WiscoGolfAddict Golf course, destination and equipment reviews, rankings and ramblings from Wiscons

Time 2020-11-21 03:03:31

Web Name: WiscoGolfAddict Golf course, destination and equipment reviews, rankings and ramblings from Wiscons

WebSite: http://wiscogolfaddict.com

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Course Maps Founder Severiano Saiz ( Sev, as named after Seve Ballesteros whose family lineage traces back to the same village of Pedrena, Spain) launched Course Maps this past March, realized quickly he had a winner and left his real world job in August to work full-time on the golf start-up.Sev s maps feature beautiful architectural hole layouts with the course s scorecard and key information in white ink set against a solid-colored background of green, grey, navy blue or slate. Key features of each hole are called out in contrast and include fairways and greens, teeing areas and bunkers; ideal lines of play are shown as dotted lines. The printing process utilizes giclee ink on high-quality, museum-grade paper. The standard for art prints, giclee features a 12-color combination that results in vivid colors, especially when compared to the standard 4-color inkjet printer. The chemical makeup of giclee keeps prints from fading over time due to sun exposure and age, ensuring Course Maps should look beautiful for generations to come.I went with a green background and black frame for my Course Map of the Links course at Lawsonia. The hunter green works beautifully with the rest of the golf art in my basement and bar area, and as Sev described it: The green over black screams classic golf clubhouse.' I couldn t agree more.When it arrived, I was so enamored with the aesthetics of my first Course Map that I didn t realize the scorecard had mislabeled the par five 11th hole as a par four. A coworker of mine noticed it in my Instagram post, though, and mentioned it as a comment. Within a week, Course Maps had sent me a new one with an updated scorecard.I would have noticed the error at some point it s part of my favorite stretch of holes on the Links course where the 9th thru 15th holes go par 5, 3, 5, 3, 5, 3. It s a really unique stretch of holes with lots of good birdie opportunities. I never even mentioned it to Course Maps, though, and so for them to see it and remedy the issue so quickly was really impressive. I like to support companies who understand the importance of customer service and doing the right thing, and I feel great about backing Course Maps.Fortunately for golf enthusiasts in Wisconsin, Course Maps has several in-state options already available without requiring a custom order. These standard options include the Links course at Lawsonia, Erin Hills and Sand Valley.If you or the person you re shopping for has a love affair with one of those or another already on their site, you re in luck! But, for the everyday golfer who hasn’t traveled to Bandon Dunes, Pinehurst or Pebble Beach, and hasn t found their way [yet] on to Oakmont, Inverness or Pine Valley, then custom prints from Course Maps will allow golf enthusiasts to enjoy and relive the cadence of holes from their favorite property whatever property that is. The majority of golf art, memorabilia, etc. is built around the famous courses that everyone knows Augusta, Pebble, St. Andrews and so on. But the reality is most people will never get to play those courses. The courses that people love and have created the most memories at are the local muni courses, the small country clubs, or the hidden gems that are off the beaten path. There s not really much in the way of giftable items related to those courses and I think that s what we really cater to with Course Maps. We ve seen a huge demand for our custom orders and I think it s such an awesome thing. Our maps are really something that encapsulates all of the memories that have been created on that course. I ll always remember watching my dad open that first map and it makes me really happy that I m able to share that feeling with others through Course Maps. Custom ordering creates the opportunity for a truly unique gift, especially for private club players who love and have tremendous pride in their home course.As you d guess, it is more expensive to buy a custom Course Map than it is one of the ones that s already available. The reason for this, of course, is that it requires the upfront artistic work to make it printable.As a one-off product, Course Maps will sell custom prints for $120 (12 16) to $150 (24 36). As an order of five or more, though, the per unit cost comes all the way down to $45 (12 16) to $60 (24 36), without framing.Especially at a private golf club, it s really easy to find four friends to go in on a custom order. I sent an email to 19 friends from North Hills Country Club, for example, and in three days 11 have responded they’re in. For golf courses and pro shops, orders of 25+ can be tremendously lucrative, bringing the price for 12 16 s all the way down to $36 apiece, or $48 apiece for 24 36 prints. Like with standard, non-custom prints, framing is available on custom product and will add $55 (one-off price) to 12 16 s, $70 to 18 24 s or $140 to 24 36 prints. Those costs can be reduced by volume ordering, as well.If this is an avenue you re interested in pursuing for a Christmas / Holiday gift for a golf enthusiast in your life, make sure you get going on the order soon. Course Maps has a 2-3 week lead time (followed by time in transit), so we ve got a 1-2 week time frame to place an order and expect delivery before December 25.If you re concerned whether he or she will like it, don t be. Trust me, they ll love it. Product Wrap-Up:Brand: Course Maps Product: Golf course architectural printsPrice (as shown): $94My wife says presents should be gifts people would feel guilty buying for themselves gifts that make them feel appreciated, and better yet spoiled.The first item in my 2020 Holiday Gift Guide, the Bat-Caddy X4R electric golf caddy, fits that description to a T as a thoughtful and indulgent gift for a number of worthy golf enthusiasts:The first to adopt new technology / the gadget guy Older players wanting to extend their ability to walk the courseThe player who has everythingThe purist it s the closest thing you can get to having a human caddy on the course without oneThose concerned with social distancing right nowPrior to getting the X4R, I had seen two electric caddies in my life In thousands of rounds of golf. One was a guy s I played with at Chambers Bay back in 2012, and the other was one of my playing partners at Kenosha Country Club earlier this season. It was his first round with it, and he had it imported from China as all manufacturers in the States were stocked out when golf enthusiasts bought up everything that could help them walk the course with less effort while COVID-19 wouldn t allow the use of riding carts.I was enamored with the remote control one I saw at Kenosha, though, and had to experience it. In just four rounds, the Bat-Caddy X4R has become my all-time favorite piece of golf equipment.A round of golf with an electric caddy is as care-free as it gets. Outside of errant shots and missed putts, there s no pushing, pulling or lifting. It s stress-free play where the only thing to carry is a remote control.Walking the course, in general, changes the rhythm of the game, and not having to shoulder your clubs especially creates an easygoing experience so you can focus on the game in front of you.Imagine just walking with your hands free (minus a small remote or your drink of choice, which it can also carry), no weight on your back and shoulders, a little extra bounce in your step Bat-Caddy leads the US market for electric golf caddies with over 60% market share. Chances are you ve never seen their product here in the Midwest, though, and that s because they ve been busy growing their business on the East and West Coasts. In the marketplace of brands, Bat-Caddy has the best product selection and fits in a space I typically like: Feature-rich at a value price point.Bat-Caddy s product line allows golf enthusiasts to get in to advanced technology without breaking the bank. While most brands fully electric, remote control option with a lithium ion battery will cost upwards of $2,000, for example, the X4R with lithium ion upgrade hits around $1,500-$1,600 but is available through the Holidays for around $1,100 (current promotional price).Consumers get a lot for that $1,100, including a long-lasting lithium ion battery (up to 36 holes per charge), lightweight aluminum alloy construction (with stainless steel components) and many standard options that are paid upgrades for their competitors.A scorecard holder, drink holder, umbrella holder, freestyle mode with timed distance advance and cruise control functions, power and battery charge indicator, USB port, rear anti-tippers, bilateral adjustable-height handlebars, automatic shutoff mode, and ultra-quiet dual direct drive motors all come standard on the X4R. If you can t tell by now, I m a huge fan of electric golf caddies and the X4R, specifically, but that s not to say the experience has been 100% perfect.There is a learning curve when it comes to operating an electric golf caddy, and some courses are more challenging to use them on than others.I practiced a bit in my driveway after I got the X4R set up. Feeling pretty good about my ability to control it, I took her out on the 6th hole at North Hills Country Club to take a few photos, capture drone video and give it a trial run in a course setting.I learned quickly that hills should be traversed straight up and down after I toppled it the first time I tried driving it down an elevated tee box. While the X4R can handle 30-degree inclines/declines with relative ease, the tripod configuration (which is the industry standard) can get off-balance quickly when the left or right side is lower than the other.The 30 degrees works up and down very well, though, especially with the standard rear anti-tipper that anchors the caddy going uphill on more extreme terrain.My first round with the X4R was at Nakoma Country Club in Madison, and looking back was probably the easiest possible course to use it on. It s a mature course with smooth terrain plenty of ups and downs but without the wild areas and sandy expanses. The tee boxes, especially, are accessible from all angles. To say it was a perfect golfing experience couldn t have been more true. The caddy was a breeze to operate, I broke 80 with a great group of friends and when we finished 18 it was hard to believe we weren t ending the front 9. It was the easiest, most enjoyable walk.Conversely, my second round with the Bat-Caddy was during our annual Wisconsin vs. Illinois Writer s Cup at the newly renovated Club at Lac La Belle in Oconomowoc. The course s new routing features some very wild/fescue-covered areas, and the cart paths are far from smooth. The edges of the cart paths are extremely canted, which if run up against can push over the Bat-Caddy pretty easily. In addition to that, the tee boxes are oftentimes separated by expanses of fescue and long grasses that can t be rolled over using a cart. I tipped the cart twice at Nakoma getting used to operating it, and at least a handful of times during our 27 holes at La Belle. I ve only tipped it once since then, though, in two rounds at North Hills. I was maneuvering it alongside the 16th green, saw my ball was in the trap behind me and to the right, quickly stopped it and hit reverse, then watched as it plummeted in to the bunker. A lady in the group on the nearby first green thought it was hilarious and laughed really loud, and I ll admit I was a little embarrassed (not easy to do).My point is that the more you use it, the more efficient you ll get at operating the electric caddy and understanding the strategy behind where to and not to drive it, how much speed to add and when, how to get it on a straight line and which angles you should and shouldn t take.The X4R is best operated with its remote control. Hitting the up or down directional buttons once will add a slight amount of speed in that direction, while hitting it several times will speed it up significantly up to ~ 5.5 miles per hour. The caddy can then be shut down by either hitting the middle Stop button or by hitting the arrow opposite its current direction to take off some of the speed it was previously given. The X4R does not always stop completely. There have been several times when I thought it was stopped but it continued to roll, very slowly. In other words, and this seems obvious when it s written down, there s not a parking brake that keeps it 100% in place on steep hills after it s been shut down. My last time out I had it stopped on the hill that leads to the elevated green on 18 at North Hills, for example, and it never stopped rolling backward down the hill. It wasn t a big deal in this case because it came to rest on level ground and I hit a really nice chip shot to one foot on a back pin while it was still rolling, but it obviously could have been bad if there was water or a cliff where it was rolling to (and if I didn t have my eye on it). The other thing to be cognizant of is that once the cart is set in motion, it s set in motion [until the 45-second automatic shutoff kicks in]. There are several situations when this is important to keep in mind:If you re multi-taskingIn my first round with the X4R, I sent it heading slowly off the tee box on the par three 4th at Nakoma. I then put my drone up to get some aerial shots. It completely escaped my mind that the cart wasn t totally turned off, which I realized when I heard a crash and subsequently saw my clubs in a yard sale right of the green. If it s out of the 90- to 120-yard rangeIf it gets out of the range of the remote control, you will not be able to stop or turn it. Hopefully the automatic shutoff will kick in first, or that the only thing in its way will be a tree branch or shallow sand trap, and not a river!Don t even mess with either of those situations. If there s a question about it getting out of range, shut it down. If you want to post something to your Instagram, stop the cart. Trust me, there s no point messing with potential disaster.Those were the exact words of two different North Hills members [on separate occasions] who approached me after seeing the X4R on the course. Another dozen have asked me about it with interest as a cool toy. Both sides are true It s a really cool toy, but more importantly using the X4R means expending energy only on swinging the club and walking the terrain no pushing, no pulling and no lifting. Getting up hills can be a breeze again without the added weight of a golf bag, or having to push or pull a standard cart.If you re the guy who has to pay to ride his own cart while his buddies walk, maybe an electric caddy is for you. And if you want the exercise that comes with walking the course, but don t want to carry your own clubs or pay for a pro jock to lug them, you d for sure love it.And if you love the caddy experience but are concerned about social distancing during this crazy time of COVID-19, there is no better way to find that than with a remote-controlled trolley like the Bat-Caddy X4R.With the average cost of using a golf cart between $20-24 per round, the high price tag of an electric trolley starts making sense. In fact, you can theoretically recover $100-$120 of the product s cost every five rounds played.Dollars rarely make sense when it comes to golf, though! In the same way you can t expect to be happy with your price per round at an exclusive private country club, realize that the investment in a golf caddy is primarily one that will enhance your enjoyment of the game of golf (and not as a long-term cost saver). The Bat-Caddy X4R comes in a single large box with a number of parts, and it s very easy to install. The frame is pre-assembled, so just the wheels, anti-tipper, battery and accessories need to be put together manually. The install is simple and well-documented. The wheels snap in to place, the battery (after charging) straps down with Velcro, and installation of most accessories was easy to figure out even for a guy who hates following instructions to put things together.The one accessory that was a little confusing for me was the phone / GPS device holder. With the accessory holder, drink holder, scorecard holder and umbrella holder all installed, it s hard to find a place for the phone to go. I got a little creative and used the three rubber strips that were included to attach it to the screw of the umbrella holder, which looks great but is I m sure not its intended spot.After four rounds with the caddy, though, I ve had no performance issues and it holds my phone up just fine.While it s recommended using a cart bag (which does not have tripod legs and has a more stable base) with an electric golf caddy, I ve been using it with my Vessel Player 2.0 stand bag and have had no issues with weight/stability nor the legs which I keep strapped together. I also remove the straps to streamline the setup.It took a while for me to figure out all the specifications that are involved with electric golf caddies, so I thought I d include some of my research on features in case it s helpful for others, like yourself.The following are some of the key components you ll want to consider when researching electric golf caddies. The features of the X4R I m reviewing are in green.A manual control style means you ll be controlling the steering of the caddy from its handlebar(s). A button, lever or other power source will move the cart move forward, taking just the pushing or pulling off the user s hands. A remote style, which is wireless, is much more advantageous as it allows you to get the cart away from your body and control its operations using a small remote control. Sealed lead acid batteries are less expensive, but they re heavy. They also get 25% to 50% of the life expectancy of its standard lithium ion counterpart, which for the Bat-Caddy X4R is the 14v-20Ah. The heaviness factor can be a positive when it comes to electric caddies because the weight adds stability. It can also be a negative since it makes it tougher to pull out of the car trunk. For a relatively young and healthy guy like myself, that s not a major nuisance, but it could be a deal breaker for others.The 14v-20Ah lithium ion battery upgrade adds $200 to the cost of the sealed lead acid version. Bat-Caddy also sells a 12v-25Ah LiFePO battery, though, that will last two to four times as long as the standard lithium ion one but adds another $100 to the overall cost.Most caddies will climb hills up to 20- or 30-degree angles. The X4R climbs or goes down up to 30 degrees, which is supported by its rear anti-tippers that help keep it upright.The X4R with the 14v-20Ah standard lithium ion battery s product page gives a range of up to 36 holes per charge, or 36-54 holes with the upgraded 12v-25Ah battery. This can be adversely affected, of course, by the weight of the golf bag it s carrying, excessively steep hills/uneven terrain, and right-left-right Army golf.Bat-Caddy recommends charging its lithium ion batteries between every use. There is no loss of battery life doing it this way, and it ensures you always have enough juice regardless of where you re at in your round.The X4R s durable aluminum alloy and stainless steel construction gives it a higher weight capacity than most electric golf caddies. While you probably will not need it to carry 77 pounds of gear, it will keep the cart from bottoming out around the wheels if you re carrying more weight than usual.Accessories all of these are available on the Bat-Caddy X4R, but its standard accessories are shown in green. I ve ranked the importance of each to me in parentheses:Scorecard holder (#1)Golf cart drink holder (#2)Golf umbrella holder (#4) do not use an electric golf caddy in the rain!Golf trolley carry bagGolf bag rain cover (#5)Golf trolley seat sounds nice to have!GPS or cell phone holder (#3)Sand and seed dispenserRemote control clip hanger (#6)A few other things you might want to consider when buying an electric golf caddy / trolley include (ones that come standard for the X4R are in green):Tracking adjustments if it does not drive perfectly straight, can you straighten it out manually?Handle design left- or right-handed? Is the handle height adjustable for taller people? The X4R has dual handles and is adjustable-heightWarranty and service Bat-Caddy has 1-year parts labor, and 2 years on lithium ion batteriesDimensions and foldability size when folded? The X4R is ~ 31iL x 20iW x 10iHFree-wheeling mode if the battery dies, can you use it as a standard push cart or will you be stuck on the course?Wheels the wider the wheels and the wider the wheel base, the more stable the cart will be (the X4R has a standard width wheel base)Tire tread tire tread helps keep the cart operating consistently on morning dew and loose turfAdvanced technology:Descent control keeps the speed consistent when going downhill Automatic shut-off prevents runaway carts (the X4R shuts off after 45 seconds if no commands have been given)Battery charge indicator know how much juice you ve got left in the batteriesProgrammable speed settingsElectronic (GPS) navigation set the cart s direction and allow it to automatically continue on a straight lineRobotic follow-me mode on robot caddies; I ve heard very mixed reviews of this operation style, including that it ll run in to you a lot when you stopGyroscope a full 360-degree directional range vs. forward/backward and left/rightHaving rarely seen and barely known electric golf caddies existed, I had no idea what I was missing. Now that I ve got one, I can t imagine golf without it and wholeheartedly recommend the Bat-Caddy X4R for any golfer, whether it s the player in your life who s got everything or maybe even yourself.Product Wrap-Up:Brand: Bat-CaddyProduct: X4R Electric Golf CaddyPrice as shown: $1,594 MSRP (current promotional price through the Holidays: $1,099)Optional accessories shown: Phone/GPS device holderGreen Bay Country Club might be the most underrated golf course in the state of Wisconsin. In fact, it might be the best private club in the state and to me is for sure the best modern private course. I racked my head over and over, for days before starting this review, trying to reason with myself about how I felt: Is Green Bay the best private course in Wisconsin? Is it better than Pine Hills? How about Milwaukee, or Blue Mound? It needs to be in the mix, even if it s not officially reviewed often enough for consideration by the big publications. The land Green Bay Country Club was developed on is probably the most dramatic golf landscape. It s every bit as rousing as the layouts at Blackwolf Run, Pine Hills, West Bend, the Irish course at Whistling Straits, Sand Valley or Mammoth Dunes, and the Dick Nugent design works with that terrain as masterfully as any.From the very first tee at Green Bay CC, players heads are consumed with thoughts. There s nary a shot where doubt doesn t creep in to their mind, whether it s Don t go left or right on the first hole or Don t go too far or short this is a tremendously challenging golf course that will test players mettle. A view of the opening tee shot at Green Bay Country ClubGreen Bay could host tournaments. Certainly state championships, but I m talking bigger, too. It s 7097 yards can stretch out even the best players, and it features plenty of target opportunities that require precision. The course plays long, including from the blue tees there was a lot of wind, but I found myself hitting a ton of hybrids and 5-irons in on par threes and fours. Even those usually came up short. This is not a driver-wedge course.The CourseIf you were to ask 25 members at GBCC what they think the signature hole is, I bet you d get at least 8 different responses. I think you could make a case for all of these, and probably others:The par 4 1st hole name me a better opening hole in the stateThe 634-yard par five 6th, one of the longest holes in WisconsinThe dogleg right, ridiculously downhill par 4 7thThe island green par 3 8thThe beautiful and challenging, twice dissected by water par 4 9thThe insanely elevated tee shot on the par five 10th WOWThe scenic and long downhill par 4 14thThe triple-fairway, semi-circular par 5 17thThe downhill , water-surrounded par 4 18th finishing hole set in front of their awesome clubhouse on the hillFor me, I love the 17th. There are two great opportunities to swing away, or a ton to play strategically and hit a spot. And the green surrounds, tucked in a corner with a wide and narrow green above the creek, is absolutely beautiful.The first par three on the course, the fourth is a challenging, slightly downhill one-shotter with trouble everywhere.The downhill par three 4th at GBCC, with trouble everywhereThe tee boxes on the right side of five require a shot through or over a chute of trees to a fairway that runs left-to-right.A slightly elevated view from the back-right tees thru the chute on 5 at GBCCTipping out at 634 yards, the par five 6th is one of the longest holes in the state. If you ve been dreaming of an opportunity to hit your 3-wood (at least once), this should be it!Overhead view of the 634-yard behemoth of a par five, the 6th at Green Bay (middle)(photo credit: Jeff Schaefer)The seventh has one of the most severe changes in elevation on the course, playing left-to-right and significantly downhill. This hole reminds me a bit of the 11th at West Bend Country Club.A look back uphill from beyond the green on the par four 7th at GBCCThe eighth is a tricky downhill par three to an island green. Aptly nicknamed Rock Island, the green complex presents a massive target but, at least during our round, had wind swirling all around.Downhill tee shot to the island green on 7 at Green Bay(photo credit: Jeff Schaefer)Great overhead view of the island green at GBCC(photo credit: Jeff Schaefer)Maybe the most challenging hole on the entire course, the par four 9th is a long par four with two forced carries. Regardless of the tee shot, the approach here is going to be really long, and will have to successfully navigate all kinds of trouble.Tee shot on the challenging par four 9th at Green BayA look back from past the green on the long 9th at GBCCGreen Bay Country Club is chocked full of Ah-ha moments. After we finished the front nine, I turned to my buddy Jeff and said, That was unbelievable. It can t get any better than that. Nope. Just look at the tee shot on the par five tenth hole. Somehow, the back nine is even more dramatic and impressive than the front. We didn t even think it was possible, but there it was.The elevated tee shot on the par 5 10th at Green Bay CC WOW!! Read MoreShare this:TwitterFacebookLinkedInLike this:Like Loading...Summer in Wisconsin is second to none, and few in-state destinations can compare to Lake Geneva. Beautiful lakes, terrific dining, a fun bar scene and fantastic golf beckon travelers from across the Midwest to this small lake town that swells between the Memorial and Labor Day weekends.Less than 30 minutes from the Wisconsin/Illinois border, Geneva National is a gated community with options galore: For golf, dining, drinks and lodging. The newest of those lodging options is The Suites at Geneva National. Perched atop a knoll adjacent to the clubhouse parking lot, The Suites are comfortable and extremely well-appointed. Roomy bathroom en suites have double-sinks and vanities, detached water closets and 8-foot deep glass enclosed showers. A dry bar with a wine fridge, coffee maker and pantry are near the mudroom entryway, and a raised workspace provides a comfortable and stylish spot to get work done, if needed. Wisconsin s is a short travel season, though, so hopefully you re not looking to vacation to get work done. While many vacationers to Lake Geneva choose to venture out and explore its lakes and quaint downtown, Geneva National makes that just an option as visitors are able to have fun-filled days without ever leaving the property. From three terrific golf courses, to fantastic dining, to the day spa on premises and the resort s restaurants and nightspots, there is always plenty to do at Geneva National. My wife and I, along with our friends KC and Tanya, spent a couple nights there last weekend, and I can t say enough how much we enjoyed the experience. It was Kelly and my fourth wedding anniversary, and KC s birthday, so we had plenty to celebrate. We did.Day one started with golf on the Palmer course, which is a fun, challenging track that has one of the most scenic finishes in the state: An infinity green par three 16th followed by one of the late Arnold Palmer s very own all-time favorite hole designs: The beautiful par five 17th that meanders alongside Lake Como.Golf was followed by happy hour on the patio, then one of the very best steaks I ve had at The Hunt Club. The old fashioneds were well made, and the food was perfect. From the mussels, table bread and app starter plates, to the entrees and through to the truffle desserts, we were all enamored with The Hunt Club experience. It wasn t my first time there, and I knew exactly what kind of world-class dining experience we were in for. It s not often I pump the tires of a restaurant as much as I did The Hunt Club, and it s much less frequent that I m so 100% right. Day two featured golf with KC and my friend, Tom, on the Player course, which is my favorite of the three at Geneva National. The Player course has consistently memorable holes, from the strategic little par three fourth, to the spectacular drivable par four fifth, the downhill par five tenth, and the long par five 16th, the hits come early and often.The clubhouse is nearing the end of a significant renovation, and plays home to several key areas of the resort including its best spot for a quick breakfast, Turf Kitchen + Tap. The bar and restaurant at Turf overlook the club s putting green, the 18th on the Palmer course and first tee of Player, as well as the driving range and its million dollar view.The clubhouse s interiors have been fully revamped with new furnishings, fixtures and finishes since I was last there; the ballrooms have been remodeled, and a renovation of the pro shop will begin this off-season.Turf is in the process of being converted to a BBQ smokehouse. In fact, the new smoker was being winched in to place as we finished day two on the Player course. We spent the majority of the second evening at Geneva National s sister property, The Ridge. A newly renovated hotel with 146 rooms just five minutes off-property, The Ridge has a cool outdoor space with a pool and tiki bar (the pool is also available to guests of Geneva National), Crafted Pizza Tap, and plenty of outdoor seating. The four of us grabbed seats, drinks and appetizers, as well as pizzas from Crafted and enjoyed the ambience of live music by the ~ 20-foot-long fire table for hours. While the resort and its amenities are impressive, it s the golf that stars at Geneva National. Both the Palmer and Player courses are consistently ranked in the top 10-20 public tracks in the state, and all three courses including the Trevino (which I haven t played in a lot of years) are undergoing numerous enhancements. Chief among those is significant tree removal with the goal of restoring many of the original lake views from when the property was developed 30 years ago.This work is already evident on several holes, where tree growth stunted signature sightlines for years. The 15th is a terrific example of this, with the lake now looming beyond the par three green.This was the first time I d ever been to Geneva National on a couple s trip, and my wife and I [and our friends] really enjoyed the experience. It was also the first time we ve been OUT to dinner since February, and we were both very comfortable with the safety procedures and precautions in place to address COVID-19. Every employee wore a mask indoors and when customer-facing, tables at the restaurants were properly spaced and there was never a time when we felt unsafe or at risk. It was great getting away from the stress of everyday life not just from being at home 24 hours a day with the two of us and a 1- and 3-year-old, but also from a life that has become accustomed to being home and staying away from public places.Everything we did onsite lent itself to leisure and enjoyment. That s what a great vacation is for, and that s exactly what we got at Geneva National.While Course 3 gets all the pub, I think No. 1 is the best golf course at Medinah Country Club.Course 1 features great design, terrific routing and the best of all worlds: A lot of wide, forgiving fairways with strategic playability, great par 3 s and 5 s and a little bit of tree-lined parkland style thrown in for good measure. Redesigned by Tom Doak and his team in 2015, Course 1 has amazing Tom Bendelow green complexes and beautiful, signature Doak bunkering. Its par threes are varied and fun, standing in contrast to the penal one-shotters on its sister course No. 3. While the par threes on Course 3 are plenty beautiful, they will beat players over the head for even slightly errant shots, especially if the wind is blowing. Doak s big on strategy, providing options for players of all skill levels, and lets them build a level of comfort off the tee. One great example is at Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, Florida. Coore and Crenshaw s Red course, while maybe more visually appealing than Doak s Blue course, rarely lets players feel comfortable. The general feeling on tee shots at least for me is more angsty on Red, while on Blue I can swing away. Letting it rip is obviously more enjoyable, and while not every shot goes straight they re almost always findable, and playable.Rather than giving everyone the exact same challenge [from the tee] to hit a certain target, each player s tee shot sets up their unique challenges that are found in the angles of approach and the putts they ll face for being in or out of position.Comparing Courses 1 and 3 at Medinah is similar in that respect to the Blue and Red courses at Streamsong. Medinah s Course 3, like Streamsong s Red, is big on target golf and penalizing errant shots, while Course 1 and Streamsong Blue allow for a higher degree of error and letting that error increase the degree of difficulty from its fairways, rough and green complexes. To me, it s a more enjoyable brand of golf.Course 1 is a top ten course in almost any state. Illinois is not almost any state, though. Like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California, Illinois is top-heavy with world-class private courses, and when you share a property with a track that s hosted multiple US Opens and PGA Championships, a Ryder Cup, 3 Western Opens and a US Senior Open, you ll face an uphill battle when it comes to rankings.I would bet that if you polled the membership at Medinah, a majority would say Course 1 is their favorite on the property.A Doak design characteristic I ve come to love is his bunkering, especially cross-bunkering. The par four 16th on Course 1 has a really nice example of this. I had to point it out to my playing partners.Medinah s Course 3 has a very famous cadre of par threes. Three of them require full carries over water, while the other the 8th is a nice little downhill shot to a well-protected green.They re all great holes, and perfect for the major competition Course 3 garners, but they present a maybe-too-major challenge for a more pedestrian (barely single-digit) player like myself. Course 1 s par threes are much less intimidating off the tee, but present more challenge on the putting surfaces. That s a strategic element I ve come to expect and love on courses in Tom Doak s portfolio, whether on par threes or any other hole.A short one-shotter, the tee shot is just 148 yards but requires daft precision to find and hold the putting surface.The short-right trap is interesting to me. From the tee, it looks like it would run up to the front edge of the green; on the other side, though, is run-off before a nasty false front. Very cool design element.The feature on Bendelow-designed courses that I ve come to appreciate most is his greens. Bendelow designed some magnificent putting surfaces, and a lot of that is evident still on all three courses at Medinah. The other feature I love about Bendelow-designed courses is their walkability. While we took carts, his courses always have short walks from green to tee, and the overall routing makes good sense.Course 1 starts similarly to Course 2, adjacent to the colossal Medinah clubhouse. The tee shot plays over the famous Camel bunker across the river, and between one of the course s narrower tree lines.The third hole is a great, short par four that s reachable for long hitters. Tipping out at 311 yards, or 299 from the silver tees, the fairway bends softly to the right, with the river not coming in to play.The par three 7th has a beautiful little green complex with a ridge running from front to back. It plays long, over 200 yards from the two back tee boxes, and over water about 20 yards before the green.Many of the finishing holes at Medinah close out by the clubhouse, like the 9th on Course 1. The 9th is a long par five 616 yards from the tips or 603 from the silver tees, and has a challenging uphill approach over water. Last month I had a 9 am tee time with my cousin, Frank, at The Club at Lac La Belle. I d been there earlier in the season, and several other times for preview play and had a good idea of the shots especially drone shots I most wanted to get.As it happens to me pretty often the night before rounds of golf that I m really excited about, I didn t sleep well the night before. My daughter woke up screaming at 1:45 in the morning, and after I got up to give her a new bottle and change her never fell back asleep. The same thing happened a few nights later when I was trying to rest up before a day at Medinah Country Club.The great thing about being up way too early before rounds of golf is that it gives me the opportunity to leave early and chase the sunrise. The Club at Lac La Belle is an amazing place to do just that. Everything about the course pops on camera. I ve shown a handful of these on my Instagram account already, but here are some of my favorites from that morning Enjoy!Tall, tree-lined fairways, great greens and private club conditions are a little of what s to expect at Central Wisconsin s Bullseye Golf Club. Bullseye s Wisconsin Rapids location makes it a terrific companion course option for visitors of Sand Valley Golf Resort, along with the Lakes and Pines courses at Lake Arrowhead, the Castle Course at Northern Bay, and when it reopens again in 2021 SentryWorld in Steven Point. Paired with Sand Valley, Bullseye allows players from out of town to experience great golf in the state s [otherwise unique in Wisconsin] sand barrens, and also in more of a natural [for Wisconsin] Northwoods setting. Turned semi-private in 2020, Bullseye s 98-year-old property was originally designed by Leonard Macomber and renovated by Larry Packard in 1968. Bullseye is a quintessential example of a great classic golf course with incredible potential. With a little tree clearing, I feel like some widening of the playing corridors would make it more player-friendly to the public players they re now trying to attract. The course has plenty of land holes rarely abut one another, and dense forest creates a sense of alone-ness. The ups and downs of the topography are subtle, and the routing with its short walks between greens and tees would also make for a nice walk in nature. Dramatic vistas of the Wisconsin River are exaggerated from the air. I d love to see them opened up more along the fairways, especially near the dam. I can t think of many courses with as dramatic of waterfront property. As an aside: I m told the club has been working with the FERC (federal agency) and the paper company they lease the land from to clear out that tree line and open up those stunning views long-term.There aren’t many courses available to the public with as good of greens, either. Bullseye makes a point of cutting and rolling their putting surfaces to run between 11.5-12 Wednesday to Sunday. While we didn t have a chance to eat and drink there we had the morning s first tee time and I had to get home to my family after a couple days away I ve consistently heard their food and beverage service is top-notch, and that s definitely what I remember from a 2015 Sand Valley media day hosted there. Brian Weis, Mike Keiser Jr, Bill Coore, Glen Turk, Craig Haltom, me, Gary D Amato, Matt Saternus (2015)What s the connection between Bullseye and Sand Valley, you ask? Bullseye is managed by Oliphant Golf Management, led by Craig Haltom. Craig (red sweater, above) is the Craig of Craig s Porch at Sand Valley he found and introduced Mike Keiser to the land, and still owns all construction contracts at the nearby resort. He s also made headlines recently with high-profile course design work at The Club at Lac La Belle and Stevens Point Country Club.Maybe the best example of that is on the club s first hole: Adjacent to the clubhouse, the back tees on one are built in to the same higher ground, alongside the cart path. It s a tight spot, especially for a first tee, and can see it garnering some spectators.Fortunately for me, I always hit my first drive of the day well, so I got up there and ripped a soft draw down the left side of the fairway. We were off and running. The first hole gives players a lot of what they ll need to know about scoring at Bullseye: There s a definite emphasis on driving accuracy, the greens are fairly average in size and they feature a good amount of break. They re also fast and roll beautifully a real treat for a course that allows public play.If you re curious what a tree lined fairway looks like at Bullseye, the first hole is a terrific example. I ve played tighter parkland courses, and I ve definitely played wider ones, but not a lot that are (overall) consistently as good. The tee shot on five presents a risk/reward opportunity: Hit a high fade over the trees and enjoy a short uphill approach shot, or hit less than driver to the bend in the fairway and be left with a long iron in. One of the signature holes at Bullseye, the 8th is a beautiful mid-range par three over water. Teeing up from 192 yards from the tips, or 165 from the whites, the tee shot needs to carry the front-left trap and, of course, stay left and long of the pond. This is one of the larger greens I can recall on the property.The ninth is one of the hardest par fours I ve played in a long time. The tee shot needs to hit the elbow, more than likely with less than driver, and there s still a long way in to a very elevated, very slippery putting surface that runs back-left to front-right. The 13th is the first hole on the course that borders the Wisconsin River. A left-to-right par four, the hole has gorgeous views of the nearby dam:I m told the 14th has caused mild consternation with the membership at Bullseye. A dogleg left around trees, a natural-looking ravine area was added several years ago that, while aesthetically pleasing, is unique to the rest of the course. I ve heard some members complain about that fact, but I personally liked it.In just five short years, the Sand Valley Golf Resort has transformed the landscape of Wisconsin golf.It all started with the vision of Oliphant Companies’ President of Golf Management, Craig Haltom, finding an extraordinary piece of land in remote Central Wisconsin. Haltom, knowing developer Mike Keiser was keen on finding a property for a Bandon Dunes-like resort within driving distance of Chicago, brought the former greeting card magnate and world-renowned golf visionary to Rome, Wisconsin.Nearly invisible to the eye, the field of dreams was there, lying dormant beneath an endless forest of jack and red pines traversable only on ATV trails, winding through land that was otherwise unhospitable.Its deep sand barrens, remnants of the Kettle Moraine glacier that dredged the Midwest 15,000 to 18,000 years ago, reach 200 feet deep in spots, representing limitless potential for golf course development.The ATV trails have since given way to roads, the forests of pines are giving way to a more natural, rehabilitated “Midwest Desert” environment, and the vast chasms of sand are yielding golf courses that are out of this world good.While the setting feels out of this world, it’s still in Wisconsin, and a 2-1/2 hour drive from Milwaukee or 3-1/2 to 4 hours from Chicago.Keiser has built an empire around remote golf landscapes like this, starting of course with Bandon Dunes.Nestled along the cliffs of Bandon, Oregon, the resort is like Disney Land for guys – a Mecca of golf a 4-plus hour drive from Portland (or via private jet to Coos Bay) to get to, but would still be well worth the drive if it was 10.I’ve been fortunate to be a part of media days at the resort since the development started. From wilderness golf to pre-resort media days, our epic 2016 Wisconsin vs. Illinois Writer’s Cup, to opening days at Sand Valley and the Sandbox and so on, I’ve had an amazing front row seat and visibility in to the resort’s progress.Since Sand Valley Golf Course opened in May 2017, the golfing world has taken notice. The original course was the obvious choice for everyone’s top new course in the world that year, the par three Sandbox was named Best New Short Course of the Year in 2018, and Mammoth Dunes was of course the top new course of 2018.The par-68 Sedge Valley course, being designed by Tom Doak, is currently on hiatus during COVID-19, but will provide a third 18-hole championship track to the resort. And there’s room for more, both in the way of public and private layouts.The Lido Golf Course is lauded as the greatest course you’ll never play. Viewers of Golf Channel during the 2019 PGA Championship will recall a 6-minute expose by Tim Rosaforte on the Lido, which was originally designed and built by CB Macdonald and Seth Raynor in 1914, then shut down by the Navy during World War II.Experts at the time said it was every bit as good as Pine Valley, which – like now – was regarded as the world’s best course.I have no idea how they’re planning on doing it, but word is Keiser plans on bringing the Lido to Wisconsin in the form of a private course near Sand Valley. Like the original, it will be highly manufactured. Unlike the original, the golf world now has all the technology and equipment in the world to move that land. There’s certainly plenty of sand to make just about anything possible.Letters of interest have started going out to potential investors. I’ve heard it will not include reduced fees/membership at Sand Valley, and will not be reimbursed if/when the club becomes profitable the way the original $50K investment at Sand Valley was. I’ve been keeping my ears peeled for any information that drops on that project and will I’m sure write more about it in the future.David McLay Kidd has designed some of the most vast, fun-filled golf courses of the 21st Century. Beginning with the break-through of all break-throughs, Bandon Dunes in 1999, Kidd has led developments at Nanea Golf Club in Hawaii (2003), the Castle Course at St Andrews (2008), Tetherow in his now home town of Bend, Oregon (2008), Gamble Sands in Washington (2014), and a dozen or so others.His philosophy on golf course design sits in perfect harmony with Keiser’s on resorts; David McLay Kidd was destined to play a part in Sand Valley.Keiser works to appeal to the golf enthusiast, not the corporate client. Golf enthusiasts want to have a good time. They want to feel good about their golf game, enjoy a beautiful natural setting and feel away from everyday life.Mammoth Dunes, as Kidd designed it, will give up pars and bogies all day. The course, much like Bandon Dunes, Gamble Sands and other high-profile projects of recent years, is designed to protect the course against low numbers by low-handicap players.High-handicappers have a tendency to play their “best round ever” at Mammoth Dunes. They can bomb the ball just about anywhere on its massive fairways – some hundreds of yards wide, never lose a ball and if they putt reasonably well post a low number (for them).Mammoth Dunes’ wide fairways and large, undulating greens evoke creativity, and Kidd’s philosophy on golf course design stands in stark contrast to the “Tiger-proofing” trend that dominated much of the early 21st Century.Where other architects have made golf more challenging, Kidd’s focus has been on making them more fun.The golf world is eating it up. Now ranked the #30 public course in the country by Golf Digest, and #27 modern course by GolfWeek, Mammoth Dunes’ enormous scale and player-friendly architectural elements have been a huge hit.One of my favorite holes for its terrain is the par four 5th. Its wavy fairway yields no even lies, and anything to the left will leave a blind approach shot to one of Mammoth Dunes massive green surfaces.There are a few layouts at Mammoth Dunes that are truly unique, or at least that I ve never before seen. The sixth is one of those as a drivable par four with a U-shaped green complex that allows for a myriad of pin locations and shot strategies.Blue Mound Golf Country Club in Wauwatosa is no stranger to hosting great golf tournaments, having held the 1916 Western Open, 1933 PGA Championship, 1955 Miller High Life Open, co-hosted the 2011 US Amateur with Erin Hills and plenty of others in between.In 1919, the club hosted the state’s first and largest major golf tournament: The State Open. It was won by Arthur Clarkson, who defended his title the next year at Milwaukee Country Club.All in all, Blue Mound has held the State Open five times (1919, 1921, 1928, 1942, 1952), and this year makes it a cool half-dozen in the form of the event’s 100th edition.A 72-hole stroke play event conducted by the Wisconsin Section of the PGA, this year’s State Open sponsored by the Suter/Ward Group features a field of 156 players: 81 professionals, 67 amateurs and 2 players awaiting amateur reinstatement.Throughout the years, the State Open has produced some of Wisconsin’s most legendary champions, including Steve Stricker (5 times), Jerry Kelly (1992), Skip Kendall (1988, 1989), Mark Wilson (2001), Eddie Terasa (3 times), Manuel de la Torre (5 times), Tommy Veech (4 times), Bobby Brue (5 times), Jordan Niebrugge (2011), and the winner of the event’s last two installments, Dan Woltman of Beaver Dam (4 total State Open wins).Woltman, a member of the Korn Ferry Tour, is on the prowl again this year seeking his 5th title and currently tied for fourth just four strokes behind Kaylor Steger of Mount Pleasant who’s reached 8 under par.Now in the books, days 1 and 2 otherwise produced a lot of high numbers. Players battled lightning fast greens and hellacious pin positions. Many of Blue Mound’s enormous, sometimes over 10,000 square foot green complexes have pins tucked in to far corners, cut just paces from edges. Former PGA Tour and current Champions Tour player Skip Kendall told Wisconsin.Golf’s Gary D’Amato they’re the second fastest greens he’s ever played (behind one year at The Memorial).Tough greens lead to high cuts and great leaderboards, and this week’s tournament is no exception as a cadre of terrific players remain in the running, including:2nd place at -6: Harrison Ott, fresh off a round of 16 appearance in last week’s US Amateur at Bandon Dunes where he knocked off the tournament’s medalist, Wilson Furr3rd place at -5: Tommy Longbella, winner of the State Amateur at Milwaukee CC by TEN STROKES three weeks agoT-11 at +2: 5-time PGA Champion Mark WilsonT-11 at +2: Former PGA current Champion Tour player Skip KendallA lot has changed since the State Open’s original event at Blue Mound in 1919, both in society and at their club. The course, though, looks tremendously similar now to its legendary course architect Seth Raynor’s design, thanks to a caring and benevolent staff and membership that has consistently done the right thing.It’s not just golf that Blue Mound’s membership has shown to be consistently gracious toward, but also the great kids who grow up in and around their community. One player in the field who has been a benefactor of that is fellow North Hills member Mike Bielawski. Bielawski, a former Marquette player and winner of the 2017 2018 WSGA State Match Play and 2018 WSGA State 4-Ball Championship, knows this year s site well: This year’s open at Blue Mound is very special to me personally. I first learned what golf was when I was 12 years old when my Dad took me to Doyne, a MKE County Par 3 course. I loved it immediately and my parents thought it would be good to get me a job as a caddy, which turned out to be a great decision! Blue Mound is where I ended up going to caddy and it’s been an incredible ride in the golf world ever since. From winning a few good junior events, to college golf at Marquette, to mini tour life (thanks to a group of Blue Mound members sponsoring me), to club pro, and finally to college golf coach; I have seen a lot of the golf world. Now a father of two (Noah 2.5 and Lily 5 months) and husband, and working at the MACC Fund, I have so much to be thankful for.Realistically, I owe much of this to my experience at Blue Mound and a few key people there that helped shaped my golf path. Head Professional Barry Linhart and (at the time) Assistant Pro Andy Fish really went out of their way to help me along both on and off the course, in addition to a generous group of members who helped me ‘chase the dream’ after college.The reason I note all this is over the next few days, whether my golf is good or bad, two rounds or four, I am going to have a lifetime of really special memories to reflect upon between trying to hit some decent golf shots. It’s hard to find a place more special than Blue Mound to learn about golf and life. Aside from these great memories, the course changes over the past few years have been incredible—it’s truly pristine. I feel very fortunate to be able to compete in this year’s Open and can’t say thanks enough to the membership, staff, PGA staff, volunteers, and everyone who will make the 100th State Open a first class event. Over the years, Bielo has become one of my favorite people in the golf world, and it’s classy statements like these that exemplify his character and leadership at an organization as impactful as the MACC Fund.While a lot has changed since Blue Mound held the state’s first Open, surely no changes have been as drastic as the environment created for this year’s tournament: A modern golf event held during the time of COVID-19.Spectators this year are limited to immediate family members who must arrive and depart with the players, and members of the media who are required to socially distance while on-site.Scoring is being updated online, and there are no physical leaderboards or crowds to cheer on their favorites. Still, 61 players remain in the battle for 36 more holes, motivated to become the state s 100th Open Champion.14 players have repeated at the State Open over the past 100 years, but will Woltman be the tournament’s first ever three-peat winner? Will University of Minnesota’s Longbella back up his State Am title? Will Harrison Ott stay hot after his impressive performance at Bandon last week? Will one of the streaky guys a ways back, like Charlie Delsman at +6, get hot and fire off something in the low-to-mid-sixties to get in the hunt?Note: If you re bored/annoyed by the first section of this post, please feel free to skip to the 2nd section that begins near the teal-highlighted call-outAs I wrote about in my previous post, this is an exciting time for the 92-year-old Pine Hills Country Club, and I think the club and Drew Rogers upcoming renovation work, combined with some potential national media play during the now 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits is going to help skyrocket the course s image nationally. How it s stayed as low-key as it has even in the state for so long is a mystery to me.That Pine Hills doesn t appear in any of the state rankings amazes me, though I think recently it s because the course hasn t been rated often enough. That will change soon, I m sure, too.I m not saying the major publications rankings are the Bible on golf courses, nor am I saying Pine Hills should care. What I am saying is I think it s as good of a private member golf course as there is in Wisconsin.Keep in mind, in the following current major rankings, that Pine Hills does not qualify for public courses. I m including them to provide a transferable framework for where they could/should fit in. In this first list (Golf Digest s top 10 overall courses in the state), for example, I think Pine Hills post-renovation has potential to reach the top 3-5. It belongs in the top 7 already, if you ask me. Golf Digest s 2019-2020 Top 10 Courses in Wisconsin (2019): * Public Private1. Whistling Straits, Straits course2. Erin Hills3. Milwaukee Country Club4. Blackwolf Run, River course5. Sand Valley, Sand Valley course6. Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes course7. Whistling Straits, Irish course8. SentryWorld9. Blue Mound Golf Country Club10. Blackwolf Run, Meadow Valleys courseGolf Digest s 2019-2020 Top 100 Public Courses, Wisconsin (2019): * Public Only3. Whistling Straits, Straits course9. Erin Hills15. Blackwolf Run, River course18. Sand Valley, Sand Valley course27. Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes course43. Whistling Straits, Irish course44. SentryWorld57. Blackwolf Run, Meadow Valleys58. Lawsonia, Links course69. Troy BurneGolf Digest s Top 100 Golf Courses, Wisconsin (2019-2020): * Public Private21. Whistling Straits, Straits course42. Erin Hills74. Milwaukee Country Club97. Blackwolf Run, River courseNext is a public ranking by GolfWeek. As it stands, I think Pine Hills belongs a little before the Irish course, SentryWorld (which is tremendous, although closed for the 2020 season), the Meadow Valleys course and U-Ridge. As a private club, Pine Hills does not qualify for this list, but it s relevant for comparative purposes.Aside: How can anyone put Erin Hills as the #6 public course in the state? I understand rankings are based on opinion, but it feels like a miss.GolfWeek Best Courses You Can Play in Wisconsin (2019): * Public Only1. Whistling Straits, Straits course2. Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes course3. Sand Valley, Sand Valley course4. Lawsonia, Links course5. Blackwolf Run, River course6. Erin Hills7. Whistling Straits, Irish course8. SentryWorld9. Blackwolf Run, Meadow Valley course10. University Ridge11. Troy Burne12. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms13. Geneva National, Player course14. Wild Rock15. Big FishThis next list is an interesting one: If Milwaukee s #49, the Links course at Lawsonia is #62 and Blue Mound is #148, Pine Hills should really be included.Here s another interesting one Like I said, I think Pine Hills should be #2 here, and that it could potentially get to #1 with some smart, subtle changes during their upcoming renovations. Blue Mound s awesome, but I personally give PHCC an edge and put Blue Mound at #3.I should mention I haven t played Oneida or Green Bay. I hear great things about both but can t imagine either challenges MCC, Pine Hills or Blue Mound for the top 3.GolfWeek Top Private Courses by State, Wisconsin (2019): * Private Only1. Milwaukee Country Club2. Blue Mound Golf Country Club3. Oneida Golf Country Club4. Green Bay Country Club5. West Bend Country ClubGolf.com hasn t published a top 100 national list since 2018, but I think Pine Hills has the opportunity to break on to theirs , potentially alongside or slightly ahead of the River course at Blackwolf Run. Golf.com Top 100 Courses in the US, Wisconsin (2017-2018): * Public Private28. Whistling Straits, Straits course52. Sand Valley, Sand Valley course74. Erin Hills84. Milwaukee Country Club100. Blackwolf Run, River courseI like a listing that has the Links course at Lawsonia (one of my favorite places in the world) as a top 150 course in the world, but it s tough to get behind.* Lawsonia, Links course (World next 50)* Sand Valley, Sand Valley (World next 50)As you can see, there are spaces on all these [not public only] lists where a previously anonymous course can potentially fit in. I think the time is right for Pine Hills to invest in their club and course (which they are), and afterwards I think we ll start seeing Pine Hills CC, Sheboygan WI in a lot of lists going forward.So, how does Pine Hills compare now to the perennially top-ranked private golf course in Wisconsin, Milwaukee CC? Keep in mind, this is all my personal opinion. All rankings and ratings within golf are, and I understand that my preferences for golf courses are not everyone else s. They re certainly not the same as the major publications .Milwaukee Country Club has always been the incumbent. No other private course in Wisconsin has probably ever even been considered. Currently ranked by Golf Digest as the #74 course in the country (link), Milwaukee oozes rich heritage and tradition, features terrific golf holes both on the Milwaukee River and inland, and was recently updated by Tom Doak and his team in 2015.It s a hallowed ground that s challenging to get on, and the anticipation of a round at Milwaukee Country Club can bring about butterflies, or anxiety in even the biggest golf enthusiast. Yet, does its exclusivity make it the unquestioned number one private golf course in the state? When considering course design and customer experience, I have a hard time saying it s better than Pine Hills. I also have a hard time saying it s not. I waffle between the two enough that I might as well call them 1-A and 1-B. There are no losers here. It s rare air. Some people who read this will say I m an idiot for comparing the two at all Milwaukee is clearly the best because it s such an honor to play it, and its incredible heritage makes it better. Oh, and because CH Alison was a historically significant golf course architect while it s hard to find much about Pine Hills designer, Harry Smead. As an aside, I m told Smead worked with or was a protege of Langford Moreau s. There are a lot of similarities between Langford Moreau s design and aesthetics and those of Pine Hills, especially in the green complexes, use of mounding and structuring of bunkers.Both courses are magnificently maintained, but green complexes like the 9th with their closely shorn green surrounds are so compelling that I m sending the nod to MCC.Pine Hills might have the most memorable set of par threes in the entire state of Wisconsin, and despite a quality set at Milwaukee wins this category easily.My favorite par 3 s at Pine Hills: 1. 9th (170/145/135/114) this is how I picture golf at Augusta 2. 5th (195/182/175/165) uphill par 3 with a massive, tiered green 3. 14th (134/123/114/114) I love a great short par 3 4. 7th (208/172/155/125) the long downhill par 3 with amazing views 5. 16th (148/141/126/122) uphill shot with a tough greenAlong with a handful of great, incredibly memorable par fours, Pine Hills overall collection is solid. Stalwarts among those truly memorable holes are the 8th, 10th, 13th and 17th. Neither course s par fives are their biggest strength, but Pine Hills three-shot holes are more legitimate. The one that does not fit that mold is the 12th, which is the second in a set of back-to-back par fives that play in opposite directions. While the 12th measures just 458 yards from the tips and 450 from the first tees in, its dramatically rolling fairway makes for a challenging [and oftentimes blind] approach shot to a heavily guarded green to get home in two.While the 10th at Milwaukee is a gorgeous golf hole, and an incredible photo opportunity with the Milwaukee River as a backdrop, it and the 7th are both better played as long fours (as they are for the Wisconsin State Amateur) for scratch players. A more normal player like myself (8-10 handicap) still finds plenty of challenge in them.The 9th and 18th at Milwaukee might be its two best holes. The 9th is all-world, with an elevated tee shot heading straight toward the clubhouse. Similarly, the 18th finishes outside the clubhouse and features an outstanding, back-to-front green complex. Pine Hills is dramatic. There are very few level shots, whether off the tee or when approaching its greens. Milwaukee has some elevated tee boxes and greens, but nowhere near the ups and downs.Both courses use the rivers that go through them well: The Pigeon River winds through the 7th, 8th, 10th and 17th at Pine Hills, and the Milwaukee River bisects or provides a border for the 10th thru 15th holes at MCC. Pine Hills dramatic land use and highly contoured greens barely require bunkering, and use of sand is nowhere near as prominent as it is at Milwaukee. Milwaukee s bunkering is beautiful. Players need only to look at the magnificent par three 8th, par four 11th and the recently updated par five 3rd as prime examples. Milwaukee s greens are great, but Pine Hills greens are amazing. Pine Hills green complexes are just more interesting to me, and with much more break. Take the par three 5th hole. This is a long, uphill shot that feels attainable because the green is so massive in size. Get up there, though, and the green surface is ribboned like the waves of nearby Lake Michigan.Milwaukee has one of the most memorable clubhouses I ve ever seen. While the men s locker room facility is in the style of an old German beer hall, the principal dining and social areas are stately and well-appointed. I attend several annual events there and their food and beverage service is fantastic.Pine Hills food and beverage is outstanding, too, but the edge by an edge goes to Milwaukee mostly based on uniqueness.That I go back and forth between Milwaukee and Pine Hills says it all. Both courses are beautiful and feature tremendous Golden Age design and aesthetics. If I could help it, I would never turn down the opportunity to play either of them, and both are shining examples of our state s best golf.I m not saying Pine Hills should be ranked the number one private course in Wisconsin, but it should absolutely be considered and I hope it starts seeing a lot of positive pub in the years to come. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Join 2,479 other followers Email Address:

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