Wild Marsh Golf Club – One Of America’s Best Municipal Golf Courses
Charlie Desrosiers, who lives in Rochester, has driven up to Buffalo every year, just to play Wild Marsh. “I don’t know if the people of Buffalo know how lucky they are,” he said.
Timber Creek Golf Course – Timber, I’m Falling In Love
If you go read the reviews of Timber Creek you’ll find very few critiques, especially the past couple years since Brooks took over. In fact, you’ll note something unique on visitor posts.
Open To The Links At Northfork
Did the breezes, bunkers, and rolling hills of this year’s British Open at Royal St. George’s inspire you to play a wee bit of links golf? If that’s the case, there is no better place than The Links at Northfork in Ramsey.
Crazy About Majestic Oaks Golf Club
Anyone who has ever told you that the game of golf is dead has never been to Majestic Oaks Golf Club on a Friday afternoon.
Heritage Links Golf Club – Complementary Golf
Incidentally, I was introduced to Heritage Links in Lakeville for the first time this past winter, when THEY introduced their brand new HD Golf Simulators.
Golden Gopher Hills
My first Gopher Hills experience was a mind-and-eye opener – entirely in the most positive way. I’m not proud of this, but I was a bit reluctant to go.
History And Home At Dahlgreen Golf Club
Located a mere five miles west of Chaska, Dahlgreen Golf Club exudes that comfortable clubhouse feel that allows you to let your hair down and have some fun.
Expect The Best At Crystal Lake Golf Club
Things are rocking at Crystal Lake Golf Club. Thankfully the pandemic is mostly in the rear-view mirror.
Enjoy Golf In The Capitol City
Golf is alive and well in St. Paul these days, with three unique and challenging courses, golfers have options to challenge them all summer long. In this issue, we look at two of the courses that are run by Foursome Golf Management – Como and Phalen Park.
Dutch Cragun’s Latest Coup As Lehman Returns!
From The Classic to Deacon’s Lodge to The Pines and Preserve to Golden Eagle, and ultimately The Legacy Courses at Cragun’s, one could argue the strengths and weaknesses of the of each resort’s “signature course” to see who would be crowned BEST of the BEST in the Brainerd Lakes area.
Gravel Pit Golf Course – Minnesota’s Newest Golf Course
There is a question I never thought I would be asking myself, “Is it possible to transform a gravel pit into a golf course?” It turns out the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”
The Gold Standard At Golden Eagle Golf Club
The sign out on County Road 1 says, “Welcome to Fifty Lakes.” No truer words were ever spoken as you roll into Golden Eagle Golf Club with your expectations high and of a day of pure, iconic northern Minnesota golf lying ahead of you.
Feel The Magic At Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
The beauty of the north, particularly along Lake Superior’s North Shore was always undeniable, but other than waterfalls and nature trails there was little allure for us stick-swingers. And then… well… Jeff Brauer. And then… well… Giants Ridge.
Giants Ridge – Minnesota Nice – Twice
The beauty of the north, particularly along Lake Superior’s North Shore was always undeniable, but other than waterfalls and nature trails there was little allure for us stick-swingers. And then… well… Jeff Brauer. And then… well… Giants Ridge.
The Wilderness At Fortune Bay – Big Game Hunting
I’ve seen one moose in Minnesota. One. I’ve heard there are many, but I’ve only personally seen one. “You never forget that first moose,” former GM of The Wilderness, Tom Beaudry, told me.
Cragun’s Resort – More Than A Lot
Resorts are so overbooked places like Bandon Dunes and Pinehurst are booking two full years out, and the best part for those of us in Minnesota is that a few of our best resorts are being hyper proactive with the development, expansion, and improvement of their facilities… ESPECIALLY at Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Breezy Point Resort – The King’s Aces
I host a handful of journalists in Minnesota every year. I take them around to the best courses in the Twin Cities and the state, and the course I’m always most excited to show them is my favorite Arnold Palmer course in the United States – Deacon’s Lodge, in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes, at Breezy Point Resort.
The Masters – Filled With Drama And Respect
As a child, the Psychic loved to ride the roller coaster. Anticipation of a dramatic combination of fear/exhilaration, on the trip to the amusement park made his stomach hurt, in that certain way.
To Annoy, Or Not To Annoy
Last month, one of the big golf magazines had an article about what annoys golf course superintendents.
Annoy might be mild … they also used the word “irk” … still pretty mild. I think words like “angry” … “outraged” … “furious” would be more accurate.
Spring Has…Whoops
I will readily admit I HATE winter. Before anyone decides to write in to educate me about all the wonderful things Minnesota has to offer in the wintertime, I get it.
Fix Your Slice Forever – Part 2
A slice is undesirable because it curves away from the target too much, generally doesn’t go as far, and the golfer has less control of the ball.
COMMON DENOMINATORS – The Set-Up
All elements of the set-up; grip, stance, posture, alignment, and ball position all should be constructed for bio-mechanical functionality.
Fix Your Slice Forever – Part 1
My mentor and friend, Hank Haney (golf coach to well over 100 tour players including Tiger Woods during his career) always says that “the road to good golf has no right turns”. By right turns Hank is saying good golf has no slices!
COMMON DENOMINATORS
This is the first of an on-going series to identify the COMMON DENOMINATORS of all successful players. Each issue, I will make you aware of one or more of the commonalities required to eliminate all wasted practice time. Interested?
It’s All About Impact – Centeredness Of Contact
In striking the golf ball, impact is where the clubface gives the golf ball all its instructions on its flight. The ball’s direction, trajectory, and curve are all determined in the 1/2000 of a second that the golf ball spends on the clubface.
Building Golf Motions Like A Snowball
This piece isn’t designed to describe the details of each golf shot, but to ask the reader to consider building their swings from small to big motions following proven motor skill research.
It’s All About Impact – Club Path
The club’s path is the direction of the swing through impact relative to the target line. The direction of clubface relative to the path at impact creates the curve of the golf ball
PRACTICE LIKE A Ph.D., PLAY LIKE A FIRST GRADER
Do you fear taking golf lessons? Do you believe that the professional will overload you with information?
It’s All About Impact – Club Face
On a center of the clubface strike, the clubface has the biggest influence on the direction that the golf ball starts.
GIVE YOURSELF THE “ACID TEST”
It would be best if each range practice session began with a number of ¼, ½ and ¾ length pitch shots with your sand wedge.
From Spritzers To Sangrias
Everyone needs a good sangria and/or spritzer recipe for the summer, am I right?
Dad’s Day Bevis
As we head into the month of June, and our weather finally turns true to its season, we know we can prepare to gear up for a few things – more time for grilling outside and more libations for pairing!
Going Green
Everywhere you turn these days, producers from every label are touting ‘organic’. From cereal to mac n cheese, wine, and into the world of liquor. But have we really ever stopped to think about what all of this labeling really means?
Don’t Ignore The Reds When The Temps Rise
For most, nothing screams summer and spring like a crisp, refreshing glass of white wine – am I right? We live in Minnesota, so it’s fair to say that it gets pretty darn cold in the winter time.
Beyond Chardonnay And Pinot Grigio
According to the country’s most recent wine industry reports, Americans really only consume approximately four grapes. Considering there are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes in the world, we have a considerable way to go before we can begin to categorize ourselves oenophiles.
Going Green
Everywhere you turn these days, producers from every label are touting ‘organic’. From cereal to mac n cheese, wine, and into the world of liquor. But have we really ever stopped to think about what all of this labeling really means?
Perfectly Pairing Your ‘Reds’
It should come as no surprise that the instinctive wine choice for a mouthwatering pan seared or perfectly grill marked steak hot off the grill is red, but have you ever truly analyzed the exact choice of red grape when pairing to your favorite cuts of meat? I
Golfers And Wine – A Perfect Blend
As many know we are fortunate to be hosting the 2016 matches of the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National and the U.S. team is captained by golf professional, Davis Love III. A gentleman that not only shares great passion for the game of golf, but of another subject that happens to be quite near and dear to my own profession and passions, wine.
Tournament Club Of Iowa – Best Of Intentions
You’ve played the course. We all have. The course begging for a tweak here or flip there. We’re all experts as golfers, especially when our ball ends up in a particularly unplayable spot. It’s not our fault… it’s the architect’s, the manager’s, the superintendent’s. “This hole could be so much better if…” and “Who in their right mind puts a tree there?”
Otter Creek Golf Course – Iowa’s Can’t Miss Course
Every summer for a decade I’ve driven back and forth, from the Twin Cities to Des Moines for business, and every year I almost drive off the road when I pass through Ankeny.
Briggs Woods Golf Course – North Central Is ALL Right
HAMILTON COUNTY, IOWA: If you’re unfamiliar with the beauty of North Central Iowa, but interested in exploring it, I can think of few better origin points for your expedition than the Boone River Valley of Hamilton County.
Amana Colonies – Iowa’s Best Kept Secret Golf Course
Everyone is setting records. “2020 was the best (golf) year ever,” they say. “And 2021 was even better.” “Not necessarily,” Stephen Kahler of Kahler Golf Management tells me, noting the game itself was responsible for THIS boom (not just one individual – Tiger).
Voyager Village – A Sort Of Golf Resort
Voyager Village is technically located in Danbury, Wisconsin on Birch Island Lake and surrounded by several other lakes. Though they claim their 5,200-acre property to be “Northwest Wisconsin” it feels more like an extension of Minnesota.
Superior National at Lutsen – The Best Golf Experience In Minnesota
Is Superior National worth the drive? If you’re asking me (as many do) if this 27-hole course overlooking Lake Superior is worth the drive from Duluth (90 miles), Thunder Bay (100 miles), Minneapolis-St. Paul (250 miles) or Chicago (500 miles), my answer is easy, “YES!”
Mystic Lake Casino Hotel – A Golf And So Much More Resort
When the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community purchased a course called Lone Pine in 2002, they didn’t do so just to own a golf course. They did it because they wanted to redesign that design into one of the best golf courses, not only in the Twin Cities, but in all of Minnesota.
CRAGUN’S RESORT – A Glimpse Into The Future
The owners of Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota though… they’re not most of us. They had bigger plans. MUCH bigger plans. 30 Million Dollar plans.
Breezy Point Resort – Top Of The List
Everyone has their list… their list of places they love to stay… and of places they love to play. Such is the case for me with Breezy Point Resort and Deacon’s Lodge, right here in Minnesota.
Hawktree Golf Club – Nationally Ranked, But Underrated
Hawktree,” I replied. “It’s in Bismarck, North Dakota.” Another writer chimed in with an emphatic “Yes!” and “I love that course!” Everyone else was at a geographic and experiential loss.
