2023 Golftime Midwest Summer/Fall

Contents

Flight Of Fancy

Head for the hills of Illinois’

Galena Territory, home to awesome Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa

Amazing Stories

2023 Great Golf Story Contest showcases magical moments made on the golf course

Northwest Passage

Northern Michigan’s famed M-22 highway, home to gorgeous views and some great golf

24 34 42

50 58

Rock & Roll

Utah’s Road Scholar golf getaway mixes geology with great, gorgeous golf instruction

Rising Above

Chicago-area clubmaker Sub 70 taking its direct-to-consumer designs higher than ever

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

It’s The Journey …

As many studies have shown, the secret to true happiness isn’t found in the trinkets or treasures we collect across our lifetimes — it’s found in the journey along the way. Indeed, it’s experiences that provide the most happiness bang for your buck, and the stories you collect on all those roads you travel.

PRESIDENT

John Hughes

GENERAL MANAGER

Jim Kelsh jim@killarneygolfmedia.com

MARKETING AND SALES

Megan Augustin megan@killarneygolfmedia.com

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

We have plenty of stories (and roads) for you to try and travel in this issue, starting with our feature story all about the hidden gems found along one of America’s most incredible roadways — Michigan’s famous M-22. You’ll find charming towns and challenging, beautiful Midwestern golf at every turn, so make sure you turn to Danny Freels’ feature starting on page 42.

Turn your attention westward for a road less traveled, with our Road Scholar feature by Dennis McCann, starting on page 50. The Road Scholar program is a truly unique golf-and-geology (yes, geology) trip set in a truly unique place, Utah’s Zion National Park. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind golf getaway on a road people keep returning to.

Stick closer to home with Gary D’Amato’s excellent entry on Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, nested nicely in the gorgeous rolling hillside of Galena, Illinois, along the state’s winding Highway 20. It turns out that rolling farmland makes Eagle Ridge Resort a perfect place for some pulse-pounding golf, like the Andy North-designed gem called The General. Fly over to our feature starting on page 24.

Of course, some of the best stories in this issue aren’t from the expert aficionados of our writing team, they come from you, our esteemed readers, who submitted a sensational smorgasbord of terrific tales for our Great Golf Story Contest. We hand-picked some of the very best for this print edition, starting on page 34. Look for much more online at golftimemag.com, and thanks to all of you who shared the fond memories from your golfing travels.

But the road home is a long one in this issue, with stops along the way in Sycamore, Illinois, home to the upstart, direct-to-consumer golf club manufacturer Sub 70 (page 58), as well as a summertime golf shopping spree with our Gear Guide (page 72), and news on some of region’s up-and-coming destinations (Bump & Run, page 8).

So please, read on. We hope you enjoy this journey as much as we have.

Thanks for reading.

COURSE OF THE WORLD TPC Dorado Beach, Dorado, Puerto Rico

Here in this 100-mile-wide stretch of pure tropical paradise, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico offers an endless array of activities, from surfing in Rincon, to kayaking bioluminescent bays, to of course, great golf. Two of the finest on-course offerings are found at the TPC Dorado Beach, in the scenic north shore town of Dorado. With

the oceanfront East Course and the somewhat stiffer Sugarcane Course, guests can take their pick of these twin tests of golf. Just make sure to leave time for the beach (besides the bunkers).

Visit doradobeach.com

Bump & Run

NEWS & NOTES FROM THE WORLD OF GOLF

The ‘Stadium Course’

The Upper Deck Turning Midwest Stadiums into Golf Extravaganzas

Think of it as the love child of Topgolf and the Home Run Derby. Meet the thrilling new pop-up golf tour coming to a stadium near you: Upper Deck Golf.

If you’ve ever sat behind home plate and wondered if you could hit a pitching wedge out of the park, this event is for you. Here’s your chance to play an epic round of short-course golf inside the upper deck of some of America’s

Scary Good

greatest stadiums, to greens on the turf below. The holes range from 90-150 yards, with a festival atmosphere featuring music, food and drink and golf challenges around the stadium. Events are planned this summer at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Detroit’s Comerica Park, Minneapolis’ Target Field, and Cleveland Browns Stadium. Tickets vary by location, starting as low as $49. upperdeckgolfing.com.

Ghost Golf suddenly appeared on the golf scene in the fall of 2020, and despite the pandemic has quickly become a power player in the accessory market, with the No. 1 golf towel in the industry. But the company’s bags are especially supernaturally good, like its Anyday Saya bag, one of five offerings. A blend between cart and carry bag, the Saya is just 6.5 pounds, but packed with all the features you need: Club dividers (seven or 14), putter well, dual straps, carbon-fiber stand base, magnetic pocket and more.

And not to mention, it’s just scary sexy. $380. ghostgolf.com.

Bump & Run

Heaven Sent

The Cardinal breaks Metro Detroit’s drought of new courses in stunning style

With the most exciting development in more than two decades on the Metro Detroit public golf scene, St. John’s Resort in the charming suburb of Plymouth, Michigan will answer the prayers of golfers across the Midwest.

The resort, thanks to the ownership of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, who bought it from the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit in 2021, has been busy transforming the longtime 27-hole facility into a world-class, 18-hole championship destination, with The Cardinal course set to open in April 2024.

Golftime Magazine got a sneak peek at the $50 million project, thanks to architect Ray Hearn and Executive Director of Golf Stan Witko. While it might be months away from its debut, what we found was an exciting new entry on the Midwest’s great golf scene, one that will most certainly be in the running for

any number of “Best New” course awards next year.

“This is an absolutely golf-crazy area,” Witko said, during an early tour of the seemingly already-ready course. “It’s really unique. So we’re going to do it right, firstclass. This is going to be a unique property.”

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, the non-profit arm of the massive homebuilding empire, tapped Michigan-based, award-winning architect Hearn to handle the huge project, which took 27 existing holes and essentially started from scratch on the 200-plus-acre property, which will also include a seven-hole short course, and twoacre putting course.

Visit stjohnsresort.com for more information, and we’ll have much more about this exciting project online and in the next issue. Stay tuned!

Bettinardi Takes Its Show On the Road

Chicago’s best-known boutique clubmaker, Bettinardi Golf, is taking its famous Studio B fitting studio on the road for the first time this summer, relocating it from above its shop floor in Tinley Park, Illinois, just down the road to a new location in Oak Brook.

“It has been my ultimate dream come true to open a storefront in the best shopping location in our home state of Illinois,” said the company’s CEO/founder/legend

Bob Bettinardi. “Studio B Oak Brook will allow us to fit our Tour staff and customers with the best technology in the world, in addition to providing the most premium shopping experience in golf. We could not be more thrilled.”

The new brick-and-motar location will host future high-profile events and be the go-to hub for the clubmaker’s world-famous putter and wedge fittings. bettinardi.com.

GOLF TECH: GolfLync Gets Golfers Together

Golf is great anytime, but the better the company, the better the game. But finding the right foursome can be a tricky task for a lot of us.

Now there’s an app for that: GolfLync.

Like Tinder for golfers, GolfLync helps connect players who might pair best together. Do you like music? Do you take gimmies? Walking? Gambling? Just pick your preferences and swipe to find a fitting foursome.

The app also includes social media elements to start conversations, find golf groups of interest, and much more. Available for Apple iOS and Android. Free.

Less IS More: Bucks Run Trims Back & Better Than Ever

When the Fisher family hired Jerry Matthews to turn their 290-acre former quarry in the Mid-Michigan college town of Mount Pleasant into a championship golf course in 1999, they handed the architect a beautiful slate to work with: Hills, mature trees, wetlands, ponds, and even two miles of Chippewa River frontage.

Matthews’ masterpiece opened a year later in 2000, and since then Bucks Run Golf Club has played host to U.S. Amateur qualifiers,

junior tour events, and thousands and thousands of satisfied customers.

Like everything, it also became a bit overgrown in the nearly 25 years since then. So club management decided that less is more, and had more than 1,000 trees removed from the course, dramatically improving the sight lines, playability and even strategy.

The result has Bucks Run Golf Club back atop your must-play list in Mid-Michigan this year. bucksrun.com.

News of the Weird Happy Gilmore heading to Ball State

He’s got the name, but it turns out, he’s got the game, too.

Landon “Happy” Gilmore is headed off to play in college, at the Midwest’s own Ball State.

Gilmore, who earned his famous nickname at the age of 9 after winning a long-drive contest, has signed a letter of intent to play for the Cardinals, in his home state of Indiana. The incoming freshman from Bloomington shot a 66 at a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier this summer, and is No.

497th in the Golfweek/Sagarin boys rankings.

The news garnered kudos from Adam Sandler, who famously starred as Happy Gilmore in the golf comedy, as well as from Christopher McDonald, Happy’s on-screen nemesis Shooter McGavin.

We don’t know if the real Happy will end up with a Tour championship, but we do know he’d better stay away from Ball State’s ninth green at 9.

Bump & Run

Bucks Run

There Can Be Only One

LIV/PGA/DP World Tour merger shakes golf’s foundation

Hostile takeovers are usually reserved for other industries, but the upstart, Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour’s merger with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour this year has the industry in an uproar. And while the dust has yet to settle on the implications, one thing is clear:

The game, once firmly rooted in tradition, isn’t immune from ground-shaking change.

Check out our tournament schedule on page 66 for more about LIV Golf’s event at Chicago’s Rich Harvest Farms this September, and email editor@golftimemag.com to share your thoughts about golf’s big shakeup!

Great Lakes Golf Co. Making Waves

The direct-to-consumer golf market is growing by leaps and bounds (see our Industry Insider on page 58 for more), and it’s opening doors for new companies everywhere — including right here in the Midwest.

For proof, look no further than Great Lakes Golf Co., in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Great Lakes Golf Co. lets golfers around the Midwest play with pride from their home region, repping everything from premium head covers and gloves, to tees, towels, bags and even top-quality balls.

Ironically, the company started with an idea formed on one of the country’s premier properties — Pebble Beach.

“We were playing Pebble last summer and talked about how there should be an apparel company focused on the Great Lakes region, which has some of the best golf around,” said co-founder Aaron Chamberlain. “We started to look at it, and thought, ‘Maybe we can do this.’”

Do it they have. And they’re not done yet. The company plans on expanding its product line, including subscription boxes of its goods, events and partnerships with courses and clubs around the region.

We’ve tested the Tour 3 Distance balls, and were impressed with the length off the tee and the feel around the greens.

Like the golf found in the Great Lakes, Great Lakes Golf’s products are definitely the real deal. greatlakesgolfco.com.

Indy Named No. 8 Most Affordable Golf Town in the U.S.

With nearly three dozen golf courses and a median home price still south of $250,000, it’s no secret to Midwesterners what a steal of a deal Indianapolis can be for golfers. But the city was named the No. 8 most affordable golf city in America by Realtor.com, outing it for the rest of the country.

“In Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, homes within 10 minutes of a golf course are still 40% less expensive than the national

average. And there are a surprising number of golf courses in this region,” the site says.

With excellent area tracks like the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Prairie View, the Ron Kern-designed Purgatory Golf Club and plenty of Pete Dye tracks like The Fort and Brickyard Crossing, it’s little wonder why Indy is considered a treasure trove of great golf that won’t cost a goldmine.

Now stop telling everyone!

Detroit Putter Co. Making Fabulous Flatsticks

decided the time was right to turn pro.

The Detroit Putter Co. is the result, and the group has gone gangbusters out of the gate, with a successful first year. With three models named after local landmarks, including the Woodward and Grand River blades and the Ambassador mallet, named after the famous international bridge, all feature exquisite detail and custom milled faces.

Crafted using precision milling techniques and made in small batches in Michigan using high-quality 303 stainless steel, DPC offers tour-quality products that are soft, balanced, and precise.

One thing’s for sure: The Motor City $299. detroitputterco.com.

The Fort

Springs Course - Architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr.

North Nine Course - Architects Roger Packard and Andy North

Both Rated by Golf

A Peaceful Getaway at The House on the Rock Resort

Getting Started in Golf

By Pamela Saladino

Getting into golf can be a hard start for many. Hitting the golf ball may look simple, but once you step up to that dimpled ball, it can be a love and hate relationship from that first swing. There is so much to know when learning the game of golf, including rules, proper etiquette, dress code, stroke play, penalties, proper warm-up — not to mention everyone’s swing advice; keep your head down, keep your arm straight, slow down, keep your eye on the ball … The list is endless.

So where do you start?

Here are my top tips if you (or someone you know) want to get started in the game of golf:

Find a friend — Golf isn’t the easiest sport to learn, but if you have a friend that plays golf, they can help get you started and may even have a few clubs for you to practice with.

Invest in the tools — Start with a beginner’s “complete” set of clubs. Once you can make good contact and have developed a common ball flight, you may want to consider being fitted into a new set to take your game to the next level.

Search for a local LPGA or PGA Professional in your area with programs for beginners. Start with the fundamentals — “GPA.” Grip: Get a grip and understand which of the three grips suits your game best. Posture: Building a good posture and a solid set up position is key to avoiding common swing issues in

Grip and alignment are key fundamentals when learning to play golf.

playing golf and staying consistent. Lastly, alignment: Almost all swing issues are a result of poor alignment, understanding alignment is key in your golf journey.

Practice — Whether it’s at the range or Topgolf, spending time with your new swing is key. Once you’re comfortable challenge yourself to a par-3 course.

Understanding the game — Whether it’s learning the terminology, rules, or etiquette, watching golf on TV or in movies will elevate your golf knowledge.

Laugh off the bad shots — Golf is not a game of perfection. You will have bad shots and great shots. Therefore, don’t worry about what others are thinking. Lastly, it’s just a game, so have fun!

Pamela Saladino PGA Professional

Pamela Saladino joined the Beloit Club in 2017 and now serves as the lead instructor for Ironworks Golf Academy. She is the driving force behind IGA’s popular Women’s Golf Academies, which are designed for women of all playing abilities and helps students improve all areas of the game. Pamela was voted Top 50 coach in the world by U.S. Kids Golf in 2020 and 2022. She is the site director for the popular LPGA Girls Golf of Beloit Academy. Her passion for growing women in the game of golf is unmatched, and she is a strong mentor to any golfer looking to learn the game of golf or take their game to the next level. She is U.S. Kids certified and a certified club fitter with Titleist, Ping, Callaway, TaylorMade, and Mizuno.

Ironworks Golf Academy

625 3rd St., Suite 100, Beloit, WI 53511

608-473-0095

www.ironworksgolfacademy.com

Rules of the Game A Lot at Stake

Sure, you’ve been playing golf for awhile, right? You think you know the rules — or at least how you and your crew play every Saturday morning. But do you really? Time to find out, with a simple primer on what is absolutely no one’s favorite topic: Hazard stakes.

Q: What do the different colored stakes on a golf course mean?

A: The different colored stakes on a golf course indicate different areas of the course where you may not be able to play your ball from. The three most common colors of stakes are white, red, and yellow.

White stakes indicate out of bounds. If your ball comes to rest in an area marked by white stakes, you must take stroke and distance relief. This means that you must go back to the spot where you last hit your ball and add one penalty stroke. Alternatively, you may also use the recently added Local Rule, which allows you to take to the edge of the fairway no closer to the hole, along with two penalty strokes.

Red stakes indicate lateral hazards. If your ball comes to rest in an area marked by red stakes, you have four options for relief:

1. Play the ball as it lies - no penalty

2. Stroke and distance - go back to the spot you last played fromone penalty stroke

3. Drop a ball within two club lengths of where it last crossed the margin of the penalty area - one penalty stroke

4. Back on the line relief- drop a ball on the extension of the line keeping the point that it last crossed the margin of the penalty area and the hole in line. Ball must come to rest within one club length of that spot - one penalty stroke

Yellow stakes  indicate water hazards. If your ball comes to rest in an area marked by yellow stakes, you have three options for relief:

1. Play the ball as it lies - no penalty

2. Stroke and distance - go back to the spot you last played fromone penalty stroke

3. Back on the line relief - same as above - one penalty stroke

Well? How’d you do? We thought so. But when it comes to stakes, the best rule is to just keep it between the pipes! Good luck and hit ’em straight.

Rumor has it that red shoulder hawks prefer red hazard stakes.

Where EAGLES Dare

SENSATIONAL EAGLE RIDGE RESORT & SPA OFFERS

HIGH-FLYING FUN AT EVERY TURN

BY GARY D’AMATO

GALENA, Illinois — Illinois is known for many things, but diverse geography isn’t one of them. The state’s residents come by their “flatlander” nickname honestly. In fact, the tallest point in Illinois is at the top of the Willis Tower in downtown Chicago, a whopping 1,451 feet above sea level.

Mostly, it’s land spreadin’ out so far and wide … except in the far northwest corner of the state. Anyone who has driven on Hwy. 20 west of Freeport and toward Dubuque, Iowa, will testify that it’s a white-knuckle series of hairy turns, plummeting drops and four-cylinder-taxing climbs. Get stuck behind a slowmoving semi and your patience will be tested.

That corner of Illinois is part of the Driftless Area, untouched by glaciers during the last Ice Age and characterized by steep hills, forested ridges and deeply carved river valleys.

It’s where you’ll find the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, part of the 6,800-acre Galena Territory, a recreational and residential lake community located six miles east of the historic city of Galena.

I spent a recent long weekend at Eagle Ridge and played 54 of the resort’s 63 holes of championship golf, including The General, a rollicking romp through wooded terrain and vertigo-inducing elevation changes.

Let’s start there and work backward. The General was the last of the three 18-hole courses I played, and the best. Designed by two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North of Madison, Wisconsin, and the late Roger Packard, the course opened in 1997 to much fanfare.

PREVIOUS SPREAD: The General’s awesome eighth hole. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The North Course’s excellent par-3 eighth hole. The risk-reward of the General’s fantastic, 357-yard fifth hole. The General’s clubhouse is contemporary classic comfort.

HISTORY & HOSPITALITY

Galena gives visitors old-world charm and modern comforts

If you’re staying at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, you never have to leave the property. There’s plenty to see and do, plus a general store and a fine restaurant in the main lodge. But then you’d be missing out on what the area has to offer:

GALENA CELLARS VINEYARD & WINERY: Created by the Lawlor family in 1974, the winery offers a behind-the-scenes tour for those interested in learning about the art of winemaking and the history of this vineyard. Guests who wish to stay at the Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery can choose between a one-bedroom Vineyard Suite and a twobedroom Vineyard Farmhouse. 4746 N. Ford Road, Galena (about six miles from the center of town). (815) 777-3235. There also is a tasting room and restaurant at 111 N. Main St. in Galena. (815) 777-3330.

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE SQUARE: One hour east of Eagle Ridge in Freeport, visit the site of the second of the famous debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. It was here on Aug. 27, 1858 that the Freeport Doctrine, an important statement regarding slavery and states’ rights, was proclaimed by Douglas. Although he won the Senatorial campaign for which the debate was held, his statements lost him the support of the South and split the Democratic Party. This enabled Lincoln to win the Presidency in 1860, thus precipitating the Civil War. The site is self-interpretive through a series of waysides and also includes a boulder and plaque dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. Grab an ice cream cone next door at the Union Dairy, an ice cream parlor founded as a creamery in 1914. 114 E. Douglas St., Freeport.

GALENA: The historic lead-mining town, six miles west of Eagle Ridge, is known for its well-preserved 19th-century buildings and a picturesque main street lined with boutiques, gift shops and trendy restaurants such as Fried Green Tomatoes, Little Tokyo and Frank O’Dowd’s Irish Pub. Nearly 62% of Galena’s buildings are in a National Register Historic District. The population is just a bit over 3,200, but the city attracts 1 million visitors annually. The entire downtown is walkable, but parking can be a challenge.

VINEGAR HILL LEAD MINE AND MUSEUM: Founded in the early 1800s by John Furlong, an Irish soldier, and passed down through subsequent generations, the underground mine is maintained as a tourist attraction by Mark Furlong, John’s great-great-great-grandson. Guided half-hour tours take visitors into the mine; the museum features lead and ore samples along with mining tools. 8885 N. Three Pines Road, Galena. (815) 777-0855.

ULYSSES S. GRANT HOME: On Aug. 18, 1865, Galena celebrated the return of its Civil War hero, General Ulysses S. Grant. Following a jubilant procession with much flag waving and speeches, a group of Galena citizens presented the general — and future U.S. president — with a furnished house on Bouthillier Street. Grant’s Home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. 500 Bouthillier St., Galena. (815) 777-3310.

Building it was as much an engineering feat as it was an architectural challenge.

“It was really fun to do but there was a lot of rock costs,” North said. “There was tons of blasting. I think we took out more than 1 million cubic yards of rock. And then the year that we planted, it was the summer that we had a couple 100-year rains and a couple 500-year rains. We planted the 17th hole multiple times. It just washed out. We sodded it once and there was a big pile of sod at the bottom of the hill.”

The General is named after President

golfers can see, on the horizon, the northeast corner of Iowa and the southwest corner of Wisconsin. If you like drama with your double-bogeys, you’ve come to the right spot. Because of the elevation change, the fairway — which looks like a green ribbon far below — is difficult to hit. A slight pull or push is exaggerated and winds up in the woods.

Then, after you’ve hit your tee shot(s), you must negotiate a series of tight switchbacks with your cart to get to the bottom.

North, in fact, wanted the tee boxes to be built lower on the hill.

“I didn’t love that tee but everybody involved wanted it there,” he said. “It’s the hole that people talk about. It’s a hard tee shot. You have no idea if your ball is ever going to come down.”

The rest of The General is a splendid journey through hilly, wooded terrain and rock outcroppings. The nines have been reversed since the course opened and what was once the first is now No. 10, my favorite hole. It’s a par-4 that tumbles downhill and plays considerably shorter than its 407 yards. I’m a short hitter and I hit driver, 9-iron.

A silo standing next to the clubhouse is a reminder that this area once was a cattle ranch. But The General is a course you wouldn’t want to hoof.

Ulysses S. Grant, who lived briefly in Galena in the 1860s. It’s unlikely that Grant ever stood on what is now the fifth tee; if he did, he likely uttered “Tarnation!” or some such.

The fifth is a 357-yard par 4, but the yardage is almost immaterial because of the 180-foot drop to the fairway. From the tee,

The other two courses I played, the North and South, are softer around the edges than is The General. That doesn’t mean they are pushovers.

The North, the first championship course built at Eagle Ridge, was designed by Packard and opened on July 4, 1977. It is characterized by elevated tee boxes and views of Lake

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The resort’s North Course is one of architect Roger Packard’s best designs. The hotel bar is the place for a post-round respite. Packard’s South Course is a fun, fairly gentler alternative to The General. Lake Galena is one of the many reasons tourists flock to the area.

THAT CORNER OF ILLINOIS IS PART OF THE DRIFTLESS AREA, UNTOUCHED BY GLACIERS DURING THE LAST ICE AGE AND CHARACTERIZED BY STEEP HILLS, FORESTED RIDGES AND DEEPLY CARVED RIVER VALLEYS.

Galena and the surrounding countryside. The tee shot on the par-3 eighth hole crosses the corner of the 225-acre manmade lake.

The South Course opened in 1984 to rave reviews. It winds through a wooded valley, with streams coming into play on 11 of the 18 holes. The signature hole is No. 18, a 406yard par 4 with the tee on a shelf some 90 feet above a landing area threaded between water on both sides. A stream crosses the fairway 265 yards from the tee.

With a Slope Rating of 141 and a Course Rating of 72.8 from the back tees, the South Course is considered the most difficult of the three championship layouts because of the water hazards and the shotmaking demands.

I didn’t play the East, a nine-hole, par-34 that is ideal for beginners and juniors. The course also has FootGolf tees and modified family course tees.

My accommodations were in the resort’s main lodge, which has 80 rooms featuring whirlpool tubs (say “ahhh” after 18 holes), WiFi and flat-screen TVs. Some have patios, balconies or fireplaces. There are also more than 300 villas and rentals.

Besides golf, outdoor activities include hot air ballooning, fishing, biking and, in the winter, ice skating and cross-country skiing. A resort fee covers use of an indoor pool, a gym and a resort shuttle.

“It’s a very interesting area and it’s a neat place to go spend a weekend,” North said. “You go play golf and if your wife doesn’t want to play there’s plenty of stuff for her to do.”

My wife does not play golf, so she spent an afternoon getting pampered at the Stonedrift Spa, a 12,000-square-foot standalone building a short walk from the lodge. The spa offers massages, body treatments, dry salt experiences, halo therapy and facials.

In the evening we walked down the path leading to Lake Galena and admired the sunset and the ospreys circling above. It was the perfect way to relax before tackling Hwy. 20 the next morning.

If you’re visiting Eagle Ridge, drive carefully — on and off the course.

For more information on Eagle Ridge Resort or Galena, visit eagleridge.com.

The Roger Packard and Andy North-designed gem called The General is a pulse-pounding experience you’ll want to salute.

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF LAKESIDE

LODGING | DINING | SPA | GOLF

EXPLORE LAKE LAWN RESORT

This historic area landmark, set along two miles of Delavan Lake’s shoreline, is the ultimate destination for year-round getaways, retreats, weddings, meetings, and events.

Located just minutes west of Lake Geneva, Lake Lawn Resort is a full-service resort offering spacious and well-appointed guest rooms, 18-hole championship golf, boat and water sport rentals, lakeside bonfires, three pools, a marina, an award-winning spa, and multiple dining options, including our signature 1878 on the Lake.

Cinderella STORIES

Readers offer truly legendary entries in the Great Golf Story Contest

If you play this maddening, magical game long enough, you’ll collect your share of spectacular, silly, or downright sentimental stories about the family, friends and fond memories we make along the way.

We asked you, our readers, to share your very best tales of yore (and “Fore!”), in the second Golftime Magazine Great Golf Story Contest. And hoo boy, did you all come through with some doozies.

We have stories on surviving severe storms at St Andrews, rubbing elbows with greatness (Mr. Arnold Palmer himself), and even elbowing one of golf’s bad boys! No more spoilers here, though, read on and enjoy them yourself!

Congratulations go out to Jerome Koncel, of Schaumburg, Illinois, who won the grand prize drawing with a trip to the incredible Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa. Congratulations, Jerome!

For more on Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, see our feature on page 24.

A Rematch Worth Waiting For

I was playing the Match Play Championship at Cog Hill in 1987, and I was playing Van Salmans, the same person I did in 1986, when I lost 7-6. When I was returning to the clubhouse after the 1986 defeat, I uttered to myself, “This will never happen again. I will not lose by this score ever again.”

The 1987 match had us even after five holes, with similar scores of three pars, one bogey, and one birdie. The sixth hole is a 200-yard, par-3, with traps in front and on both sides of a multi-tiered green. Van went

first, hitting a great shot right at the pin; in fact it hit the pin and bounded straight right into a trap.

I hit my shot and it landed just above the front trap but bounced straight up and landed in the fringe, instead of rolling back into the trap. A good bounce for me, a terrible result on a great shot for my opponent, and I went on to win the hole with a par.

Our match went back and forth for the next 10 holes, and I was one up going to the 18th hole.

We both hit drives into a sandtrap on the left side of the fairway, about 180 yards from the green. I hit first and my ball hit just left of the green and bounded into the water. Van hit his shot into the same water. We both chipped up and I had a 7 foot putt for bogey to win the match and Van had a 6-footer. Mine missed on the high side, while Van stroked his putt, which hit the cup and careened to the right.

He congratulated me and said, “You’ve really improved a lot!” I told him, “Thanks for a great match and those kind words.” Inside my brain, I said to myself, “It’s all because of how good you played last year.”

We went into the bar, had a few beers, and Van and I became good golfing buddies. And I became a true believer in that old golf adage, “Never give up.” It also helps to be lucky like on the sixth hole, when you get a good break and your opponent gets a bad one.

Jerome Koncel Schaumberg, IL

Arnie & The Good Old Days

I won four lottery tickets for Wednesday’s practice round for the 2012 Masters.

The immediate question was, who else should I invite besides my two golf-crazed

sons (Chris and Tyler) to fill out our foursome to Augusta? Rightly so, we invited Chris’s future father-in-law, Jack Harris (also a serious golf nut and just like the rest of us, he always dreamed of going to The Masters). It also gave him and my son time to bond together. As it turned out, that trip was everything we could have dreamed about and more. It was the trip of a lifetime.

We had a wonderful time touring the course, watching the pros up close, eating pimento cheese sandwiches and buying Masters merchandise for everyone back home.

Then finally, we took in the par-3 contest. We, along with every other patron in attendance, wanted to follow the threesome of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Unfortunately, when we got to the first hole, both the tee box and the first green were surrounded by patrons 10 deep. So my sons and Mr. Harris had to settle for a spot next to the ropes at the bottom of the hill in front of the first green, which is perched at the top of a little hill. Both Gary and Jack’s opening tee shots were solid hits that ended up close to the pin. However, when Arnie hit, his tee ball came up a little short of the green and rolled down the hill and ended up right between my oldest son Chris’s feet, behind the ropes. Arnie walked up to Chris, placed his hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Why didn’t you kick my ball back in the fairway,” Arnie asked. “You know, they used to do that in the old days.”

My son didn’t know what to say or do. Then Arnie flashed a big smile, winked, and said, “But these aren’t the old days, are they?”

Arnie chipped his ball onto the green, walked up and putted out.

Mr. Harris, who was a proud member of “Arnie’s Army” back in the 60s and 70s, was standing right there and saw the whole thing

unfold. To say he was over the moon was an understatement. We knew right then and there Chris would be welcomed into the Harris family with open arms, and we’ve told the story of that trips countless times since then.

John Gray Rockford, Michigan

The Heavy Stuff Won’t Come Down For Awhile …

It had been a lifelong dream to play at St Andrews with my two sons, Jason (then 28) and Ryan (then 24), when we made our maiden voyage to Scotland in July 2006. I was 57, an elementary school principal and recovering from prostate cancer. It was a trip of a lifetime for our entire family, including my wife, Lynn, and our two sons who were both about to start new jobs.

We arrived at the New Course on a cloudy day for our 10 a.m. tee time. I was playing well and finished the front nine with two birdies for a 38. Just as we teed off from No. 10, it started to rain. Now, we had come prepared, so we donned our rain gear to battle our way through the elements. Rain is one thing, but then came the lightning. Ryan is 6-feet-6, and he looked at me and quipped, “That lightning is so close the hair on the back of my head just stood up!”

Another bolt hit even closer and the boys said in unison, “I think we need to head in!”

I turned to them and replied, “Look, there is no shelter between here and the clubhouse. If we play in or walk in, we will still be in the lightning!” I implored them to play out this dream and if any of us died, their mother would have one heck of a story to tell at the funeral. Then I told them the most important

part. I had a great chance of breaking 80 at St Andrews! Happily we made it through an uneventful back 9. With the rain pounding down, I three-putted the 18th for 80! Lynn greeted us at the car. “I knew you would stay out there!” she said.

As usual, she was right.

Scott Brunswick

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Tin Cup Moment

We were playing our annual sisters golf weekend and one day we played at The Bog. There was a short par 4 with a creek running across the approach to the green. My sister, who is about a 10 handicap, was about 15 yards from the pin on the other side of the water. She hit one and it hit a rock and came back. She hit it again and it went in the water. She hit another one and it spun back into the water. We were all on the green already thinking she’d be on no problem. We were laughing so hard we were rolling on the ground. It wasn’t like her at all. She FINALLY made it on the green and finished the hole. I can’t remember her score or if she even put one down. When I play that hole I always think about her.

Mary Schingen

Mount Calvary, Wisconsin

A Price-Less Pairing

It was 2016, and I have two Masters tickets for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. We decide to play the UGA course in Athens on the off day and the starter tells us we are paired with a guy named “Nick Price.” No, not that Nick Price, but this guy and his buddy are from Scotland over for a three-week golfing trip and Masters package they won overseas. By the end of the round, we were al-

ready connected on social media. We stayed in touch and when my wife and I, decided to go to Scotland along with another couple, Nick offered to pick us up from the airport in Edinburgh. Mind you, I have only met this guy for four hours on the course at this point. Well, he and his wife meet us, and tour us around Edinburgh for the day. At the end of the day they ask us what our plans are for tomorrow. We tell him we are going to the Edinburgh castle and he says that he knows the commander and he’ll get us a behindthe-scenes tour. Again, another day of touring Edinburgh and they ask what we are doing tomorrow. We tell him we are renting a car and driving toward the Isle of Skye. He tells us he knows some awesome spots and offers to drive his car with us. So they spend the whole day driving with us up to Skye and we part ways.

Fast forward, we come home from Scotland and the trip emboldened me to plan our first golf trip over there. After the pandemic, we finally head over last year and we met up again twice with Nick for dinner — with each time him coming over an hour each way to meet up with us.

It’s safe to say this one pairing in Georgia in 2016 made lifelong friends in Scotland of not only Nick but his entire family.

John Stravinski

Windsor, Wisconsin

What Did You Just Call Me?

My friend and I were at the Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club in 2012. We were getting a beer at the concession stand off the 12th hole when we heard a ball bounce off the top of the tent. Everyone ran to the ball to watch the next shot being played. We got there first and had to hold our ground as

the crowd pushed against us to get a spot to watch. Some guy shoved me in the back to get past me and I gave him an elbow to the chest to hold my spot. To my surprise, it was Sergio Garcia, who yelled at me in his native Spanish, “Tu perra!” (you b*tch). Sergio proceeded to step up and carve a low, drawing 4-iron 200-plus yards through and around the trees right on the green. He turned and looked at me with a big grin on his face and I high-fived him. ”Nice shot, perra!” I said. To this day every time me and my buddy see Sergio on TV, we yell, “TU PERRA!”

Jason Rieger

Elgin, Illinois

Tough Crowd!

I was dating my wife for about a year when I took her golfing. She had never been golfing and was just walking along with me. We got to a par 3. I had never had a hole-in-one. When I hit the shot and it went in the hole I was jumping up and down and hooting and hollering. She looked at me and said, “What are you doing?” I responded – “I got a hole-

in-one.” She quickly responded, “Isn’t that what you are supposed to do?” I picked up my bag and said, “You’re right, honey,” and went onto the next hole. The thrill of my first (and only) hole-in-one was gone in an instant!

Steve Feyen East Dubuque, Illinois

Yes, There Is Golf In Heaven,

But …

Two old guys, Bill and Bert, are sitting on a Milwaukee park bench feeding pigeons and talking about golf just like they did every day. Bill turns to Bert and says, “Do you think there’s golf in heaven?”

Bert thinks a minute and says, “Don’t know, Bill. But let’s make a deal: If I die first, I’ll come back and tell you, and if you die first, you come back and tell me if there is golf in heaven.”

They shake on it and, sadly, a few months later Bill passes on.

One day soon afterward, Bert is sitting there feeding the pigeons, alone, when he

Sergio Garcia

hears a voice whisper, “Bert... Bert....”

Bert responds, “Bill! Is that you?”

“At your service, Bert,” whispers the spirit of Bill.

Bert asks, “So, my friend, is there golf in heaven?”

Bill says, “I got good news and I got bad news for you, Bert.”

“I’ll have the good news first,” says Bert.

Bill says, “There is golf in heaven.”

Bert says, “That’s great! What news could be bad enough to ruin that!?”

Bill says, “Your tee time is on Friday.”

Tom Castagnozzi Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Never Judge A Book …

Roughly 25 golf seasons ago I was a typical mid-20s, fun-having, know-everything, golfer. My three buddies and I had entered a local scramble and were looking forward to having a great time while (hopefully) winning some prizes. Shortly before our tee time, we were notified that one of our team members would not be making it. He claimed “car trouble,” but “hangover” was the more likely culprit.

Soon after this revelation, the local pro notified us that he had a single that would love to join our group. We agreed with hesitation, and were soon introduced to Lois. Lois was a small, quiet, gray-haired lady of about 70 years of age. The three of us immediately shared stares that begged the question, “Are you kidding me?” but had enough good manners not to make a stink. Our foursome for the day was complete.

After two quiet and unremarkable holes, we stepped up to the third tee, a short downhill par-3. After three unremarkable shots by the men, Lois walked up to her tee. She

pulled out driver, executed her notably consistent swing, and sent her ball airborne. The ball traveled about 120 yards in the air, took a couple nice hops, caught some green, and gently rolled straight into the cup.

The ensuing celebration is etched in my memory to this day; screams, hugs, beers, the whole works. It was Lois’s first ace, and we all relished in it.

After that moment, the round took an incredible, joyful turn. The ice was broken, and everyone’s best side was on display. Lois proved to be an energetic and hilarious person. We spent the rest of the afternoon laughing and shouting for every shot, good or bad. We may have begun the day hoping for one thing and ended with another, but we all walked off the course feeling great about the round we played. THIS is why we all love golf so much.

Nick O’Malley Plymouth, Wisconsin

The Tale of the Red-Tailed Hawk

A few years back, my foursome was playing the fourth hole at the local club.

We all hit our drives on the 540-yard, par 5. As we were walking to our balls, a majestic red-tailed hawk flew down near my friend’s ball. He then proceeded to pick up his ball, fly up three or four feet, and drop it again and again! We were dumbfounded! As we got closer to his ball, the hawk grabbed it and started flying down the fairway and veered off 50 yards to the left of the green and landed in a large pine tree!

There, the hawk finally dropped the ball. Myself and the other two golfers decided he must “play it where it lies,” much to his dismay! He had a terrible lie and was in a grove

of trees.

Even though he was lying only one, he proceeded to make a bogey, much to our laughter! Never before or again have I seen such an encounter with any wildlife!

Bob Forberg Muskegon, Michigan

The Hard Way & The Easy Way

The date was July 27, 1973. I was playing with my dad, Moose Krueger and my brother-inlaw Steve Stahlman at Lakeside golf course in Pewaukee, Wisconson. A nine-hole course.

The first and ninth hole played downhill and holes two through eight on a highland which required you to walk up a huge hill to get from hole No. 1 to hole No. 2. My dad did not like walking up that hill so when we were going to play 18 holes we would play two balls on the first and ninth holes and then walk holes two through eight twice.

The first tee was right beneath the clubhouse bar, which was full that day with the windows open. I was a baseball player and

played very little golf. I did not even own a full set. The first hole (112 yards) splayed downhill and there was a hill behind the green that went up to the ninth tee box with a huge tree halfway up the hill.

I teed off first and sculled a 9-iron over the green that hit the tree four times, bounced on the green and went in the hole. (If it wouldn’t have hit the tree it might have hit golfers who were teeing off on No. 9.) The patrons in the bar were all heckling me for being so lucky.

Being a cocky young man, I turned to them and said, “That’s the hard way, I’m about to hit my second tee ball and I’ll show you the easy way.”

I hit the same 9-iron but with a much smoother swing. My ball landed on the green, rolled up and hit the pin, leaving me a 2-inch putt for birdie. The patrons stopped laughing and they all gave me a standing ovation.

I’ve had two hole-in-ones since that date, but neither was as weird as the first one!

John Krueger Hartland, Wisconsin

THE ROAD MUST TAKEN

Don’t miss the fall colors, fabulous sights and fun golf along Michigan’s M-22 highway

BY DANNY FREELS

On the northwest side of Michigan’s lower peninsula, two miles up from the town of Manistee and just above the intersection of the east-west running Highway 55 and the north-south running Highway 31, another two-lane road juts out to the left. Also running north and south but much, much closer to the Lake Michigan shoreline, it’s a portion of the original Michigan trunkline that dates to 1919. Designated back then as the M-22 Highway, it winds its way along the third-largest of the Great Lakes for 116 glorious miles, up and over the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula before turning right at the Village of Northport and heading south along the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay. Twenty-nine miles later, the road formally ends in the popular resort town of Traverse City. In 2015, the readers of USA Today voted the M-22 Highway the “best scenic autumn drive” in America. And it’s hard to argue against it. From start to fin-

ish, M-22 features charming towns, delicious food and tasty wine and brews. There are activities galore, lighthouses to explore, and colors to adore. Plus, there are more than 20 attractive and challenging golf courses to test your game.

Among the many enjoyable tracts in the Manistee area is Manistee Golf & Country Club. Established in 1901, the original nine holes here were laid out by Scotsman Tom Bendelow, often referred to as the “Johnny Appleseed of golf in America.” In 1931 the course was expanded by W.B. “Bruce” Matthews, an early proponent of the game (and prolific architect) who is often referred to as the “Johnny Appleseed of golf in Michigan.” Flattish for the most part but fun to play, Manistee G&CC offers three sets of tees, measurements between 4,327 and 5,651 yards and a par of 70. There are only two par 5s here, both on the back. Six of the holes (3, 4, 12, 13, 14 and 15) sit on a bluff and each

offers gorgeous views of Lake Michigan and

the area, died and was buried in Frankfort in 1675.

For a fun and enlightening side trip near Frankfort, head east around the beautiful blue waters of Crystal Lake to the town of Interlochen. Once there you can take a whack at the very nice Interlochen Golf Course, a Hubert Morris designed that opened in 1965. Heavily treed, frequently narrow and always in excellent condition, Interlochen GC offers four sets of tees with measurements between 4,868 and 6,470 yards. Besides hitting it straight, a good short game is required around the rather small greens. Afterwards, following a bite at Bradley’s Pub & Grille in the clubhouse, be sure to visit the internationally-admired and very beautiful Interlochen Center for the Arts a bit to the south of the course and right between Green Lake and Duck Lake. Established in the 1920s as a small high school music camp (composer and conductor John Philip Sousa first visited here in 1930), the center is now a bustling campus for arts and music

Glen Arbor

Traverse City

Empire

Suttons Bay

Northport

Glen Arbor

Traverse City

Empire

Arcadia

Suttons Bay

Northport

Frankfort

Area Enlarged

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Arcadia Bluffs’ terrific, 431-yard, par-4 12th hole. LEFT: Sandy shoreline is part and parcel with the M-22 experience.

Lighthouses along M-22

North Pierhead Lighthouse.

Location: Manistee; Waterway: Lake Michigan;

Built: 1870; Automated: 1927; Height: 55 feet

Point Betsie Light

Location: Frankfort; Waterway: Lake Michigan;

Built: 1858; Automated: 1984; Height: 52 feet

Robert Manning Lighthouse

Location: Empire; Waterway: Lake Michigan; Built: 1990; Automated: 1990; Height: 38 feet

Grand Traverse Light

Location: Northport; Waterway: Lake Michigan; Built: 1852; Automated: 1972; Height: 47 feet

Mission Point Light

Location: Old Mission Point (Traverse City); Waterway: Grand Traverse Bay; Built: 1870; Deactivated: 1933; Height: 41 feet

students spanning more than 1,200 acres. Back on M-22 and heading north again, the next town on the journey is Empire, right on Lake Michigan and headquarters for the breathtakingly-beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore a few miles further on. Before you take in those sights, however, Joe’s Friendly Tavern downtown is a great place to relax and reboot. Need more

golf? A couple of miles northeast of Empire you’ll find Dunes Golf Club, a fun little layout (only 5,730 yards from the back tees) that was designed by Dean and Tonya Wall. Even though many of the holes at the Dunes are hillier and wider than at Interlochen, the trees lining most of them are much thicker and taller. A happy result is a ton of really pretty greensites.

A few miles north of Empire is an area that needs to be seen to fully appreciate –and it could easily take a whole day to do it. Created over millions of years when the glaciers from Canada gradually receded, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (established in 1970) stretches for 35 miles along the east side of Lake Michigan. Beautiful? Oh, yeah. In fact, in 2011, Good Morning, America named it “The Most Beautiful Place” in the country. There are numerous overlooks throughout the park with stunning views of Lake Michigan and nearby Glen Lake. There are hiking trails and canoeing areas. Depending on the weather, there are opportunities for swimming, boating and/or fishing (the fall is especially good for pacific salmon). And if you’re up to it, there’s also a spot in the park where you can climb one of the highest sand dunes you’ve ever seen – resulting in a Great Lakes view you’ll never forget.

North of the park, M-22 winds through Glen Arbor on the way to the Leelanau Peninsula. Kind of small but big on things to see and do, Glen Arbor is known for fun shopping and tasty meals. Included here is an M-22 store featuring T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and other items displaying the road’s now-famous logo. When it’s time to eat, Art’s Tavern is one of many good choices right in town. If fine dining is what you’re after, an eatery named Blu is located on the

nearby shore of Lake Michigan and offers lovely views of Sleeping Bear Bay and both Manitou islands.

On the road again, heading for the Village of Northport and a really great choice for golf, you’ll pass through the town of Leland, perfectly located between Lake Michigan and the equally beautiful Lake Leelanau. To many visitors, Leland is start of wine country along M-22, and no wonder. From here to Traverse City there are more than 20 vineyards to sample and savor.

Once arriving in Northport, your GPS will show you the way through town and past the lovely marina to Northport Creek Golf Course. Only just opened in 2014, this very enjoyable nine-holer is one of the last layouts

designed by the late, great Michigan course designer Jerry Matthews (son of Bruce). A word to the wise: don’t be put off by the fact that there’s only nine holes here and it only measures just over 3,000 yards from the tips. It’s lots of fun, more challenging than you might expect, and absolutely gorgeous. Based on my first go-around, if there had been enough of the previous farm land to lengthen and expand it to 18 holes, Northport Creek would have become a “must play” in the state of Michigan. Even at nine holes, it’s worth the trip – especially in the fall. The course is strategically bunkered, several of the holes are bordered by beautiful trees, and there’s plenty of water to avoid. In addition, because it’s so close to Lake Michigan, wind is always

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Frankfort’s fan-favorite Stormcloud Brewing. The well-manicured Manistee Country Club. Sleeping Bear Dunes has been voted the most beautiful place in America. Interlochen Golf Course is another of M-22’s many hidden gems.

a factor – sometimes a friend, sometimes a foe. There are three other appealing facts about Northport Creek. For one, it’s only six or seven miles south of Grand Traverse Lighthouse at the very tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, and two, the facility uses the sun to power the golf carts and irrigation system, making it the only solar-powered course in the country. Lastly, just like at famous Lahinch Golf Club in Ireland, there’s a cemetery right next to the first tee.

For another great place to play golf along M-22, drive south out of Northport and head for Suttons Bay. After a few miles you’ll come to Peshawbestown, a community of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Since you’ve been lucky so far, you might want to stop at the Leelanau Sands Casino. If not, then keep going until you see the sign directing you toward Bahle Farms Golf Course to the west of Grand Traverse Bay. Designed by Gary Pulsipher

Long and ‘Wining’ Road

CRU Cellars, Frankfort

Verterra Cellars, Leland

Blustone Vineyards, Lake Leelanau

Chateau Fontaine, Lake Leelanau

Good Neighbor Organic Winery, Northport

Leelanau Cellars, Omena

Blackstar Farms, Suttons Bay

Shady Lane Cellars, Suttons Bay

Bell Lago, Cedar

Peninsula Cellars, Traverse City

and opened in 1999, the course was originally built by the Bahle family (pronounced “baylee”), owners of the Bahle Department Store in Suttons Bay since 1876. Pardon the cliché, but this layout is both beauty and beast. Set on an extremely pretty and massive piece of property with thousands of trees running around and through it, you’ll be shocked when you look at the scorecard – five sets of tees and a back tee measurement of only 6,651 yards. Honestly, this course looks and plays much longer than that. What makes it a brute are the elevation changes here. (I kept wondering where they stored the ski lifts once winter was over.) On many of the holes, the drive is from an elevated tee way down to a valley and then way back up to the wellsloped putting surfaces. Also on many of the holes – if not most – an extra club or two (or more) is needed to get to the green. Trust me.

After your fun day at Bahle Farms, head south again on M-22. The views of Grand Traverse Bay become bigger and better and before you know it you’ll arrive in Traverse City, one of the prettiest spots in all of the Great Lakes. There’s plenty of comfortable lodging, lots more golf, tons of things to see and do, and excellent food and drinks all over town. Two suggestions for dinner: the pizza and cold beer at The Parlor on Lake Avenue and the Cherry chicken salad with a glass or two of CK Mondavi chardonnay at the Blue Tractor on South Union Street. Both are outstanding and its a great way to celebrate your fun, fall journey along one of Michigan’s most scenic highways.

For more information, please visit m22michigan.com, m22colortour.com and/or m22lakeshoretrail.com/golf.

CLOCKWISE FOR UPPER LEFT: Sleeping Bear Dunes’ famed Pierce Stocking Drive. The hidden gem known as Northport Creek. Try your luck at Leelanau Sands Casino. The rollicking roller coaster of a course called Bahle Farms Golf Course. Traverse City is a true jewel in the Midwest’s vacation crowns.

Utah’s ‘Road Scholar’ golf school offers next-level instruction in an unbelievable setting

By Dennis McCann

I hadn’t thought myself a scholar in a very long time (in truth, I wasn’t much of a scholar back when I was supposed to be), but that couldn’t be said for one week this spring. Fully embracing the myth that you are never too old to learn new tricks, I headed for southern Utah where I found myself in the company of two dozen genuine scholars who had all declared majors in putting and chipping – with a minor in rocks.

My companions were Road Scholars, to be precise, golfers from around the country who had similarly signed up for a program that would combine golf instruction with play on four courses, interrupted by a geologist-led excursion to nearby Zion National Park.

When another trip my wife and I had considered taking fell through last fall, we were drawn to this package because it promised “The Best Golf of Your Life – Four Courses in Red Rock Country.” Golf was an easy sell, but throw in the chance to see a bucket-list national park like Zion, an itch we had long ached to scratch, and it didn’t take much to get us to sign on.

In April we flew to Las Vegas, took the St. George shuttle two hours into Utah and were reunited with our golf clubs, which we had shipped on ahead.

It would be our first experience with Road

Scholar, the non-profit organization that offers thousands of educational trips annually around the world, primarily geared toward older adults. (It was formerly called Elderhostel.) But we were familiar with Road Scholar by reputation; friends have taken Road Scholar trips, and I once spoke to a Road Scholar group visiting my hometown of Bayfield where one couple was on their 50th Scholar trip. That seemed something of an endorsement.

St. George, a swiftly growing city of some 100,000 residents, is a hotbed for Road Scholar programs that are offered in conjunction with Utah Tech University. The golf-national park package that we had chosen is offered eight times a year (and always sells out), while other St. George-based programs include 10-day tours of Utah’s five national parks and various hiking packages.

Our seven-day package included six nights of lodging, 17 meals, transportation (not in a yellow school bus but in a Utah Tech luxury motor coach), park admission, golf and carts.

St. George is a popular destination for visitors to Zion, which attracts millions of hikers, campers and sightseers annually, but golf is another major draw. With the 2022 opening of Black Desert Resort Golf Course in nearby Ivins, the last track designed by Tom Weiskopf before his death, the area boasts 14 golf courses, plus another seven an hour away in Mesquite, Nevada.

“That’s a lot of golf courses,” said Rob Krieger, PGA director of instructionat Southgate Golf Club, one of four we would play. “That’s a lot of people coming here for golf.”

Including our two dozen Scholars who had come from far and wide, from Vancouver and Sequim in Washington to Ypsilanti in Michigan, from Bethel in Maine to Smithfield in North Carolina. Wisconsin was represented by my wife, Barb, and me and by Barbie Papamarcos of Grafton.

At our orientation dinner the first night, we went around the room to explain a bit about ourselves as well as to relate how we had come to golf, our approximate handicaps and what we hoped to get from a week of instruction. Some of us had played golf for a very long time, while others had more recently taken the game up in retirement or during the pandemic. Our goals were predictably hopeful, if expectations also

LEFT: Geologist Marc Deshowitz gives the group a history lesson 270 million years in the making. Right: Owned by the City of St. George, Red Hills Golf Course is surrounded by Zion National Park and the Pine Mountain Valley range.

chastened by experience. Golf, remember.

At Southgate, one of four St. George municipal courses, we were split into four groups, the better to tailor instruction to talent (real or perceived.) We began with a refresher on the basics of grip, stance and pre-shot routine before taking clubs in hand. While one group worked on short pitch shots, another went to work on bunker rescues. Another group worked on putting drills. Then, after lunch, it was time for golf.

Our first course was Dixie Red Hills (St. George was long known as Utah’s Dixie because it was founded as a cotton mission under the direction of Brigham Young), a dandy nine-hole muni that comes by its name honestly. Set amidst distractingly spectacular red rocks and with greens quick enough to embarrass the careless, Dixie proved a good test of how much we had paid attention during morning lessons. When I four-putted the sloping first hole I acknowledged I needed to do a little more homework — and didn’t that remind me of my college days — but it was a terrific introduction to St. George golf.

The second morning we returned to Southgate for work on irons and hybrids, tee shots and fairway metals and more putting and chipping. Golf that afternoon was at Sunbrook Golf Course, a 27-hole layout that was once voted as the top course in Utah. Water was the story here, from the

pretty Santa Clara River to fairways dotted with lakes, waterfalls and rock walls.

And then it was on to day three, for one more morning of instruction from our PGA professionals Krieger, Cam Hamill, Rick Allison and Mike Sandberg.

“So after today,” warned group leader and bus driver Paul Peterson, “no more excuses.”

Hey, nobody said our swings were going to be on the quiz. But dutiful Scholars all, we went over recent rule changes before heading out with instructors for more work on chipping, putting and other essentials. Golf in the afternoon was also at Southgate, where the 18 holes come with views of the scenic Tonaquint Mountain and the St. George area.

After three straight days of golf, most of us were ready for something different, and in this case it was the much anticipated Zion National Park, one of the most glorious and majestic of America’s public spaces. We prepped for our Thursday visit by gathering on Wednesday evening for a primer from a funny and entertaining geologist (no, really!) named Marc Deshowitz, who explained how the incredible canyon was formed over some 275 million years of geologic activity that produced today’s sedimentary cliffs, arches and towering canyons, all bisected by the famous Virgin River. There was talk of tectonic plating, volcanic activity, dinosaur tracks and numerous mentions of Navajo sandstone,

Road Scholar offers golf instruction trips to a number of places, including Sedona, Arizona; Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania, Crystal River, Florida (left) and Jekyll Island, Georgia. For more information, or to order a catalog of all Road Scholar programs around the world, visit roadscholar.org.

More Road Scholar Golf Trips

the whitish layer that so nicely sets off the more dramatic red rocks. While much of that passed over my head, if I’m honest, even I was impressed when Deshowitz pointed out every individual layer on every canyon wall or mountain told a different chapter in the earth’s history.

What a story!

Deshowitz continued to entertain on the bus ride to Zion the next day. In hopes of sounding scholarly, and not at all committing mischief (yeah, right) I asked how the

Virgin River got its name. Deshowitz paused for a moment, then asked which explanation I wanted – and how racy? Bring it, I said.

“For the blessed Virgin, of course,” he said. But Paul, who was driving, said there are also some who believe it’s “because nobody’s ever seen its bottom.”

And yet others, Deshowitz said, say “it’s because it runs just fast enough.”

I love geology.

As it turned out, the snowmelt-fed Virgin was not just running but raging through

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: The St. George city-owned Southgate Golf Course might be the prettiest muni on the planet. Zion National Park offers an incredible array of gorgeous canyons, gorges and yes, waterfalls, too. Sky Mountain Golf Course is another magnificent muni, owned by the City of Hurricane near St. George.

the high-walled canyon. One popular hike at Zion is to walk “The Narrows” between two cliffs by wading up the shallow river, but that hike was closed because of the force of the water. We hiked the two-mile trail along the river, an easy-enough walk that brought memorable views of waterfalls, weeping walls and stunning rock formations.

“It’s a great day at the park,” Deshowitz said as we toured further in the afternoon.

“A very special place.”

And, our last day, we turned again to golf.

“We saved the best for last,” said Peterson as we headed for Sky Mountain Golf Course about 15 miles from downtown,

and boy howdy, had they ever. The course is described on its website as “one of the most picturesque and beautiful golf locations in the world” and I suspect not one of our group would disagree with a word of that. Surrounded by Zion National Park and the snow-capped Pine Valley Mountain range, the 18 holes offered one jaw-dropping view after another for our final round. Even the driving range, where it appeared out shots were headed for beautiful mountains in the distance, demanded photo after photo. It was that rare golf course where “wow!” was heard more often than “dammit” and we pretty much wore out wow well before the last hole.

As Deshowitz might have said, had he joined us, “a very special place.”

On our last night we gathered for one more group dinner at a nearby chop house. Awards were presented for a few contests during our days of play, one of our group was presented with a broken watch to reflect how often he had almost missed the bus and Peterson handed out a sheet with more than 20 swing thoughts ranging from “don’t jump” to “clear the hips” to “back to the target” and “don’t shank,” enough swing nonsense to

undo our three days of helpful instruction. And then it was back to the hotel for one more sleep but not before hugs and handshakes with new friends who had been only strangers just days before. Our trip had proven the immersive experience we had hoped, and not only for golf.

For more information, or to order a catalog of all Road Scholar programs around the world, visit roadscholar.org. For more information about Zion National Park, visit nps.gov/zion.

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: The Utah scenery must truly be seen in person to be fully appreciated. The Ledges is a fine example of the stunning golf found in the St. George area. The Road Scholar program is a pilgrimage many make every year.

Beyond the Big Box

Sub 70’s direct-to-consumer business model making big waves in clubmaking industry

By Don Shell

Most days, Jason Hiland confesses, you’ll find him in a hat and hoodie, huddled over the latest design in the Sycamore, Illinois, office of his upstart Sub 70 golf manufacturing brand.

“I don’t wear a suit very often because, you know, we’re kind of like, Internet guys, so I’m usually in high tops, a hoodie and a flat bill, right?” Hiland laughs. “No one sees me.”

Au contraire. The entire golf industry is sitting up and taking notice of Sub 70’s meteoric success since its inception in 2018, with its custom-built clubs made to fit and shipped directly to its customers. Since its launch Sub 70 has quickly made waves in a market long dominated by big-brand, big-box-style sales models. The company is now well known for its premium-quality products at affordable prices, due in large part to its D2C (that’s direct-toconsumer) business plan that cuts out the middle man and keeps everything custom to the buyer.

Initially known for its players’ irons (aimed at the high singledigit handicapper), Sub 70’s earned a warehouse full of accolades for everything from its “001” blade putters (named to My Golf Spy’s “Most Wanted” 2023) to its drivers, woods and wedges, becoming the world’s No. 1 D2C clubmaker in the process.

Sub 70 founder Jason Hiland is a Midwest man through-and-through, growing up in Illinois and attending Wisconsin-Oshkosh before immediately starting a series of golf businesses.

Hiland, who’s been a pioneer in the golf industry since starting his discount retailing website Diamond Tour Golf after graduating from Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the late ’90s, realized the clubmaking industry was ripe and ready for a change.

And hoodie and hightops aside, it was Hiland’s sense of style that made him realize — quite literally — that the timing was just right.

“It kind of started with the success of (direct-to-consumer watch company) Shinola,” Hiland explained. “And how cool that story was. They started the revival when downtown Detroit was starting to get redone. That story just spoke to me.

“I’ve always kind of used that mindset, you know, ‘How do we make things more efficient?’ And then by using tech and just having that relationship with the customer, they can get this really cool high quality watch. One that has great branding and you’re proud to wear it. But, you know, it doesn’t have to cost $6,000, very reasonably priced but no compromise on quality. That

ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING CRAZY, YOU KNOW, DIRECTTO-CONSUMER, BUT HIGH-END, BOUTIQUE, EVERYTHING HAND-BUILT.

Sub 70’s sweet 699s, the player’s irons the boutique clubmaker has become known for.

part was cool, and it just had a cool vibe to it. So I like that story.”

While Hiland’s stylistic inspiration may have come from the Motor City’s famous timepieces, it was another clothier that convinced him the golf industry was ready for something different.

“What really got me over the edge, was when I needed a new suit,” Hiland said. “You know, I don’t want to wear a shady suit, right? Like we’re going out in Chicago and I want the suit to fit nice and look nice, but I don’t want to spend $1,000 on a suit because I’m not going to wear it that much?

“So, I’m watching CNBC one morning and the founder of Combatant Gentlemen is on there. And he basically worked in the industry and then decided to start a suit company that they sold directly to the consumer.

“But the suit was like 180 bucks, and his argument is like when you buy like a $1,000 Hugo Boss suit, you’re paying more for the marketing and Fashion Week on 5th Avenue showroom than the actual cost of the suit.

“So, and the brand was kind of cool. I was like, OK, I get where this guy’s coming from. Then it was OK, if I’m willing to buy a suit this way and not feel that the brand is cheap, people will buy golf clubs that way.

“It pushed me over the edge of like, this is the future. This is how you go.”

Sub 70 was born, the love-child of new tech and old school cool. But it wasn’t an overnight success — it was one 25 years in the making.

“Well, yeah, I mean we had Diamond Tour Golf and Hurricane Golf, which were successful companies, you know,” Hiland

explained. “I made a nice living, and could definitely make that a career. You know, I start Diamond Tour Golf in ’95 after school in Oshkosh, as a golf component company. We still have Diamond Tour. And when the Internet was coming out, our first website was in ’96 and then in ’08, we started Hurricane Golf, focusing on discount golf. Clubs or whatever it might be, we’ll buy a bunch of them, put them on walmart.com and our website and eBay and that’s a fine business, but kind of a commodity.

“You know, we had the facility, we had the two other companies and we had the connections where it’s like, ‘All right, I want to do something like completely crazy, you know, direct-to-consumer, but high-end,

boutique, everything hand-built.

“I thought, ‘If I was going to design my own golf club company, how would I do it? If I don’t care about the market, because I just thought this would be a really boutiqueish niche experiment, like just a labor of love project.

“I didn’t think it was going to have the legs it had because it is different.”

Like so much of success, Sub 70’s can be chalked up to the right time, the right place, and being ready to capitalize on the opportunity.

“Our timing was pretty good because direct-to-consumer was really taking off,” Hiland said. “Think about 20 years ago, when it was more of like a cheap alterna-

Sub 70’s Sycamore, Illinois, headquarters is key to the company’s superb quality control, with each club assembled on site and double-checked for the right loft and lie for each custom order.

tive, and right when we started direct-toconsumer had more lanes than being just a cheap alternative, there were some really cool brands that were doing it too.”

Sub 70’s success has surprised even Hiland.

“It was just a passion project,” he admits, “and then somehow, we caught traction. We’re fortunate, and now it’s bigger than the other two companies combined. If you’d have told me, Zack Fisher is going to be playing our clubs in the Open Championship and I get to go over there inside the ropes and watch our guy play …

“I couldn’t dream that big. It’s incredible.” And it isn’t done yet. Sub 70’s Sycamore headquarters are home to a happenin’ fitting studio, and Hiland isn’t content to rest on his laurels.

“We have the 70 fitting studio in Sycamore that’s done really well, with 35-40 fittings a week,” he said. “But there are no plans right now to go to a PGA Superstore or anything like that. We’re in 14 countries right now. We’re turning into a global brand, and we want to keep expanding, get

the brand awareness out there, but don’t lose the principles that got us here. I don’t want that to be compromised.”

It’s that commitment to style and substance that Hiland said truly sets his clubs apart.

“Every major manufacture is making great clubs these days,” he said. “Ours has a little edgier look, kind of a modern minimalist look. And everything we do is custom made. If we build clubs for Tommy Armour III or Zack Fisher, they’re built just like we build them for you. They’re all handbuilt here.”

For Hiland, home in the Midwest is truly where the heart of Sub 70 is, it seems.

“A, we want to do it here, and B, to get this kind of quality it has to be done here,” he explained. “If you go to a big factory, they’re not going to check the lie angle of each club before it ships. They’re not going to check every club.

“So that’s one principle I’ll never change, they have to be built here.”

For more information, visit golfsub70.com.

The fitting studio at Sub 70’s Sycamore, Illinois, headquarters handles dozens of players per week, but the company’s demo program makes it easy to find the right fit on your own time, too.

Rich Harvest Farms will again host the LIV Tour this fall

Tournament Schedules

Last Hurrahs

Pro golf tours make their final stops in the Midwest this fall

As the 2023 golf season begins to wane, never fear, there is still time to view tournament golf in the Golftime Midwest region.

The LIV Tour will return to the Chicago area this September with the Chicago Invitational to be played at Rich Harvest Farms Sept. 22-24. Cameron Smith is the defending champion. By the way, on the following Monday, the 2023 Ryder Cup gets underway in Italy. Will the LIV Tour lineup be a bit shorthanded once the U.S. Ryder Cup Team is announced? Stay tuned.

The up-and-comers on the Korn Ferry Tour will make two stops in the region in late September (Columbus, Ohio) and in Indiana (Newburgh) in early October. The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship will be played in Columbus Sept. 21-24 and the United Leasing and Finance Championship in Newburgh Oct. 5-8 will close out our Midwest tournament season.

Madison, Wisconsin’s Steve Stricker caps off his amazing summer by defending his championship in the Sanford Invitational to be played Sept. 15-17 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Here’s a look at the remaining professional tournaments for 2023 in the Golftime Midwest region.

Tournament Schedules

Aug. 17-20, Olympia Fields, Illinois

PGA Tour

BMW CHAMPIONSHIP

COURSE: Olympia Fields Country Club

DEFENDING CHAMP: Patrick Cantlay

TV: NBC, Golf Channel

THE SKINNY: Patrick Cantlay posted a one-shot victory over Scott Stallings.

Aug. 25-27, Grand Blanc, Michigan

PGA Tour Champions

THE ALLY CHALLENGE

COURSE: Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club

DEFENDING CHAMP: Steve Stricker

TV: Golf Channel

THE SKINNY: Steve Stricker defeated Brett Quigley to win the tournament by one shot.

Steve Sticker

Photo by Jim Kelsh

Tournament Schedules

Sept. 15-17, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

PGA Tour Champions

SANFORD INTERNATIONAL

COURSE: Minnehaha Country Club

DEFENDING CHAMP: Steve Stricker

TV: Golf Channel

THE SKINNY: Steve Stricker birdied the first playoff hole to defeat Robert Karlsson.

Sept. 21-24, Columbus, Ohio

Korn Ferry Tour

NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CHAMPIONSHIP

COURSE: Ohio State University Golf Course –Scarlet Course

DEFENDING CHAMP: David Lingmerth

TV: Golf Channel

THE SKINNY: David Lingmerth earned a two-shot victory over Paul Haley II.

Sept. 22-24, Sugar Grove, Illinois

LIV Tour

LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL CHICAGO

COURSE: Rich Harvest Farms

DEFENDING CHAMP: Cameron Smith

TV: The CW

THE SKINNY: Cameron Smith posted a three-stroke victory over Dustin Johnson and Peter Uihlein.

Oct. 5-8, Newburgh, Indiana

Korn Ferry Tour

UNITED LEASING & FINANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

COURSE: Victoria National Golf Club

DEFENDING CHAMP: Justin Suh

TV: Golf Channel

THE SKINNY: Justin Suh made three bogeys total in the tournament that he won by two strokes.

The 13th on the Scarlet Course at Ohio State University.

Equipment Preview

GEAR ANOTHER

WE’VE FOUND THE EQUIPMENT TO TAKE YOUR GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL

Stealth 2 Rescue

Golf is a game of unforced pratfalls and inevitable pitfalls and rare is the player who doesn’t need rescuing now and then. It is for just such occasions that the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Rescue was created. Designers employed what they call the Inverted Cone Technology for maximum speed and a lower center of gravity than even the original Stealth Rescue to produce optimal launch and spin. But the Stealth 2 is more than just a get-out-of-jail club, as you’ll discover when you put it into play on hard-to-reach par 5s and long par 3s. $280 taylormadegolf.com.

Vokey WedgeWorks V Grind

The name Vokey is synonymous with wedges, which is why when Vokey WedgeWorks announces new breakthroughs it is well worth listening. The latest wizardry from Vokey is the recently released 58 and 60-degree V Grind wedges, designed for players who want increased bounce on square-faced shots and more relief on open-faced shots. Master designer Bob Vokey said the V Grind wedge provides increased versatility through heel, toe and trailing edge sole relief, allowing the leading edge to stay closer to the ground. It’s great for players who have a neutral to steep angle of attack around the greens. $225. titelist.com.

Footjoy StaySof Golf Glove

The company most associated with joyful feet is here to give you happy hands as well. The StaySof glove of leather and mesh is designed to keep its softness longer thanks to strategically placed perforations and mesh for maximum breathability and durability. The all-climate grip maximizes water and perspiration while still providing desired grip performance and durability. Comes in white with sizes for both men and women. $26. footjoy.com.

Callaway 4-in-1 Divot Repair Tool

A divot repair tool, yes, but so much more. This pocket-sized device includes a metal cleaner for removing stubborn dirt, a bristle brush for keeping grooves clean, an easily reached magnetic ball marker and, yes, a divot repair tool so you can keep greens smooth and puttable. Making the putt is up to you, but this tool will handle every other job. $15. Available on Amazon and dickssportinggoods.com.

Skechers Go Golf Elite 5

When you think drivers, think distance. When you think golf shoes, think comfort, because a hilly, four-hour round demands a lot from your feet. Skechers Go Golf Elite 5 is a fully waterproof lace-up golf shoe with removable arch-fit insole and maximum cushioning. The podiatrist-designed shape comes from more than 20 years of data analysis and research while the removable insole helps reduce shock and increase weight dispersal. Comes with quarter-inch cleats for dependable ground grip. $110. Skechers.com.

Equipment Preview

Wall Mounted Sports Rack

Tired of squeezing multiple bags of clubs into your car trunk or having them take up valuable floor space in your garage? The wall mounted sports rack can store three golf bags off the ground in a simple and efficient manner while leaving floor space for less fun equipment like lawn mowers and snowblowers. Made of powder coated steel, the rack is capable of holding up to 200 pounds. $77. Available at wayfair.com.

Callaway Paradym Driver

Like the search for a better mousetrap, the search for a better driver is never-ending. Callaway’s new entry in the race for more controlled distance is the Paradym, the club the company calls “our best combination of distance, forgiveness and adjustability.” The design promotes high launch and low spin for players of all levels, along with neutral ball flight. $599. callawaygolf.com.

Rokform G-ROK Wireless Golf Speaker

You may be one of those traditional golfers who wants to hear nothing more than bird sounds and “that’s good” during your round, but lots of young golfers wouldn’t go near the course without their tunes. The Rokform G-ROK is compact, easy to use and comes with 24 hours of playing time for those who forget to charge after every round. The portable Bluetooth speaker instantly sticks to a golf cart or other metal surface, is both waterproof and dustproof and designed to be drop-resistant. $100. rokform.com.

Henrik Stenson Torque 3.0 Sunglasses

Golf’s hard enough without bright sun in your eyes while lining up a shot, so eliminate that concern with sunglasses that nicely combine performance on the course with a stylish look off. The Henrik Stenson

SKLZ Accelerator Indoor Putting Green

The key to putting is a repeatable stroke best achieved through hours of practice. Putt in the comfort of your own home or office with the Accelerator indoor putting green that allows you to work on alignment, backstroke length and acceleration through the ball for distances from 3 to 7 feet. The green features a continuous gravity ball return while the true-roll surface simulates real green conditions. $60. sklz.com.

Equipment Preview

Johnnie-0 Quarter-Zip

Johnnie-O founder John O’Donnell grew up in Chicago, but a move to California imbued him with a surfer’s carefree approach to life. But O’Donnell is also a golfer, which explains the surfer logo on his increasingly popular line of golf wear for men and women. The Johnnie-O Vaughn quarter-zip is great for the course or for life after golf, featuring a subtle tonal stripe and made of lightweight and moisture wicking fabric. The Vaughn comes in more than a dozen fresh summer colors and would be as stylish at the office as it is on the first tee. Also available in boys’ sizes. $118. Johnnie-o.com.

Titleist Players Backpack

It’s always tricky to try and juggle shoes, snacks, water bottle, glove and all the other things it takes to get ready for a round of golf. The Titleist Players Backpack is the answer every golfer on the go is seeking. It features a zippered valuables pocket, spacious main compartment with organizers, a dedicated laptop compartment, large water bottle sleeve and more. The backpack measures 18.5 inches by 12.5 inches, perfect for the journey from the car to the clubhouse or even through the airport.

Titelist.com.

If you love

Erin Hills, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Sand Valley, The Ryder Cup, SentryWorld, Wisconsin Dells, Lake Geneva, Badgers, cheese, tournaments, Lake Michigan, friendly golfers, views, beer, lakes, fun, and so much more… Then you need to follow

www.Wisconsin.golf

Best golf writers in the state with Gary D’Amato, Rob Hernandez and Dennis McCann. Daily updates on all things golf.

Killarney Golf Media publishes Wisconsin.golf and Golftime Midwest

Thanks for Sharing (I hope)

For many years now, every time an avid lottery player asks me if I bought a ticket for the upcoming draw and my answer is “No.” The response I always get is, “You can’t win if you don’t play.” Why these people believe that I don’t know how a lottery works is puzzling.

Not all lotteries, however, are about money.

Did you know that the Masters Tournament at August National Golf Club in Georgia conducts a lottery each year? No, not the one for spectator tickets. It’s for the media. The members of the media covering the tournament have an opportunity to put their names into a draw and, if they’re lucky, they are allowed to play the course the following Monday. Would that be great or what?!

Which got me to thinking: How wonderful would it be if all or a bunch of the most famous and revered golf courses in America

by Danny Freels

did the same thing — not for the media but for the members of their community or entire state? Pick one Monday of the year, set a specific number of potential winners, and invite those interested to put their name into a lottery. The regular-folks winners get to play 18 holes at a course they’ve only dreamed about. Rigid rules apply: a member of the club in each group, no alcohol, proper dress code, etc. It would be the chance of a lifetime for a lot of golfers and tons goodwill for the community. My guess is the number of entrants would go through the roof.

So, what do you say Oakland Hills, Inverness Club, Oakmont, Merion, Winged Foot, and other great and historic courses around this country? Feel like sharing your good fortune with a few of your fellow golfers?

I promise you: We’ll play if we win.

Oakland Hills

Crafted by Mother Nature. Shaped by Champions.

Trappers Turn features three unique but complementing championship 9-hole courses, a putting course, and a Par-3 experience designed by two-time U.S. Open Champion Andy North. Nestled in a canyon carved by glaciers and filled with lush clusters of maple, basswood and ash, Trappers Turn encompasses some of the most panoramic golf holes around.