6080 72 at affordable rates on three par-72, 18-hole layouts surrounded Silver 6347 72 by forest preserve. Tees, greens and fairways are bentgrass and Blue 6707 72 water comes into play on 17 holes. Practice on our lighted West/East Yards Par Red 4905 72 driving range, putting green, chipping green, and bunkers.

Gold 5482 72 Arrowhead has become a favorite destination for golf outings, White 6166 72 fundraisers, weddings, and corporate events. Enjoy our new fleet Silver 6388 72 Blue 6643 72 of state-of-the-art golf carts, with a GPS system and USB ports. The South/West Yards Par facility includes banquet and meeting rooms, a pro shop, halfway Red 4939 72 house, and locker rooms. Pelican Golf Center, located on the lower Gold 5512 72 White 6084 72 level, provides state of the art club fitting and club repair.

Silver 6360 72 The Arrowhead Restaurant & Bar—open daily for lunch and Blue 6622 72 dinner—features elegant dishes by Executive Chef Alan Pirhofer, hosts live music, offers extensive craft beer and wine lists, and boasts 15 HDTV screens to catch your favorite sports. Don’t miss the a la carte breakfast menu Saturdays and Sundays during the golf season.

At Arrowhead, you can expect a country club feeling in a public setting and great golf, food, drink, and events every time. We are Arrowhead, and we’re ready to serve you!

26W151 Butterfield Rd. Wheaton, IL 60189

630-653-5800

www.arrowheadgolfclub.org WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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Fancy

Flight of

Old Tradition and New Ownership Have Eagle Ridge Ready to Soar Higher

By Dennis McCann Photography by Nile Young Jr. WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

23

GALENA, Illinois — Before he left Illinois to serve in, and eventually lead to victory, the northern Army in the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant lived in Galena. This is where he worked in his father’s leather goods store. In 1865, the newly retired war hero returned to Galena and was presented with a handsome Italianate mansion as a token of thanks. And a few years later, when he was encouraged to run for president, Grant established his campaign headquarters at the Desoto House Hotel on Main Street.

There is no mention in the historical record of Grant having an interest in golf, as 24

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

more recent presidents have shown. But were he to return to Galena today — a city so architecturally and historically preserved he would no doubt recognize his old stomping grounds from his home across the river — there’s little doubt Grant would be tempted to

PREVIOUS SPREAD:The 402-yard, par-4 seventh hole on the North Course is a sight to see from any vantage point. ABOVE: The 410-yard, par-4 ninth of The General. LEFT: General Grant’s home in Galena, built in 1860 as a gift from the townsfolk. try the game.

And where better for the old general to play than at The General, the most celebrated of the four golf courses at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, nestled in the rolling hills of the 6,800acre Galena Territory.

Worth Writing Home About Eagle Ridge, the sponsor of our first Great Golf Story Contest (see page 46), has no doubt been the birthplace of more than its

share of great stories over the years.

Golf at Eagle Ridge began in 1977 when the new resort opened the North Course, noted for elevated tee boxes that offer stunning views of Lake Galena and the surrounding countryside. The North Course has dramatic elevation changes; the tee on the par-3 eighth hole is a full 80 feet above the green, which adds an element of math to club selection.

In 1984 Eagle Ridge opened the South WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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ABOVE: The 282-yard, par-4 third on the East Course. BELOW: The stately clubhouse at The General is an homage to Galena’s farming tradition.

Course, which immediately found its way onto lists of top resort courses. The layout winds through a valley where streams come into play on 11 of the 18 holes; while shorter than the resort’s other courses, the South Course is billed as the most difficult test of golf at Eagle Ridge.

The East Course is a nine-hole, par-34 layout popular with families, kids and golfers new to the game; the East Course also features a set of modified family tees and can

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

be used for FootGolf as well on a PGA sanctioned course.

The General opened in 1997, giving Eagle Ridge an expansive menu of top-caliber golf over 63 holes and adding to the resort’s reputation as a golf destination. Designed by Roger Packard and two-time U.S. Open winner Andy North, The General also boasts rollercoaster elevation changes and spectacular views of the rugged Galena Territory.

What The General lacks in length — just 6,700 yards from the back tees and 6,000 from the whites — it more than makes up for in beauty. The vistas and visuals abound throughout the track, which some call Roger Packard’s and Andy North’s crowning achievement.

Golf is not the only recreation offered at Eagle Ridge, which has 80 inn rooms and some 200 homes and villas available for

Gorgeous Galena

A city two centuries in the making

The nearby city of Galena was founded in 1826 as a center for lead mining that was then in full force along the Wisconsin-Illinois border. Ore was shipped from Galena on what was then the Fever River (modern tourism officials must thank their stars that name was later changed to Galena River) to the Mississippi a few miles to the west. The city’s role in mining is prominently featured at the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum (right) found in an 1858 Italianate mansion on narrow Bench Street, where visitors are greeted by a hologram of Ulysses and Julia Grant.

The Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site on Bouthillier Street includes the mansion presented to Grant by the city’s business leaders, along with several smaller structures typical of the time. From April to October visitors can take tours conducted by costumed interpreters who share stories of Grant’s time in Galena, his campaign for the presidency and his years in office.

In fairness to the others, it should be noted that Grant was just one of nine Civil War generals with Galena ties, though the only one who became president.

As commanding officer Grant promoted eight of his hometown citizens to the rank of general, including Ely S. Parker, a Seneca Indian who served on Grant’s personal staff for two years and later as his military secretary. At Appomattox Parker copied terms of the surrender given to Robert E. Lee. For nine reasons, then, the General’s Restaurant at the Desoto House Hotel comes by its name honestly.

Much more Grant memorabilia can be found at the Old Market House Welcome Center in downtown Galena. Another house museum is at the E.B. Washburne

Home, named for Elihu Washburne, who was both congressman for the area for 17 years and a political adviser to both Lincoln and Grant. And perhaps the most lavish example of early Galena life can be found at Belvedere Mansion and Gardens, a 22-room Victorian dwelling built in 1857 for a wealthy steamboat captain.

The city’s downtown historic district, known as the Helluva Half Mile for the number of shops, galleries and dining spots packed cheek to jowl there, features narrow brick streets and is best experienced on foot or by trolley tour. Across the river, city-facing benches in Grant Park are a great place to relax.

Other small communities in the region offer historical treats of their own. The Apple River Fort State Historic Site in Elizabeth has an interpretive center explaining the area’s role in the 1832 Black Hawk War, while in Stockton the local Heritage Museum tells the story of how Kraft Company began its cheesy role in American life there in 1914.

Want more Galena history? Head over to www.galenahistory.org, of course.

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

27

guests. There is also the 6,000-square-foot Stonedrift Spa, an indoor pool, more than 20 miles of trails for hikers and bikers, fishing and paddling on Lake Galena and the nearby Shenandoah Riding Center for those who prefer horses to golf carts. In winter guests can ski, sled or skate at Eagle Ridge or at nearby Chestnut Mountain.

A Rich History, A Bright Future And, going forward, it all belongs to a new owner. In May, Mark Klausner, a longtime resident of the Galena Territory, purchased the resort from its former California owners. Colin Sanderson, the resort’s director of sales and marketing, said the prospect of a local owner who wants to invest in the property and eventually pass it on to his children makes for an exciting time for Eagle Ridge.

“We all agree here at the resort, having a local owner is the best thing that can happen to the resort and the best thing that can happen to the Galena area. We’re very, very excited about it.”

Sanderson said guests in 2019 will probably notice few changes as the new owner gets involved. Eventually, though, he said the resort might merge the clubhouses for the South and North courses, leaving the other clubhouse available to be turned into a larger, stand-alone spa. The spa is already a major draw for girlfriend weekends and wedding parties, he said, but it’s also increasingly used by golfers for a pre- or post-round tune-up.

All of the therapists at the resort’s spa have now been trained in massages specifically aimed at helping golfers and their particular muscle needs.

Still, golf is what Eagle Ridge is most known for. A few years ago, coming out of 28

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

the recent recession, the courses were not always in the best condition, Sanderson said. But since then the resort has worked hard to improve the playability of the courses by removing long grasses that had crept onto the fairways, removing overgrown trees that had changed some holes from

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The 147-yard, par-3 third on the South Course; The lounge in the resort’s main lodge; the clubhouse on the East Course; the 357-yard, par-4 14th on The General highlights Galena’s rolling hillsides. their original design, re-doing bunkers and generally trying to make the courses much more forgiving.

The result? “People haven’t been losing

as many balls and play is much more in line with four-and-a-half hour rounds at The General and four hours on the others, because they aren’t losing as many balls.”

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The 165-yard, par-3 eighth of the North Course; a roaring natural waterfall is the highlight of the property; the fantastic, 350-yard, par-4 eighth is one of The General’s best.

A Getaway Not So Far Away While the number of rounds played may never reach pre-recession highs again, rounds played have gone up in each of the last six seasons, Sanderson said, and not all the credit goes to the traditional four-guy foursomes. Eagle Ridge has made a point of stocking pro shops with as much clothing and accessories for women as for men, and with good reason.

“We get more and more women golfers here all the time,” Sanderson said. Six years ago the Ladies Eagle Golf Tournament drew a field of 103 players. This year’s tournament was sold out over two courses with 288 players and another 80 women were on a wait list.

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Sanderson said a second event might be held in the fall to meet that demand.

As it has from its very beginning, the resort draws as much as 70-75 percent of its traffic from the greater Chicago area, but also draws from Madison, Milwaukee, Iowa and even as far as St. Louis.

Many come for more than just golf.

While set in a sparsely populated corner of a densely populated state, historic Galena has long been a magnet for visitors who come to walk and shop on a Main Street lined with brick buildings that have changed little since Grant worked in leather or Abraham Lincoln gave a speech from the balcony at the Desoto House Hotel. About 85 percent of

EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE GOLF DESTINATION $

for your second round

Nestled among the 6800 acres of rolling hills in The Galena Territory, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa combines spectacular scenery with full-service amenities and activities for all occasions. For an intimate getaway, some family fun, a grand celebration, or your company retreat, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa is the perfect venue.

EAGLERIDGE.COM

|

800.892.2269

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The 533-yard, par-5 11th on the North has remnants of a day gone by. The 520-yard, par-5 18th on The General is a fine finish. The 406-yard, par-4 18th on the South Course will bring you back for more.

Galena’s homes and commercial buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, one of many reasons the city routinely turns up on various “top 10 places” lists, including Forbes magazine’s “Prettiest Towns in America” ranking. It’s said that as many as one million visitors a year stroll the pretty Main Street business district, poking into shops and enjoying Galena’s food and beverage offerings.

“We bring a lot of tourists into the businesses — any of the meetings we bring in, any of the golfers all go into downtown Galena 32

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

(for meals or shopping), and we want them to. The area continues to grow, the brewing companies … there’s always something happening, something good happening.”

Little wonder why Eagle Ridge is one of the Midwest’s very best golf getaways. And little wonder why Galena’s been a popular port for the better part of two centuries — and counting.

Visit www.eagleridge.com for more about the Resort. For more on the Galena region, www.visitgalena.org.

CHICAGO-MILWAUKEE

TEE IT UP LIKE A PRO!

All tournaments include greens fees, cart fees, range balls and flighted prize pool, with Major Events (highlighted in red below) featuring double prize pools!

Milwaukee Tour Schedule

Chicago Tour Schedule

5/4 5/18

4/27 5/11 6/15

Season Kickoff

Fire Ridge Meadowbrook CC

GOLFWEEK MILWAUKEE OPEN 6/30

Abby Springs GC

Season Kickoff

Mistwood Prairie Landing GC Harborside International

Chicago v St. Louis “Shootout” 6/29

Weaver Ridge GC

Milwaukee Playoff Events

GOLFWEEK CHICAGO OPEN

MILWAUKEE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Chicago Playoff Events

8/3 8/24 9/28

Glen Erin GC Brown Deer GC

Washington County

Chicago & Milwaukee Events Midwest Open Team Championship 5/31

Bull at Pinehurst Farms

MIDWEST OPEN 6/1-6/2

Whistling Straits

Chicago v Milwaukee “Battle” 7/27

Thunderhawk GC

MIDWEST AM CUP

10/5-10/6 TPC Deere Run

Chicago v St. Louis Milwaukee v Minneapolis

7/13 8/10

8/24 9/7

Stonewall Orchard Turnberry CC

Preserve at Oak Meadows Bowes Creek CC

CHICAGO TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 9/23

Bull Valley GC

Chicago Team Tour Schedule 7/14 8/18

Highlands of Elgin Harborside International

TEAM TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP 9/14

Cantigny

Email us at: Chicago@amateurgolftour.net or Milwaukee@amateurgolftour.net

Home of the 2019 Midwest Open

WHISTLING STRAITS June 1-2, 2019 – Kohler, Wisconsin

www.amateurgolftour.net

Aces & Ales

Drink Up these Delicious Golf-Brewery Destinations

Left, courtesy New Glarus Brewing. Right, Nile Young Jr.

By Don Shell

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — After a thrilling final round of the Dugmore Global Golf Invitational — the rotating, rip-roaring, semi-annual golf debacle I share with a few close friends — it was naturally time to celebrate with a few more rounds. Here in the fittingly named “Beer City USA,” of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the vibrant, ascendant city just a short trip from the shores of Lake Michigan, there are excellent options on almost literally every corner.

With more than three dozen golf courses and 80-plus (!) craft breweries in the Metro Grand Rapids area — plus the bevy of beautiful beaches, bars, and great restaurants — this might just be the Holy Grail of golf getaways. (It certainly made us feel younger.)

But while Grand Rapids might be the

leader in the clubhouse when it comes to “birdies & beers” golf trips, it has some serious competition from contenders all over the Midwest, where we’re fortunate to have a bona fide bonanza of both.

Don’t worry, we’ve tirelessly (selflessly, even) researched and selected several of the very best brewery/golf combos in some of the Great Lakes’ greatest golf towns.

Cheers!

LEFT: New Glarus Brewing is home to the spectacular farmhouse ale called Spotted Cow. ABOVE: Grand Rapids, Michigan’s terrific Thornapple Pointe Golf Club.

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan

Left and below right, by Nile Young Jr. Above right, courtesy Founders Brewing

GREAT GOLF: When it comes to golf, Grand Rapids is home to great architects, great variety, and great values. Check out the terrific Thornapple Pointe (thornapplepointe.com), the Donald Ross-designed L.E. Kaufmann municipal track, and two great Mike DeVries designs, The Mines Golf Course (minesgolfcourse.com) and the stunning Pilgrim’s Run (pilgrimsrun.com). Wrap up your rounds over on the lake in Saugatuck, with the Arnold Palmer-designed Ravines Golf Club (ravinesgolfclub.com). Want more? None other than Jack Nicklaus himself is working on a wonderful redesign in West Michigan (see page 10).

Brewing (newhollandbrew.com) makes a mean Mad Hatter IPA. A local favorite is Brewery Vivant (breweryvivant.com), located in a converted church and beloved for its Farmhouse Ale (and delicious duck nachos).

DON’T MISS: The beach, of course. West Michigan is the sunset side of Lake Michigan, and Saugatuck’s Oval Beach might just be the best in the Midwest. (Don’t tell anyone we told you.)

BEST BREWS: Beer City USA, no surprise here, has literally too much to choose from.

Founders Brewing (foundersbrewing.com) is most famous, for its barrel-aged Kentucky Bourbon Stout (KBS), while New Holland LEFT: Pilgrim’s Run is perfection just outside Grand Rapids. TOP: Fantastic Founders Brewery, home to its KBS. RIGHT: Timberstone Golf Club is one of Michigan’s “Perfect 4-Some” in the Upper Peninsula.

HARRIS TOWNSHIP, Michigan GREAT GOLF: Maybe the most “untapped,” entry on this list is Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but you can fix that with a trip to Island Resort & Casino (islandresortandcasino.com), the HQ for the “Perfect 4-Some” golf package. Play the resort’s Sweetgrass and Sage Run courses, then head over to WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

37

Greywalls in Marquette and TimberStone in Iron Mountain. Perfect, indeed.

BEST BREWS: Close by Island Resort is Upper Hand Brewery, a sister startup of Bell’s Brewing (upperhandbrewery.com), so you know it’s excellent. One of the Midwest’s very best is found further north on the Keweenaw Peninsula, the eponymous Keweenaw Brewing Co. (kbc.beer).

The Red Jacket Amber Ale is a delicious tribute to the area’s rich mining history. falls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, from the incredible Tahquamenon Falls in the far east end, to the terrific Tannery Falls in Munising.

STEVENS POINT, Wisconsin GREAT GOLF: For a stellar golf experience, Stevens Point’s SentryWorld fits the bill (sentryworld.com). Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and restored to its glory

in 2017, SentryWorld is a one-course meal that’s worth making the trip alone. But just down the road in Nekoosa is a little resort called Sand Valley (sandvalley.com), the Mike Keiser-creation creating the Midwest golf scene’s biggest buzz. Maybe you’ve heard of it already.

BEST BREWS: Stevens Point has a homegrown brewery worth writing home about, Stevens Point Brewing (pointbeer.com). Don’t miss the Milkshake Malt Porter. Over in Plover, Wisconsin you’ll find O’So Brewing, home to heady brew like Grandpa’s Got a Gun, a Maple Strong Ale that clocks in at 12% alcohol-by-volume. But a trip to this corner of the state wouldn’t be complete without heading to Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. (leinie.com), maker of one of America’s original craft beers. Started in 1867 and owned CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Laughing Fish from Upper Hand Brewery; Leinenkugel’s sublime Summer Shandy; Goose Island is a Chicago original; Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, Illinois; sensational SentryWorld Golf Club.

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Clockwise from Above Left: Courtesy Upper Hand Brewery. Courtesy Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing. Courtesy Goose Island. Courtesy Mistwood Golf Club. Nile Young

DON’T MISS: There are more than 200 water-

by Miller Brewing since 1988, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy is a Midwest must.

DON’T MISS: For the non-beer drinkers in your party, make sure to include a stop at Sunset Point Winery (sunsetpointwinery. com), which has quickly become one of Wisconsin’s very best vintners.

timental favorite: the nine-hole Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Club in the Chicago Park District (sydneymarovitz.cpdgolf.com), running alongside Lake Michigan.

BEST BREWS: The city that gave us Goose Island (gooseisland.com) way back in 1988 has since watched its craft beer scene spillith

CHICAGO GREAT GOLF: How much time you got? We could start listing the great golf and be here til next Tuesday. Instead here’s a trio of our favorites: The Glen Club (theglenclub.com), a tremendous Tom Fazio design, was once a U.S. airfield. The completely remodeled and reborn Ray Hearn-designed Mistwood Golf Club (mistwoodgc.com). And our senWWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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DON’T MISS: It’s tough to top Chicago in the summer, plain and simple. From Taste of Chicago (July 10-14), to mega-music fest Lollapalooza (Aug. 1-4 in Grant Park, lollapalooza.com), and the Cubs at Wrigley (cubs.com), there’s serious star power packed into the summer lineup anywhere you look.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota GREAT GOLF: The Twin Cities area might have you seeing double when it comes to the golf offerings. Most people focus on Hazeltine National (hazeltinenational.com) for good

reason (having hosted a long, long list of championships including the 2016 Ryder Cup), but don’t overlook Prestwick Golf Club (prestwick.com) and Chaska Town Course (chaskatowncourse.com), one of Arthur Hills’ best designs. Two others you won’t want to miss are StoneRidge Golf Club (stoneridgegc.com), another highly rated Art Hills track, and Rush Creek (rushcreek.com), a staple stop on the LPGA Tour.

BEST BREWS: Minneapolis can give anyplace in the Midwest a run for its money when it comes to breweries, and surely one the best of the bunch is Surly Brewing (surlybrewing. com), famous for its Furious IPA that landed them on RateBeer’s Top 100 Breweries list.

Another luscious spot is Lift Bridge Brewing (liftbridgebrewery.com), home to the fantastic Farm Girl Saison. Mwwah.

DON’T MISS: Everyone talks about the 4.8 million square feet found at the Mall of America.

But for a truly unforgettable Minnesota experience, take the tour at Paisley Park (officialpaisleypark.com), the infamous recording studio of the late, great artist known as Prince. It’s a bucket list experience for any music lover.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Surly Brewing; Madison’s University Ridge Golf Course; savory Spotted Cow; Minnesota’s Chaska Town Course.

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Clockwise from left: Courtesy Exprole Minnesota Golf. Courtesy Surly Brewing. Courtesy University Ridge Golf Course. Courtesy New Glarus Brewing

over into the suburbs and beyond. Today the Windy City area has the most craft breweries in the country, with more than 200! One of the best local favorites is Half Acre Brewing (halfacrebeer.com), famous for its Half Acre Lager (yes, people still drink those). Other notables on the lakeshore are Revolution Brewing (revbrew.com), started in 2011 by a Goose Island alum, and Metropolitan Brewing (metrobrewing.com), beloved for its Krank Shaft Kolsch-style beer, and located right on the Chicago River.

MADISON, Wisconsin GREAT GOLF: We’ve told you all about the awesome University Ridge Golf Course (universityridge.com) at the U, but the Madison area is home to much more great golf, including Hawks Landing Golf Club (hawkslandinggolfclub.com), a great John Harbottle III design. A little further up the road in the Wisconsin Dells, you’ll find our friends at Wild Rock Golf Club (wildrockgolf.com), a fantastic Hurdzan-Fry design well worth the drive.

BEST BREWS: Any beer lover’s trip to Wisconsin should include a pint (or two) of the exclusive, excellent Spotted Cow farmhouse ale from New Glarus Brewing (newglarusbrewing.com). Of course, you’d be crazy

to miss the Ale Asylum (aleasylum.com), home to the heavenly Velveteen Habit IPA. Other excellent options include Karben4 Brewing (karben4.com) and Capital Brewery (capitalbrewery.com).

DON’T MISS: Considering Madison is ranked by many as the No. 1 college town in the country, make sure you catch the campus scene down at the State Street district. Check out up-andcoming artists on the mic at the Knuckle Down Saloon (knuckledownsaloon.com), or head over to popular hangout Genna’s Lounge (gennaslounge.com). But you’ll probably find us firmly planted in the Olbrich Biergarten (olbrichbiergarten.com), double-fisting a brat and a beverage overlooking the Capitol and Lake Monona. Vielen dank.

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana GREAT GOLF: Indy might be the Midwest’s most underrated golf market, with quantity to match its quality. Can’t-miss courses include Brickyard Crossing, one of the area’s many Pete Dye designs that plays around and inside Indianapolis Motor Speedway (brickyardcrossing.com). You’ll feel unending longing if you miss out on the 100-plus beautiful bunkers at Purgatory Golf Club (purgatorygolf.com), or the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Prairie View Golf Club (prairieviewgc.com). For the best bang for your buck, check out Bear Slide Golf Club (bearslide.com), a rolling, rollicking good time through the hills of Hamilton County.

(broadripplebrewpub.com), with more than 25 years on the scene. The most popular place to be is at Sun King Brewery (sunkingbrewing.com), where you’ll find the sensational Sun King Cream Ale.

DON’T MISS: The eclectic variety of the Indy City Market (indycm.com), an enormous, indoor market lined with merchants, farmer’s market and food for just about any palate. Head to the Tomlison Tap Room at the market for place to sample nearly two dozen local brews. When you’re done above ground, take a tour of the City Market Catacombs (indianalandmarks.org) for a below the surface look at Indy’s history.

a bit underrated, too, with the city topping more than two dozen tasty offerings. One of the best is Daredevil Brewing (daredevilbeer. com) in the town of Speedway, home to its highly rated Lift-Off IPA. Other excellent offerings include Brugge Brasserie (bruggebrasserie.com), and Broad Ripple Brewpub

ABOVE: Purgatory Golf Club. LEFT: The Lift Off IPA served up by Daredevil Brewing.

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Left: Courtesy Daredevil Brewing. Above by Nile Young

BEST BREWS: Indy’s craft beer scene might be

Explore Minnesota Golf Alliance Play the Best of the Best • ExploreMinnesotaGolf.com 1. Arrowwood Resort

www.arrowwoodresort.com

2. Black Bear Golf Course www.golfatthebear.com

3. Braemar Golf Course

MINNESOTA: HOME OF GREAT GOLF AND THE 2016 & 2028 RYDER CUPS Play Golf Where the Best Golfers in the World Play!

www.braemargolf.com

4. Breezy Point Resort

www.breezypointresort.com

5. Chaska Town Course www.chaskatowncourse.com

6. Cragun’s Resort www.craguns.com

7. Destination Bloomington www.bloomingtonmn.org

The land of 10,000 water holes invites you to test your game at some of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the world — enjoy Minnesota golf.

8. Edinburgh U.S.A. www.edinburghusa.org

9. Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort www.giantsridge.com

Play the

BEST of the BEST

10. Golden Eagle Golf Club www.golfgoldeneagle.com

11. Grand View Lodge www.grandviewlodge.com

12. Legends Club www.legendsgc.com

11

13. Madden’s on Gull Lake www.maddens.com

13

14. Minnesota National GC www.prestwick.com

8

25

94

www.rushcreek.com

35E

35W

94

17 20

3 Golf Club 15 5 19. Stonebrooke 7 www.stonebrooke.com 19 23 12

20. StoneRidge Golf Club 35 16 27 www.stoneridgegc.com

21. Superior National GC www.superiornational.com

22. Territory Golf Club www.territorygc.com

23. The Wilds Golf Club

18

35W

5 19 16

13

94

3 23 12 27

7

6

10 4

24

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Twin Cities A GREAT STORY

Quality, Variety, Price-Point Value

35E

17 20 15

R

Rochester

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YOUR MINNESOTA GOLF

“BUCKET LIST”

24. Thumper Pond Resort www.thumperpond .com

25. Twin Cities Gateway CVB www.tcgateway.com

26. Wilderness at Fortune Bay www.golfthewilderness.com

27. Willingers Golf Club www.willingersgc.com

ExploreMinnesotaGolf.com

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

2

GOLF22IN St. Cloud MINNESOTA

www.golfthewilds.com

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Dulu

14

Brainerd

Twin Cities

25

8

11

2

Alexandria St. Cloud

www.ridgesatsandcreek.com

18 18. Rush Creek Golf Club

14

21

1

Alexandria

16. Ridges at Sand Creek 94 www.royalclubmn.com

Duluth

1

15. Prestwick Golf Club

17. Royal Golf Club

9

Brainerd

24

www.mnnationalgolfcourse.com

6

10 4

2

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YOUR GAME. YOUR TIME.

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GREAT GOLF: Southwest Michigan is sneaky good, with plenty of big names and classic courses. Some of the best are the magnificent, 1930s-era muni called Milham Park (kmgagolf.com), and Angel’s Crossing (golfangelscrossing.com), arguably Bruce Matthews’ best design. A bit southeast of Kalamazoo is Gull Lake View Golf Resort (gulllakeview. com), with six stellar courses including the excellent new Stoatin Brae, from Renaissance Design Co. If all that isn’t enough, head over to Benton Harbor and test your mettle on the tough-but-terrific Nicklaus-designed Harbor Shores (harborshoresresort.com).

ABOVE: Stoatin Brae gives Gull Lake View some Doak cache. RIGHT: Bell’s Brewery’s Oberon is a summertime sensation.

BEST BREWS: Worked up a thirst yet? Good news, the Kalamazoo area might just have the Midwest’s best brews. “Big Papa” has to be Bell’s Brewery (bellsbeer.com), the awardwinning craft brewer of Two-Hearted Ale and the seasonal called Oberon. But you’ll also find the awesome Arcadia Brewing (arcadiaales.com), makers of the sensational Loch Down Scotch Ale, and Latitude 42 Brewing (latitude42brewingco.com). But maybe the best way to check out the area’s craft beer scene is through West Michigan Beer Tours (westmichiganbeertours.com), with fun, informative guided tours through Grand Rapids’ and Kalamazoo’s best breweries. Tell ‘em we sent you.

Craft Brews’ Coolest ’Cat

HopCat craft beer emporiums offer America’s best in one place The craft beer scene has exploded across the country, with more than 6,000 nationwide now. That makes it pretty much impossible to know or taste them all (which hasn’t stopped us from trying!). But thanks to the “anti-chain,” chain called HopCat, you can have 100+ of the world’s best craft beers on tap, waiting for you and your (taste) buds to try. RateBeer.com has ranked the original Grand Rapids location as the No. 1 beer bar in the world, and it’s expanded to 18 uniquely designed locations around the Midwest and beyond since starting in 2008. With eight spots in Michigan already, plus Indianapolis, Madison, Minneapolis and more, HopCat’s becoming known as the crème de la crème of craft beer bars everywhere. And do not miss their world-famous Cosmik Fries. (hopcat.com.)

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Clockwise from above: Nile Young Jr. Courtesy Bells Brewing. Courtesy HopCat

KALAMAZOO, Michigan

Christmas Mountain Village™ Etched into the rolling hills of Wisconsin Dells, Christmas Mountain Village welcomes the public to a golf experience rated four-star by Golf Digest: Challenging 18-Hole Championship Course • Family-Friendly 9-Hole Course Full-Service Pro Shop • Practice Facilities • Lessons • Club Rentals Clubhouse with Restaurant & Bar

Call 608.254.3971 to book your tee times. christmasmountainvillage.com | Find Us on Facebook

VOTED GOLF DIGEST’S

“BEST PLACES TO PLAY” ����

©2015 Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited, Inc. All rights reserved. CMV.04.15.28 05/15

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Fore!

OF YORE

Readers Share Their Fondest, Funniest Moments in the Golftime Magazine Great Golf Story Contest

G

olf is about so much more than just the birdies or bogeys we card during our rounds. No, the memories, the stories we make are some of the biggest, best reasons we play this ridiculous, maddening, mystifying game.

We asked for your best golf stories, the ones that make you laugh, cry, or beam with pride, for our first-ever Golftime Magazine Great Golf Story Contest. Our esteemed readers gave us all that in spades, with some truly heartwarming and hilarious entries. We’ve handpicked a few of our favorites for your reading pleasure in this issue.

And congratulations to the winners of our random prize drawings.

‘Putter Head’ It’s a beautiful day, the second hole with two players left to putt out for birdies.

“Putter Head” goes first ... Oh, rims out!

He picks up the gimmie, then, as if he’s going to hit a fungo fly ball to the outfield, he tosses up the golf ball, takes a little hop-step and swings his putter

at the now-falling ball. Wouldn’t you know that he makes perfect contact at the hosel. The ball goes sailing and the putter head breaks off! As if in slow motion, the putter head is whirly-gigging through the air. All eyes are on the putter head, now inexorably heading toward the foursome waiting in their

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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carts at the next tee. Slowly, the putter head slices through the air and proceeds to hit a fine gentleman sitting in the cart, right below his neckline in his upper back. He stumbles out of the cart, all 6-foot-4 of confused-butangry man, dazed and confused that no one called “Fore” “Look out!” “Duck!” “Heads up!” or any other warning. Looking around, he sees “Putter Head” making his way over to apologize, then looks down and sees the beheaded head of a putter at his feet. Finally putting two-and-two together, he picks up the putter head and starts storming toward the slender and sheepish man, now known to all as “Putter Head,” and wound up as if to fire the putter head right back at the approaching golfer, who was apologizing profusely, arms outstretched as if to say, “I’m an idiot.”

Luckily for Putter Head, it was only a mock throw, and the giant man tossed the putter head in the opposite direction. He didn’t acknowledge the many attempts of contrition, or offers to buy him a drink. As we all made it back to the green, the last golfer, shaking his head, lined up his putt and proceeded to sink the 12-footer for birdie! True story.

Joe Janesku Chicago

The Pocket-in-One It was a Chamber of Commerce outing about five or six years ago here at River Run in Sparta, Wisconsin. My group is on the fourth tee waiting for the fairway to clear. Another group is teeing off on the fifth, a parallel hole running the opposite direction. Both par 4s.

The fifth tee, about 230 yards to the north, is not visible from our box. Suddenly, a ball hits at the front of our box, right for me, takes one bounce and seems to disappear. I had turned to my left to avoid being hit. We’re all looking behind us, but no ball in sight. One of 48

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

my partners says, “Check your pocket.” I’ve got on shorts with a cell phone pocket on the right thigh. There’s a Titlelist No. 4 in it! It’s Bruce Davis’ ball. Bruce never saw his ball land, but Bruce has made his first pocket-inone. He’s known as “PocketMan” now.

Bruce Humphrey

Sparta, Wisconsin

The Kin Cup My father got us hooked on golf at a young age. He would saw down his old Ben Hogan irons in the basement and regrip them for us to hit balls out in the front yard. In the winters, we would putt in the family room while he watched instructional videos. We huddled around the TV on Masters Sunday and pretended to win the green jacket.

It wasn’t long before my two brothers and I began playing at local munis.

Our games were average, but we were competitive.

We needed something more to play for, so we repurposed an old soccer trophy and named it The Kin Cup. Every time out to the course, we’d play for that cup. We’d often fight daylight with the match hanging in balance. I remember my brother running off with the trophy after he holed out from the fairway on 18. I didn’t speak to him for weeks. In recent years, there have been fewer games of golf. We have young families now, but still make time for an annual match. The winner gets his name engraved. When our sisters got married, their husbands wanted in. It didn’t help that

my sister married a single digit handicap from Savannah. This year marks our 22nd year of playing for the family trophy. We are on our third trophy now. The cup has showed up on Christmas cards and birth announcements. We’ve played for it in Ireland.

There’s been a match held when the water hazards were frozen over. A bagpiper once joined us on the back nine. My brother even played for the cup on his wedding day. We still laugh about how quick his swing speed was that morning. I hope my kids compete for The Kin Cup someday. I hope we are still engraving it come year 100.

Mike Dorrington Elm Grove, Wisconsin

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work I belong to Freedom Golf Association for disabled kids and adults who want to golf. We get tons of help from all the pros and since I am already a good golfer I helped a blind golfer at our tournament at Cog Hill last summer. He has memorized how far he hits each club, so my job was to set him up in the right direction, tell him how many yards and hand him the correct club. The rest was up to him. We both played a foursome with two non-disabled golfers. We won with a score of 54. My blind buddy, Tom, even won for “closest to the pin!” I won for longest drive.

This was the first time both of us won best of anything. What a memory for our lifetimes!

Casey Fanning

Schaumburg, Illinois

No Man Left Behind This is a true story: Some 20 years ago, after a weekend of golf with friends at Eagle Ridge, we stopped on the way home to play 18 at Wolf Hollow Golf Course in Lena, Illinois. All was going well until we could a

see a storm brewing in the distance. With only a few holes left, we had hoped to beat the storm and finish our round, then we saw lightning strike! We were the farthest away from the clubhouse when our guys’ foursome flew by in their carts and said, “Let’s go now! Follow us!’ As fast as the carts would go we made our way back to the clubhouse, just before the storm hit. All players that were on the course were now inside, sharing nervous and excited stories of getting back safely. The storm hit hard with high winds, rain, hail and a sky of that scary, yellow-green hue.

Next to us we hear three young men talking and asking, “Hey, where’s Tom?” After looking around one says “Oh my gosh, we didn’t leave him in the porta-potty did we?”

Rick McCluskey

Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin

A Gift from Heaven My dad left behind a full shelf of golf trophies, some golf books, and a set of sparkling Spaulding golf clubs. He died from a sudden heart attack in the autumn of 1968. I was 12 years old. One afternoon the next summer, I grabbed dad’s clubs and headed down the street to the schoolyard to hit golf balls for the very first time. I had no idea what I was doing. I gripped a 7-iron like it was a baseball bat and swung as hard as I could. Somehow, I could hear my dad’s voice in the back of my head, telling me the same thing he shouted to me from the coach’s box when I played baseball: “Don’t try to kill the ball!” Suddenly, a car pulled into the parking lot behind me. Two big men emerged. They smiled and bounded toward me energetically. “Hey, I know this game,” one shouted. They watched me skull a ball weakly along the ground. “Swing more slowly,” the man said. “I’ll show you.” He held the club softly and took the prettiest practice swing I’ve ever seen in my 50 years of golf,

Grand Prize Winner

Eagle Ridge Resort Trip for Six

Erik Johnson

Holland, Michigan As the father of two small children and a manufacturing engineer in the automotive industry, Erik hasn’t had much time for playing golf.

That’s about to change.

“It’s time for me to start making big plans!” he said.

Johnson was thrilled to win the Grand Prize Eagle Ridge Getaway and will be setting an upcoming date to enjoy his prize. Erik, an 18 50

brushing the grass like a violinist drawing a bow across the strings. He moved in perfect rhythm. “I’m Julius Boros. Ever hear of me?”

“Yes,” I answered. He was the reigning PGA Champion, a two-time U.S. Open winner and one of the top touring pros of the 1960s.

“I’m aiming for second base,” he said. That’s exactly where the ball landed. “Swing easy to hit hard,” he said. And with that, he retreated into the school building. I’ll never know why Julius Boros was in Springfield, Massachusetts, that afternoon in 1969 to see me hit golf shots for the very first time. I do know that was the beginning of my lifelong love affair with golf. I like to think my dad arranged this from his perch in the afterlife.

And I dream that someday we’ll get to play straight up in heaven. I hope Julius joins us.

For more great golf stories shared by our readers, visit www.golftimemag.com.

handicapper, primarily plays with his buddies at a local Holland, Michigan, course, and hasn’t had the opportunity to travel to some of the Midwest’s beautiful courses — until now. Enjoy Eagle Ridge, Erik!

Second Prize Winner Laser Link Rangefinder

Mary Schingen Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Mary has been playing golf since she was 12 and comes from a big golfing family, including a sister who is a teaching

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Kevin Commins

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

pro. She played on the varsity girls golf team in high school.

Second Prize Winner Laser Link Rangefinder

Casey Fanning Schaumburg, Illinois

Casey is a caddy and loves to play golf. He started playing when he was six and is thrilled to win the Laser Link Rangefinder, because the caddy master at his club says it is an important tool for him as a caddy. Perfect fit!

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Crème Crème de la

Milwaukee, ‘The Cream City,’ a Sweet Summertime Golfer’s Treat

By Gary D’Amato

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MILWAUKEE — As the former longtime executive director of the Wisconsin State Golf Association, Gene Haas often gets phone calls from traveling golfers looking for places to play in the Milwaukee area.

“I say, ‘I’ll give you three you can play: Brown Deer Park, Dretzka Park and Whitnall Park. Three totally different kinds of courses and they’ll be wonderful,’” Haas said. “People call me back and say, ‘Gene, what a treat. I will come back and play those courses anytime.’”

They have discovered what locals have known for decades: the Milwaukee County Parks System has what might be the most 54

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varied, best-conditioned and most affordable collection of municipal courses in the nation.

With 15 courses from which to choose — everything from a former PGA Tour venue (Brown Deer) to a par 3 course on scenic bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan (Warnimont) — there’s something for every golfer from beginner to scratch handicap.

“We have, as I understand it, the secondlargest number of (municipal) courses, behind only Los Angeles,” said Chet Hendrickson, the golf services manager for Milwaukee County Parks. “I’m not aware of any city with a similar population that has something as vast as we have.”

Haas added, “I’m sort of biased, but I can’t think of any other place that would have comparable public golf facilities.”

PREVIOUS SPREAD: The 370-yard, par-4 first hole at Brown Deer Park sets the stage for great things to come. ABOVE: The 359-yard, par-4 fifth at Dretzka Park Golf Course, an oasis just outside Milwaukee’s confines.

The county courses are enormously popular and account for 40% of all Parks revenue.

Rounds played totaled 235,000 in 2018, a bad weather year, but that number has been as high as 328,000 as recently as 2012. At one time, the courses just had to open their doors in the morning and start taking green fees, but declining golf participation and increased competition means nothing can be taken for granted.

Thus, the county has put money back into the courses, including new irrigation at Currie, Greenfield and Lincoln parks and improvements to the clubhouse and practice facility at Brown Deer. Once managed by

hourly Parks employees, the seven 18-hole courses now are run by PGA professionals.

“I think you’re going to be hard-pressed to find the quality of golf that we offer (anywhere else),” said Guy Smith, the director of Milwaukee County Parks. “Our superintendents are professionals and our courses are in great shape. The PGA professionals do a top-notch job. We have great food and beverage options.

“We’ve invested in irrigation. We’ve invested in our clubhouses and pro shops. We do projects every year. Golfers want high quality but they want a good deal as well. It’s very competitive.”

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To a large extent, the golfing public owes a debt of gratitude to George Hansen, a landscape architect who designed five of the county’s 18-hole courses and went on to become the Parks superintendent. Born in 1889, Hansen’s contemporaries in the Golden Age of golf course architecture included Donald Ross, Alister MacKenzie and A.W. Tillinghast.

Hansen was not as famous, of course, but like the others his courses have stood the test of time. Grant Park, a lovely and quirky 56

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course in South Milwaukee, opened in 1920 and was followed by Greenfield Park (1922), Currie Park (1926), Brown Deer Park (1929) and Whitnall Park (1932).

Hansen died in 1950, one year before the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship was contested at Brown Deer for the first time (two more would follow, in 1966 and 1977).

Brown Deer, a parkland gem on Milwaukee’s north side, is best known as the launching pad for Tiger Woods’ professional career,

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The 389-yard, par-4 12th at Greenfield Park. The 170-yard, par-3 17th at Oakwood. The 446yard, par-4 10th at Currie Park. The Milwaukee County Parks are home to much more than golf, including archery, hiking trails, disc golf, cycling, water parks and much, much more. The 321-yard, par-4 finisher at Whitnall Park, leading back to the historic clubhouse of the fan-favorite course. at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open. He tied for 60th place as a sponsor’s exemption, finishing 12 strokes behind winner Loren Roberts, and earned the princely sum of $2,544.

But Woods did produce a harbinger of the dramatic shots to come when he aced the par-3 14th hole in the final round.

Less known is the fact that Tony Finau also made his PGA Tour debut at Brown Deer as a 17-year-old Monday qualifier in 2007. One year earlier, Jason Day made his third start as a professional at Brown Deer and recorded his first career top-25 finish.

The GMO, eventually title-sponsored by WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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U.S. Bank, was held at Brown Deer from 1994 until the tournament’s demise in 2009, but the course conditioning has been maintained at a high standard by superintendent Tim Wegner. The historic clubhouse has been renovated and the practice facility has been re-done and now is commensurate with a course of its caliber.

In bigger markets, the green fee at Brown Deer would be north of $150, but it can be played for as little as $32 weekdays by county discount card holders and the standard rate peaks at $79.

Lincoln Park Golf Course, a sporty nineholer also designed by Hansen, is located in the heart of the city, just minutes from downtown, and attracts a diverse and passionate clientele. Many are die-hard golfers who play multiple times a week, often pushing carts.

Grant Park Golf Course, located in a beautiful, leafy park bordering Lake Michigan in South Milwaukee, uses a historic 1892 farmhouse for its clubhouse. The course measures just 5,268 yards and par is 68, but with tight, tree-lined fairways and sharp doglegs, it’s no pushover.

Currie Park Golf Course is bordered on the west by Interstate 41 and its accessibility and location on Milwaukee’s west side makes it among the most popular of the courses.

Dretzka Park Golf Course on the city’s northwest side opened in 1964 and is a true championship venue, topping out at a demanding 6,809 yards. Water comes into play CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MIiller Park’s retractable roof. The loud and proud Harley-Davidson Museum. Try your luck at Potawatomi Casino. “Fear the deer,” at the Fiserv Forum. The enormous annual concert carnival called Summerfest. Outdoor adventure awaits, too.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is worth the trip for the architecture alone.

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The City of Summer

Courtesy Visit Milwaukee. Bottom right, Nile Young.

Milwaukee makes warm weather wonderful If you’re spending a few days in the Milwaukee area to play golf, you’re probably going to want to take some time to explore the city.

The Cream City comes alive in the summer months and has an abundance of world-class dining, recreation and entertainment options.

If you happen to be in town, an afternoon or evening at Summerfest on Milwaukee’s lakefront is a must. A staple on the summer calendar since 1968, Summerfest is billed as the “world’s largest music festival.” Headliners at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater this year included Jason Aldean, the Zac Brown Band, Bon Iver, Jennifer Lopez and The Killers. Come for the music, stay for the food, beer and people-watching. Not too soon to start planning for 2020!

Though you probably won’t be arriving by motorcycle – it’s hard to pack golf clubs on a bike – you can get your motor running at the Harley-Davidson Museum, 400 W. Canal St. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., celebrating more than a century of Harley-Davidson history.

There’s always something going on at Fiserv Forum, the gleaming new home of the Milwaukee Bucks, and the surrounding Deer District.

The 30-acre entertainment district, with its numerous food and beverage options, sports bars and nightlife, is fast becoming the place to see and be seen in Milwaukee.

If baseball’s more your game, time your visit to coincide with a Milwaukee Brewers homestand and take in a game at Miller Park. You won’t have to worry about a rainout because the $290-million stadium has North America’s only fan-shaped retractable roof, which can open and close in less than 10 minutes.

With nearly 25,000 works of art displayed on four floors, the Milwaukee Art Museum is among the nation’s largest. The Quadracci Pavilion, created by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, contains a movable, wing-like brise soleil that opens up to a wingspan of 217 feet.

Referred to simply as “the Calatrava,” the iconic building has become a Milwaukee landmark. 700 N. Art Museum Drive.

The Milwaukee County Zoo, 10001 W. Bluemound Road, houses 1,800 animals in outdoor and indoor exhibits. The Sterns Family Apes of Africa exhibit features a large troop of bonobos and gorillas.

If all that isn’t enough, you can always try your luck over at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, 1721 W Canal St. With more than 2,500 slots, nearly 100 table games, and 20 poker tables dealing 24/7, Potawatomi is the place to double-down on your good time in Milwaukee.

Want more Milwaukee hotspot ideas? Visit www.visitmilwaukee.com.

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on 12 of the 18 holes. Years ago, the course had a reputation for being poorly maintained, but that’s no longer the case.

Jon Canavan, the golf and recreational turf manager for Milwaukee County Parks, said the conditioning at Dretzka has gone from “a D-minus to an A.” “Golf courses are a lot like restaurants, where if you go there and you don’t have a good experience, you’re not going to go back, even though the chef may have changed,” Hendrickson said. “So Dretzka is one of those hidden gems now. It’s a fantastic golf course. It’s got a new clubhouse. It looks modern. The pro shop looks great. But it still struggles because it’s got the reputation that people remember from years ago of not being in good shape.

“It’s as good as Brown Deer in the summer now, in my opinion.”

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Greenfield Park Golf Course, in West Allis, is a lot like Grant — short, sporty, treelined and fun. At one time, the course was home to some of the city’s finest players.

In recent years, it’s undergone a significant transformation, with new irrigation, new tee boxes and five new greens.

“We made it a more playable and safer golf course,” Canavan said. “People are just raving about it. Our revenue numbers there are skyrocketing.”

Heavily wooded Whitnall Park Golf Course is located in a 640-acre park in Hales Corners and is known for its tree-lined fairways and tricky greens. Though it measures just 6,508 yards from the back tees, the elevation changes, tight landing areas and sloping greens give it a level of difficulty one wouldn’t expect from a glance at the scorecard.

Oakwood Park Golf Course in the south-

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Grant Park’s converted home clubhouse stands stately in the backdrop. The 399-yard, par-4 12th at Brown Deer Park, Brown Deer Clubhouse interior. The 180-yard, par-3 ninth at Warnimont Park, a par-3 course offering views of Lake Michigan. west suburb of Franklin is the newest of the 18-hole tracks. Designed by Lawrence Packard and opened in 1971, it’s the longest of the Milwaukee County courses, topping out at over 7,000 yards. A continuous cart path recently was finished and a covered outdoor pavilion seats up to 144 people, making it a popular course for outings.

The county has two executive courses, at Hansen and Warnimont parks, and par-3 courses at Doyne, Madison, Lake, Noyes and Zablocki parks. These courses are popular with juniors and seniors, and the Wisconsin PGA Section holds a series of tournaments on the par-3 courses for juniors interested in beginning competitive golf.

Add them all together, and it’s clear in Milwaukee County, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re Tiger Woods or you slice into the woods, there’s a course to match your skill level, experience and wallet.

“We’re very fortunate,” Haas said. “The courses are really top-notch. Day in and day out, for the amount of play they get, they really keep them in great shape. The quality that has been maintained and the improvements they have made have made it a joy for people to go out and play.”

Please visit county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks for more information about the Milwaukee County Parks System.

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Courtesy Branson CVB

Music

to Our Ears

Geaux Tell It On The

MOUNTAIN Louisiana’s Audubon Golf Trail is a tasty treat.

The food is really good, too Branson, Missouri — Yes, that Branson —

By Danny Freels Hits all the Right Notes for Great Golf

By Gary D’Amato

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Commerce) has done a good job promoting sports and recreation. Zip lines. The lake.

All these outdoor activities and adventuretype stuff you can do. And golf fits in there perfectly.”

As a first-time visitor with a preconceived notion that Branson was “corny shows for old people,” I was impressed by the diversity of things to do and see. The place is a cross between a family-friendly Las Vegas (no gaming) and Wisconsin Dells on steroids.

But our group came primarily for the golf.

And we left vowing to come back, having been blown away by the quality and variety of the courses and some of the most spectacular golf tableaus in the Midwest. Golf showcases the Ozarks, and vice versa.

We did catch one of the shows playing in Branson, “Million Dollar Quartet,” about an impromptu 1956 recording session at Sun Records involving Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. But the title also could have described four of the courses we played: Buffalo Ridge Springs, Mountain Top, Ozarks National and Branson Hills.

“The top four or five courses here,” Davis said, “are just out of this world.”

We started at Buffalo Ridge Springs, redesigned by Tom Fazio for Johnny Morris, the billionaire founder of Bass Pro Shops whose influence in and around Branson cannot be overstated. He’s turned Big Cedar Lodge into an outdoor lover’s Disney World with boating and fishing, a 10,000-acre nature park and immersive wildlife attractions.

When Morris went in on golf, he went all in. Big Cedar Lodge boasts not only Buffalo Ridge Springs, but must-play par 3 courses

by Nicklaus and Player, a newly opened Coore-Crenshaw (Ozarks National) and, coming in 2020, the first public-access course

Courtesy Branson CVB

BRANSON, Missouri – For years, tourists have flocked to Branson to see entertainers such as Andy Williams, Mel Tillis, the Gatlin Brothers and Wayne Newton.

More recently, a new lineup of artists has helped to re-shape Branson’s image, not to mention much of its landscape. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tiger Woods and the duo of Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw might not be able to carry a tune, but they sure know their way around CAD designs, irrigation lines and bentgrass greens. (Well, or at least their “band” does.)

The portfolio of golf courses in and around Branson keeps growing, and we’re not talking pitch-and-putters. We’re talking spectacular, brawny golf from some of the biggest names in the business.

Branson golf is, in a word, underrated.

In two words, vastly underrated. As destinations go it’s not as top-of-mind as more established golf Meccas such as Myrtle Beach or Bandon Dunes, but just wait a couple years. If this isn’t the next bucket-list place to play golf, my name is Yakov Smirnoff.

To be sure, the 40 theaters and the ancillary businesses that cater to family fun are still the main draw here. Busloads of senior citizens and families packed into minivans pour into Branson (pop. 10,530) to the tune of 8.9-million visitors annually.

Slowly but surely, however, Branson’s image is changing as the marketing focus shifts to include an explosion of sports and recreation opportunities on and around Table Rock Lake and the area’s geologic wonders.

“We used to have that stigma of corny shows for old people, but it’s definitely changed,” said Dan Davis, general manager of Branson Hills Golf Club. “We’ve got quality live entertainment, but the Chamber (of

OPENING SPREAD: Tom Fazio redesigned Buffalo Ridge Springs for billionaire owner Johnny Morris, who started Bass Pro Shops. ABOVE: The spectacular Jack Nicklaus-designed par-3 course called Top of the Rock is the highest point in Taney County. designed by Tiger Woods (Payne’s Valley).

Buffalo Ridge Springs features waterfalls, limestone formations, caves and views of roaming bison grazing on native grasses at nearby Dogwood Canyon Nature Park. Oh, yeah, and the course is pretty good, too. It has the rating pedigree, having been ranked the No. 1 public course in Missouri by one

golf magazine and consistently among the top 10 in another.

We played on a sparkling late-October day, and that’s another great thing about golf in Branson. You can play through November and by late March temperatures are typically back in the 60s.

After the round, we drove over to Top WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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of the Rock, the nine-hole par-3 course designed by Nicklaus on the highest point in Taney County. It’s the only par-3 course that co-hosts a PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament (the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf on the PGA Tour Champions).

After heavy rains opened up a 70-foot sinkhole next to the Top of the Rock clubhouse in May 2015, Morris saw not a problem but an opportunity. He had crews remove thousands of truckloads of dirt and rocks, digging ever deeper and exposing ancient limestone formations. He named the vertigo-inducing wonder the “Cathedral of Nature” and is building a lodge that will teeter on its edge.

Unfortunately, Top of the Rock was closed for some renovation work during our visit, so we dropped jaws at the million-dollar views of the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake, took the Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail tour and had lunch at Arnie’s Barn, a 150-year-old barn relocated from Arnold Palmer’s property in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Next up was Thousand Hills Golf Resort, 66

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billed as the “World’s Best Par 64.” I didn’t count the hills but reckoned the course name was pretty accurate.

With nine tricky par 3s, eight short par 4s and one par 5, Thousand Hills won’t be everyone’s favorite, but anytime I can mark five 3s, four 4s and seven 5s on my scorecard, I’m happy. It’s kind of cool that you can shoot 14-over and still break 80.

Day 2 was, without question, our best eating day. We had breakfast at the Farmhouse Restaurant; lunch at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner, known for its singing servers; and dinner at Level 2 Steakhouse, which features 28-day aged beef and seafood flown in weekly from Hawaii. Diners who join the “Kut Club” choose from five signature knives, which are engraved with their names and saved for return visits.

On Day 3, we tackled Mountain Top, Player’s unorthodox 13-hole par-3 course, which winds through stunning limestone formations. The visuals are right up there with anything you’ll ever play. Every hole is a mini-adventure, and you can’t wait to putt

Images courtesy Branson CVB

ABOVE: The awesome, 178-yard, par-3 eighth at Ozarks National. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Branson staple and country legends The Oak Ridge Boys. Branson’s home to a wide variety of wildlife, check out the bison at Dogwood Canyon. The Branson Auto Farm Museum. Branson’s show scene is alive and well, as Dolly Parton’s Wild West Jamboree can attest. Mel’s Hard Luck Diner is a popular tourist treat.

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: The beauty of Buffalo Springs can’t be overstated. Big Cedar Lodge is home to a giant sinkhole now known as the Cathedral of Nature. Branson is known for its religious roots, as the Chapel at Top of the Rock reminds you. out and get to the next tee to see what awaits.

It was on the fifth hole where I witnessed my first-ever hole-in-one (alas, not by me).

One of my playing partners, Vic Williams from Reno, Nevada, spun his wedge shot back off a ridge and into the hole. I think everyone in the Ozarks heard us whooping it up. I hit my shot to 8 feet and made the putt for a birdie, which felt like a double-bogey.

Playing Mountain Top was such a blast that I was literally disappointed when the round came to an end. The course earns the ultimate compliment: You can’t play it without a grin plastered to your face.

In the afternoon, we were among the fortunate few to play Ozarks National before it opened to the public (immediately following the conclusion of the 2019 Bass Pro Shop Legends of Golf).

Coore and Crenshaw are masters at taking what nature gives them and not forcing something just because their names are on the scorecard. Nothing appears to be manufactured or even “built” on their courses and as a result they look like they’re 100 years old 68

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the day they open.

Ozarks National, which must be walked, bears striking similarities to the heralded Coore-Crenshaw design at the Sand Valley Resort near Wisconsin Rapids — generous landing areas, beautiful bunkering and green complexes that get your attention.

The fifth hole is a drivable par 4 with “risk” and “reward” written all over it. The landing area to the left is plenty wide but if you take dead aim at the elevated green and miss right, you are in a world of hurt. We played it at 248 yards (white tees) and watched as one of the players in the group behind us drove the green and nearly made a rare double-eagle, his ball rolling over the edge of the cup and stopping five feet away.

On our last day, we played Branson Hills Golf Club under overcast skies. As good as Morris’ courses are, this one might have been my favorite. It’s Bobby Clampett’s lone design (together with Chuck Smith), and based on what he did here it’s hard to believe he hasn’t been offered more jobs.

“This course was my pride and joy,” he

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said. “I put my heart and soul into it. We made 30-plus trips to Branson in our airplane. I remember the days of walking the land before anything was cut. It was truly a labor of love. We went so far over budget. I was told it ended up costing $34 million to build the course. I was pretty proud of it the way it turned out.”

He should be. Branson Hills features severe elevation changes, but the majority of the dramatic shots are downhill and thus favorable to the golfer. If you play this course, remember to turn around on the greens and look backward at the holes.

“People ask all the time what is our signature hole and that is the hardest question to answer because there truly are so many of them,” Davis said. “We don’t have fancy bridges and hand-hewn logs but the guts of the golf course is really good.”

Branson Hills opened in 2009 as Payne Stewart Golf Club. The name changed in 2016 after the original contract with the Payne Stewart Foundation expired. But 70

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there’s a nice tribute in the clubhouse to Stewart, who was born and raised about an hour away in Springfield, and other Missouri greats.

Stewart, who died in a plane crash in October 1999, will be further memorialized

by Payne’s Valley, which will give Morris five courses at Big Cedar Lodge. We saw the TGR Design course under construction, which whetted our appetite for a return trip.

“I’ve thought for years that the golf in Branson was great, even prior to what Johnny is doing down the road,” Davis said. “He’s going to have three courses of high quality (not counting the par 3s). Combine that with us and LedgeStone (Country Club) and you’ve got one heck of a golf trip. Thousand Hills is a great course, too. There’s definitely a little something for everybody.”

Come for the shows. Stay for the golf.

Or vice versa.

Visit explorebranson.com/golf for more information.

Courtesy Branson CVB

Branson Hills Golf Club, designed by Chuck Smith with Bobby Clampett, has been ranked the No. 1 course in Missouri by Golfweek Magazine.

LEGENDS COME HERE FOR THE SAME REASONS YOU DO Vacations in Branson are about having legendary experiences.

Take advantage of our world-class golf. Swing a fly fishing line, relax in a spa to unwind and enjoy a live show after an amazing meal.

Golf may be the reason you’re here, but it’s just the beginning of all there is to experience. Branson. You won’t believe it, until you do.

877- BR ANS O N

Courtesy Pursell Farms

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TIDE COUNTRY Teeing It Up in

There’s a Lot to Love About Alabama’s Largest City

By Danny Freels

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Open in a playoff at Birmingham’s famed Shoal Creek Club, a course designed by perhaps the greatest golfer of all time: Jack Nicklaus. Long and storied, indeed.

Oxmoor Valley is one of two stops on the highly regarded Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail that are available around Birmingham.

Located just minutes from the newly revitalized downtown area, and set on mining land once owned by U.S. Steel, Oxmoor Valley is a 54-hole facility that opened in 1992. The three layouts here — The Ridge, The Valley and The Short Course — are all beautiful,

Photo by Jonathan Hoomes

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — For an area of the country where the average high temperature is 74 degrees and summer temps reach well into the ’90s, the word “cool” wouldn’t seem to apply. Birmingham, Alabama, however, didn’t get the memo. In fact, it’s turned into one of the coolest towns in an otherwise scorching South. Arts, eats, beats — “The Magic City,” has conjured all of that and more. And oh yes, some great golf, too.

It wasn’t always that way. Founded in 1871, Birmingham over time became a center for iron and steel production, and once disdained for its history of intolerance and exclusion. The city has long since turned its back on such ways, and turned its eyes on a future of acceptance, diversity and inclusion.

Today, the city’s thriving economy is based on a mixture of manufacturing and serviceoriented positions. Tourism and health care are important to the economy, too, of course, and the health care industry is the largest employer in the greater Birmingham area.

Art galleries, museums, restaurants of all kinds and activities abound in Birmingham.

It’s become a cool place to live and to visit.

And even though college football is “king” in Alabama, it’s also a great place to play golf.

Birmingham’s history in golf is long and storied. Its first club, the Country Club of Birmingham, was established in 1898 and included a baseball diamond, tennis court and a horse-drawn buggy track. A year later, its first golf course was created with tin cans serving as cups on the greens. In 1917, 15-year-old Bobby Jones of Atlanta won his first Southern Amateur Championship at Birmingham’s Roebuck Golf and Automobile Club. It was one of three “Southerns” Jones would win during his legendary career. Last summer, 101 years later, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn won her first U.S. Women’s

PREVIOUS SPREAD: The fantastic, 532-yard, par-5 sixth hole at FarmLinks Golf Club. ABOVE: The lumpy, lovely 179yard, par-3 fifth hole at Oxmoor Valley Ridge. challenging and fun to play. From the tips, The Ridge measures a hefty 7,055 yards.

Three other tees are available, however, with the shortest measurement coming in just under 5,000 yards. While tree lined and fairly tight, the main challenge (for me at least) comes from the changes in elevation, thanks in part to the nearby Appalachian Mountains. Many holes play down from the tee and then back up to the putting surfaces.

It makes the course play much longer than its yardage and often results in blind or semiblind views of the greens. Flatter and much more traditional is the Valley course. Even longer at 7,162 yards from the back markers (three other tees are available), The Valley meanders along a two-mile stretch of land that features lovely lakes and streams, lots of trees and plenty of bunkers. Like Ridge, The Valley is very pretty but a stern test for WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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at a whopping 8,191 yards(!) from the tips — it’s reported to be the fifth longest golf course in the world. Worry not, however. Four other tees are available, the shortest at a kinder, gentler length of 5,312 yards. Fittingly, I suppose, the fairways are very wide and the greens quite large, which should make hitting one or both much easier. Most impressive to me, however, was the size of the property the golf course sits on. Playing over the rolling hills here, taking in the long views of the gorgeous landscape, I was certain there had to be 36 beautiful holes at Ross Bridge, not just 18.

To top it all off, guests at the extremely handsome, 240-room Renaissance Hotel have access to three restaurants, a full-service

Photo by Jonathan Hoomes

even the best players. The Short Course at Oxmoor Valley, like all of the par-3 layouts on The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, is anything but a pushover. Just 3,350 yards from the tips, an “A” on this ACT-type examination will require your “A game” for sure.

Thirteen miles south of the city, in Hoover, is the newest member of the RTJ Golf Trail: Ross Bridge. Officially, this spectacular spot is called the Renaissance Birmingham Golf Resort & Spa. The big name, however, is appropriate. In all of my years of traveling around the country playing golf courses, I don’t know that I’ve seen a more majestic property. Like everything else here, the golf course (opened in 2005) is big, too. In fact —

The monstrous, 487-yard, par-4 finisher at Ross Bridge is a sight to behold and a final test of your mettle. spa, a 24-hour fitness center and indoor and outdoor pools. It’s impressive, to say the least. For a dining change of pace, however — one you won’t regret — be sure to take a 10-minute drive and experience the Bright Star Restaurant in Bessemer.

Roughly 50 miles southeast of Birmingham, outside the town of Sylacauga, is family-owned Pursell Farms Resort. Once the site of a sod farm, the property was eventually home to the Sylacauga Fertilizer Company, manufacturer of a slow-release product that turned out to be ideal for golf courses. The question was: how would the

company get this good news out to golf course superintendents throughout the country? The answer was: Instead of sending salespeople all over America, bring the superintendents to Sylacauga to learn first hand about the fertilizer’s attributes. Taking the idea one step further, the owners decided to build a golf course that would really show how good the products were. Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, the new “teaching” facility — FarmLinks Golf Club — opened in 2003 and quickly proved successful … in more ways than one. Over the years, thousands of golf course owners WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Images courtesy Pursell Farms

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: FarmLinks’ sweet 17th. Old Tom Morris Pub at Pursell Farms. Ross and McKenzie Cottages at Pursell Farms. The Pursell Farms Inn. and operators visited the property and saw how helpful the product was for all kinds of grasses. Perhaps even better, the golf course itself was a hit. In 2011, just eight years after it debuted, Golf Digest named it the seventh best course in the state. In 2017, Golfweek called FarmLinks the No. 1 course in Alabama “that you can play.”

In 2016, however, the fertilizer company was sold to a foreign firm and a new direction was needed for the Pursell family. Today, the facility features accommodations and amenities for groups of all sizes. Golfers and non-golfers alike can settle down at the beautifully decorated 40-room Inn at Pursell Farms, Parker Lodge, Hamilton Place, Orvis Farm House or one or more of four cabins and three cottages. There’s a spa, a shooting range, biking and walking trails, horseback riding and two restaurants that offer fare from fine dining to pub grub. The golf course, however, remains the centerpiece of the property.

Not surprisingly, this beautiful layout is in excellent condition — all of it. From the tips, FarmLinks stretches to a very healthy 7,444 yards. To accommodate players of all abilities, thankfully, four other sets of markers are available with the shortest tee at 5,250 yards. But built to impress the guests, FarmLinks is also quite wide, and that makes it very playable, even for players with minimal talent. Located close to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, stunning vistas of the surrounding countryside are common.

One of the best views is from the tee at the par-3 fifth, its green sitting well over 100 feet below. It’s quite a hole, quite a sight, and

Remembering — and Learning — From History Birmingham has changed, but not forgotten. A must-see in the city, is the Civil Rights Institute (www.bcri.org). Its goal is to provide details on the lives of whites and African-Americans in Alabama from the late 1800s until today, and perhaps its most powerful gallery is the one that presents the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 to 1963. Don’t miss this important landmark, located at 520 16th Street North.

Birmingham’s Best While in town, be sure to check out two of Alabama’s best restaurants: Highlands Bar & Grille and Hot ’N Hot Fish House. Both feature succulent steaks and superb seafood. The Highlands, however, boasts two James Beard award-winners in owner/chef Frank Stitt and the restaurant’s longest serving employee, Dolester Miles, named “most outstanding pastry chef in America” in 2018. quite a golf course — one that I could play every day and never get tired of.

Like so much that’s available in and around Birmingham, Alabama, Pursell Farms Resort and its FarmLinks golf course is pretty cool.

And it’s one more reason I want to go back.

For more information about what many people refer to as “The Magic City,” please visit www.inbirmingham.com.

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Golf Tech Talk

Equipment Preview

SUMMER

’ SIZZLIN

Sure, spring was a soggy sideshow in the Midwest this year.

But the heat is finally rising, and we have the equipment to turn things up even further. Read on for some of the year’s coolest gear: Ben Hogan GS53 woods

Ben Hogans are back. After more than a decade in hiatus, the legendary clubmaker released its new GS53 driver and fairway woods earlier this summer, marking the Company’s first new offerings in years.

The new GS53s are apparently well worth the wait. The clubs are made from two flawless pieces of titanium, laser-welded together into a forgiving, formidable re-entry into the golf equipment landscape.

The line is highlighted by the GS53 driver, a 445cc beastly beauty featuring a titanium head and an adjustable hosel to change loft, lie and face angles quickly and easily. The driver will be sold for $300 exclusively on www.benhogangolf.com, as part of Ben Hogan Golf’s factory-direct business model, eliminating retail mark-up, without compromising quality.

Ben Hogan Golf brass say the clubs are befitting the company’s namesake.

“Ben Hogan was famous for his no-nonsense approach to his game and his business,” said Scott White, president and CEO of the Ben Hogan Golf. “We felt the designs and marketing claims in the driver and fairway woods categories had gotten out of control in recent years. We’ve been working on the GS53 projects for a long time with the simple goal of delivering exceptionally beautiful drivers and fairways woods that provide industry-leading performance. No ridiculous hype, unnecessary technologies, materials or graphics … and certainly without the crazy price tags.”

Also available are 3-wood, 4-wood and 5-wood versions ($200 each), all equipped with the same “Face Flex” technology to maximize distance and forgiveness. As part of the clubmaker’s business model, every club includes free customization, selecting from three high-performance aftermarket shafts in varying flex.

Ben Hogan Golf also offers risk-free demos to accommodate people wanting to try before they buy.

Welcome back, Ben. www.benhogangolf.com

Equipment Preview

Callaway Chrome Soft Truvis balls We personalize everything these days. Our cars, our clubs, our clothes. Callaway wants to add some personality to your game, too, with the Chrome Soft Truvis balls. The popular, duo-core balls are graphene-infused and designed for maximum distance and forgiveness around the greens. Made in the USA, the Truvis has been made with special Ryder Cup patterns, U.S. flags, and now the new “Suits” version. Perfect if you’re an ace — or a joker. ($44.95/dozen)

Bonobos M-Flex Golf Shirt Brands like Bonobos are changing how golfers look — and how people look at golfers. For proof, look no further than Justin Rose, the world No. 2 and perennial Major contender, who signed with the apparel company earlier this year after deals with adidas and TaylorMade. “I love the traditions of the game,” Rose said on the company’s website, “but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun.”

Bonobos certainly puts the “fun” in “functional” with their new M-Flex golf polos, featuring two dozen different prints, from pineapples to pinstripes and everything in between. All feature the company’s signature performance fabric, M-Flex stretch panels, an athletic cut, and UPF 30 (very good) or UPF 50 (excellent) sun protection ratings.

You might not end your round smelling like a Rose, but now you can at least look like it. ($68. bonobos.com)

Equipment Preview

Mizuno JPX 919 Hot Metal Irons They might not have the same marketing budget as their bigger competitors to buy flashy billboards or player endorsements everywhere. Yet what it lacks in glitz, Mizuno makes up in consistently great club making, churning out some of the world’s most criminally underrated irons. Want proof? How about Brooks Koepka winning the 2017 U.S. Open with a set of the company’s JPX900 irons? Want more proof? How about him winning the 2019 PGA Championship with the same set?

But Brooks might want to consider an upgrade — to Mizuno’s new JPX919 line, which might be the clubmaker’s coolest irons ever. The JPX919 Hot Metal combines superior launch speed and soft, controllable landing angles for just the kind of aggressive accuracy you need on the course. The new 919s use a high strength “Chromoly 4140M” and seamless cup face construction, producing the fastest ball speed any Mizuno iron has ever made. Keeping all that speed in check is Mizuno’s new stability frame, designed to produce the correct flight apex every time, with landing angles steep enough to control shots into the green.

Hot Metal? Sounds a little more like “hot butter” to us. ($1,000. mizunousa.com)

Adidas Tour360 XT Parley Shoes It’s no secret the world is overrun with plastic, filling our landfills, our oceans and even the food we eat.

Adidas is walking the walk and doing something about it, with the new limited-edition, Tour360 XT Parley shoes, “upcycled” from plastic waste recovered from our oceans and beaches. Partnering with the environmental organization Parley for the Oceans (parley.tv), it’s a first for golf — but hopefully not the last.

While they might be the “feel good” equipment story of the year, the shoes feel good, too, and are built on the Tour360 XT model, complete with X-Traxion technology to provide superior traction and stability. ($200. adidas.com)

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Equipment Preview

TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver It was 1978. Jimmy Carter was president. Kids started playing Space Invaders, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind hit theaters everywhere. And Gary Adams introduced the “Taylor Made” “metal wood” driver — the groundbreaking technology that changed the game forever.

To mark the 40th birthday of the company now known as “TaylorMade,” the clubmaker released the Original One Mini driver, an homage to the tradition combined with today’s performance and precision. Comprised of a titanium body, steel sole plate and TaylorMade’s carbon composite crown, the Original One Mini creates an ultra-low center of gravity for distance and playability. In short, it combines the accuracy of a fairway wood with the added distance and forgiveness of a traditional driver.

Happy Birthday, TaylorMade, here’s to the next 40. ($399) 84

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

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Equipment Preview

Devereaux Gravity Pants You can’t deny gravity, and you can’t deny the new Gravity Pants from stylist boutique designer Devereux are some of the coolest clothes at the club. The Gravity Pant is a lightweight pant designed for style and performance, made with hybrid stretch fabric, a bonded back zipper and adjustable leg opening for a tailored or athletic fit. ($135. dvrxthreads.com)

Titleist TS1 driver Titleist is famous for its Tour-quality clubs, made with the very best players in mind.

But the company’s expanding that sweet spot for the average player this summer, with the release of its new TS1 driver. Touted as offering “effortless distance,” the TS1 is a super-light, super-speedy club weighing in at just 275 grams, designed to increase speed and power for the average golfer, with more “mortal” swing speeds. It’s a great follow-up to the company’s TS2, TS3 and TS4 drivers, each designed for specific swing needs. ($499)

2019 Pro Golf Preview

Back for More

There’s plenty of great pro golf left on the schedule in the Great Lakes this year

M

issed out on the first half of the jam-packed 2019 pro golf circuit in the Midwest this summer? Never fear, there’s plenty left this year.

The PGA Tour swings back through the Midwest in mid-July with the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, and the BMW Championship returns to the Chicago area in mid-August.

The LPGA and its budding Canadian super-

Brooke Henderson 88

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

star Brooke Henderson (pictured), swings back through Michigan in mid-July for the inaugural Dow Great Lakes Invitational in Midland, Michigan. The tourney will be the first official team event in LPGA Tour history.

So if you want to see the world’s best battle it out on the Midwest’s best courses, get your tickets now. Here’s a look at the remaining 2019 tournament schedule in the Golftime region:

Photo by Jim Kelsh

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2019 Pro Golf Preview July 4-7, Blaine, Minnesota

PGA Tour 3M OPEN COURSE: TPC Twin Cities TV: CBS/Golf Channel THE SKINNY: The 3M Open replaces the 3M Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event that had a 26-year run in the Twin Cities area.

July 4-7, Oneida, Wisconsin

LPGA Tour THORNBERRY CREEK LPGA CLASSIC COURSE: Thornberry Creek at Oneida DEFENDING CHAMP: Sei Young Kim TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: Sei Young Kim set the LPGA scoring record with a 31 under par for the tournament.

July 11-14, Akron, Ohio

COURSE: Firestone Country Club DEFENDING CHAMP: Vijay Singh TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: The Bridgestone Senior Players is one of five majors on the PGA Tour Champions schedule.

July 11-14, Sylvania, Ohio

LPGA Tour MARATHON CLASSIC COURSE: Highland Meadows Golf Club DEFNDINGÂ CHAMP: Thidapa Suwannapura TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: Last year, Thidapa Suwannapura defeated Brittany Lincicome in a playoff.

Photo by Jim Kelsh

PGA Tour Champions BRIDGESTONE SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

COURSE: The Donald Ross Course DEFENDING CHAMP: Stephanie Kono THE SKINNY: UCLA all-American Stephanie Kono posted a one-stroke victory in 2018.

July 11-14, Silvis, Illinois

July 11-13, French Lick, Indiana

PGA Tour JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

Symetra Tour DONALD ROSS CLASSIC AT FRENCH LICK RESORT

COURSE: TPC Deere Run DEFENDING CHAMP: Michael Kim TV: CBS/Golf Channel

90

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

John Daly

THE SKINNY: Michael Kim, the 2013 college Player of the Year, left the field in his wake by posting an eight-stroke victory last year.

event in LPGA Tour history and features 72 two-person teams competing in foursomes and four-ball.

July 17-20, Midland, Michigan

Aug. 9-11, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

LPGA Tour DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL COURSE: Midland Country Club TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: The new Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational will be the first official team

Symetra Tour PHC CLASSIC COURSE: Brown Deer Park Golf Course DEFENDING CHAMP: Laura Coughlin THE SKINNY: Laura Coughlin posted her first professional victory with a 16-under 200 last year.

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2019 Pro Golf Preview Aug. 15-18, Medinah, Illinois

Sept. 13-15, Grand Blanc, Michigan

PGA Tour BMW CHAMPIONSHIP

PGA Tour Champions THE ALLY CHALLENGE

COURSE: Medina County Club (No. 3) DEFENDING CHAMP: Keegan Bradley TV: Golf Channel/NBC THE SKINNY: The 2019 edition of the BMW Championship will mark the fourth time since 2013 that the event is being played in the Chicago area.

COURSE: Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club DEFENDING CHAMP: Paul Broadhurst TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: Paul Broadhurst won the inaugural Challenge by two strokes.

Aug. 15-18, Columbus, Ohio

Web.com Tour NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE: Ohio State University Golf Course – Scarlet Course DEFENDING CHAMP: Robert Streb TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: Last year’s tournament went to the wire, with Robert Streb winning in a one-hole playoff.

Aug. 16-18, Battle Creek, Michigan

Symetra Tour FIREKEEPERS CASINO HOTEL CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE: Battle Creek Country Club DEFENDING CHAMP: Marta Sanz Barrio THE SKINNY: Last year, Marta Sanz Barrio fired a 30 on the back nine to post a 65 on the final round to a fuel a one-stroke victory.

Aug. 30-Sept. 2, Newburgh, Indiana

Web.com Tour WEB.COM TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE: Victoria National Golf Club DEFENDING CHAMP: Denny McCarthy TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: Denny McCarthy posted won by four shots in 2018 at Atlantic Beach CC. 92

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Sept. 20-22, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

PGA Tour Champions SANFORD INTERNATIONAL COURSE: Minnehaha Country Club DEFENDING CHAMP: Steve Stricker TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: The tournament enters year two of a five-year commitment.

Sept. 26-29, Indianapolis, Indiana

LPGA Tour INDY WOMEN IN TECH COURSE: Brickyard Crossing Golf Club DEFENDING CHAMP: Sung Hyun Park TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: Sung Hyun Park defeated Lizette Salas in a playoff to take home the title in 2018.

Oct. 14-16, French Lick, Indiana

LPGA Legends Tour SENIOR LPGA CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE: Pete Dye Course DEFENDING CHAMP: Laura Davies TV: Golf Channel THE SKINNY: Last year Laura Davies posted a four-stroke victory to win her 87th tournament title.

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Photo by Nile Young Jr.

Ravines Golf Club, Saugatuck, Michigan

Midwest Select YOUR GUIDE TO CHICAGOLAND AND SURROUNDING AREA GOLF COURSES

Want to be listed in the Midwest Select section?

Just email editor@golftimemag.com.

Midwest Select Abbey Springs Golf Course (R)

Bear Slide Golf Club (P)

Bob-O-Link Golf Club (PV)

Ackerman Hills (P)

Bedford Valley Golf Course (R)

The Bog (P)

A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort (R)

Beeches Golf Club (P)

Bolingbrook Golf Club (P)

Aldeen Golf Club (P)

The Beloit Club (PV)

Bon Vivant (P)

Anetsburger Golf Course (P)

Berrien Hills Golf Club (P)

Bonnie Brook Golf Course (P)

Angels Crossing Golf Club (P)

Beverly Country Club (PV)

Bonnie Dundee Golf Club (P)

Annbriar Golf Course (P)

Big Fish Golf Club (P)

Boone Creek Golf Club (P)

Antioch Golf Club (P)

Big Run Golf Club (P)

Boughton Ridge Golf Course (P)

Apple Canyon Lake Golf Course (P)

Billy Caldwell Golf Course (P)

Boulder Ridge Country Club (PV)

Apple Orchard Golf Course (P)

Biltmore Country Club (PV)

The Bourne Golf Course (P)

The Arboretum Club (P)

Binder Park Golf Course (P)

Arlington Lakes Golf Club (P)

Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex (P)

Arrowhead Golf Club (P)

Bittersweet Golf Club (P)

Aspen Ridge Golf Course (P)

Black Forest at Wilderness Valley (R)

Atwood Homestead Golf Course (P)

Black Hawk Run Golf Club (P)

Aurora Country Club (PV)

Black Sheep Golf Club (PV)

Chesterton, IN, 219-921-1192 www.thebrassie.com

Balmoral Woods Country Club (P)

Blackberry Oaks Golf Course (P)

Deerfield, IL, 847-945-2660 www.briarwoodcc.com

Barrington Hills Country Club (PV)

Blackberry Patch Golf Club (P)

Indianapolis, IN, 317-492-6572 www.brickyardcrossing.com

Barrington Park District (P)

Blackstone Golf Club (P)

Madison, WI, 608-244-1822 www.golfthebridges.com

Barker Lake Golf Course Legend (P)

Blackthorn Golf Club (P)

Hoffman Estates, IL, 847-781-3681 www.bridgesofpoplarcreek.com

Bartlett Hills Golf Club (P)

Bliss Creek Golf Course (P)

Bristol, WI , 262-857-2302 www.bristoloaks.com

Battle Ground Golf Club (P)

Bloomingdale Golf Club (P)

Lockport, IL, 815-836-8858 www.golfbrokenarrow.com

Bay Harbor Golf Club (P)

BlueTop Ridge at Riverside (P)

Milwaukee, WI, 414-352-8080 www.browndeergolfclub.org

Fontana, WI, 262-275-6111 www.abbeysprings.com

West Lafayette, IN, 765-494-3139 www.purduegolf.com Kewadin, MI, 800-678-0122 www.a-ga-ming.com Rockford, IL, 815-282-4653 www.aldeengolfclub.com Northbrook, IL, 847-291-2971 www.anetsbergergolf.com Vicksburg, MI, 269-649-2700 www.golfangelscrossing.com Waterloo, IL, 888-939-5191 www.annbriar.com Antioch, IL, 847-395-3004 www.antiochgolfclub.com

Apple River, IL, 815-492-2477 www.applecanyonlake.org

Bartlett, IL, 630-540-4807 www.bartlettparks.org/facilities/golf Buffalo Grove, IL, 847-913-1112 www.arboretumgolf.com

Arlington Heights, IL, 847-577-3030 www.ahpd.org/algc Wheaton, IL, 630-653-5800 www.arrowheadgolfclub.org

Bourbonnais, IL, 815-939-1742 www.aspenridgegolf.com Rockford, IL, 815-623-2411 www.wcfpd.org/golf Aurora, IL, 630-892-3785 www.auroracc.com Crete, IL, 708-672-7448 www.balmoralwoods.com

Barrington, IL, 847-381-4200 www.barringtonhillscc.com

Barrington, IL, 847-381-0687 www.barringtonparkdistrict.org

Winter, WI, 715-266-4152 www.haywardlakes.com/barkerlake Bartlett, IL, 630-837-2741 www.bartletthills.com

Battle Ground, IN, 765-567-2178 www.golfbattleground.com Bay Harbor, MI, 866-548-7427 www.boynegolf.com

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Cicero, IN, 317-984-3837 www.bearslide.com

Battle Creek, MI, 269-965-3385 www.gulllakeview.com

South Haven, MI, 269-637-2600 www.beechesgolfclub.com Beloit, WI, 608-473-0089 www.beloitclub.com

Benton Harbor, MI, 269-925-9002 www.berrienhills.com Chicago, IL, 708-636-8700 www.beverlycc.org

Hayward, WI, 715-934-4770 www.bigfishgolf.com Lockport, IL, 815-838-1057 www.bigrungolf.com Chicago, IL, 773-792-1930 www.forestpreservegolf.com

Barrington, IL, 847-381-1960 www.biltmore-cc.com

Battle Creek, MI, 269-979-8250 www.binderparkgolf.com

West Lafayette, IN, 765-494-3139 www.purduegolf.com Gurnee, IL, 847-855-9031 www.bittersweetgolf.com

Gaylord, MI, 866-585-7090 www.blackforestgolf.com Stockton, IL, 815-947-3011 www.blackhawkrun.com

Sugar Grove, IL, 630-879-2000 www.blacksheepgolfclub.com Bristol, IL, 630-553-7170 www.blackberryoaks.com

Coldwater, MI, 517-238-8686 www.blackberrypatchgolf.com Marengo, IL, 815-923-1800 www.blackstonegc.com

South Bend, IN, 574-232-4653 www.blackthorngolf.com

Sugar Grove, IL, 630-466-4177 www.blisscreekgolf.com

Bloomingdale, IL, 630-529-6232 www.bloomingdalegc.com

Riverside, IA, 877-677-3456 www.riversidecasinoandresort.com

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Highland Park, IL, 847-432-0917 www.bobolinkgolfcourse.com Saukville, WI, 262-284-7075 www.golfthebog.com Bolingbrook, IL, 630-771-9400 www.bolingbrookgolfclub.com

Bourbonnais, IL, 815-935-0400 www.bonvivant.com Waukegan, IL, 847-360-4730 www.waukegangolf.org

Carpentersville, IL, 847-426-5511 www.bonniedundeegc.com McHenry, IL, 815-455-6900 www.boonecreekgolf.com

Bolingbrook, IL, 630-739-4100 www.bolingbrookparks.org

Lake In The Hills, IL, 847-854-3010 www.boulderridge.com Marseilles, IL, 815-496-2301

Bowes Creek Country Club (P) Elgin, IL, 847-214-5880 www.bowescreekcc.com

Boyne Highlands Resort (P) Harbor Springs, MI, 866-548-7427 www.boynegolf.com

Boyne Mountain Resort (P) Boyne City, MI, 866-548-7427 www.boynegolf.com

Brae Loch Golf Course (P) Grayslake, IL, 847-968-3444 www.lcfpd.org/brae_loch

Braidwood Fairways (P) Braidwood, IL, 815-458-2965

The Brassie (P)

Briarwood Country Club (PV) Brickyard Crossing (P)

Bridges Golf Course (P) Bridges of Poplar Creek CC (P) Bristol Oaks Country Club (P) Broken Arrow Golf Club (P) Brown Deer Park Golf Course (P) Bryn Mawr Country Club (PV) Lincolnwood, IL, 847-676-2660 www.brynmawrcountryclub.com

Midwest Select Buck’s Barn Golf Resort (P) Thomson, IL, 815-259-8278 www.bucksbarngolfresort.com

Bucks Run Golf Club (P)

Mt. Pleasant, MI, 989-773-6830 www.bucksrun.com

Buena Vista Golf Course (P) DeKalb, IL, 815-758-4812 www.buenavistagc.com

Buffalo Grove Golf Club (P) Buffalo Grove, IL, 847-537-5819 www.buffalogrovegolf.com

The Bull at Pinehurst Farms (P) Sheboygan Falls, WI, 920-467-1500 www.golfthebull.com

Chicago Hts Park District Golf Course East (P) Chicago Hts, IL, 708-754-3673 www.chparkdistrict.net

Chicago Hts Park District Golf Course West (P) Chicago Hts, IL, 708-754-1400 www.chparkdistrict.net

Butler National Golf Club (PV)

Coachman’s Golf Resort (R)

Butterfield Country Club (PV)

Cog Hill Golf & Country Club (P)

Calumet Country Club (PV)

Columbus Park Golf Course (P)

Cantigny Golf (P)

Conway Farms Golf Club (PV)

Cantigny Youth Links (P)

Country Lakes Country Club (P)

Cardinal Creek Golf Course (P)

Countryside Golf Course (P)

Carriage Greens Country Club (P)

The Course at Aberdeen (P)

Cary Country Club (P)

Coyote Creek Golf Club (P)

The Castle Course at Northern Bay (R)

Coyote Crossing Golf Course (P)

Homewood, IL, 708-799-2230 www.calumetcc.com Wheaton, IL, 630-668-8463 www.cantignygolf.com

Wheaton, IL, 630-668-8270 www.cantignygolf.com/youthlinks Beecher, IL, 708-946-2800 www.cardinalcreekgolf.com Darien, IL, 630-985-3730 www.carriagegreens.com Cary, IL, 847-639-3161 www.carycountryclub.com

Arkdale, WI, 608-339-9891 www.www.castleatthebay.com

Cedardell Golf Club (P) Plano, IL, 630-552-3242 www.cedardellgolfclub.com

Centennial Park Golf Course (P) Munster, IN, 219-836-6931 www.munster.org

Chalet Hills Golf Club (P) Cary, IL, 847-639-0666 www.chaletgolf.com

Chapel Hill Country Club (P) McHenry, IL, 815-385-3337 www.chapelhillgolf.com

Chesapeake Run Golf Club (P) North Judson, IN, 574-896-2424 www.chesapeakerungolf.com

Wisconsin Dells, WI , 608-254-3971 www.christmasmountainvillage.com Wilmington, IL, 815-476-4000 www.cinderridge.com Edgerton, WI, 608-884-8484 www.coachmans.com Lemont, IL, 630-257-5872 www.coghillgolf.com

Chicago, IL, 312-746-5573 www.cpdgolf.com/courses/columbus-park Lake Forest, IL, 847-234-6979 www.conwayfarmsgolfclub.org

Naperville, IL, 630-420-1060 www.countrylakescountryclub.com Mundelein, IL, 847-968-3466 www.lcfpd.org/countryside Valparaiso, IN, 219-462-5050 www.golfataberdeen.com Bartonville, IL, 309-633-0911 www.golfcoyotecreek.com

West Lafayette, IN, 765-497-1061 www.coyotecrossinggolf.com

Coyote Run Golf Course (P) Flossmoor, IL, 708-957-8700 www.coyoterungolf.com

Crab Orchard Golf Club (P) Carterville, IL, 618-985-2321 www.craborchardgolfclub.com

Craig Woods Golf Course (P) Woodstock, IL, 815-337-3116 www.crystalwoodsgc.com

Crane’s Landing Golf Club (R) Lincolnshire, IL, 847-634-5935 www.craneslandinggolf.com

Cress Creek Country Club (PV) Naperville, IL, 630-355-7300 www.cresscreekcc.com

Crestview Golf Course (P)

Wheaton, IL, 630-665-2988

Kalamazoo, MI, 269-349-1111 www.crestviewgolfcourse.com

Westchester, IL, 630-214-9490 www.chicagohighlands.com

Traverse City, MI, 231-946-2975 www.golfthecrown.com

Chicago Golf Club (PV) Chicago Highlands (PV)

Crystal Tree Golf & Country Club (PV)

Woodstock, IL, 815-338-3111 www.crystalwoodsgc.com

Bellaire, MI, 231-533-9000 www.golfthechief.com

Cinder Ridge Golf Course (P)

Oak Brook, IL, 630-323-1000 www.butterfieldcc.org

Crystal Lake, IL, 815-459-1237 www.clcountryclub.com

The Chief Golf Course (P)

Morton Grove, IL, 847-965-5353 www.forestpreservegolf.com

Burnham Woods Golf Course (P)

Oak Brook, IL, 630-990-3333 www.butlernational.org

Crystal Lake Country Club (PV)

Orland Park, IL, 708-403-3000 www.crystaltreecc.org

Bull Valley Golf Club (PV)

Burnham, IL, 708-862-9043 www.forestpreservegolf.com

Lake In The Hills, IL, 847-659-1766

Chick Evans Golf Course (P)

Christmas Mountain Village Golf Resort (R)

Woodstock, IL, 815-337-4411 www.bullvalleygolfclub.com

Crystal Highlands Golf Facility (P)

The Crown Golf Club (P)

Crystal Woods Golf Club (P) Dayton Ridge Golf Club (P) Ottawa, IL, 815-434-0145

Deer Creek Golf Club (P)

University Park, IL, 708-672-6667 www.deercreekgolfcourse.com

Deer Valley Country Club (P) Deer Grove, IL, 815-438-4653 www.dvforegolf.com

Deer Valley Golf Course (P) Big Rock, IL, 630-556-3333 www.deervalleygc.net

TPC Deere Run (SP) Silvis, IL, 309-796-6000 www.tpc.com/deererun

Deerfield Golf Club (P)

Riverwoods, IL, 847-945-8333 www.deerfieldgolf.org

Deerpath Golf Course (P) Lake Forest, IL, 847-615-4290 www.deerpathgolfcourse.com

The Den at Fox Creek (P) Bloomington, IL, 309-434-2300 www.thedengc.com

Devil’s Head Resort (R) Merrimac, WI, 800-472-6670 www.devilsheadresort.com

Discover Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo, MI, 800-888-0509 www.discoverkalamazoo.com/golf

Douglas Park Learning Course & Mini Golf (P) Chicago, IL, 312-747-7670 www.cpdgolf.com

Downers Grove Golf Course (P) Downers Grove, IL, 630-963-1306 www.dgparks.org

Eagle Brook Country Club (PV) Geneva, IL, 630-208-4653 www.eaglebrookclub.com

Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa (R) Galena, IL, 800-892-2269 www.eagleridge.com

Eaglewood Resort & Spa (R) Itasca, IL, 877-285-6150 www.eaglewoodresort.com

Eastern Hills Golf Course (P) Kalamazoo, MI, 369-385-8175 www.kalamazoogolf.org

Edgebrook Country Club (SP) Sandwich, IL, 815-786-3058 www.forestpreservegolf.com

Edgebrook Golf Course (P) Chicago, IL, 773-763-8320 www.forestpreservegolf.com

Edgewood Valley CC (PV) La Grange, IL, 708-246-2800 www.edgewoodvalleycc.com

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

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Midwest Select Elgin Country Club (PV)

Gaylord Golf Mecca (P)

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa (R)

Elmbrook Golf Course (P)

Geneva Golf Club (PV)

Grayslake Park Golf Course (P)

Erin Hills (P)

Geneva National Resort (R)

Graystone Golf Links (P)

Evanston Golf Club (PV)

George W. Dunne National Golf Course (P)

Elgin, IL, 847-741-2707 www.elgincc.com

Traverse City, MI, 231-946-9180 www.elmbrookgolf.com Erin, WI, 262-670-8600 www.erinhills.com Skokie, IL, 847-676-0300 www.evanstongolfclub.org

Gaylord, MI, 800-345-8621 www.gaylordgolfmecca.com Geneva, IL, 630-232-2055 www.genevagc.com

Lake Geneva, WI , 262-245-7000 www.genevanationalresort.com

Evergreen Golf Club (P)

Oak Forest, IL, 708-429-6886 www.forestpreservegolf.com/courses

Evergreen Park Country Club (P)

Glenview, IL, 847-724-7272 www.theglenclub.com

Acme, MI, 800-236-1577 www.grandtraverseresort.com Grayslake, IL, 847-548-4713 www.glpd.com

Tinley Park, IL, 708-720-6600

Great River Road Golf Club (P) Nauvoo, IL, 800-233-0060 www.golfnauvoo.com

Green Acres Country Club (PV)

The Glen Club (SP)

Northbrook, IL, 847-291-2200 www.greenacrescountryclub.com

Evergreen Park, IL, 773-238-6680

Glen Flora Country Club (PV)

Frankfort, IL, 815-469-3350 www.greengardencc.com

Highland Park, IL, 847-432-3600 www.exmoorcountryclub.org

Glen Oak Country Club (PV)

Westmont, IL, 630-810-5330 www.dupagegolf.com

Flagg Creek Golf Course (P)

Glen View Club (PV)

Waukegan, IL, 847-360-4777 www.waukegangolf.org

Flossmoor Country Club (PV)

Glencoe Golf Club (P)

Marquette, MI, 906-225-0721 www.marquettegolfclub.com

The Fort Golf Resort (R)

Glendale Lakes Golf Club (P)

Foss Park Golf Course (P)

Glendarin Hills Golf Club (P)

Fountain Hills Golf Club (P)

Gleneagles Country Club (P)

Augusta, MI, 269-731-4149 www.gulllakeview.com

Four Winds Golf Club (P)

Glenview National 9 GC (P)

Chicago, IL, 312-782-7837 www.harborsideinternational.com

Elkhorn, WI, 262-723-5722 www.evergreengolf.com

Exmoor Country Club (PV)

Waukegan, IL, 847-244-6300 www.glenfloracc.com

Chicago, IL, 312-616-1234

Glen Ellyn, IL, 630-469-5600 www.glenoakcountryclub.org

Countryside, IL, 708-246-3336 www.flaggcreekgolfcourse.org

Golf, IL, 847-729-6500 www.glenviewclub.com

Family Golf Center Illinois (P)

Flossmoor, IL, 708-798-4700 www.flossmoorcc.org

Indianapolis, IN, 317-543-9597 www.thefortgolfcourse.com North Chicago, IL, 847-689-7490 www.fossparkgolf.org Alsip, IL, 708-388-4653 www.fountainhillsgc.com

Mundelein, IL, 847-566-8502

Fox Bend Golf Course (P) Oswego, IL, 630-554-3939 www.foxbendgolfcourse.com

Fox Lake Country Club (P) Fox Lake, IL, 847-587-6411 www.foxlakecc.net

Fox Run Golf Links (P)

Elk Grove Village, IL, 847-228-3544 www.foxrungolflinks.com

Fox Valley Golf Club (P)

North Aurora, IL, 630-879-1030 www.aurora-il.org

Foxford Hills Golf Club (P) Cary, IL, 847-639-0400 www.foxfordhillsgolfclub.com

Frankfort Square Park District Golf Course (P) Frankfort, IL, 815-469-1600 www.fspd.org/Square-Links-Golf-Course.asp

Glencoe, IL, 847-835-0250 www.glencoegolfclub.com

Glendale Heights, IL, 630-260-0018 www.glendalelakes.com Angola, IN, 260-624-3550 www.glendarinhills.com

Lemont, IL, 630-257-5466 www.golfgleneagles.com

Glenview, IL, 847-657-1637 www.golfglenview.com

Glenview Park Golf Club (P) Glenview, IL, 847-724-0250 www.golfglenview.com

Glenwoodie Golf Club (P) Glenwood, IL, 708-758-1212 www.glenwoodiegolf.com

Golf Center Des Plaines (P) Des Plaines, IL, 847-803-4653 www.dpparks.org/golfcenter/

Golf Club of Coldwater (P) Coldwater, MI, 517-279-2100 www.golfclubofcoldwater.com

The Golf Club at Harbor Shores (R) Benton Harbor, MI, 269-927-4653 www.harborshoreslife.com

The Golf Club of Illinois (P) Algonquin, IL, 847-658-4400 www.golfclubofil.com

Green Garden Country Club (P) Green Meadows Golf Course (P) Greenshire Golf Course (P) Greywalls (P)

Griffith Golf Center (P) Griffith, IN, 219-923-3223

The Grove (PV)

Long Grove, IL, 847-550-0983 www.thegrovecc.com

Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort (P) Harborside International (P) Harrison Hills Golf & Country Club (P) Attica, IN, 765-762-1135 www.harrisonhills.com

Harry Mussatto (WIU) (P) Macomb, IL, 309-298-3676 www.golf.wiu.edu

Harry Semrow Driving Range (P) Des Plaines, IL, 847-296-5764 www.forestpreservegolf.com/courses

Hawk’s Eye Golf Resort (R) Bellaire, MI, 866-868-8181 www.golfbellaire.com

HawksHead Links (P)

South Haven, MI, 269-639-2121 www.hawksheadlinks.com

Hawk’s View Golf Club (P) Lake Geneva, WI, 877-429-5788 www.hawksviewgolfclub.com

French Lick Resort (R)

The Golf Courses of Lawsonia (P)

Hawthorn Woods Country Club (PV)

Fresh Meadow Golf Club (P)

Golf Nation (PV)

Hayward Golf Club (P)

Fyre Lake National Golf Club (P)

Golf Vista Estates Golf Course (P)

Galena Golf Club (P)

Grand Geneva Resort & Spa (R)

French Lick, IN, 888-936-9360 www.frenchlick.com Hillside, IL, 708-449-3434 www.freshmeadowgc.com

Sherrard, IL, 800-575-1394 www.fyrelakenational.com Galena, IL, 815-777-3599 www.galenagolf.webs.com

98

Green Lake, WI, 800-529-4453 www.lawsonia.com Palatine, IL, 847-202-4653 www.golfnation.us Monee, IL, 708-534-8204 www.golfvistagolfclub.com

Lake Geneva, WI, 800-558-3417 www.grandgeneva.com

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Hawthorn Woods, IL, 847-847-3259 www.hwccgolf.com Hayward, WI, 877-377-4653 www.haywardgolf.com

Heather Ridge Golf Course (P) Gurnee, IL, 847-367-6010 www.heatherridgegolf.com

Heritage Bluffs Public Golf Club (P) Channahon, IL, 815-467-7888 www.heritagebluffs.com

Midwest Select Heritage Glen Golf Club (P)

Ironwood Golf Course (P)

Lake Park Golf Course (P)

Hickory Hills CC (P)

Island Hills Golf Club (P)

Lake Shore Country Club (PV)

Hickory Knoll Golf Course (P)

Itasca Country Club (PV)

Lake Zurich Golf Club (PV)

Paw Paw, MI, 269-657-2552 www.heritageglengolf.com

Hickory Hills, IL, 708-598-5900 www.hickoryhillscntryclub.com Lake Villa, IL, 847-356-8640

Hickory Point Golf Club (P)

Forsyth, IL, 217-421-7444 www.decatur-parks.org/golf/index.php

Hickory Ridge Golf Course (P) Galesburg, MI, 269-382-6212 www.golfhickoryridge.com

High Point Golf Club (P) Essex, IL, 815-365-4000 www.golfhighpoint.com

Highland Park Country Club (P) Highland Park, IL, 847-433-9015 www.highlandparkcc.com

Highland Woods Golf Course (P) Hoffman Estates, IL, 847-359-5850 www.forestpreservegolf.com

The Highlands of Elgin (P) Elgin, IL, 847-931-5950 www.highlandsofelgin.com

Hilldale Golf Club (P)

Hoffman Estates, IL, 847-310-1100 www.hilldalegolf.com

Hinsdale Golf Club (PV)

Clarendon Hills, IL, 630-986-5330 www.hinsdalegolfclub.org

The House on the Rock Resort (R) Spring Green, WI, 608-588-7000 www.thehouseontherock.com

Hughes Creek Golf Club (P)

Normal, IL, 309-454-9620 www.golfironwood.org

Centreville, MI, 269-467-7261 www.islandhillsgolf.com Itasca, IL, 630-773-1800 www.itascacountryclub.com

Ivanhoe Club (PV)

Mundelein, IL, 847-970-3800 www.ivanhoeclub.com

Jackson Park Golf Club (P)

Chicago, IL, 773-667-0524 www.cpdgolf.com/courses/jackson-park

Joe Louis “The Champ” Golf Course (P)

Riverdale, IL, 708-849-1731 www.forestpreservegolf.com/courses

Des Plaines, IL, 847-391-5730 www.dpparks.org

Glencoe, IL, 847-835-3000 www.lakeshorecountryclub.com Lake Zurich, IL, 847-438-2431

Lake Lawn Resort (R) Delavan, WI, 262-725-9066 www.lakelawnresort.com

Lakemoor Golf Course (P) Lakemoor, IL, 815-759-0011 www.lakemoorgolfclub.com

Lakewoods Forest Ridges GC (P) Cable, WI, 800-255-5937 www.lakewoodsresort.com

The Leelanau Club (P)

Joliet Country Club (PV)

Bingham, MI, 231-271-2020 www.leelanauclub.com

Kampen Course (P)

Fox Lake, IL, 847-587-6795 www.leisurevillagefoxlake.com

Kankakee Country Club (P)

Libertyville, IL, 847-362-5733 www.libertyville.com/golfcourse

Joliet, IL, 815-723-9613 www.jolietcountryclub.com

West Lafayette, IN, 765-494-3139 www.purduegolf.com Kankakee, IL, 815-933-6615 www.kankakeecountryclub.com

Kankakee Elks Golf Club (P) St. Anne, IL, 815-937-9547 www.elksgolf627.com

Kemper Lakes Golf Course (PV) Long Grove, IL, 847-320-3450 www.kemperlakesgolf.com

Ken Loch Golf Links (P) Lombard, IL, 630-620-9665

Leisure Village Golf Course (PV) Libertyville Golf Course (P) Lick Creek Golf Course (P) Pekin, IL, 309-346-0077

Lincoln Oaks Golf Course (P) Crete, IL, 708-672-9401 www.lincolnoaksgolfcourse.com

Lincolnshire Country Club (PV) Crete, IL, 708-672-5090 www.lincolnshirecountryclub.com

Links & Tees Golf Facility (P)

Kishwaukee Country Club (PV)

Addison, IL, 630-458-2660 www.addisonparks.org

Richmond, IL, 815-678-7940

Klein Creek Golf Club (P)

Plainfield, IL, 815-886-2132 www.carillongolf.com

Princeton, IL, 815-879-6531 www.huntersridgegc.com

Knollwood Club (PV)

Marion, IL, 618-997-5656 www.KokopelliGolf.com

Kokopelli Golf Club (PV)

Williamsburg, MI, 231-938-9800 www.lochenheath.com

Lacoma Golf Club (P)

Lockport, IL, 815-838-8692

Elburn, IL, 630-365-9200 www.hughescreek.com

Hunter Country Club (P) Hunter’s Ridge Golf Course (P) Idlewild Country Club (PV) Flossmoor, IL, 708-798-0514 www.idlewildcc.net

Indian Boundary Golf Course (P) Chicago, IL, 773-625-9630 www.forestpreservegolf.com

Indian Hill Golf Club (PV) Winnetka, IL, 847-251-1711 www.indianhillclub.org

Indian Lakes Resort (R)

Bloomingdale, IL, 630-529-6466 www.indianlakesresort.com

Indian Oaks Country Club (P) Shabbona, IL, 815-824-2202 www.indianoakscountryclub.com

DeKalb, IL, 815-758-6849 www.kishwaukeecc.org

Winfield, IL, 630-690-0101 www.kleincreek.com

Lake Forest, IL, 847-234-1600 www.knollwoodclub.org Marion, IL, 618-997-5656 www.kokopelligolf.com

East Dubuque, IL, 815-747-3874 www.lacomagolf.com

Lafayette Golf Course (P) Lafayette, IN, 765-458-4588 www.lafayette.in.gov/golf

LaGrange Country Club (PV) LaGrange, IL, 708-352-0066 www.lagrangecc.org

Lake Barrington Shores GC (PV)

Hobart, IN, 219-942-2577

Barrington, IL, 847-382-4240 www.lbsgolf.com

Scotts, MI, 269-327-1327 www.irgolfclub.com

Lake Bluff, IL, 847-234-6771 www.lakebluffgolfclub.com

Indian Ridge Country Club (P) Indian Run Golf Club (P)

Lake Bluff Golf Club (P)

Inverness Golf Club (PV)

Lake Doster Golf Club (P)

Inwood Golf Course (P)

Lake Michigan Hills Golf Club (P)

Palatine, IL, 847-359-0244 www.invernessgolfclub.org Joliet, IL, 815-741-7265 www.inwoodgc.com

Plainwell, MI, 269-685-5308 www.lakedostergolf.com

Benton Harbor, MI, 269-849-4653 www.lakemichiganhills.com

The Links at Carillon (P) The Links at Kokopelli (P) LochenHeath Golf Club (P) Lockport Golf & Recreation Club (PV) Longwood Country Club (P) Crete, IL, 708-758-1811

The Loon Golf Resort (R) Gaylord, MI, 989-732-4454 www.loongolfresort.com

Lost Marsh of Hammond (P) Hammond, IN, 219-932-4046 www.lostmarshgolf.com

Lost Nation Golf Club (P) Dixon, IL, 815-652-4212 www.lostnationgolf.com

Lynx Golf Course (P)

Otsego, MI, 888-586-5969 www.lynxgolfcourse.com

Makray Memorial Golf Club (P) Barrington, IL, 847-381-6500 www.makraygolf.com

Manistee National Golf & Resort (R) Manistee, MI, 231-398-0123 www.manisteenational.com

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

99

Midwest Select Manitou Passage Golf Club (P)

Moss Creek Golf Club (P)

Old Top Farm Golf Course (P)

Manteno Golf Course (P)

Mt. Prospect Golf Club (P)

Old Wayne Golf Course (PV)

Maple Hills Golf Course (P)

Naperbrook Golf Course (P)

Cedar, MI, 231-228-6000 www.manitoupassagegolfclub.com Manteno, IL, 815-468-8827 www.mantenogolf.com Augusta, MI, 269-731-4430

Maple Meadows Golf Club (P) Wood Dale, IL, 630-616-8424 www.dupagegolf.com

Marengo Ridge Golf Club (P) Marengo, IL, 815-923-2332 www.marengoridgegolfclub.com

Marquette Park Learning Center (P) Chicago, IL, 312-747-2761 www.cpdgolf.com/courses/marquette-park

Marywood Golf Club (P) Battle Creek, MI, 269-968-1168 www.marywoodgolf.com

Winamac, IL, 574-595-3142 www.golfmosscreek.com

Mt. Prospect, IL, 847-259-4200 www.mppd.org/facility/golf Plainfield, IL, 630-378-4215 www.naperbrookgolfcourse.org

Naperville Country Club (PV) Naperville, IL, 630-355-0747 www.napervillecc.org

Nettle Creek Country Club (P) Morris, IL, 815-941-4300 www.nettlecreek.com

Nickol Knoll Golf Course (P) Arlington Heights, IL, 847-590-6050 www.ahpd.org/nkgc

Nippersink Country Club & Lodge (SP)

East Chicago, IN, 219-391-8362

Genoa City, WI, 262-279-6311 www.nippersinkresort.com

McHenry, IL, 815-385-3435 www.mchenrycc.net

Glenview, IL, 847-729-1200 www.north-shorecc.org

McArthur Golf Course (P)

Crystal Lake, IL, 815-479-9361 www.oldtopfarm.com

West Chicago, IL, 630-231-1350

Olde Mill Golf Club (P)

Schoolcraft, MI, 269-679-5625 www.oldemillgolfclub.com

Olympia Fields Country Club (PV) Olympia Fields, IL, 708-748-0495 www.ofcc.info

Onwentsia Club (PV)

Lake Forest, IL, 847-234-0120 www.onwentsiaclub.com

Orchard Valley Golf Course (P) Aurora, IL, 630-907-0500 www.orchardvalleygolf.com

Otsego Club (R)

Gaylord, MI, 800-752-5510 www.otsegoclub.com

Otter Creek Golf Course (P)

McHenry Country Club (PV)

North Shore Country Club (PV)

Columbus, IN, 812-579-5227 www.ottercreekgolf.com

Meadowlark Golf Course (P)

Northmoor Country Club (PV)

Palatine, IL, 847-359-4020 www.palatinehills.org

Meadows Golf Club (P)

Northwood Golf Club (P)

St. John, IN, 219-365-4331 www.palmiragolf.com

The Medalist Golf Club (P)

Oak Brook Golf Club (P)

Orland Park, IL, 708-448-6063 www.paloscountryclub.com

Medinah Country Club (PV)

Oak Club of Genoa (P)

Palos Hills, IL, 708-599-0202 www.paloshillsweb.org

The Merit Club (PV)

Oak Grove Golf Course (P)

Freeport, IL, 815-235-3611 www.golfparkhills.com

Mid-Iron Golf Club (P)

Oak Hills Country Club (SP)

Park Ridge, IL, 847-823-0410 www.parkridgecc.org

Oak Meadows Golf Course (P)

Evanston, IL, 847-475-9173 www.peterjansgolf.org

Oak Park Country Club (PV)

St. Charles, IL, 630-584-4914 www.pheasantrun.com

Hinsdale, IL, 708-562-2977 www.forestpreservegolf.com

Blue Island, IL, 708-385-1994 www.meadowsgc.com Marshall, MI, 269-789-4653 www.themedalist.com Medinah, IL, 630-773-1700 www.medinahcc.org

Libertyville, IL, 847-918-8800 www.meritclub.org Lemont, IL, 630-257-3340

Midlane Golf Resort and Suites (R) Wadsworth, IL, 847-360-0550 www.midlaneresort.com

Midlothian Country Club (PV) Midlothian, IL, 708-371-2626 www.midlothiancc.org

Milham Park Golf Course (P) Kalamazoo, MI, 269-344-7639 www.kalamazoogolf.org

Mill Creek Golf Club (P) Geneva, IL, 630-208-7272 www.millcreekgolfcourse.com

Minne Monesse Golf Club (SP) Grant Park, IL, 815-465-6653 www.minnemonesse.com

Mission Hills Country Club (PV) Northbrook, IL, 847-498-3200 www.missionhillsclub.com

Mistwood Golf Club (P) Romeoville, IL, 815-254-3333 www.mistwoodgc.com

Morningstar Golfers Club (P) Waukesha, WI, 262-662-1600 www.golfthestar.com

Morris Country Club (PV) Morris, IL, 815-942-3628 www.morriscountryclub.com

100

Highland Park, IL, 847-432-6092 www.northmoor.org Rhinelander, WI, 715-282-6565 www.northwoodgolfclub.com Oak Brook, IL, 630-368-6400 www.oak-brook.org Genoa, IL, 815-784-5678 www.oakclubgenoa.com

Harvard, IL, 815-648-2550 www.oakgrovegolfcourse.com

Palos Heights, IL, 708-448-5544 www.oakhills.com Addison, IL, 630-595-0071 www.dupagegolf.com

Oak Park, IL, 708-453-5554 www.oakparkcountryclub.com

Oak Springs Golf Course (P) St. Anne, IL, 815-937-1648 www.oakspringsgolf.com

Oak Terrace Resort (P) Pana, IL, 800-577-7598 www.oakterraceresort.com

The Oaks Golf Course (P)

Cottage Grove, WI, 608-837-4774 www.golftheoaks.com

Odyssey Country Club (P) Tinley Park, IL, 708-429-7400 www.odysseycountryclub.com

Old Elm Club (PV)

Fort Sheridan, IL, 847-432-6272 www.oldelmclub.com

Old Oak Country Club (P) Homer Glen, IL, 708-301-3344 www.oldoakcc.com

Old Orchard Country Club (P) Mt. Prospect, IL, 847-255-2025 www.oldorchardcc.com

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Palatine Hills Golf Course (P) Palmira Golf Club (P) Palos Country Club (P)

Palos Hills Golf Club (P) Park Hills Golf Course (P) Park Ridge Country Club (PV) Peter Jans Golf Course (P) Pheasant Run Resort (R) Pheasant Valley Country Club (P) Crown Point, IN , 219-663-5000

Phillips Park Golf Course (P)

Aurora, IL, 630-256-3760 www.aurora-il.org/parksandrecreation

Pilgrim’s Run Golf Club (P) Pierson, MI, 888-533-7742 www.pilgrimsrun.com

Pine Hills Golf Club (P) Ottawa, IL, 815-434-3985 www.pinehillsgc.com

Pine Lakes Golf Club (P) Herrin, IL, 618-942-6816 www.PineLakes18.com

Pine Meadow Golf Club (P) Mundelein, IL, 847-566-4653 www.pinemeadowgc.com

Pinecrest Golf & Country Club (P) Huntley, IL, 847-669-3111 www.pinecrestgc.com

Pistakee Country Club (P) McHenry, IL, 815-385-9854

Midwest Select Plum Creek Country Club (P)

Resorts of Tullymore & St. Ives (R)

Sandy Hollow Golf Course (P)

Plum Tree National Golf Club (P)

Rich Harvest Farms (PV)

Sandy Pines Golf Course (P)

Pottawatomie Golf Course (P)

Ridge Country Club (PV)

Schaumburg Golf Club (P)

Prairie Bluff Public Golf Club (P)

Ridgemoor Country Club (PV)

Scherwood Golf (P)

Prairie Isle Golf Club (P)

Ridgeview Golf Course (P)

Scovill Golf Club (P)

Prairie Lakes Resort (R)

River Bend Golf Course (P)

Senica Oak Ridge Golf Club (P)

River Forest Country Club (PV)

SentryWorld (P)

River Glen Country Club (P)

Settler’s Hill Golf Course (P)

Kalamazoo, MI, 269-343-3906

River Heights Golf Course (P)

Seven Bridges Golf Club (P)

Byron, IL, 815-234-4653 www.prairieviewgolf.com

River Oaks Golf Course (P)

Shady Oaks Country Club (P)

River Pointe Country Club (P)

Shamrock Golf Course (P)

Riverside Golf Club (PV)

Shanty Creek Resorts (R)

Rob Roy Golf Course (P)

Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course (P)

Robert A. Black Golf Club (P)

Shiloh Park Golf Course (P)

Rockford Country Club (PV)

Shoreacres (PV)

Rolling Green Country Club (PV)

Silver Lake Country Club (P)

Royal Fox Country Club (PV)

Silver Oaks Golf Club (PV)

Royal Hawk Country Club (PV)

Silver Ridge Golf Course (P)

Carmel, IN, 317-573-9900 www.plumcreekgolfclub.com Harvard, IL, 815-943-7474 www.plumtreegolf.com

St. Charles, IL, 630-584-8356 www.pottawatomiegc.com Crest Hill, IL, 815-836-4653 www.prairiebluffgc.com

Prairie Grove, IL, 815-356-0202 www.prairieisle.com Marseilles, IL, 815-795-5107

Prairie Landing Golf Club (P) West Chicago, IL, 630-208-7600 www.prairielanding.com

Prairie View Golf Club (P) Carmel, IN, 317-816-3100 www.prairieviewgc.com

The Prairies Golf Club (P) PrairieView Golf Course (P) Prairie Vista Golf Course (P) Bloomington, IL, 309-434-2217 www.prairievistagc.com

Prestwick Country Club (PV) Frankfort, 815-469-2136 www.prestwickcc.com

Purgatory Golf Club (P) Noblesville, IN, 317-776-4653 www.purgatorygolf.com

Quail Ridge Golf Club (P) Ada, MI, 616-676-2000 www.quailridgegc.com

Rail Golf Course (P)

Springfield, IL, 217-525-0365 www.railgolf.com

Randall Oaks Golf Club (P) West Dundee, IL, 847-428-5661 www.randalloaksgc.com

The Ravines (P)

West Lafayette, IN, 765-497-7888 www.ravinesgolf.com

Ravines Golf Club (P)

Saugatuck, MI, 269-857-1616 www.ravinesgolfclub.com

Ravinia Green Country Club (PV) Deerfield, IL, 847-945-6200 www.raviniagreen.com

Ravisloe Country Club (P) Homewood, IL, 708-798-5600 www.ravisloecountryclub.com

Red Arrow Golf Course (P) Kalamazoo, MI, 269-345-8329 www.kalamazoogolf.org

Red Tail Run Golf Club (P) Decatur, IL, 217-422-2211 www.redtailrun.org

RedTail Golf Club (P)

Village of Lakewood, IL, 815-477-0055 www.redtailgolf.com

Renwood Golf Course (P)

Round Lake Beach, IL, 847-231-4711 www.renwoodgolf.com

Stanwood, MI, 800-972-4837 www.tullymoregolf.com

Sugar Grove, IL, 630-466-7610 www.richharvestfarms.com Chicago, IL, 773-238-9400 www.ridgecc.org Chicago, IL, 708-867-8400 www.ridgemoorcc.com

Kalamazoo, MI, 269-375-8821 www.ridgeviewgolf.com Lisle, IL, 630-968-1920 www.riverbendgolfclub.org

Elmhurst, IL, 630-279-5444 www.riverforestcc.org Fishers, IN, 317-849-8274 www.riverglencc.com DeKalb, IL, 815-758-1550 www.riverheightsgc.com

Calumet City, IL, 708-868-4090 www.forestpreservegolf.com/courses Hobart, IN, 219-942-2747 www.riverpointecc.net

North Riverside, IL, 708-447-8152 www.rgc.org Prospect Heights, IL, 847-253-4544 www.rtpd.org/golf Chicago, IL, 312-742-7931 www.cpdgolf.com/courses

Rockford, IL, 815-962-0948 www.rockfordcc.com

Arlington Heights, IL, 847-253-0400 www.rollinggreen.org St. Charles, IL, 630-584-4000 www.royalfoxcc.com St. Charles, IL, 630-443-3500 www.royalfoxcc.com

Royal Melbourne Country Club (PV) Long Grove, IL, 847-913-8380 www.royalmelbourne.net

Ruffled Feathers Golf Club (P) Lemont, IL, 630-257-1000 www.ruffledfeathersgc.com

Rockford, IL, 815-987-8888 www.rockfordparkdistrict.org

DeMotte, IN, 219-987-3611 www.sandypinesgc.com

Schaumburg, IL, 847-885-9000 www.schaumburggolf.com Schererville, IN, 219-865-2554 www.scherwood.com

Decatur, IL, 217-429-6243 www.decatur-parks.org/golf/index.php LaSalle, IL, 815-223-7273 www.senicasoakridge.net

Stevens Point, WI, 866-479-6753 www.sentryworld.com Batavia, IL, 630-232-1636 www.settlershill.com

Woodridge, IL, 630-964-7777 www.sevenbridges.com Amboy, IL, 815-849-5424 www.shadyoakscc.com

St. Anne, IL, 815-937-9355 www.golfshamrock.com

Bellaire, MI, 231-533-8621 www.shantycreek.com Zion, IL, 847-872-2080 www.shepherdscrook.org Zion, IL, 847-746-5500 www.shilohparkgolf.com

Lake Bluff, IL, 847-234-1472 www.shoreacres1916.com Orland Park, IL, 708-349-6940 www.silverlakecc.com Braidwood, IL, 815-458-2068 www.braidwoodrecclub.com Oregon, IL, 815-734-4440

Skokie Country Club (PV) Glencoe, IL, 847-835-5835 www.skokiecc.com

South Gleason Park Golf Course (P) Gary, IN, 219-980-1089

South Shore Country Club (P)

Ruth Lake Country Club (PV)

Cedar Lake, IN , 219-374-6070 www.southshorecc.com

Salt Creek Golf Club (P)

Momence, IL, 815-472-4407 www.ssgcm.com

The Sanctuary Golf Course (P)

Chicago, IL, 773-256-0986 www.cpdgolf.com/courses

Hinsdale, IL, 630-986-2060 www.ruthlakecc.org

Wood Dale, IL, 630-773-0184 www.saltcreekgolfclub.com New Lenox, IL, 815-462-4653 www.golfsanctuary.com

South Shore Golf Club (P) South Shore Golf Course (P) Spider Lake Golf Resort (R) Hayward, WI, 715-462-3200 www.spiderlakegolfresort.com

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

101

Midwest Select Spirit Hollow Golf Course (R)

Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course (P)

University Ridge (P)

Spooner Golf Club (P)

Tagalong Golf Resort (R)

Valley Green Golf Course (P)

Sportsman’s Country Club (P)

Tahkodah Hills Golf Course (P)

Valley-Lo Sports Club (PV)

Burlington, IA, 319-752-0004 www.spirithollowgolfcourse.com Spooner, WI, 715-635-3580 www.spoonergolf.com Northbrook, IL, 847-291-2351 www.sportsmansgolf.com

Springbrook Golf Course (P) Naperville, IL, 630-848-5060 www.springbrookgolfcourse.org

St. Andrews Golf & Country Club (P) West Chicago, IL, 630-231-3100 www.standrewsgc.com

St. Charles Country Club (PV) St. Charles, IL, 630-377-9340 www.stcharlescc.com

St. Ives Golf Club (R)

Stanwood, MI, 800-972-4837 www.tullymoregolf.com

Stardust Golf and Country Club (P)

Chicago, IL, 312-742-7930 www.cpdgolf.com/courses

Birchwood, WI, 800-657-4843 www.tagalonggolf.com Cable, WI, 715-798-3760

Tam O’Shanter Golf Course (P) Niles, IL, 847-965-2344 www.niles-parks.org

Tamarack Golf Club (P) Naperville, IL, 630-904-4000 www.tamarackgc.com

Tanna Farms Golf Club (P) Geneva, IL, 630-232-4300 www.tannafarms.com

Telemark Golf Course (P) Cable, WI, 715-798-3104 www.telemarkgolfcourse.com

Terrace Hill Country Club (PV)

Johnston City, IL, 618-527-4122

Algonquin, IL, 847-658-4653 www.terracehillgolf.com

Mundelein, IL, 847-949-8900 www.mundeleinparks.org

Kalamazoo, MI, 269-344-0040 www.thornapplecreek.com

Steeple Chase Golf Club (P)

Thornapple Creek Golf Club (P)

Stone Creek Golf Club (P)

ThunderHawk Golf Club (P)

Stonebridge Country Club (PV)

Timber Pointe Golf Club (P)

Stonehenge Golf Club (PV)

Timber Ridge Golf Club (P)

Stonewall Orchard Golf Club (P)

TimberStone at Pine Mountain (R)

Stony Creek Golf Course (P)

TPC Deere Run (SP)

Storybrook Country Club (P)

Traditions at Chevy Chase (P)

Streamwood Oaks Golf Club (P)

Trappers Turn Golf Club (P)

Sugar Creek Golf Course (P)

Tuckaway Golf Club (P)

Summertree Golf Course (P)

Tullymore Golf Club (R)

Urbana, IL, 217-367-3000 www.stonecreekgolfclub.com Aurora, IL, 630-820-8887 www.stonebridge-cc.org

Barrington IL, 847-381-8600 www.stonehengegolfclub.com Grayslake, IL, 847-740-4890 www.stonewallorchard.com

Oak Lawn, IL, 708-857-2433 www.golfstonycreek.com Hanover, IL, 815-591-2210 www.storybrook.com

Streamwood, IL, 630-483-1881 www.streamwood.org Villa Park, IL, 630-834-3325 www.sugarcreekgolfcourse.org

Crown Point, IN, 219-663-0800

Sunset Ridge Country Club (PV)

Beach Park, IL, 847-968-4295 www.lcfpd.org/thunderhawk

Poplar Grove, IL, 815-544-1935 www.golfthepointe.com Minocqua, WI, 715-356-9502 www.timberridgegolfclub.com

Iron Mountain, MI, 906-776-0111 www.pinemountainresort.com Silvis, IL, 309-796-6000 www.tpc.com/deererun

Wheeling, IL, 847-465-2300 www.chevychasecountryclub.com

Wisconsin Dells, WI, 800-221-8876 www.trappersturn.com Crete, IL, 708-946-2259 www.tuckawaygc.com

Stanwood, MI, 800-972-4837 www.tullymoregolf.com

Verona, WI, 608-845-7700 www.universityridge.com North Aurora, IL, 630-897-3000 www.valleygreengc.com Glenview, IL, 847-729-5550 www.valleylo.org

Vernon Hills Golf Course (P) Vernon Hills, IL, 847-680-9310 www.vernonhillsgolf.com

Villa Olivia Country Club (P) Bartlett, IL, 630-289-1000 www.villaolivia.com

Village Green Golf Course (P) Mundelein, IL, 847-566-7373 www.villagegreengc.com

Village Greens of Woodridge (P) Woodridge, IL, 630-985-3610 www.villagegreensgolf.com

Village Links of Glen Ellyn (P) Glen Ellyn, IL, 630-469-8180 www.villagelinksgolf.com

Visit Green Lake

Green Lake, WI, 800-253-7354 www.visitgreenlake.com

Walnut Greens Golf Course (P) Schaumburg, IL, 847-490-7878 www.walnutgreensgolf.com

Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame (P)

South Bend, IN, 574-631-4653 www.warrengolfcourse.com

Water’s Edge Golf Club (P) Worth, IL, 708-671-1032 www.watersedgegolf.com

WeaverRidge Golf Club (P) Peoria, IL, 309-691-3344 www.weaverridge.com

Weber Park Golf Course (P)

Skokie, IL, 847-674-1500 ext. 3600 www.skokieparks.org

Wedgewood Golf Course (P) Plainfield, IL, 815-741-7270 www.wedgewoodgc.com

Western Acres Golf Course (P) Lombard, IL, 630-469-6768 www.westernacres.com

Westmoreland Country Club (PV) Wilmette, IL, 847-251-4600 www.westmorelandcc.org

Whisper Creek Golf Club (P)

Merrillville, IN, 219-980-5170

Huntley, IL, 847-515-7682 www.whispercreekgolf.com

Crystal Lake, IL, 815-459-3356 www.turnberrycc.com

Vernon Hills, IL, 847-680-6100 www.whitedeergolf.com

Northfield, IL, 847-446-5222 www.sunsetridgecc.org

Turkey Creek Golf Club (P)

Sunset Valley Golf Course (P)

Turnberry Country Club (PV)

White Deer Run Golf Club (P)

Twin Lakes Golf Club (P)

White Eagle Golf Club (PV)

Highland Park, IL, 847-432-7140 www.sunsetvalleygolfcourse.org

Swan Lake Resort (R)

Plymouth, IN, 800-582-7539 www.swanlakeresort.com

Swanhills Golf Course (P)

Westmont, IL, 630-852-7167

Twin Lakes Recreation Area (P)

Belvidere, IL, 815-547-3232

Palatine, IL, 847-934-6050 www.saltcreekpd.com

Harris, MI, 906-723-2251 www.sweetgrassgolfclub.com

Long Grove, IL, 847-634-3800 www.twinorchardcc.org

Sweetgrass Golf Club (R)

Twin Orchard Country Club (PV)

Sycamore Golf Club (P)

University Golf Club (P)

Sycamore, IL, 815-895-3884 www.sycamoreparkdistrict.com

102

University Park, IL, 708-747-0306 www.universitygolfclub.com

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

Naperville, IL, 630-983-6836 www.whiteeaglegc.com

White Hawk Country Club (P) Crown Point, IN, 219-661-2323 www.whitehawkcountryclub.com

White Mountain Golf Course (P) Tinley Park, IL, 708-478-4653 www.whitemountaingolfpark.com

White Pines Golf Club (P) Bensenville, IL, 630-766-0304 www.whitepinesgolf.com

MIDWEST SELECT COURSES

Midwest Select

Whitetail Ridge Golf Club (P)

Willowhill Golf Course (P)

Woodbine Golf Course (P)

Whittaker Woods Golf Club (R)

Wilmette Golf Club (P)

Woodruff Golf Course (P)

Wicker Park Golf Club (P)

Wing Park Golf Course (P)

Woodstock Country Club (PV)

Wild Rock Golf Club (R)

Winnetka Golf Club (P)

Wynstone Golf Club (PV)

Willow Crest Golf Club at Oak Brook Hills Marriott (R)

Wolf Run Golf Course (P)

Yarrow Golf & Conference Center (R)

Wood Wind Golf Club (P)

Zigfield Troy Golf (P)

Yorkville, IL, 630-882-8988 www.whitetailridgegolfclub.com

New Buffalo, MI, 269-469-3400 www.golfwhittaker.com Highland, IN, 219-838-9809 www.wickermemorialpark.com

Wisconsin Dells, WI, 608-253-4653 www.wildrockgolf.com Oak Brook, IL, 630-850-5530 www.willowcrestgolf.com

Willow Glen Golf Club (P) Great Lakes, IL, 847-688-4593 www.mwrgl.com/default.htm

Willow Run Golf Course (P) Mokena, IL, 815-485-2119 www.willowrungolf.net

Northbrook, IL, 847-480-7888 www.willowhillgolfcourse.com Wilmette, IL, 847-256-9646 www.golfwilmette.com Elgin, IL, 847-931-5952 www.cityofelgin.org

Winnetka, IL, 847-501-2050 www.winnetkagolfclub.com Aurora, IL, 630-906-1402 www.wolfrungolfcourse.net

Westfield, IN, 317-669-8550 www.woodwindgolf.com

Homer Glen, IL, 708-301-1252 www.woodbinegolf.com Joliet, IL, 815-741-7272 www.woodruffgc.com

Woodstock, IL, 815-338-5355 www.woodstockcc.com

North Barrington, IL, 847-304-2810 www.wynstone.org Augusta, MI, 800-563-4397 www.yarrowgolf.com

Woodridge, IL, 630-985-9860 www.zigfieldtroygolf.com

Woodbine Bend Golf Course (PV) Stockton, IL, 815-858-3939 www.woodbinebend.com

Chicagoland Practice Facilities Addison Links & Tees Golf Facility (P)

Golf Center Des Plaines

BallyBunion

Golf Farm

Addison, IL, 630-458-2660 www.addisonparks.org

Long Grove, IL, 847-634-3363

Bartlett Golf Center

Des Plaines, IL, 847-803-4653 www.golfcenterdesplaines.com Wauconda, IL, 847-526-4000 www.golf-farm.com

Better Shots

Golf Learning Center at Hamilton Lakes

Birdies & Eagles

Green Valley Golf Range

Bartlett, IL, 630-830-9385 Gilberts, IL, 847-697-5000

Itasca, IL, 630-773-7997

South Elgin, IL, 847-931-2233

Hanover Park, IL, 630-289-6600 www.greenvalleygolfrange.com

Gurnee, IL, 847-549-6090

Greyslake Golf Practice Center

Bobby’s Hunt Club Golf Center Boulder Golf Range

Hoffman Estates, IL, 847-426-1588 www.boulderrange.com

Bushwood Golf Practice Center Maywood, IL, 708-344-2700 www.bushwooddrivingrange.com

Chicago Family Golf Center Chicago, 312-616-1234

Chicagoland Golf Academy Chicago, IL, 312-285-4673 www.chicagolandgolfacademy.com

Crystal Lake Learning Center Crystal Lake, IL, 815-479-9150

Ditka’s Sports Dome

Bolingbrook, IL, 630-739-7600 www.ditkasportsdome.com

Diversey Driving Range Chicago, IL, 312-742-7929 www.cpdgolf.com/courses

Double Eagle Practice Center Justice, IL, 708-458-9200

Douglas Park Learning Course and Miniature Golf (P) Chicago, IL, 312-747-7670 www.cpdgolf.com/courses/douglas-park

Flagg Creek

Countryside, IL, 708-246-3336 www.flaggcreekgolfcourse.org

Fresh Meadow Learning Center (P) Hillside, IL, 708-449-6767 www.freshmeadowgc.com

Parfection Park Golf Center Yorkville, IL, 630-553-6855

Partner Golf Center

Chicago, IL, 773-286-2060 www.partnergolfcenter.com

PGN Fun Village

Hickory Hills, IL, 708-430-7900 www.hickoryhillsresortinfo.com

Pro Circle

Spring Grove, IL, 815-675-2747 www.procirclegolf.com

Riedy’s Tee Time

Grayslake, IL, 847-752-8483

Lisle, IL, 866-587-3122 www.riedysteetime.com

Des Plaines, IL, 847-296-5764 www.forestpreservegolf.com

Skokie, IL, 847-674-1500 ext. 3100 www.skokieparks.org

Harry Semrow Driving Range

Skokie Sports Park

Highland Park Learning Center

Sugar Grove Driving Range

Joe Louis Driving Range

Sunset Meadows

The Driving Range at Libertyville Sports Complex

T-Time Golf Range

Highland Park, IL, 847-433-3422 www.highlandparkillinois.net Riverdale, IL, 708-849-1731 www.forestpreservegolf.com

Libertyville, IL, 847-367-1506 www.libertyvillesportscomplex.com

Links & Tees Golf Facility Addison, IL, 630-458-2660 www.addisonparks.org

Lippold Park Family Golf Center Crystal Lake, IL, 815-477-5401 www.crystallakeparks.org

Marquette Park Learning Center (P) Chicago, IL, 312-747-2761 www.cpdgolf.com

Master Golf

Grayslake, IL, 847-223-6886 www.mastergolfonline.com

Sugar Grove, IL, 630-466-4554 www.sugargrovefuncenter.com

Arlington Heights, IL, 847-394-5865 www.ahpd.org/algc Homer Glen, IL, 708-301-6500 www.ttimegolfrange.com

TopGolf

Wood Dale, IL, 630-595-4653 www.topgolf.com

The Players Club of Chicago Justice, IL, 708-924-9889 www.tpcchicago.com

Village of Bridgeview Sports Dome Bridgeview, IL, 708-924-8290 www.villageofbridgeview.com

Westland Golf

Huntley, IL, 847-669-0204

Woodland Trails

Fresh Meadow Learning Center

Mt. Prospect, IL, 847-296-4653 www.rtpd.org

Oakton Driving Range

Woodridge, IL, 630-985-9860 www.zigfieldtroygolf.com

Hillside, IL, 708-449-6767 www.freshmeadowgc.com

Park Ridge, IL, 847-692-3580 www.parkridgeparkdistrict.com

Zigfield Troy Golf (P)

WWW.GOLFTIMEMAG.COM

103

The Back Nine

A Rule is a Rule … until it isn’t

W

hen the changes in the Rules of Golf were announced by the USGA and R&A a year or so ago (reportedly to make the game “faster”), no golfer in this country was more appreciative than me. But I did have a question: What took you so long?

Over the years, whenever I asked an “official” what the reasoning was behind a certain rule — such as why we can’t remove a cigarette butt from a bunker, or why do we have to play from a sand-filled divot — I always got the same non-answer answer: “Because.”

Many moons ago, while playing in the City of Detroit Amateur Championship at beloved Rackham Golf Course, I found myself paired in the final round with a guy named A.C. Burks. A.C. was a semi-legend on the Michigan Publinx circuit who had won numerous events and I was a semi-hack who got lucky on occasion but loved playing at Rackham.

During the round, I asked A.C. why players were not allowed to tap down spike marks on greens. “I can’t really tell you,” A.C. replied, “but I can tell you why they’ll never change it.

Because Jack Nicklaus won’t let them.”

My response was brilliant. “Huh?” I said.

Patiently, as if speaking to a child, “A.C. said, “Jack won all of his majors putting through spike marks, okay? If they change 104

MIDWEST GOLF IN YOUR HANDS

by Danny Freels

that rule, it would make it easier for someone to beat his record. I can’t imagine The Bear letting that happen.”

As it turns out, A.C. was wrong. Perhaps while Jack was off bonefishing in the Bahamas that rule was changed, allowing players to tap down spike marks. But do we really believe tapping down 10 spike marks per player will make the game faster?

I doubt it.

Another rule that never made any sense to me was the one regarding a ball out-ofbounds. Until recently, if a ball was even a fraction of an inch OB, it was a one-stroke penalty and you went back to where you first hit it and hit it again. For most of us, that’s an automatic double-bogey or worse. Why such punishment? Were players 250 years ago hitting it sideways and breaking windows in the castle next door? Did Bonnie Prince Charlie get bonked on the head by an errant shot one day and chop up the guy who hit it with his sword? (Wait a second: Maybe that’s where the word “slice” came from!)

Well guess what? That rule has also been changed. Today there’s a local rule available that says that not only do we not have to go back and hit it again, we can take our wayward ball over to the fairway and play from there, adding a two-stroke penalty. I agree with this change and the others but not because they will make the game faster.

I agree because…they were dumb rules and should have been changed a long time ago.

Danny Freels is a longtime golf writer, editor, and (semi) happy hacker. Follow his love/hate relationship with golf in Golftime Midwest.

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