BEND OF THE RIVER GC

In my experience, the further East you go, the more single golfers are pretty much ignored. Very frustrating for sure.

Wow, this place was just simply awesome. Gravel Pit 13 in Brainerd, Minnesota. 13 hole par 3 course, holes ranged from 189 to 66 yards today. I could play here every single day. Totally laid back place. I'll be back and I'll also play the Madden Resort courses as well. If you are anywhere near Brainerd, be sure and check this place out! Touring Paisley Park tomorrow and then headed back home.

Yesterday we played The Quarry at Giants Ridge, the number one public golf course in Minnesota, overall it's ranked in the top 10 public or private. It's built in an abandoned iron taconite mine. Lots if risk reward here, imprccable conditions. Greens were really fast and perfect! NOT crowded at all, it's really in the middle of nowhere. I could play here every day and be a happy camper, it's that good. I am glad we drove a few hiurs out of out way to play see these courses. Today we play Gravel Pit 13 on the way to Minneapolis, then tour Paisley Park tomorrow before heading back home.

Made it way up into Northern Minnesota. First course was Wilderness at Fortune Bay Casino. Very nice golf course with some tough par fives. Rate was $107 for the wife (rate if staying here) and I paid $100 (military discount). Greens were in great shape, and pretty quick. Had a huge storm the previous evening so the traps were hurting a bit, but the sand looked like quality sand. Today we play the Quarry at Giant's Ridge which is about 40 minutes South of here. Course number 672.

Played all of those except that French Lick Pete Dye Course. All of them super fun! Nice line up!

A month long golf trip to Scotland and a 3-4 days in England, too many courses to list. I leave in about 3 weeks!

After playing Black Gold GC I headed back over to New Philadelphia and played the back nine holes at Oak Shadows GC. The front looked really backed up with a lot of foursomes so I decide to just play the back nine as I wanted to beat traffic on the way back to CIncinnati. Excellent layout, although not as in good shape as Black Gold was. Not fair to Oak Shadows really. SHould have played here first. Double wide for a club house that does the job. Greens were kept on the slower side, and no "real" sand to speak of in the traps, otherwise another fun golf course in the Ohio countryside. Played terribly too! Sometimes when I play alone I lose all concentration and pretty much just screw off. I leave Sunday for Minnesota, and hopefully some cooler temperatures with less humidity. This was my 225th golf course played in the state of Ohio alone. They do allow walking here Arg!

I spent the night in New Philadelphia, Ohio which was the very first settlement in the Northwest Territory. Nicer town than I expected it to be. About 15 minutes away is Black Gold GC, right smack dab in the middle of Amish farm country. I arrived 45 minutes early and they got me right out. This is course has impeccable conditions, and perfect greens. Staff was welcoming and very friendly. Very fun golf course that is definitely worth a play. The 17th hole has a hole in one camera and if you make a hole in one, it pays up to $5,000 from the back tees! It's a super tough 200 yard par 3, over a pond with a slanted green. I forgot to ask how many hole in ones have been made here! If passing nearby New Philadelphia on I-77, it's a must play. There is a Mexican restaurant attached to the clubhouse that I wanted to try but it wasn't open at 0845! It's supposed to be good too.

After Brookledge I met up with a member of Lake Forest CC in Hudson, Ohio. Lake Forest is a private, golden age course designed by Herbert Strong. Everything here was first class, even the food. Greens were very speedy, although most were on the smaller side. 18th hole was a par 3.

I was invited up to play Lake Forest CC in Hudson, Ohio this afternoon. I drove up early and played Brookledge GC, a very nice municipal course in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Place was packed on a Wednesday morning. No water on the course, and no cart girl selling anything either. Gotta wonder. Course was in pretty nice shape too. Front nine is a bit hilly in spots, but not a rough walk at all. Not too hot, low 80's, but the humidity sucked. My 223rd course played in Ohio. 28th new course played in 2025.

Pinehurst Resort Quoted me $2600+ for 3 nights and 3 rounds on 2, 4, and 10. Easy pass, decided to stay an extra 10 days in Scotland for about the same amount of money. Pebble is insane. Maybe someday I'll spend the cash and play it, but it's not really at the top of my list right now.

Thanks Arg! Wife agreed to leave a day early I was able to add a night at Wilderness Fortune Bay. Better than nothing! Glad you made it back safely!

I wish I had the time to play Wilderness as well. We'll be back through there in a few years when we start traveling more with a camper. It's close too, like 30 miles North of Quarry at Giants Ridge. I could play it the next morning before heading to Minneapolis. We'll see. UPDATE: Wife agreed to leave a day earlier so it looks like I'll be able to spend one night at Fortune Bay and be able to at least play the Wilderness course.

Played the front 9 at Crystal Springs GC in between Columbus and Zanesville, Ohio yesterday. I was rained out from playing the back nine and was also rained out from playing Whitetail Ridge GC, a nine holer nearby. The course was pretty water logged all over, even before it stared raining. Was really surprised it wasn't cart path only. Very few sand traps here. Some fairly tough drives off the tee. Course plays to about 6400-6500 from the tips, feels longer. Fairly hilly piece of land here as well. Some slow play here, typical farm countryside course that allows 5 and 6 somes, blue jeans, t-shirts and the like. Carts were really tired and took the choke forever to kick in just to start moving. The greens appeared heat stressed, but were surprisingly pretty fast. $27 with cart for 9 holes. My 222nd course played in Ohio so far.

I really enjoyed Architect's when I played it 3 years ago. Great conditions and a nice, challenging layout.

I so wish. Lol. This is "my wife's trip" to tour Prince's Paisley Park and it was a tough sell to be able to squeeze in the Quarry, Gravel 13 and I still have not told her about me getting a super early tee time at Chaska Town while she is sleeping prior to the Prince experience. I was also thinking about pushing my luck and seeing if she'll let me play at least nine holes at the University of Wisconsin golf course since we are staying nearby on the way back. I am just lucky that she is willing to play a few rounds with me on this trip!

OK, got some permission to golf from the wife and some tee times made for this Friday: Crystal Springs GC (OH) Whitetail Ridge GC (OH) Headed up for an overnight to Akron area next week: Brookledge GC (OH) would have preferred Ellsworth Meadows, but no tee times. Lake Forest CC (OH) Black Gold GC (OH) Oak Shadows GC (OH) Last week of July: Quarry Course at Giants Ridge (MN) Gravel Pit 13 (MN) Chaska Town GC (MN) I'm no Arg, but I am hopeful to break the 100 course barrier for 2025!

Of course my Spectrum Cable totally died (or the router) last night! I had planned on an early morning watching The Opn. I'll just look at this picture instead!

Did you play Jeffersonville near Philly? I am thinking you did. It looks good!

I think they will allow you to play once.

I am still gonna go back to Streamsong, I do like the vibe there. I still need to play the Red Courses as well as the new one that is opening up next year. I'll just pass on any caddy.

I am tempted to come out there for a few days and golf with you. Did you play LuLu CC? Also have an old Army buddy that I need to see that lives near Allentown as well.

The Quarry (OH). When you get to the "canyon hole" you should be able to see a wrecked golf cart way, way down at the bottom. As the story goes, a really drunk guy rode it off the edge (now there is a fence/rail) and he actually lived to tell about it. He ended up with just a broken leg IIRC. Amazing. They didn't even bother to bring the cart back up. Lol. It's a fun golf course overall. Here is the hole.

I typically never drop my bag at the bag drop. Why? Because it makes me feel rushed and I always forget something. So as I was walking up the hill from the lot to the bag drop an employee in an empty cart drove right on past me and did not offer me a ride up to the top of the hill. I was stunned. The service is terrible there. Once the new course opens, I'll stay one night and carry my own bag to avoid paying any sort of caddy fees. The value just isn't there. For the prices, service should be paramount here.

That's never fun. Sorry about your losses.