Dan Perry

Spent Memorial Weekend at The American Club in Kohler, and on the last day of our stay, we played the Bull at Pinehurst Farms. I had heard from my boss that it was a great design (only Nicklaus course in Wisconsin). In addition, it was only about 10 minutes from Kohler, and the cost was very reasonable, especially when considered to the cost of playing the Kohler courses.

We arrived a little early, spent some time in the pro shop and on the range, and when we went to the starters shack, we found out that it would be only the two of us in our group. Although we enjoy playing golf with others and meeting new people, we also enjoy each others company enough, and besides; it gives me more opportunities for taking pictures. Here’s the only one I didn’t take at the course; one of Kate and I.

I remember reading somewhere that Nicklaus likes to start his courses with a practice hole, and the first hole could have been just that. Very straight-forward, not too long, and a green that undulated, but nothing serious. Here’s my approach.

Actually, through the first three holes (par 4, 4 and 3 respectively) I thought to myself, “Is this it?” I really wasn’t that impressed. Even as my fourth tee shot landed over a hill and out of sight (but still in the fairway) I wasn’t really impressed. And then I reached the top of said hill, and knew that I was in for something special. The second shot plays downhill to a very tight green. It’s large, but well guarded by bunkers. I chickened out, and gave myself a third shot approach of about 120.

Then came the fifth. It seems easy enough, for the uninitiated; a slight dogleg left, and just over 400 yards. From the tee, it’s a little difficult to see just how thin the fairway is. It’s all OB left, and a fence line with houses on the right. This is easily one of the toughest driving holes I’ve played. Even if you get a good poke off the tee, the approach is over a chasm of junk, with little room to bail. Nicklaus went from warm-up to world class in 5 holes. Here’s a shot from in front of the ladies tee (showing the thinness of the fairway) and a looking back from the green.

The 6th is an all-carry par 3, with bunkers on both sides of the green. The pin was front, making the landing area as tight as possible. It really made for a beautiful hole though.

This brings us to two details about The Bull; one I liked and one I disliked. Near the ladies tee on this hole, there was a “Personal Tee” marker from U.S. Kids Golf. These are placed on courses for beginner’s to use, and placed in such a position that the person playing may actually make a par. I’ve seen them on par 4’s from about 150 yards out. I LOVE this, and wish more courses would implement it. Very impressed.

Now for the dislike. The on-course restrooms are, in my opinion, an embarrassment for this course. The Bull is an impressive Nicklaus design, on par with the neighboring Meadows Valley and River Courses at Blackwolf Run, and easily one of my favorites in the Midwest. The on-course restrooms are porta-potties. For a course this nice, it is borderline unacceptable. What really surprised me was that there were houses within throwing distance of the porta-potties (note one in the background of the image below). Why didn’t they add the plumbing for on-course restrooms? It isn’t like there aren’t water lines running to these houses. I truly hope there’s a good reason, or that they are considering adding them at a future date.

The seventh is another wonderfully, tight hole. The tee shot has got to be precise to have any chance of hitting this elevated green. Also, your approach is basically blind. Be careful off the tee here.

As is often the case, the 9th works its way back to the clubhouse. Again, an uphill approach is in play, although not blind.

The tenth is relatively easy. I wonder if Nicklaus made this a “practice” hole too, for those playing only 9 holes. In any case, it’s a dogleg right, with some water on the right, but some room to bail on the left. This should be a par (although it was a bogey for me; stupid 3-jack.)

The 12th is a very scenic, long par 3. It’s 236 from the tips, and over 200 yards for all but the shortest set of tees. It’s a struggle to par here, with trouble everywhere. The water doesn’t really come into play, but there’s bunkers surrounding the green, and hitting it long is OB, so if anything, be a little short.

I really liked the 16th hole. It’s one of those holes that doesn’t reward the long hitter (which, ironically is me), but the accurate player (which, sadly is not me.) It’s a dogleg left, but a good tee shot can cut off a lot of the hole, so give it a shot. The green is pretty well guarded by bunkers (no surprise there), but there is room for bailing to the back right. I also like the 16th because I got one of my favorite pictures from this golf course on this hole. Note that the flags were US flags, to commemorate Memorial Day.

The 18thg hole is probably the toughest finishing hole I’ve ever played. It’s a 485 yard par 4 from the tips, and it’s all into the wind. That’s right; I said a 485 yard par 4. That’s US Open length, AND it’s into the wind. Even the tees I played were 462; a true monster. I played it as a three-shot hole, and hoped to one-putt (which I didn’t). I can imagine that tournaments played here are lost more often than won on this hole. Definitely something to remember.

I would be happy to play The Bull again. Once you play a course, you remember some of the nuances, and I think I’d probably have a better finishing score. I will say that I was disappointed with the on-course restrooms (more so for my wife than myself), but other than that single, minor issue, this is a must play.

If you are traveling to Kohler and planning to play some of the course there, I would consider including The Bull at Pinehurst farms in your travel plans. It’s less than 10 minutes away, a Nicklaus design, a shotmaker’s delight, and a fraction of the cost.

If you go, be sure to comment below with your thoughts.

Other Wisconsin Golf Course Reviews:

The River Course, Blackwolf Run, Kohler, Wisconsin
Irish Course, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin

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I’ve played the Irish Course at Whistling Straits twice; once during my honeymoon (when I played all four of the Kohler golf courses), and again in August of 2007. It borders the Whistling Straits course, so you do have views of Lake Michigan, but not nearly as many as you do on the Straits. Of course, you still get the wind, and it is a Pete Dye design, so the challenge is still there for sure.

Caddies are required, and it’s a walking-only course. I think I read somewhere that they’d allow a golf cart for the physically handicapped, but I’ve never seen one on the course. If you’re not used to walking, or are not in the best of shape (like me), plan on playing in the morning, and either soaking in a hot tub in the afternoon, or getting a massage. This course is anything but flat, and will require a good degree of stamina.

The Irish Course starts out tough enough; slight uphill par 4, directly towards Lake Michigan (think windy). Take plenty of club on the approach, which is also uphill.

The second hole looks simple enough from the tee; it’s also a par 4, and measures 360 from the Blue (only 372 from the Black). Oddly, it’s the 6th handicap hole on the course. There’s water on the right, but the real challenge is the approach. The green is small, very thin, and is well-guarded. Since the tee shot is short, be sure to leave yourself a perfect distance for the approach (and include the wind). Here’s where the caddies really start coming into play.

The fifth is an almost unreachable par 5. The tee shot has to be perfect, and there’s trouble everywhere, including dozens of bunkers, a waste area, a long carry, and a river running through the middle of the fairway. Again, the green is abnormally small, and heavily guarded. My advice (as is the norm with Dye designs); play it safe. Ask your caddy; he’ll tell you the same.

The 8th hole is a downhill par 5, and a beautiful hole. Be sure to hammer the drive; this hole is potentially reachable. Although 542 from the Blue, the second shot is downhill, and the wind doesn’t seem to be too large of a factor here. With two great shots, it’s possible (but remember the key word… great).

Here’s the tee shot (which should favor the right side):

And here’s the approach on 8:

The ninth isn’t necessarily a hard hole, but the ever-present railroad ties (Dye is famous for them) become apparent here. Personally, I think they add a lot.

The tenth is a visually difficult hole. It is completely uphill, so plan on hitting a blind approach. Again, the caddies help a lot for this type of shot. It’s hard to show just how uphill this hole is, but the picture below was taken from the tee, and the golfers on the far left of the shot are on the group in front of us, on the green.

The 11th and 13th are both straight-forward par 3’s, but they are both so beautiful, with their railroad ties and numerous bunkers, that I had to include pictures of both.

Here’s the 11th:

And here’s the 13th:

The on-course restrooms are basically hidden from sight, but if the need arises, they are some of the cleanest restrooms I’ve even seen (and of course, full of impressive Kohler fixtures.) I had to take a couple shots. Here’s the outside of the restroom facilities:

And here’s a close-up of one of the Kohler sinks (I think it’s the border is the Straits course):

One thing did surprise us while playing the course; the sound of cowbells. The caddy noticed the weird look on our faces, and mentioned that the sheep (which are allowed to roam the course at will) must have been up and moving around. The first time we played the Irish Course, most of the sheep were lying down. The caddy said that was a sure sign that it was going to rain soon. They were getting their rest. True to form, it rained that night, and we had to reschedule our round at the Straits Course.

The 14th is a relatively straight par 5, with one (personal) stand-out feature; a massive bunker on the left side of the green. It’s OB right, so there really isn’t a place to bail. Playing out of this bunker was a great premonition of playing the Straits Course; almost every hole there has a bunker like this.

If you don’t pass out from all the walking (OK, I’m REALLY out of shape), the 18th is a great finishing hole. A par 5 with an elevated green. Playing 536 from the Blues, it’s potentially reachable, but not for me. A great tee shot goes down into a valley, making the second almost completely uphill. I say make the third shot your approach, and give yourself a good distance.

At the 18 green, a staff member will meet you and give you a ride back to the clubhouse. Although it’s within walking distance, you’ll be thankful to be able to sit down on a cart (I GOT to get to the gym!)

Of the four courses at Kohler, The River Course is my favorite, followed by this one. It’s not as penal as the Straits, but not as easy as the Meadows. It’s a true test, within throwing distance of Lake Michigan. If you can only pick two, pick this one.

Finally, be sure to tip your caddy well. All you did was walk it; they had to drag your bag.

Other Wisconsin Golf Course Reviews:

The River Course, Blackwolf Run, Kohler, Wisconsin
The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin

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Whisper Creek Golf Club is about a 45 minute drive north from where I live, but easily worth the trip. It’s right in the center of a Del Webb community, made up of single story retiree homes to larger, family homes. The benefit of this type of facility is that it is master planned, so the homes don’t really get in the way of the golf.

Since it was planned from the ground up, the flow of the course is also quite impressive. You drop your clubs at the bag drop, and take them to your cart (or someone helps you). You step in side to pay, and when you step outside, you’re immediately facing the driving range, with a snack bar and a very large putting green to you left. After picking up a coffee at the snack bar, you can hit a few balls on the range, and move your cart about 10 yards to the putting green. After warming up the putter, you drive about another 15 yards to the starter, and finally end up on the first hole. This gentle, relaxed flow is noticeable, and the perfect way to start the round.

The course starts with a gentle par 4 (or so it seems). The prevailing wind is left to right (and the day we played, it was significant). The only issue that arises is if you slice a little, and the wind takes it to the right side of the fairway. It borders the driving range, so pay close attention to the ball before you hit it! This also leaves a tough approach to the green, forcing you to go over a bunker.

The 4th hole is a great design, and I’m actually glad that they decided to leave the large trees on the left side intact. It may have been very easy to remove them, but it adds a layer of difficulty to the hole that could’ve easily been avoided (good for you, Whisper Creek designer!) The tee shot is crucial; you have to be on the right side of the fairway to have any sort of an approach to the green. In addition, there’s water bordering the right side of the fairway, very tall grass on the right, and a creek running through the fairway ¾ of the way to the green. Like I said, it is very tough. In the following picture, the green is behind the group of tall trees in the middle.

Just before reaching the 5th tee, one of the two (plus the halfway house) on-course restrooms is available. I often play golf with my wife, and have come to understand the value of clean, permanent facilities on the golf course, and Whisper Creek Golf Course is no slouch. The restrooms were clean and abundant (3 total through 18 holes). At times, this is the decision-maker as to what course we’ll be playing. Good job Del Webb! Here’s a picture of the facility, with my Dad and wife screwing around in front of it.

The 8th hole is one of the more interesting par 5’s I’ve seen. It’s plenty long (616 from the tips), but most of the distance is after the tee shot. To make it easier to understand, here’s a shot of the tee sign.

So the tee shot may only be 250 or so before you run out of fairway (and it tapers at the end, so don’t push it), making this a definite three shot par 5. The second shot should be all about placement, and the third should be precise, as the green is surrounded by trouble. Par here is great.

As you make the turn, you’ll have the opportunity of stopping at the halfway house (which is the same as the snack bar mentioned earlier.) The restrooms are very clean, and the snack options are expected. There’s also room to sit outside after your round and have a snack, and watch golfers pass by and the players on the range.

The tenth hole is a pretty straight-forward par 4 with bunkers lining the right side, and a few trees on the left. If you drive it a reasonable distance, be sure that it stays in the fairway. The right side turns into a very wicked hanging lie, making it tough to land on the green (spoken from experience.)

The 15th is a par 5 that is easily one of the toughest to par (for me at least). It’s tough to describe the abundance of trouble on this hole, so here’s a shot of the tee sign, for reference:

It is almost impossible to clear the water on the tee shot, so plan on laying up but remember, the fairway slopes down to the water, so take one or two less on the tee shot (tough to do on a par 5, but you’ll thank me later.) The second shot is best placed left of the bunkers, but the fairway gets very thin in the preferred landing spot, so decide if you’d rather risk a shot and have 100 yards in, or have 150-160, and lay up before the bunkers. If you look at the image, there are bunkers on three sides of the green, so a crisp shot is required.

One of the best things about playing golf is the opportunity to see wildlife, and Whisper Creek is no exception. Here’s a shot taken from behind the 16th green. I love this stuff.

The golf course finishes on a par 5 that works its way back to the clubhouse. Again, the fairway is cut into sections, requiring a second with a carry over water. Here’s what my second shot looked like.

As long as you stay out of trouble on your tee shot, the second over water isn’t too difficult. The fairway is fat enough that you’re allowed to pick a distance for your third without too much trouble. Don’t leave your approach to the green short; you’ll end up in the bunker like I did. At least it made for a pretty, final picture.

The pace of play was very good, and we finished in 4 ½ hours, which is very acceptable, especially for a Saturday morning. In addition, they don’t have permanent tee times on Saturday mornings yet (although they may be going that direction very soon), so it’s one of the few quality courses you can call on a Wednesday afternoon and still get a decent tee time for Saturday morning. Finally, if you watch their web site on a regular basis, they usually keep the “coupons” section updated, so always check prior to making a tee time.

I’m sure I’ll be playing this course again in the future, because it’s always a challenge (with or without the wind), the price is very reasonable based on the quality of the facilities and greens, and it’s relatively close to my house. Give it a shot, and let me know what you think in the comments.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

The General Golf Course, Eagle Ridge Resort, Galena, Illinois

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Kate and I visited Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena, Illinois in May of 2007. We played the three 18 hole layouts, and I thought they all held their own, but clearly the gem of the three is The General.

The General has four sets of tees, but doesn’t use the standard red-white-blue style of naming them. Here, they use 1, 2, 3 or 4 stars (get it, 4-star general? Not bad).

The course starts off easy enough (or one would think). The first is a downhill par 4, with a pretty receptive green. Just don’t be long (which, of course, is easy to do on a downhill hole). The green drops off, and will force you to struggle for a par.

The 4^th hole is not a long hole, by any means (376 from the tips), but there is lots of trouble on either side of the fairway, requiring accuracy over length. The approach is pretty easy, as long as you don’t go left. Trust me, it’s a near-death experience (I know; I went left).

At the 5^th tee, there is a restroom facility. As most of you may know, ever since I started golfing with my wife, I’ve grown a new sense of appreciation for decent on-course facilities, and The General is up to par here. Very nice and clean.

The 6^th hole is a great par 5, and really provides a wonderful view of most of the front 9 when you get on the green. It is potentially reachable in two, but the green is pretty small, and there’s water up the entire right side.

The 9^th comes straight back to the clubhouse (as expected). The tee shot is key here; be on the left side of the fairway if you can. There is some foliage on the right which may hinder your shot. There is also a bunker right in front of the green, making anything on the right of a green tough to stick. A par here is all good.

Making the turn, and playing the uphill tenth, you come to the 11^th, a great par 3 that is all carry. The green isn’t necessarily small, but it isn’t large by any means. There are no bailout areas, making this a tough par if you miss the green.

The 13^th is a long, full par 4 (442 from tips, and even 423 from the 3-star tees), with a slight dogleg to the left. Try to cut as much off at the corner as you can. Once you get to your approach, you’ll see the sky just open up behind the green. It really is a great spot, and the next hole is even more interesting.

By looking at the tee sign, the par 4 14^th actually looks pretty short (only 357 from the tips)… Until you see the magnificent 180 foot drop from the tees to the fairway (reminded me of the 13th at the Arthur Hills Golf Course at Boyne). It’s one of those holes where you feel like you can drive it a mile. It’s easily one of my favorite holes on the course (and actually on the entire Eagle Ridge Resort property). Enjoy the view, but be careful; there’s water to the right near the landing zone, and it’s easy to miss it with such a spectacular view.

The 17^th is another strong hole, mainly because the tee shot and approach are both fully uphill. It plays to 407 yards from the tips, but is easily 40-50 yards more because of the slope. It also had an “island” fairway, that is actually pretty thin. A par here is like a birdie.

The finishing hole is a par 5, with a split fairway near the final half of the hole. I favored the right side, mainly because it’s a little fatter. With the split fairway, it does allow the opportunity to try to go for it in two, without too much recourse for an errant shot.

All in all, we absolutely loved the golf at Eagle Ridge, especially the General. That being said, we were less than impressed with the resort itself, for a number of reasons. If we were to do it again, we’d stay off property and play the three courses again.

Other Illinois Golf Course Reviews:

Whisper Creek Golf Club, Huntley, Illinois

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I’ve had the pleasure of playing the River Course 4 times (to date). The first was on my honeymoon (Kate and I played all 4 courses at Kohler), then we came back for our anniversary and played again, then we brought her parents up for Memorial Day weekend, and I played it twice; once with her Dad, and again with her. It’s the only course at Blackwolf Run (and at Kohler) that’ I’ve played more than twice. The reason is that it is easily my favorite course of the four.

My first tip is to play the correct set of tees. I’m fine from the blues, but when I played with my father-in-law (who’s 70), he decided he could too. I suggested the whites, but he said he’d be fine, so off we went. The worst part of playing the wrong tees is this: He would have a great drive, really catch the ball pure… and still not make the fairway. It’s a tremendous blow to the psyche, and honestly ruined the round for him. Heed my advice.

Every time we’ve played the River course, we’ve seen fisherman in the river, and this time was no exception. As we teed off on the first hole (the only true “reachable” par 5), there was a fly fisherman in the river on the left. They were also behind the tee on the 2nd hole. It seems, regardless of the time of year, there is always some type of fish “running”, and it’s always nice to see. It actually adds a level of calm to the round. Of course, it’s a calm before the storm, as you’ll see.

The first and second holes are pretty tame, but don’t be fooled; this is a Pete Dye design. The third hole is named “Gotcha”, and is the #1 handicap hole on the River course. The tee shot is fairly open, but the approach gets tighter and tighter to a small green surrounded by lots of trouble. In addition, there is a deep bunker that borders most of the right side of the fairway. Don’t be a hero on this hole; the River course is all about restraint. A hybrid off the tee is sufficient, trust me.

The 4th hole is called “Swan Lake”, but should be called “Gutshot”, especially if you play a draw, like me. All water on the right, and when I played, the pin was back right too. Of course, being the sucker I am, I went for it and just missed, taking a 5 on the hole. There is room for bailing out on the left side of the green, although not really visible from the tee.

Taking a cart on this course comes in handy, because the distance between the 4th green and fifth tee is pretty long. Not a mile or anything, but definitely made for a cart.

The fifth hole is easily one of my favorite holes. The best part is that as you approach in your cart, you can’t see the fairway until you get out, grab a club, and walk towards the tee (kind of like on the 14th tee at the Arthur Hills Golf Course at Boyne). Then almost surprisingly, the hole opens up, and it’s one of those experiences that is hard to explain to a non-golfer. The wide open fairway… the trouble spots… the beauty of the river itself, and the outstanding view. It all comes together to make you happy you’re a golfer.

Making you’re way around the front 9, the eighth is another great par 5. Lots of room to the left, but if you hit it a little right, it may not be OB. You could be pleasantly surprised from the extreme slope of the right-hand side of the fairway. The tee shot is a little daunting though; take a look.

There is a split fairway for the second half of this par 5, so choose your path wisely. My advice – don’t even consider going for it in two. The green is small, and there is no room behind it; it drops off to the river. Making par here is something to be rewarded. Luckily, the on-course halfway-house is between the 8th green and 9th tee.

Although I didn’t take a picture of it (the reason escapes me; I take pictures of everything, ask my wife), the halfway house is impressive. Every bathroom is clean, and all the fixtures are Kohler (obviously). It’s also full of brats, dogs, beer and cigars, as expected.

The 9th is another pure Pete Dye hole, called Cathedral Spires. The smart play (trust me, I’ve tried both smart and dumb plays here), is to hit an iron or hybrid to the left. There is a very thin strip of fairway that borders the water, and honestly the green is potentially reachable (only 316 from the blues). Don’t succumb to Pete’s trickery! Par is good all day long on this course. Take them when you can.

The 11th is another one of my favorite holes (I think I have 4 total) on the River Course at Blackwolf Run. It bends around the Sheboygan River, making it a definite three shot par 5. The tough choice is the second shot. If (and that’s a big IF) you hit the fairway on your tee shot, you’ll need to decide how much of the hole to cut off. Again… play it safe! A par here is like a birdie anywhere else. Here’s a view of the second shot. The green isn’t even viewable, but it’s on the far right.

Here’s the view from the green looking back towards the fairway, and the bend around the River. Like I said, play it safe. You’ll thank me later.

The par three 13th hole is called Tall Timber for good reason; there are huge trees on the left side. Add that to the fact that the prevailing wind blows left-to-right, and there’s water bordering the right side of the hole, and you have yourself one of the toughest par 3’s in Wisconsin. You’re draw better be on. If you play a fade, play a ground fade.

The 16th is another favorite. It reminds me a little of the 5th, where the hole just opens up, and slaps you in the face with its beauty, but be warned; it’s a vile temptress indeed.

After the tee shot, the hole is downhill to a green that is perched about 20 feet above the river. Again, this may sound repetitious, but don’t even try going for it in two. A par here is something to write home about. Here’s the view of your second shot, should you decide to go for it.

Oh, and if you do decide to go for it, here’s a shot of the bunker behind the green. Remember, you’ll be hitting up and out of this, and there’s a 20 foot drop-off from the green to the Sheboygan River. Not a very enviable position.

The finishing hole is pure Pete Dye, and apply named “Dyehard”. Lots of sand on the left, complete with plenty of railroad ties, a signature of Pete that is seen on every golf course at Kohler. The green doubles as the 18th green for the Meadows Valley course as well, so when you see two flags sticking out of it, be sure to aim for the closer one.

As you can see by the picture above, the clubhouse is above the 18th green, and has a restaurant (with a great outdoor deck) and a separate bar for drinks or snacks after your round. I strongly recommend taking the time (either before or after the round) to enjoy a meal and/or a drink here. This is easily one of the most peaceful places on the course, and you get the added advantage of seeing folks hit their final approach shot on two different courses into the same green. Here’s the view from the restaurant:

And finally, here’s the inside of the restaurant portion, with my wife and her parents on the left. We had the place to ourselves!

The River Course at Blackwolf Run may not be the hardest of the four Kohler courses (I think Whistling Straits has that honor), but it is impressively scenic, with a number of distinctive, inspiring holes that make you glad you’re a golfer. Because of the personal history I have with this course (honeymooned here, in-laws, etc.), I would have to say it is my favorite golf course in the country. I’ve played many, but this course is in some way “personal” to me, and that’s the biggest compliment I can give it.

To sum up my advice: Play it, but play it safe.

View the complete set of pictures from the River Course at Blackwolf Run on my Flickr page.

Other Wisconsin Golf Course Reviews:

The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
Irish Course, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin

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I’d be remiss if I didn’t start this review without mentioning the entrance gate to the Atunyote Golf Club. It’s a masterpiece of metal work. I’ve never seen anything like it; truly an impressive piece of art. Really a fantastic way to get amped up for a round of golf. After all, if they can be this lavish with the gate, what’s the course going to be like?

I played Atunyote on a Sunday morning with a good friend of mine. We were a twosome, and we had the earliest tee time of the day; 8 a.m. They offer tee times earlier, but there were no takers. The kicker; the next tee time was a foursome at 10:30! We had the whole course to ourselves.

Since it was such a joyous occasion, we decided to take a forecaddy. The difference between a forecaddie and a regular caddy (as I understand it) is that a forecaddie watches where your ball goes and helps you find it, and a regular caddy carries the clubs, looks for balls, etc. We took a cart, so didn’t need anyone carrying our bags.

One of the neat things about Atunyote is that each tee sign shows not only the picture of the hole and distances, but also has a panel explaining some of the local wildlife.

The course starts our easy enough, with a pretty straight par 4. I actually hit the green in regulation, but my partner ended up in the bunker on the right. He’s a card-carrying PGA pro, so of course, he got up and down, and I actually two-putted for a par. Great start!

The third hole is, what looks like, a pretty easy par 3. I totally flubbed it off the tee, and honestly couldn’t find it in the rough, it was so high. The forecaddie helped us look for way too long (since nobody was behind us, we took a bit longer than usual.) Nothing as embarrassing as searching for your ball with a caddy and a PGA Pro, when the ball’s about 30 yards from the tee. Owie.

The 6^th hole is another great par 3, with water on the right. I actually hit a good one here. The best part? Listening to the caddy tell the story of when John Daly played this hole. According to said caddy, he sprayed it long and right, having to hit the ball left-handed out of the junk, and made the most impressive up-and-down the caddy had ever seen! Another great reason to take a caddy!

On the ninth tee, you have the ability to order food from the clubhouse, and they’ll have it waiting for you. Nothing impressive here… Except the type of phone! Wow, was this cool to see.

Making the turn, the tenth had water on the right. Upon reaching the top of the hill, I immediately noticed how they manage keeping all the geese off the greens. I wonder why more courses don’t use this wonderful method.

The cart girl was just starting, so we decided to stop her and get a drink. As expected, this wasn’t your ordinary cart. I wonder how much Coca-Cola paid (if anything) for the rights to provide this cart?

The twelfth hole is a great par 5, with water on the right and some strategically placed bunkers. Believe it or not, I managed to avoid them, but still walked away with a bogey. The greens here are tour worthy (and in fact, the PGA Tour does play here, at the Turning Stone Championship in the fall.) This shot is from the green looking back towards the clubhouse.

The fourteenth hole has something you don’t see everyday on a golf course; a waterfall. I have to admit; it sounds kind of odd and out of place, but when you’re playing the hole, and you hear the water actually “falling”, and the babble of the brook, it’s actually pretty nice.

The 16^th was probably my personal favorite hole on the course. It’s a short par three, with tons of trouble all around. I actually birdied it with a well-placed 8-iron, and a snaky putt. What a great feeling!

The finishing hole is awesome, and absolutely full of trouble. Just look at the bunkering around the green. I actually made my par on this hole, and my partner bogied.

I ended up shooting a 40 on the back (which is just about a career back 9 for this caliber of a course), coupled with a scary but acceptable 49 on the front, for an 89. I’ll take an 89 on a PGA course all day long.

The real value of this course is that it doesn’t need to make money to exist. It’s owned and operated by a casino, so if the course itself loses money, it’s not a make or break situation. Because of that, the greens are impeccable, the pace is very laid-back, and there’s always a tee time. It’s as close as I’ve been to a private course without it actually being private. Although not inexpensive (around $200+), I strongly suggest you play it once. I was impressed from the beginning of the experience (when our car was met by staff take our bags) all the way to the end (when the locker room attendant gave us our engraved bag tags, included in the price), and everywhere in between.

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I was attending a conference in Santa Barbara, and decided to do a little digging into local courses, to see if I should bring my clubs. Found this wonderful little gem perched right on the ocean, and couldn’t pass it up. There’s something about water on a golf course (whether a river, Great Lake, or ocean) that makes it special.

I arrived at the course around 1 p.m. in the afternoon on a weekday, and ended playing my round as a single. Luckily, the group in front of me was 6-7 holes ahead, which left plenty of time to take pictures (yay for me!)

The course starts out simple enough, with the first hole right off the clubhouse. Then, you go back and forth a few times until you reach the 5th, which is an uphill par 5.

The best part of the hole is that the closer you get to the green, the more the ocean comes into view. I ended up on the right side, just short of the green. Here’s the view.

After holing my chip (yeah, right) I remember seeing a few kite-flyers just south of the golf course. I got to tell you; there’s nothing like being stuck on a plane for 4 hours, then within a couple hours, standing on a golf course overlooking the ocean. The difference is like night and day.

The 6th is a par three that runs parallel to the ocean, so lots of wind to deal with. My tee shot was close enough for a birdie try, my first legitimate shot of the day. Of course, I missed it, but still felt glad walking away with a par.

As I worked my way back towards the clubhouse, I couldn’t stop thinking of how great it was to be playing golf, even by myself. My round was actually average, or a little below average, but the sense of being on the course, and knowing that I’d already had a great time, and that I wasn’t even half-way done is truly a great feeling.

The tenth hole isn’t long (only 381 from the black), but the approach is directly into the wind. The shot is also great in that there’s a drop-off behind the green. I chickened out, and left it short, but was still rewarded with this view.

The 11th is a 224 yard par 3, but is so far downhill, the camera doesn’t do it justice. It’s a very interesting shot, because you need to adjust not only for the wind (which is right in your face), but the drop in elevation as well. In addition, the green is narrow and long, which makes it that much tougher.

The best part of the 11th is that once you’re on the green, you’re probably 20 steps from the ocean. You can see it, hear it, and smell it. I can even smell it now as I type this. What a place to be.

The 12th, 13th and 14th all border the ocean, so it’s all OB on the right. One of the best views on the course is from the 12th tee box, looking back towards the 11th green.

As you work your way through the rest of the holes (trying to make up a few shots you lost from the distraction of the wonderful views), you finally come up on the 18th. It’s a great finishing hole for two reasons. One, it’s a par 3, which is rare, and 2, it’s all carry over water, with the wind at your back. At least the green is large enough to land a ball and (hopefully) stick it.

As you can probably tell, I loved playing this course. I was lucky enough to have had perfect weather, and to have the time (as a single) to really enjoy the course and the views it had to offer. If given the chance, I’d gladly play here again.

If you play it (or have in the past), be sure to comment below on your thoughts of the course.

Other California Golf Course Reviews:

Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California

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My wife and I stayed at the Grand Traverse Resort, and played both golf courses (The Bear, a Jack Nicklaus design, and The Wolverine by Gary Player.) We were impressed with the resort itself, and the view from our room was great. For those regular readers of my reviews, you know it’s all about the golf, so let’s start with The Bear.

The Bear is considered the harder course of the two, and for good measure. Even the opening hole is a toughie. What I really liked about The Bear was that after the first couple holes, you are almost hidden from civilization (not unlike a lot of other Michigan golf courses). Starting with the third hole, you meander into an area that is as serene as it gets.

All throughout the back 9 you’re hidden from others. It’s such a great feeling, and so different than what I’m accustomed to (in the Chicago area).

The 9th hole is a par 3, with water hugging the right side. My advice; take an extra club, and if you play a draw, aim for the bunker. (I hit the bunker, but still took a 4. Drat!)

As you start the back 9 (and yes, there is a halfway house for restroom breaks and snacks), you see some of the houses/condos built on the course, but it isn’t anywhere near overdone. Just a few, sparse houses, which isn’t that bad.

The 15th is a great hole that plays downhill, and gives you the feeling that you can drive for a mile. Personally, my favorite kind of hole. Oddly, when we were on the tee, it was just starting to drizzle, and by the time we finished putting on the green, it was a borderline downpour. Of course, that (normally) wouldn’t stop us. By the time we finished 17, it was absolutely pouring. We hit tee shots on 18, lost one in the rough, and called it a day. The lightning started, and that was enough for us!

All in all, we both loved the course, loved the serenity, and would absolutely play it again.

Other Michigan Golf Course Reviews:

Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor, Michigan
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, Arcadia, Michigan
Heather Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
Arthur Hills Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan

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I had the pleasure of playing the Riviera Country Club in the Spring of 2006, and let me say, it was everything I hoped it would be.

I arrived earlier than my friends (a threesome), and spent some time in the pro shop, meeting the people who worked there, who were very open and friendly. Bought more than I probably should have, but when am I going to get this opportunity again? Lots of presents for friends and family.

My friends showed up, and we hit the range prior to our round. We used caddies to “get the full effect”. For those of you who have never used caddies, if you get the chance, do it. They not only add value in searching for balls, reading greens, etc. They also add a lot of local knowledge. It was great hearing the story about the owner of the Red Sox’s house, and the tree removal, and also about Mel Brooks’ rosebushes. A treat for sure.

I wasn’t able to take pictures of every hole (like I prefer to do), but I was on pretty hallowed ground, so decided I’d just get as many as I could.

One of the best shots of the set was from the first fairway, looking back at the clubhouse. Here I was on the first hole, and already had one of the best views on the course. Amazing, and the anticipation was pretty high.

The fourth hole is a LONG par 3 (236 yards), into the wind. I seriously considered driver. If I remember correctly, I used three wood (which I usually hit 250), and it landed in the bunker in front of the green. I’m sure I didn’t up and down, but did escape with a bogey.

The 6th is another par 3, but this is the one that has the bunker in the middle of the green. The pin was back left, and so, of course, I put it front right. I had to putt over and through the fringe that surrounded the bunker. What a great hole.

The 7th isn’t necessarily long (408 yards) but there’s a large bunker in the middle of the fairway, so you can’t bomb it. Also, I play a draw, and this hole lines up for a fade. Believe it or not, this is one of the few holes on the course that I parred.

The 9th is a great hole, not because of it’s bunkering (which is impressive), but because you’re going straight towards the clubhouse. After seeing this course on TV for so many years, it gave me a chill again to be walking towards it.

The tenth is easily one of my favorite holes at Riviera. It’s a reachable (OK, maybe not for me) par 4, being 315 yards from the tips. Knowing that I may never get the chance to play here again, I went for it. I was a little short, but right, which is the only landing area without a bunker. From there, I chipped on and three-jacked for a nickel.

The 15th hole played to my draw perfectly (dog leg right, but open enough to go for it). The most interesting part of the hole to me was this odd tree on the left side of the fairway. I’ve never seen one grow like this before. I forgot to ask the caddy about it (if anyone knows what type of tree, and how it can grow like this, please leave it in the comments.)

The 16th is also a classic hole. For fans, this is the hole where Rich Beem hit the hole-in-one and jumped on top of the car behind the tee box and hugged it. It was playing 166, and I hit a career 8-iron to the back left bunker. I have no idea how I got an 8 that far back, but I did it. The bunkering on this hole is amazing.

The 18th tee has a, for lack of the proper term, “viewfinder”, so a person on the tee can look into it, and see if the people in the raised fairway in front of them have cleared. I’ve never seen this before, and don’t remember them showing it on television, but it’s a great idea.

What can I say about playing the 18th at Riviera? Having seen this hole played on TV dozens of times, I aimed my draw up the middle of the fairway, hoping for either a left-side fairway, or rolling into the left rough, which may kick back into the fairway. For the old-school readers who’ve made it this far, the overhanging tree on the left-side of the green had been removed prior to when I played it, meaning anything left off the tee was fine. It wasn’t always that way!

Seeing that beautiful clubhouse again (and some of the houses bordering the left side of the fairway) made me get another chill. It really is hallowed ground. They don’t call it Hogan’s Alley for nothing! It really was an experience, and if you ever get the opportunity, be sure to use the caddies. The cost is easily outweighed by the memories you’ll create.

Other California Golf Course Reviews:

Sandpiper Golf Club, Santa Barbara, California

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I played the Heather Course in June of 2006. While on this trip, we also played the Arthur Hills Golf Course (also at Boyne Highlands), Bay Harbor Golf Club, and traveling south, Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course.

We played the Heather Golf Course a couple of days after the 95th Annual Michigan Amateur Championships. This was good and bad.

The good: The golf course was in pristine condition, and the sand in the bunkers was “tour sand”, which actually had a crisper feel on contact, and allowed for better backspin. The bad: The rough hadn’t been cut, so anything out of the fairway was painful, to say the least. In the end, Kate wasn’t a particular fan of this course, but she did spend a lot of time in the rough, so it’s understandable.

There’s a reason why this course was selected to host a Michigan Amateur: It’s tough. The first few holes provide a good start to what’s going to be a challenging round. The first par 3 (4th hole) is all carry over water, and when we played, the pin was in the front. No need to ask; yes, I did get wet.

The 5th hole is a dogleg left, with a great view from the tee of Boyne Mountain. The green has a big bunker in front of it, making the approach very important.

The 9th hole is one of those that starts out easy enough, but finishes strong. Maybe it’s the raised green, or maybe it’s the multiple bunkers surrounding the green. Either way, it made for a great approach. (I actually parred this, but the glee was short-lived).

The 11th is a long, fairly straight hole (with lots of greenside bunkers, of course), but it provides a great view from the green looking back to the tee; you can see the mountain again!

The back starts out simple enough… except for the bunkers. I have to say that I had plenty of opportunity to test the “tour sand” on the Heather course; I was on the beach A LOT. Robert Trent Jones is famous for his greenside bunkering, and it’s obvious that this is one of his courses. If your sand game isn’t on, RUN AWAY!!

Other than the bunkers, the next few holes kind of flew by, until the 14th. We happened to see one of those things that you see in Northern Michigan from time to time; a fox casually following a cart path across the fairway. Kate isn’t accustomed to this, so she was really excited about it. That’s another benefit of golf: Seeing the wildlife in its natural environment.

The Heather course finishes with an approach over water, to a very thin green, and large bunkers behind it. Hitting back to the green from these bunkers is quite the gut shot; the water is very close, and definitely in play.

All in all it was a great round of golf, but the uncut rough made for a very difficult round. I’m sure that if the rough were normal, it would’ve been a much better experience.

Other Michigan Golf Course Reviews:

Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor, Michigan
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, Arcadia, Michigan
Arthur Hills Golf Course, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs, Michigan
The Bear Golf Course, Grand Traverse Resort, Acme, Michigan

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