We are so lucky to be golf afficionados in the Midwest. Not only do we have a bevy of affordable public daily-fee courses, but we also have numerous top-notch resort courses that fulfill our need to stay and play. Amazingly so, the collective staff of Midwest Golfing Magazine has had the good fortune to play over 50 courses in six states during the ‘06 season. Over 90 percent of our golf was played within our four-state distribution area and also over 90 percent of our play was at public golf courses-- places that all of our readers can enjoy. So it gives us great pleasure at Midwest Golfing Magazine to introduce our first annual Editor’s Choice Awards–a chance for us to share with you our favorites in a number of distinctive categories. Want to know our favorite opening hole in the Midwest? Or how about the course conditions that impressed us the most? Or how about the really important things like the best on-course appetizer? But please remember, our Editor’s Choice Awards are merely our subjective opinions and should never be used without the expressed written consent of Midwest Golfing Magazine. (I kid because I can.) Speaking of which, feel free to write us at kevin@roylepub.com with your thoughts and opinions on what the Midwest has to offer. It’s because of you- Johnny and Jane Municipal- that Midwest Golfing Magazine exists. So without further delay, the inaugural Midwest Golfing Magazine Editor’s Choice Awards. Each award features the winner plus an honorable mention slot with commentary by Editor Glen Turk
2006 Course Manifest Scenic View- Slinger, WI January 8th
Evergreen- Elkhorn, WI
Willow Run- Pewaukee, WI
Indian Lakes- Bloomingdale, IL
Tunica National- Tunica, MS
Cottonwoods- Tunica, MS
Riverbend- Tunica, MS
Old Waverly- West Point, MS
The Plantation- Olive Branch, MS
The Bull- Sheboygan Falls, WI
Eagle Ridge- Galena, IL
Camelot- Lomira, WI
Northern Bay- Arkdale, WI
Old Hickory-Beaver Dam, WI
Fire Ridge- Grafton, WI
Ironwood- Sussex, WI
The Squires- Port Washington, WI
Fairways of Woodside- Colgate, WI
Grand Geneva- Lake Geneva, WI
Geneva National- Lake Geneva, WI
Whistling Straits-Haven, WI
Bergamont- Oregon, WI
Rush Creek-Maple Grove, MN
Tom O’Leary-Bismarck, ND
Prairie West-Mandan, ND
Painted Woods-Washburn, ND
Riverwood- Bismarck, ND
The Links of North Dakota- Williston, ND
Bully Pulpit-Medora, ND
Hawktree- Bismarck, ND
The Jewel- Lake City, MN
Horseshoe Bay- Egg Harbor, WI
Cog Hill #4- Lemont, IL
Hawks Landing- Verona, WI
Mee-Kwon- Mequon, WI
Mascoutin- Berlin, WI
Tuscumbia- Green Lake, WI
Lawsonia- Green Lake, WI
Autumn Ridge- Valders, WI
Lac La Belle CC- Oconomowoc, WI
Rich Harvest Farms- Sugar Grove, IL
Bucks Run-Mt. Pleasant, MI
Tullymore- Stanwood, MI
St. Ives- Stanwood, MI
Thousand Oaks-Grand Rapids, MI
Lake Mills GC- Lake Mills, WI
Silver Spring CC- Menomonee Falls, WI
Brown Deer Park- Brown Deer, WI
Erin Hills- Erin, WI
Greywalls- Marquette, MI
Marquette Golf Club- Marquette, MI
Terrace Bluff- Gladstone, MI
Stoneridge- West Bend, WI
Blackwolf Run-Kohler, WI
Strawberry Fields-Kenosha, WI
Legend of Brandybrooke- Wales, WI
Washington County- Hartford, WI
Categories of Distinction 1) Best On-Course Amenity - Putting green at Bucks Run- Mount Pleasant, Michigan. This is reason enough to take the High-Speed Ferry across the Great Lake–plus your short game will thank you.
Honorable Mention - The driving range at Northern Bay- Arkdale, Wisconsin . I didn’t want to head to the first tee because the range was so pristine. Most courses don’t have such accurate yardage markers.
2) Best On-Course Restaurant - Flannery’s at FireRidge- Grafton, Wisconsin. The mouth-watering combo of teriyaki wings and nachos provide the finest pre or post-round celebration in the Midwest.
HM- Fairways of Woodside - Colgate, Wisconsin. Bar Manager Chris Tesch makes a mean Panini -and oh the free popcorn! Throw in a sweet plasma TV and a great staff, and I’m hoping for a 30-minute rain delay whenever I’m there.
3) Best Par-3 Hole - The 188 yard 6th at The Bull-Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. It’s either green or ravine on this awe-inspiring gem. One of the most talked about holes in the Midwest. . . period!
HM- The 195 yard 17th at Whistling Straits-Haven, Wisconsin. Whatever you do-don’t go left. Short, long, or right aren’t much better either. This penultimate hole offers up an ultimate view of Lake Michigan.
4) Best Par-4 Hole - The 395 yard 14th at Bully Pulpit-Medora, ND. This hole is reason enough to drive 12 hours from Wisconsin to play the course. Just watch that first step on the tee box.
HM- The 422 yard 3rd at Erin Hills-Erin, Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s newest course is already one of the nation’s best. Playing Erin Hills in July before it officially opened was the golf highlight of my year. And I’ve have a pretty good year.
5) Best Par-5 Hole- The 545 yard opening hole at Greywalls, Marquette, Michigan. No less than 14 fairway moguls greet the golfer as well as an immaculate 70 mile view of Lake Superior. This hole, much like the lake, is superior.
HM- The 9th hole at Thousand Oaks-Grand Rapids, Michigan. One of the most visually intimidating yet fair golf holes in the Midwest. It’s uphill from tee to green but it can be parred with three solid shots and a delicate two-putt.
6) Best Opening Hole - The 510 yard par-5 at Lawsonia (Woodlands Course)-Green Lake, Wisconsin. Any golf course in the world would love to have a hole of such character and substance at their course. The fun doesn’t end there though, the entire 36-hole property is one of my personal favorites.
HM- The 395 yard par-4 first at Grand Geneva (The Brute) Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. An elevated tee, beautiful flower arrangements, and a lush tee box–is this heaven? No it’s Grand Geneva.
7) Best Finishing Hole- The 549 yard 18th hole at Horseshoe Bay in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. The final hole at HSBF is a dogleg right that reveals a green guarded by birch trees on the precipice of Green Bay. This hole is a stirring tribute to the game.
HM- The 491yard Par-5 18th at Tullymore-Stanwood, Michigan. A beautifully crafted par-5 that features two water hazards, a perfectly positioned tree that dictates strategy, and a bowl shaped green that will elicit a few birdies–what more do you want!!
8) Best Service- Rush Creek, Maple Grove, Minnesota. Every single member of their staff went out of their way to make our stay a memorable one. And that is really all you can ask from any facility. Plus the pro shop attendants wore ties-a classy touch for sure.
HM- The Jewel- Lake City, Minnesota- You’ll be hearing a lot more about this new Hale Irwin design near LaCrosse, Wisconsin in next year’s show issue. Our suggestion, play it beforehand if you can!
9)Best Course Conditions –Hawks Landing,-Verona, Wisconsin. A remarkable championship layout that is always in tournament condition.
HM-Hawktree, Bismarck, North Dakota. Apparently having the word “Hawk” in your title equates to amazing course conditions. And they were even hosting a high school tournament while we were there.
10) Best Greens- Blackwolf Run- Kohler, Wisconsin. It’s hard to single out one aspect of a course so revered, but the greens at Pete Dye’s gem are world-class.
They’re fast, but boy are they true. Overall, a wonderful course the perfect distance from Chicago and Milwaukee.
11) Best Addition-The new clubhouse at Evergreen GC, Elkhorn, Wisconsin. The course Wisconsin winter golfers love just got a whole a lot better with this stylist edifice.
HM- The clubhouse when it’s finished at Bergamont- Oregon, Wisconsin. Patrons will be able to watch the sun go down overlooking the 10th and 18th holes upon completion.
12) Feature - I’m most anxious to write: Erin Hills, Erin, Wisconsin. We’ve only just scratched the surface on this once-in-a -lifetime course. Expect a true destination facility to emerge in the outlying area of Milwaukee.
HM- The Jewel- Lake City, Minnesota. The back nine is incredible, weaving the golfer around the bluffs of the Minnesota/Wisconsin border. And make sure you stay for dinner-everything on the menu is bon-appetite.
13) Best Golf Trip- North Dakota. Six courses, 156 holes and first-rate hospitality the entire time. Following the Lewis and Clark Golf Trail is an expedition in affordable, enjoyable golf.
HM- Eagle Ridge- Galena, Illinois. There may not be a red carpet any where on site, but they treat everyone like a Hollywood star. 63 holes of the finest golf in the Midwest, plus a full-service spa-sounds like the perfect place to take your significant other.
14) Best Interview –Manuel de la Torre- Teaching Professional, Milwaukee C.C. The 84 year-old top 15 teacher in the nation is the definition of delightful. He’s forgotten more about the golf swing than I’ll ever know.
HM- Bob Lang, General Manager and Owner of Erin Hills. His unwavering passion and dedication to the game is intoxicating. There is no longer a need to go to Ireland/Scotland to find an authentic links-style experience.
15) Best Media Day- Cog Hill- Lemont, Illinois. I plan my schedule around this day-the hospitality and opportunity is that special. Let’s hope the newly-formed BMW Open continues coming to this public gem.
HM- Whistling Straits-Haven, Wisconsin. The fine folks at Kohler know a thing or two about gracious living. Going to a Kohler Media Day makes me wonder, “Do I have to go back home afterwards?”
16) Best Course - I Can’t Believe I Waited until 2006 to Play- Old Hickory-Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the course and the price that accompanies it! A true out of the way must play for all Wisconsinites. They even have specials that include a pitcher of beer-now that’s my idea of gracious living.
HM- St. Ives- A Golf Digest five-star rated property for a reason. Everything was stellar. I have never felt so far away from home, yet in the confines for the Midwest.
17) Best Day Trip- The golf courses of Green Lake. Lawsonia, Mascoutin, and the state’s oldest 18 hole course, Tuscumbia. What a trifecta!! Add in pizza at The Gooseblind and a scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough at The Heidel House, and you may have the dictionary definition of “nirvana.”
18) Best Weekend Trip- Upper Michigan. Start with the number two course in the state, Greywalls in Marquette, add in one of Brett Favre’s favorites, Timberstone in Iron Mountain, and then throw in either Terrace Bluff in Gladstone or the Four Seasons in Pembine and you’ve got my kind of weekend!
19) Best Course Under $25- Most all of the courses I played in North Dakota. The best– Riverwood in Bismarck and Painted Woods in Washburn.
HM- Stoneridge -West Bend, Wisconsin. Their $10 twilight rate after 5:00p.m. for walkers may be the best deal in Southeastern Wisconsin. Make sure to check out the 180 yard, par-3 15th-the type of diabolical hole you’d expect to find at a major championship!
20) Best Course Between $50-75- Washington County- Hartford, Wisconsin. Consistently one of America’s top municipal courses for a reason. I’ve got two words for why I haven’t moved out of Washington County in 6 years-discount card.
HM- The Bergamont- Oregon, Wisconsin. $65 including range balls during the week, only $70 on the weekends-and they are not raising their rates for ‘07. Play the Bergamont once and you’ll swear it should be a triple figure payout.
21) Best Course Over $75- Erin Hills- Erin, Wisconsin. At between $125-150 per round, I’m guessing I should already plan my tee times for ‘07 right now!
HM- Greywalls-Marquette, Michigan. My suggestion for ‘07-find someone who is already a member. Wash their car, do their grocery shopping, take care of their kids, and just maybe they’ll take you to Greywalls as a guest-then you only pay $75 year round! Twenty years from now people will be buzzing about Greywalls like they did in the early 80’s about the stadium-style courses built under the TPC umbrella. Mike DeVries has designed a architectural masterpiece.
22) Best Resort Course - Blackwolf Run- Kohler, Wisconsin and Eagle Ridge-, Galena, Illinois. 36 holes of Pete Dye genius or 63 holes of elevated tee shot bliss. This one is too tough to call. So in the words of ESPN’s infamous Nick Bakay- PUSH!!!
And because it just wouldn’t be right not to leave on a humorous note, my favorite golf memory of 2006 didn’t even come on a course. Instead it came in the backyard of my girlfriend’s sister’s house and her 5 year-old son Alex. He was just learning to play the game, swinging away with a cut-down 7-iron when his mom proclaimed, “Alex you’re not addressing the ball properly.” Immediately after that suggestion, Alex got over the ball and said, “Hello Mister Ball, how are you today? I’m going to hit you really far!” Oh, from the mouth of babes. Makes you wonder why everyone doesn’t play this magical game. I’m glad everyone doesn’t though; I’d never be able to get a tee time. Until next spring and our show issue, Be a Force on the Course!
