Joe Egan

The Falls at Grand Falls Casino, located just east of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a resort style course that was designed by Rees Jones. The course excels in many ways, notably in the way in which it is conditioned and the memorable views you’ll encounter despite being surrounded by Iowa corn. The greens rolled true and the fairways mowed in stripes when I played, a testament to the perpetually solid state of the course. I knock Grand Falls down a few notches simply because there is not a ton of variety within the layout. Only about half a dozen or so holes stand out, my favorites being the ninth, 14th, and the 18th. The closer is one you’ll talk about in the casino afterwards: it is a short par three with a waterfall leading into a lake that provides one of the best views in Iowa golf. The aforementioned ninth is a fun, classic “cut off as much as you can” par four where any ball left is swallowed by the large pond that is in play on a total of four holes on the course. The Falls ranks among Iowa’s best public tracks; if you’re in the Sioux Falls area, crossing the state lines to play a Rees Jones signature course for less than 100 dollars is a no brainer. Given the fun, appealing couple of holes I mentioned and the casino next door, The Falls makes for a perfect buddies weekend away.

TPC Twin Cities, host of the PGA Tour's 3M Open, is located 30 minutes north of Minneapolis in Blaine. The private course played host to the Champions Tour's 3M Championship for many years before the PGA decided to return to Minnesota. There are a ton of water hazards within the confines of the Arnold Palmer routing, and a lot of the holes are undistinguishable because of this. Also, there are so many houses on the property that the beauty of the course is somewhat tainted as well. Even still, it's always fun to tee it up where the pros play and TPC Twin Cities is no exception. Every golfer will love the conditions no matter the time of the season; I've seen the course in both the spring and fall and there is no doubt the greens are always in great shape. The sugar white bunkers are a nice touch, too, although you might think there are too many (wait until you see the one at the short par four seventh). One hole you'll remember long after you complete your round is the par five 18th, a two shotter for the professionals but us mere mortals will require three. There are a lot of bunkers in the bail out area to entice you to take a rip at the green. Speaking of sand traps, three greet you short of the eighth if you can't make it up. TPC Twin Cities will no doubt challenge you and keep you on your toes. Accepting an invite here is a no brainer because of the ability to play on a course that is both a Palmer design and where the world's best tee it up.

Sandestin's Raven course is one of the very best offerings in Destin, Florida's golf portfolio, where good courses have popped up in every which direction the last 25 years. A Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design, Raven should be played if in the area because of its solid conditioning and the fact that there are a number of noteworthy holes. I particularly enjoyed the 203-yard island green par three sixth, which would be an awesome match play hole; the green has some contours to it and there are bunkers left and right to scare you even more on the daunting looking tee shot. Two is a possibility here, but so is five. The next hole, a double dogleg par five, is incredibly frustrating for someone who has not walked these grounds yet. There is a major carry required over the water hazard, which for better or worse seems to be a little bit of a theme here. 14 and 15 are two high-risk, high-reward par fours. On the former, you can cut off as much as you'd like knowing full well there's water everywhere left; watching my ball barely clear the hazard and hit the fairway was the most exhilarating moment of my round at Raven. The 15th is drivable for the longest hitters but awfully penal if you don't hit it straight. There are a few holes on Sandestin's Raven that are really, really good but also a few forgettable. Another gripe I have is the missed opportunity to utilize bay views. Instead, there are houses on most of the holes and that can take away from the golfer's experience. The good outweigh the bad here, though. This is a really fine resort course, one that is not to be missed if you're in Destin.

I showed up to Troon North the other day for my first go around at the two highly regarded public tracks of Scottsdale. The Pinnacle course, a Tom Weiskopf design, was my introduction to the property, as my group teed off at 7:55 in the morning. It was chilly for an Arizona morning, but that did not take away from our golf experience. On Pinnacle, you are greeted right away on the the first hole, a dogleg left par four, aware of the dangers of errant shots at Troon North: desert sand, bushes, and boulders are every which way off the fairway. The whole course is fairly gentle if you keep your ball in play, but in typical desert golf fashion is penal if you miss fairways off the tee. The third tee box provides the best view from the Pinnacle course and is a downhill two shotter with a two tiered green that slopes back to front. The collection of par threes, especially the eighth and the 17th, are tremendous and the highlight of the golf course. My favorite hole might be the par four 10th because of its two forced carries and the tough uphill approach to a thin, undulating green. Who says the best holes on a golf course have to be the easiest? I don’t love the houses everywhere and wish I could have played Pinnacle—as well as Monument—before they stood there, but that is the epitome of the ever changing, growing mini golf mecca of north Scottsdale. If you are on a golf trip in the area, it’d be a disservice to Troon North’s Pinnacle course to skip it. Its sibling might be the more famous 18, but Pinnacle is arguably the more consistently good track.

"Is this Stillwater or Scotland?" my playing partner blurted out on StoneRidge's fourth tee box. I laughed out loud, because our friends overseas would consider that blasphemy. The sentiment remains though that StoneRidge is unique given its location, and with its fescue all over and lack of trees one might be fooled into thinking the course plays like an inland links. The Bobby Weed design is among the giants of Minneapolis-St. Paul golf because of its eccentric features and conditioning. My favorite hole on the front nine is the eighth, an uphill par four that will fool you on the approach (play it in there a club longer). What comes after that undulating green is confusing. You are right next to the clubhouse after the eighth, and the ninth hole is nowhere in sight. Alas, the golfer must go to the opposite side of the clubhouse to entertain the ninth. It's a really weird situation that I'm not quite sure I've ever seen. You'll be happy you made the trek, though, as the back nine is a treat and produces a ton of fun holes. For instance, the 11th is a par five where your drive must go around or over an old white barn, and the 15th is a par four that features a downhill drive followed by a challenging uphill approach. Elevation changes are omnipresent at StoneRidge, and the twilight views are stunning. The bunkers and greens are in great shape, and they roll quickly. Undulating putting surfaces can be frustrating to some, and so I recommend playing StoneRidge a few times to get the hang of it. It's a top tier public course in the Twin Cities.

The Jewel is the closest encounter a Minnesotan can get to a mountain golf experience in their state. I have driven to Lake City a few times now to take advantage of the Hale Irwin design, and each time I come away more impressed with this beautiful golf course. The front nine, with its undulating, wide fairways, is not particularly awe inspiring. I'd like to think a course with a 4.5 ball rating would open up with two better holes than the ones offered at The Jewel. Amusingly, my favorite hole on that side comes right after at the par four third: a semi-blind, semi-dogleg left tee shot leading to a downhill approach to a putting surface surrounded by treacherous bunkers. The latter nine, in which the golfer takes a stroll through the relatively hilly bluffs of southeastern Minnesota, vaults the course from above average daily facility to a top 10 public offering in the state. Hole 10, at 421 yards, is a downhill, classic "bite off as much as you can chew" par four. I've seen shots that end up 50 yards short of the green, and I've seen shots that end up 200 yards short of the green. It is all about personal choice here, and how daring you decide to be. The same can be said on the next hole, a par three, especially if the pin is in the back right portion of the green. Holes 12 through 15 at The Jewel aesthetically look like a private course in the Appalachian Mountains. There are a lot of fun, wonderfully conditioned golf holes here, capped off by a brute of a par four at the 18th--which measures 477 yards from the tips--that offers the reward of a stellar panoramic view as you approach the green. In a state full of typically flat courses, The Jewel is one to savor.

Edinburgh USA, located in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, is a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design that is most known for three things: first, the LPGA tournament it hosted during the 1990s; secondly, the massive double green shared between the ninth and 18th holes; and third, the waterlogged par four 17th. Edinburgh is a complete misnomer, for this is much more Minnesota parkland than Scottish links. The course’s name choice was indeed really, really odd, but it shouldn’t change how view the layout. The par four fifth is a fantastic short hole with a water hazard that collects anything right and five bunkers around the green to protect par; it was unquestionably my favorite on the front nine. The aforementioned penultimate hole is one of Minnesota’s best par fours and asks for a forced carry on both shots to the green. The 17th will be the one you’ll recall long after you’ve completed a loop here. As for the negatives, a chunk of the course is benign, flat, and relatively uninteresting; take a look at the stretch of 13 through 16 and you’ll know what I mean. Overall, the back nine is the superior of the two, with 12, 17, and 18 playing as the best of the best. I’d be fine with putting Edinburgh USA solidly in the second tier of Minneapolis-St. Paul public golf courses, somewhere around my fifth favorite. There are enough of the cool features like the double green and the 17th to recommend Edinburgh USA.

When one drives onto the Interlachen Country Club property, the first thing that can be seen is the gargantuan clubhouse. It is a fitting entrance to perhaps the most chronicled golf facility in the state of Minnesota. Interlachen's story began in 1909, and many who have been historically significant in our game have walked these holes. After all those years, the course still holds up as one of the best in the midwestern United States. The routing is terrific and the course is hidden from the rest of the world, so much so that you forget just how close you are to Minneapolis. There are tall, tall trees here, and coupled with the superb conditioning you may think of yourself in a slice of green heaven. The ninth is the signature hole; hitting your shot to the green over the water and towards the clubhouse is downright exhilarating. The 11th is a great par four with plenty of strategically placed bunkers and an uphill approach that puts a premium on accuracy. Do not go right here. The quality of the par threes hits an apex on the beautiful 13th. The right-to-left sloping green is so fun to watch if the pin rests on the left side of the putting surface. Interlachen is relatively flat, but there are several hills and a lot of the greens have gentle, subtle slopes. Ironically enough, my least favorite offering of Interlachen's is the closing 18th. It's a little goofy in my opinion to have such a severely sloping back-to-front green to conclude your round. Perhaps there is a reason for it, but the ninth would be a much more meaningful closer; imagine completing your round with that view. Interlachen, a treat of a golf course, is still a must play if you receive an invite. In an age where tricked out courses seem to be the target of many, I'm sure there glad there are still old fashioned tracks like this. Fans of the history of the game will especially relinquish a round at Interlachen.

The uneven topography of the Black Hills is prominently featured at Red Rock, most notably on holes one, four, five, and 13. I almost guarantee the opening tee shot is one that you’ll look down at the green and say: “I can get it there”. Though the hole plays 340 yards, it is a severe downhill hole and a great opportunity to open your round with a three. The fourth is a slight dogleg left from the same mold. The fifth is one of the best par threes in South Dakota; enjoy the view up there for a moment before proceeding. The closing stretch of 16 through 18 is relatively strong; though this opinion may be in the minority, I love the look of the infinity green on the closing hole. 16, a par five, is a fun one because of its high-risk, high-reward nature. Where exactly should you hit that second shot? Left of the tree? Around it? Red Rock is lined with these types of holes. I believe the amount of homes they have decided to put in the routing since the course’s inception have really affected the look of Red Rock. That’s always a matter of opinion, though: I typically am in favor of as few houses on the golf course if possible. I also am not a fan on unpredictable bounces on the fairway; some approaches feel especially so if it is your first time here. I could absolutely see why one would get frustrated. A golfer could score very well here, but it may take a few times around the loop to fully understand the ricochets and backstops. Ultimately, the layout is highlighted by omnipresent ponderosa pines, rolling fairways, and well-conditioned, sloping greens. As far as South Dakota public golf courses are concerned, Red Rock should be revered as one of the state's premier options.

The Harvester, situated a bit outside Des Moines, was initially opened as a daily fee public facility but made the switch to being a private club a few years ago. I have walked the course many times and am perpetually amazed at just how perfectly picturesque this golf course in the middle of Iowa is. There are only a few houses on the whole property, one that consistently ranks as the best or second best golf course in the Hawkeye State, and that clearly adds to the visual appeal. Between the sixth and 18th holes, The Harvester employs a formidable group of par fives. The closer is a dramatic dogleg right around a massive pond. There is no room for error out towards the blue stuff, so the best course of action for us mere mortals is to make this a three shot hole; you'll definitely want to pull out your camera for this one. Or perhaps you prefer the par three third, a hole of over 200 yards with all forced carry of yet another pond. If you miss, put it left. If water hazards are not your thing, you won't like it here. When it comes to conditioning, there is not a blade out of place at The Harvester, where the stimpmeter reads fast and the greens are anything but flat. Though it is hard to imagine a time when this little slice of heaven in Iowa (yes, that's a Field of Dreams reference) did not have this golf course, The Harvester is just over 20 years young. It has the look of a classic parkland country club, and maybe that's part of why I like it so much. The Harvester is definitely worth a weekend away to if you get the invite, and I would not blame you if you delayed your trip back home.

If there is one course that lacks the attention it deserves in Minnesota, it is Le Sueur Country Club. Is it because the track is inconceivably difficult for playing just 6300 yards? Or is it because it sits nearly an hour southwest of the Twin Cities in a sleepy town of four thousand? Regardless, the 96-year-old track is one to reckon with because of the variety within the layout. There are a few special par threes: the 10th, a short, forced carry over Le Sueur Creek, is next to the clubhouse, where all the members can see and applaud or jeer your end result; and the downhill 15th, a drop of nearly 50 feet leading to a green that may or may not be surrounded by whitetail does at any given time. My chief complaints are the bunkers—they need to be redone—and the fact that some approach shots are flat out confusing the first time you play Le Sueur. For instance, how are you supposed to know about the slopes of the birthday cake-shaped fourth green having not played it? A few rounds at the course, which sports several elevation changes, will do away with that gripe. I cannot believe I’ve made it this far without mentioning the signature hole, the par four, downhill dogleg ninth. I’ve played Hazeltine, Interlachen, Northland, and several other of the top golf courses in Minnesota, and the ninth at Le Sueur is absolutely up there as one of the toughest holes in the state. On your second shot, make sure you understand there are huge drop-offs on either side of the green. If anything, the safe shot is to play your second a little short and have your ball roll up to the putting surface. What a unique ride that hole is. Anyway, Le Sueur Country Club is rightfully so listed on this site as one of the top 50 courses in Minnesota. Maybe others will take notice someday.

Spyglass Hill is an exhilarating experience. Everyone knows the first five holes have incredible, sweeping ocean vistas, but what lies beyond those offerings are outstanding as well. Though I have never been, the par three 12th hole on Spyglass looks like it'd belong at Augusta National. Actually, you could say the same about the 16th. That's high praise, but this is a world class course. My only complaint about those heavily wooded final 13 holes is that you don't get another ocean view. Aside from that, they are just well designed, brutally difficult golf holes. If you have a similar experience, you'll see an abundance of wildlife, notably a boatload of deer who aren't afraid of your presence. Now that I have neglected them long enough, let's go back and review the first five holes. The opening par five is an interesting tee shot up top, but it all comes together once you walk down that hill and see what the next hour has in store for you. The second maybe isn't talked about as much as the other openers, but what a short par four that is. One of the great views in golf is the tee box of the par three third. Just to look down and see that green and the flowing ocean behind is worth the steep green fee. Consider yourself lucky to be in such a spot at that moment. The fourth has the funky, thin green and will probably be the hole you talk about the most; that is, unless you're like me and three putted. The fifth is another fun par three that caps your seaside links experience at Spyglass Hill. As others have noted, this is the hardest golf course on the Monterey Peninsula and should be treated as such. Even still, don't let that get in the way between you and this magnificent property. Let's put it this way: I wouldn't necessarily run you out of the room if you were of the opinion that Spyglass Hill is superior to its more famous neighbor, Pebble Beach.

I played Wigwam Gold for the first time yesterday and came away pleasantly surprised with what I encountered. The Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design, which measures 7,400 yards from the back tees, holds a place in Arizona history for being the first premier resort course of the area. Gold is in many ways the anti-Arizona golf course, what with the number of trees and water hazards in play. If one were to be dropped out of an airplane, blindfolded, and quizzed about their location, they might say Florida; the only evidence to the contrary is the nearby mountain views. Wigwam Gold is a flat offering but one that is enhanced by clever bunkering and undulating greens. Those greens can be frustrating though, as few of them are duds or flat out impossible to approach because of the unknown slopes; my playing partner tried explaining the par three 11th green shape to me and I walked away confused. That being said, the putting surfaces were in terrific shape. The par four that stuck out to me most had to be the 12th: it is a gentle dogleg left with a green that can be crept on—for the longest of hitters—but also very penal with trees and bunkers acting as worthy barriers the putting surface. The right side of the fairway is relatively open and can be utilized as a layup outlet. “Arizona’s Monster”, as I’ve seen it called, has many lengthy offerings, especially the par fives. The 4th, which sports a few fairway bunkers, is a behemoth of a journey, as is the 10th with its treacherous length and two-tiered green; both of these beasts tip out at more than 650 yards. As Mr. Ward notes in his review of Gold, the course has been passed over now for years because of the giants in Scottsdale, but that does should not squash its significance. In fact, how many opportunities do you get to play a public Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design? Not a ton, I’m willing to guess. Add Wigwam Gold to your list if you’re in the area.

One of the oldest golf courses in the state of Minnesota, Golden Valley Country Club is an anomaly because of its seven par fours, six par fives, and five par threes. There are never more than two par fours in a row, which makes for an interesting layout. Golden Valley begins with back-to-back par fives and ends with one as well. I thought the course was decent albeit a bit underwhelming. The bentgrass is well manicured and the staff is great, but there are a lot of uninteresting holes. Conversely, my favorite offering has to be the visually appealing 17th, a par three protected by a bunker on the left and a pond on the right with no room to miss on either side. If we are ranking courses strictly on the track itself, which is fair, then GVCC isn’t deserving of top 20 status in Minnesota. I could absolutely see why someone else might consider Golden Valley one of the state's elite because of its spectacular clubhouse and noted history; I just cannot bring myself to feel the same way. Golden Valley can still be one of the premier facilities in the state without necessarily having a premier golf course.

The Royal Club, the newest of Minneapolis-St. Paul's upscale public golf course facilities, was designed by Arnold Palmer--in one of his last--and Annika Sorenstam. Each of the two architects brought to life a nine-hole routing from the property that once held 3M's home course. The Royal Club is a pleasant walk because of its variety and affordability. To play a course of this caliber for under 100 dollars at any time is not like many parts of the country; Royal Club would in places demand twice as much. The first tee box, a downhill par four, presents the golfer with a few challenges that will be omnipresent throughout the rest of their round: elevation changes and water hazards. Along with the first, my favorites are the par four fourth and the finishing uphill par five 18th. The last is a postcard hole with tremendous views of the water left and the clubhouse straight ahead. It will soon be recognized as one of Minnesota's finest closers. My least favorite hole is the 15th, an oddly shaped downhill, right-to-left sloping drivable par four. Rumor has it that the houses off to the left of the hole are upset about the possibility of their homes being smacked by golf balls. It is a funky hole, though, and deserves a redesign. Green speeds are unpredictable at Royal Club, and some approaches are downright impossible to understand unless you've walked the routing a few times. The Royal Club is an intriguing design that no doubt benefits from the land in which it has been built. I expect the course to rise in upcoming editions of these rankings because of great conditioning and the two faces behind the scenes. Go check it out if you're in the east metro; it's worth a look at least once.

The Tribute is for certain one of the best public golf courses in Dallas- Fort Worth. Situated 30 or so miles northwest of Big D, The Tribute is part of a 36-hole complex that includes Old American, another course on many best of Texas lists. It is a fun idea to copy a lot of famous Scottish holes, including the first and 18th of St. Andrew's, the most celebrated course on the isle. A member of our threesome said it was the greatest mock links he had played in Texas. Thanks to Lewisville Lake, I agree there are many traits that remind this place of a seaside links. Among the courses copied in this routing are Scottish giants Muirfield, Prestwick, Turnberry, and the aforementioned home of golf, St. Andrew's. The par three fifth is an awesome replica of Troon's postage stamp green that you'll no doubt enjoy. The 17th aims to play the part of the Road Hole with a sign blocking a potential tee ball hitting right, a la the hotel on the real course. I have heard from a few that conditions out here are less than ideal during the winter, but I played during Texas' hottest season so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. The greens roll and were firm, but I did see several patches of dead grass in the fairway; these circumstances, however, are in no manner a way of telling you not to platy here. I would argue that The Tribute should be higher on Texas' top 100 lists given its fun factor, nod to the greats, and stunning vistas you won't find at many other courses in DFW. Tribute is a great love letter to Scotland.

The Bull at Pinehurst Farms is in the undesirable position of being consistently rated the fifth best golf course in the span of a 10 mile radius. That's not as much to do with The Bull being a bad track, but more about the quality of golf in the area. If this routing were in a different area, folks might look at it in a completely different light. A Nicklaus design, the course begins with a few uninspiring holes before shifting into another gear from the fifth to the seventh. Therein lies the strongest stretch on the course, and in the most heavily wooded of all places. The fifth, a dogleg left 436-yard hole that is the number one handicap on the card, is one of the best par fours in Wisconsin. There is a huge drop off area of fescue to the left of the green otherwise protected by tall trees. Number seven is a drivable par four, one that reminded me a bit of the 13th at the Giants Ridge Quarry course in Minnesota, though that hole is much more forgiving on the first shot. The Bull has to be one of Jack's toughest tracks, culminating with the 18th, a long par four with two forced carries, one just shy of a green that is relatively thin. Conditions at The Bull were decent, and the course is certainly a force to be reckoned with. If one were planning a trip to Kohler, this one should be included even though everyone in your group will shoot above their handicap the first go around. This isn't one of the very best in Wisconsin, but probably is among those in the second or third tier. It's an interesting enough layout to warrant a play despite a few snoozers and its proximity to the greats.

If it counts as a Minneapolis-St. Paul public course, Troy Burne stands at or near the top of daily access facilities in the area. The Tom Lehman design, just east of the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, is distinctly a prairie course and features a lot of really strong golf holes. Among them is the stretch from the 10th to the 14th, culminating in excitement at the par three 11th, a picturesque short hole dotted with tall, shaved pine trees. Behind those trees is a downhill par three and five, and a pond that invites any shot headed left on either hole. Troy Burne is a beautiful walk, a challenging course, and significantly better on the latter half of the layout. I concur with other reviewers who note that Troy doesn’t exactly inspire on the front nine. That’s not to say it’s below average by any stretch of the imagination; the second and fourth holes are flat out fun par fours, the latter asking you to put forth your best effort and hit a tiny green surrounded by bunkers from the highest elevation point of the entire routing. At the end of the day, though, Troy Burne is without question one of the best in the area; whether it has as many jaw droppers as StoneRidge or history as Keller is insignificant. There’s a reason Troy was featured in Golf Digest’s Top 100 public courses in the country for a time. If you’re in western Wisconsin, this place is worth visiting. If you’re like me, you might just make a day of it and play 36 holes.

Minnehaha is a classic Midwest parkland country club. The Sioux Falls facility currently hosts the Champions Tour’s Sanford International and is set to for at least the next three years. As for the course, Minnehaha has a lot to offer any golfer: elevation changes, contoured greens, and strategic approaches. I can’t say I always agree with the master plan though: an opening par four that requires you to lay up on your drive is a little strange. I’ve always been a fan of ripping and gripping the big stick on the first tee of a golf course, as it provides an opportunity to feel good about your game. In my opinion, the strongest stretch of golf holes—and perhaps the toughest as well—begins at the 12th and ends at the 16th. The 12th is an awesome slight dogleg par five that requires the golfer to bomb their tee ball down a cliff far enough to have an opportunity to carry a pond to a green with sweeping undulations. That to me is the sign of a great hole, the fact that the golfer could walk away with a three or a seven. Likewise, the 16th is a lengthy par five with a thin, long pond on the left side protecting the left side of the hole. Just watch the Sanford International and you’ll know what I mean when I say players can go really high and low at Minnehaha. High-risk, high-reward opportunities line this place. Conditions are always great here, and the routing is a force to be reckoned with. There’s a lot of history here too, probably the most of any course in South Dakota. An invitation to Minnehaha should not be turned down. It’s a great course.

Situated in the northeast corner of Wisconsin, Horseshoe Bay is a Door County gem. In fact, the private club is almost everything you’d want in a club--good practice facilities, tasty food, and a more than functional golf course--to join. There are many holes with fun high-risk, high-reward outcomes: the par four second that begs the golfer to shave off a little yardage by aiming over a pond that extends to nearly 300 out from the tee; the two par fives (the eighth and 13th, which is hilariously named “Double Delicious”) with double deck fairways. The fairways are winding and generous, adding to the playability of Horseshoe Bay for the average golfer. One might wish that the vistas of Green Bay to the west were utilized more than just for the ninth green and the finishing hole. Had a few more holes with these views been incorporated in the design, who is to say this course wouldn’t be among Wisconsin’s best? Note for any first timers: some greens have big undulations, and that can be confusing at times (see the aforementioned 13th, which has a massive back to front slope). You may need a few times around the property to fully understand the 22-year-old design. That being said, Horsehoe Bay is still the best golf course in the famous Door County peninsula, and it’s not even close. I’m convinced that if HB was placed in Milwaukee or Madison that publications would rank it higher in the state than they currently do. Personally, I’d put the course firmly in the top 15 or so in all of Wisconsin.

The Padre course at Camelback is certainly one of the more fun resort courses I have played. A few folks I talked to here have begun to whisper that Camelback, named for the mountain visible from nearly every hole, is a 36-hole public complex to be reckoned with in an area full of them: Troon North, Grayhawk, Boulders, Talking Stick, TPC Scottsdale, and We-Ko-Pa are the other notables. Padre, across the street from the more penal Ambiente course, doesn’t rank among those giants because of its small scale, but that does not take away from its playability. The course feels a bit more Florida than Arizona due to its flatness and use of palm trees and ponds throughout the property. The greens were slick when I played in the winter, and the conditioning of the course was solid. My main complaint about Padre is that the experienced golfer would see the routing as boring or uninteresting. A few of my favorite holes: the par five fifth, a true three-shotter that makes use of a pond both short right and over the thin, long green that protects par; and the 12th, an easy on the surface short par four that will no doubt cause some players to pause on the tee box and wonder whether or not they have it in them to take a whack at the green. I’m glad I had Camelback Padre on my itinerary. It’s a value track that is no doubt below the mammoths in Scottsdale golf but still worth a round if you're nearby.

Stonebridge Ranch's Dye course, located 30-plus miles north of Dallas, is brutally difficult. To hammer home this point, the professional tee box's rating is over 77. In fact, there is only one par three shorter than 200 yards from the tips. One of three Texas designs by the late, famed architect Pete Dye, Stonebridge Ranch sports lightning fast greens, tall fescue, and many water hazards to keep players honest and then some. In fact, there is no reason for the average golfer to tee it up on this side of South Stonebridge Drive; the more player friendly option at the club is across the street on the 27-hole Arthur Hills design. On the Dye course, holes nine and 18 are boomerang-shaped par fours visible from the clubhouse with a giant pond separating the two. Hole 12 is a 200-yard par three with what acts like a floating tee box supported by Dye's trademark railroad ties. The Club Corp owned course is very pretty with some great views considering the surrounding neighborhood. Like I wrote earlier, I don't think this course is for the faint of heart. It's gimmicky in the sense that a shot hit even a few yards off the mark on many of the holes is punished; that can lead to a lot of frustration for any golfer. Conditions are good, the membership is friendly, and the clubhouse is gargantuan. The Stonebridge Ranch Dye course is probably a bit better than your average Dallas country club track. In a metropolitan area of high end golf facilities, there's no shame in being a Stonebridge Ranch.

As far as championship golf courses in America go, there are few more recognizable than Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota. The Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design has hosted US Opens, PGA Championships, and is slated to become the only course in the United States to have held the Ryder Cup twice. Accolades aside, Hazeltine is a fine walk because of its stellar conditioning and the fact that it is one of the fairest tests in golf. Nothing is tricked up on the property and there are few subtleties; Hazeltine is hard-nosed, straightforward golf. The course can beat you over the head without flash, and I think that’s a rarity in 21st century golf. There are plenty of good holes, and my personal favorites are the two on Lake Hazeltine, the 10th and the 16th. My only real knock against Hazeltine is that there’s not much memorability beyond the best holes; numbers two through five and 13 through 15 fit that mold of not being particularly special. The recent introduction of the elevated 16th tee box gives off the impression the club wants to improve, and it succeeds. Another improvement Hazeltine has made is the removal of unnecessary trees, something I noticed particularly when I played the course last year. Even sitting in the dining area after my round, I noticed you could see about six different flagsticks from your table. The course has changed a lot since the first time I played it in 2005, mostly for the better. Hazeltine’s fame is only part of the reason you should never decline an invitation to the place; underneath all its history is a course you will get beat up by and tell everyone you know how difficult it is.

South of Interstate 35 about an hour south of Minneapolis sits Owatonna Country Club. Membership is elated about having a private course of this caliber in a small town, and they should be. OCC has a great clubhouse, and the staff is wonderful too. Though the scale of Owatonna is very small, they have a good routing for what they set out to accomplish at this Joel Goldstrand design. Bentgrass greens, typical of the area, are in relatively good shape and benign. The bunkers probably need a little TLC. My favorite holes—and certainly the prettiest on the property—are 11 and 13, two par threes requiring forced carries over water. 3 and 17 are a few other fine offerings. Other than that, a lot of the holes are forgettable at Owatonna, and that can put a damper on your experience. For what it is, OCC is just fine for a small town country club. That’s the way they like it, too. One might even consider it a hidden gem in the North Star State.

I agree with several comments other reviewers have made relating to Talking Stick's Piipaash course as rating among the lowest Coore and Crenshaw designs they have played. The front nine is ho hum, as a lot of the holes have no character or should be seen as flat bores with somewhat interesting greens. There is a premium placed on approaches and almost no difficulty in placement of drives; anything that goes on the fairway at Piipaash is a good spot to be. In this regard, it's classic casino golf. The latter half of the routing has at least a couple engaging offerings. The 14th is a par five that sports a desert wash crossing the fairway, reminding those who have played both the courses at Talking Stick of O'odham's 12th. 16 is another par five that rewards the long hitters and can severely penalize a missed second shot, only this time it's water instead of a wash that can kill your score. There are a few holes you'll remember, but at the end of the day most you'll forget. Piipaash is fine for a public golf course but if you are planning a golf trip around this track, I'll point you to a dozen better in the Scottsdale area alone.

I was in Des Moines with some time to kill, and so I texted my buddy from the area: "I have time for one round. Where do I play here?" He answered within seconds: "TCI". To say I was pleasantly surprised with Tournament Club of Iowa, an Arnold Palmer design with many elevation changes, is an understatement. I'm originally from the Twin Cities in Minnesota, and I would put this course up any against other public in that metro area. Talking about the course, there are a few really good stretches: eight through 10 was awesome, culminating in a short dogleg right protected by trees on the left and water on the right.17 and 18 are an excellent finishing two holes with a pond between them. The greens, though well conditioned, and layout can be a little unpredictable if you've never played TCI. There's a miniature par four that, if you step on the tee without looking at the scorecard, might cause you to say: "Wow, this is a long par three!" There's another hole that's downhill that might make you cry out: "Where do I aim?" Tournament Club of Iowa is worth the risk and a fun Palmer track. It's most certainly a top 10 course in the Hawkeye State and cannot imagine there is a better public option in Des Moines.

The O’odham course at Talking Stick Resort seems to be as divisive on this site as any. I like the course a decent amount and would pay the fee to play here again, but I can see where the naysayers are coming from. The course feels like a flat and uninteresting walk, but underneath it all there are a few really well-designed holes on O’odham. The 12th is an awesome high risk, high reward short par four with two distinct paths to the green. The preceding par three 11th will destroy you with the length and precision required to reach the green. A few of the front nine par fours have subtle greens and gentle elevation changes that can throw you off. A plus is that there are no homes on the course, and there’s a point on the back nine that it is possible to feel you really are in the middle of the desert. I would recommend it to anyone in Arizona who prefers an alternative to the normal mountain golf course you’d play in the Grand Canyon State. O’odham is overall a decent routing but probably not the first place you mention when you announce you’re going on a Scottsdale golf trip. I am cautiously awarding this four stars but would have been fine with 3.5. It's a solid course.

The elephant in the room when it comes to Blackwolf Run's Meadow Valleys course is that the Pete Dye design is that it is the less appealing sibling to the River course. While the River course is one of the finer American parkland designs I've played, Meadow Valleys is no slouch if compared to the typical course. It is significantly less demanding than its counterpart and sports about half the amount of water hazards. My chief complaint is the lack of diversity of the front nine: the second through the sixth are all relative snoozers for how grand this property is supposed to be. The back nine is greater of a test and much more enjoyable. A strong, perhaps unheralded offering is the par five 11th. It's an uphill, slight dogleg left with a diabolical long bunker on the left. 18 was undoubtedly my favorite hole on Meadow Valleys, a par four finisher over the Sheboygan River into a double green shared with the River course's nasty closer. Make no mistake, absolutely no one who steps foot on the Kohler properties is there to play Meadow Valleys. However, it's a good add while you're there and probably the most entertaining for the not so experienced golfer of the four. Since reviews are subject to review against other courses, and not their sister tracks, Meadow Valleys is still an acceptable experience and should be treated as such.

First of all, getting to The Bluffs can be tricky if you’re coming from the west. The road is winding, but the result is worth your while. Conditioning is a little rough, but the course is not unplayable by any stretch of the imagination. Bermuda grass colors were a little off when I played, and it’s no doubt that the bunkers will require some TLC. That being said, the value alone of The Bluffs is a reason to trek out there. The Arnold Palmer layout is special and there are a number of great holes, specifically the par threes on the back nine. The 17th, which is absolutely the place to pull out your camera and snap a photo, has danger written all around it, from the abyss of the left to the bunker short and water right. It’s an especially well-designed golf course with lots of risk and reward. Just take a look at the insane par five ninth: trees line the middle of the hole, and there’s a fairway left and right to chose from. Each way presents its own challenges and opportunities. I am sorry to hear that The Bluffs has closed for now. It was a wonderful track and absolutely a hidden gem, a course I had not heard much of but was pleasantly surprised by the layout and how many ways you can play it. I hope folks can tee up on its grounds someday again.

What can I jot down about Southern Hills that has not been already written? The Tulsa country club is one of the finest golf courses I’ve ever played. I played in late fall, so the colors of the trees only added to the lore of the club’s history. Southern Hills is a Perry Maxwell design that has held numerous championships—adding the ’22 PGA to its already stellar resume—and it’s no surprise why. Gil Hanse’s latest restoration created a better look to the bunkers, a significant upgrade when you view the course’s gallery side by side. I’ll admit: the front nine was great, but not world class like SH’s ratings might suggest. The sixth, a par three over a creek, was probably my favorite hole of the opening half of the course. Where it all changed for me was the par fourth 10th. Beginning there, the three-hole stretch culminating on the famous 12th green complex is world class. I’ll spare you the details of 12, since it’s been documented ad nauseum, but the 11th is a surprisingly devilish short par three with trouble everywhere not on the putting surface; like the rest of Southern Hills, bunkers and slopes line the green’s routing. Other great holes on the back nine include the closing two holes: a short par four guarded by a creek that might be reached by long hitters in this year’s PGA, and the absolutely diabolical finishing hole, a treacherous uphill two-shotter where bogey no doubt feels like an acceptable punishment. It’s as simple as this: an invitation to Southern Hills should never be denied.

Swope Memorial is a public A.W. Tillinghast design that dates back to 1934. The course has a lot of undulations both on the fairways and the green, which makes for an enjoyable experience. Conditions could be improved, but they are not bad enough to the point of not recommending. Not abnormal for the time of its design, Swope is less than 6300 yards from the tips. It is unsurprising that the course has been bypassed by the technology of today’s game; long hitters can attack this layout. That is, if you can keep the ball in the dangerously narrow fairways. The overall scale is small, which fits in with the municipal vibe of the place; I have to tip my cap to a course that understands its limits. Host of the PGA Tour’s 1949 Kansas City Invitational, Swope has beautiful skyline views of the city from several vantage points, perhaps none better than from the tee box of the drivable par four third. At the present moment, a green fee will never cost over 55 dollars under any circumstance (high season, cart, etc.). Between the Tillinghast history and the affordability, I would play Swope again. It’s a neat little track.

Brooks Golf Club is a quaint 27-hole property that is old fashioned in the way it plays. Of the 18 holes highlighted here, trees line most of the fairways and there’s a premium on ball striking and putting. I especially liked the Val Brooks nine, as the routing opens with two solid, straightforward par fours that are anything but subtle. There’s a feel to this section of the course that perhaps the routing has been untouched since its inception in the 1930s. My favorite hole on the Mounds nine is the par four third, which features a forced water hazard carry that also extends to the right. There are trees hanging on either side, so the player will be forced to knock one straight, if even with a mid-iron. In a state that is filled with awesome public courses, Brooks is overshadowed because of its small scale. There is nothing flashy about this place, but that’s also just fine for most golfers. Brooks won’t blow you away, but at its very core it is decent, classic parkland golf.

Bearpath is a complicated place: on one hand, course conditions are impeccable and the layout is interesting enough; and on the other, houses line almost every hole and there is nothing about the course that will flat out wow you. I can almost guarantee you that the size of many homes in the area will make your jaw drop more than the Jack Nicklaus design. Bearpath is serviceable yet underwhelming considering the scale, if that makes sense. If we were judging Bearpath’s merits on the facilities and neighborhood, it would no doubt garner a higher rating. As for the course, there are a few spectacular offerings—the par three eighth, with its forced carry and wonderful views, and the closing hole stick out once your round has concluded—and if you get the invite, you should accept. The atmosphere is friendly and all the folks at Bearpath want nothing more than to show you a top notch time.

Sitting adjacent to Minnesota’s largest casino, the Meadows at Mystic Lake is an amusing stroll because of the fun layout and Native American artifacts situated throughout the course. The grass is impeccably maintained, and if not for a few duds this would be a must play in the Gopher State. Count me in the minority, but I don’t like the oddly shaped, punishing par five 18th. That being said, I’ve never been a fan of the final hole being the hardest or most confusing journey on the scorecard, so to each his own. The par five third may be my favorite on the course, a high risk high reward dogleg left that employs a green surrounded by water that no doubt gobbled up many balls. The fourth is a slightly uphill, perhaps reachable par four with danger all around the green. The Meadows is certainly worth a play if you’re in the area and can handle a sea’s worth of water hazards and a stout challenge. It’s a quintessential solid casino golf course.

Between the old school clubhouse and homages to designer Perry Maxwell every which way you look, Dornick Hills oozes with history. It’s clear throughout your round you are playing one of Oklahoma’s most important venues, and that’s the way the club likes it. In fact, one of the groundskeepers informed me of what my scorecard would later: “This is the home of Perry Maxwell.” There are tributes etched in stone throughout the layout, none bigger than the plaque off the seventh tee dedicated to the club’s patriarch. To add to the legend, Maxwell is buried on a hill just north of the fairway, a short dogleg left protected by a bunker on the left and a pond behind and to the right. Other great holes include: the par three fourth, an uphill lengthy par three with two distinct tiers; the extremely downhill par three 17th, which sports a spectacular panoramic view of the property; and in a class of its own, in terms of both originality and difficulty, is the par five 16th, named the “cliff hole”, aptly because of the giant 30-odd foot ridge you must hit your approach to the green over. There’s a lot of subtle movement around the bentgrass greens. High-risk, high-reward holes line the scorecard. After the glorious Southern Hills, Dornick was the second Maxwell design I’ve ever played, and I must admit I’m a full-blown believer in his work. Tom Doak came in and restored the course, recalling the early days of Dornick. Trees were removed and old aerial photographs honored. Maybe their old gem in Ardmore will soon grace national lists rather than just Oklahoma ones.

Legends Golf Club, an upscale public access course just south of the Twin Cities, is a decent layout that sports greens in tip top shape. The price is very steep, and you might feel as though you should be playing a slightly more interesting course for the hefty fee. The bunkers could use some work, and there was a little bit of dormant grass on the property the last time I walked it. That's not to take anything away from Legends--I really did enjoy the course but would not rank it as one of the top few public options in Minneapolis-St. Paul. It is a brute--as evidence by the 7100-plus yards and near 75 rating on the card from the tips--so make sure you bring your A-game. The best hole has to be the beautiful 13th, a par three with a forced carry that is the greatest opportunity to pull out camera and snap a photo during your round. The back nine was more memorable, in my opinion, and makes Legends worth a shot if you're in the area.

If the Giants Ridge Legend course wasn’t located down the road from its sister Quarry, it would be considered one of the best in northern Minnesota. To play the Legend is a lot more straightforward than the Quarry, where holes need to be solved. That’s not to say the lesser known of the two is a pushover; in fact, it is anything but. On many holes, a ball that squirts into the dense forest is often never found; it is for this reason that the Legend can be very frustrating at times. The green shapes are mostly fair but can be a little gimmicky. Aesthetically, it is one of the prettiest courses of my home state, with two of the best par threes in Minnesota coming in at the 11th at 17th. The latter is the signature hole of the property, a 200-plus yard carry from the tips over a picturesque lake to a tight little green. The third, a par five dogleg, has a fun rendition of a bunker shaped like a massive bear footprint. As long as you can keep your ball in play, you’ll enjoy a round at the Giants Ridge Legend course. It is not to be overlooked once you’ve played its neighbor to the south.

Minnesota Valley, a 98-year-old Seth Raynor creation, is a solid throwback golf course that employs old template holes like the biarritz and redan. The track, which plays to a par 73, is extremely well manicured with very few blades out of place. Despite the fact that progress has grown around every corner, the property still has a tranquil, serene feel to its acres. The greens and fairways are not too daunting of a task to take on, but this can lead sometimes to a flat or uninteresting hole; some holes at Minnesota Valley run together. I do think the collection of par threes, particularly the second--the aforementioned redan--and 12th--a short hole with a visually appealing tee ball over a small pond with a rock wall--are a strong group. Conditions are always great, and there's a lot of history. Take advantage of an invite to Minnesota Valley.

Deep in the heart of east Texas lies Pine Dunes, a one-of-a-kind course that looks and feels completely different than anything you’d find in the whole state. Towering pine trees litter the property, one that is consistently ranked among the best public courses in Texas. I enjoyed Pine Dunes for a myriad of reasons: for one, you’d be hard pressed to find a better value around, as the course’s greens fees never hit the triple digit mark; secondly, there are several stretches of solid golf and very few pushover holes; and third, there’s a sense of tranquility at Pine Dunes that you cannot find in many other places. The clubhouse is tiny, the practice facility is modest, and there’s a small lodge that rests a few dozen folks. As for the course, Pine Dunes rewards smart play and kicks the bajeezus out of you if you can’t hit the ball straight. Nearly every hole is an adventure that brings the pines into play. A few things I was less than thrilled about: the green speeds were a little inconsistent, and some sand shots are flat out impossible. Sporting an enormous amount of sand and flash, hole 11 is a treat visually, and probably ranks as one of the coolest holes I’ve played in Texas. The par five fifth and par three sixth are two holes that emulate what I mean when I say Pine Dunes rewards smart play. If there is one bit of chatter to expect after your round is complete, it’s talk about the 18th. From what I have heard opinions are divisive, but more people than not aren’t exactly raving about the finishing par five, a 90 degree dogleg that doesn’t seem to fit the mold of the rest of the holes because it lacks the trees of the other 17. Pine Dunes is worthy of a day trip; this east Texas gem is sure to be one you’ll talk about long after you finish the controversial closer.

Willingers is an above average public routing that would likely command a hefty initiation fee if it were 30 minutes closer to the Twin Cities and private. The first tee box brings into play a spectacular view, one you won’t forget long after your round has concluded. Many of the holes run together on the opening half. You might ask yourself: “Haven’t I played this one before?” a few times. The exception to that is the par five sixth; the beast is guarded completely on the left side by water and should be played with caution. The conditioning is fine, I suppose, but nothing to write home about. The back nine features a few more interesting holes guarded by tall trees. My favorite offering on that side has to be the par five 18th, a downhill, semi-blind tee shot that, if the tee ball rolls far enough, can be reached in two stellar shots. The second will be scary though, as the skinny green is protected by five bunkers and a pond to the left. Willingers is certainly a great offering for those willing to travel a bit from the Twin Cities, but probably ranks somewhere around 10th on my list of area public courses. I walked away wanting just a little bit more variety given the heavenly location and lack of housing on the property. Still, Willingers is a fun getaway from the noise of the city.

Oak Tree’s East course, host of the Oklahoma Open, is at times a visually special track with a spectacular back nine. It was constructed in 1981 by acclaimed architect Pete Dye, a man whose collection in Edmond, Oklahoma totals 54 holes. The aspect that sticks out to me most about the East course is its utilization of railroad ties, a Dye tradition, especially on the latter half of the routing. I was amazed by the difficulty of this course: it is absolutely not for the faint of heart. The track has a few holes that may seem ridiculous to someone who has never walked the routing; the tee shots on five, seven, and 10 give no indication of the best landing spot. These shots can be puzzling if you’ve never played. Though East flows in and out of a neighborhood, the ClubCorp facility has some great views, notably the approach on the par four 16th, which offers a panoramic shot of the next two greens. If there’s a photo to be had on this course, it is right there on that approach. In fact, holes eight, 13, 14, 16, and 17 are all beautiful and deserving. Each of the last six holes of the East course are extraordinary. Make sure you watch out for the raised green on the par four 13th, though; it’s a lot trickier than it looks. Maybe there’s never been a more fitting interpretation of Oak Tree’s East course. I found it to be an appreciable time. That is, if you can take the beating.

If I could characterize Territory in one word, it’s vast. The whole property is massive, as you really are in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma. The complex, which includes several buildings fit for different purposes, is a five-minute drive from the outskirts Duncan, a town of 22,000. There are no more than a dozen or two houses on site, and most of them are on the first, sixth, and ninth holes. The practice facility is second to none. It is also worth noting that the clubhouse staff was really accommodating. As for the course itself, the routing is terrific and no two holes look the same. The greens are really tricky in spurts, though, and it feels like you need to play Territory a few times to fully appreciate it. The fifth and 14th holes especially stick out in this regard from what I remember. Bounces can seem unfair on some shots, too. These criticisms are not to take anything away from the Randy Heckenhemper design: the good far outweighs the bad at Territory. The bunkers had just been redone in the months before I played, and the white sand is a welcome sight. A few of my favorite holes include the par three eighth, a beautiful downhill hole protected by a pond on the left, and the par five 11th, a true three-shotter in every sense that is as narrow as a hole you’ll find here. I’m really glad I played Territory, one of the best golf courses in Oklahoma.

In the small town of Vermillion sits The Bluffs, a public course the golf teams from the University of South Dakota call home. The routing's main attraction of course is the par four 13th, which features a massive drop off the tee box and a spectacular vista to the south, where one might catch a glimpse of neighboring Nebraska. Maybe you'll noticed the painted "USD" sign below when you're near the green. The 13th through the 16th is easily the course's most remarkable stretch; the track is fairly middle of the road outside those holes. Though the course is well maintained, a great majority of the front nine holes run together and there's not a ton you'll remember. The Bluffs won't be gracing the top of anyone's favorite course list, but you can't beat a place like this when the price never top 35 dollars to walk. If the green fee were twice as much, I certainly wouldn't be touting The Bluffs' affordability. If you're in the area, dig up your change and take on the 13th tee. That alone is worth the price of admission.

Constructed from an existing course a few years ago, Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington aims to play like an inland links. The fairways are huge and undulating, as are the greens. The complex is set to host the second edition of the Korn Ferry’s Veritex Bank Championship in April, so whoever wins will need to be able control their approaches and have excellent knowledge of the wind. In the inaugural event, the pros had no problem figuring out the course. Texas Rangers is a very fun track at times, but when we played the green speeds were a little unpredictable. The sand traps, of which there are countless, are in tip-top shape, and so too are the fairways. My two favorite holes on the course: the par four fifth, which sports a downhill tee ball over a massive pond for the longer hitter and a safer bail out position on the right; and the par three sixth, a wedge into an extremely long and thin green. Given the variety of options Dallas has to offer, I’m not sure Texas Rangers is worth over $100 on the weekend, but on the basis for the scale and views alone it’s worth at least one play.

I am baffled as to why Phoenix folks do not talk about SunRidge Canyon as much as they should. Why? It’s a scenic track that gets lost in the conversation of best public golf courses in the area. I paid less than 100 dollars to play this little gem in the desert, and quite frankly enjoyed it a lot more than some of the superior “rated” courses of the area. To play it is to enjoy the topography of Arizona’s mountains; SunRidge is quite literally, as the name suggests, in a canyon, and the views are tremendous. The Wicked Six, as the final holes are named, are diabolical. SunRidge Canyon laid out two par threes, fours, and fives, and there are exactly zero pushovers among that grouping. The 17th requires a 200-yard carry over a valley to a green that’s shaped like a boomerang; in fact, it has two flags so those playing from the front tees do not have to worry about carrying the aforementioned valley. The 18th may be the toughest of them all, an uphill two-shotter that requires precision and touch on both shots. A few complaints about the place is that conditioning can be improved and there could be a greater variety of holes on the front nine; they do tend to blend into one another. It’s a great design and should not be missed, especially at the price point compared to some of the more well-known courses. Don’t forget about SunRidge Canyon.

Chaska Town Course is rightly overshadowed by its counterpart just down Pioneer Trail, Hazeltine National, but that should not take away from its merits. During the 2006 United States Amateur, players had to take on the Arthur Hills design one of the two qualifying rounds.The course is defined by the area’s rolling hills. It is more open than most courses in the area, especially the front nine. The par four 11th is one of the hardest two-shotters I’ve ever played on a golf course; some believe it’s bad course design and unrewarding to the good drive. Though I understand the criticism, I say there are plenty of advantageous holes on the track (two drivable par fours, the third and the 16th, especially stand out) to get too torn up about one shot. Just play your drive down the left portion of the fairway and you won’t have to worry about those dangling trees on the right.The Chaska Town Course, one of the tracks I grew up playing, is certainly worth the drive if you’re near. Conditions are typically acceptable and the layout is interesting enough. It’s a great alternative to those not able to get a tee time at Hazeltine.

Out of all the complexes and golf courses surrounding Gull Lake, The Classic at Madden’s reigns supreme. There are a hefty amount of coniferous trees and elevation changes on the course, which can cause frustration in amateur golfers. It’s true: The Classic is not for scaredy cats. It’s a rigorous task to play well here; one look at the first hole, a mammoth three-shotter, and you’ll know what I mean. That being said, it is undoubtedly worth the green fee and rightly earns its biennial Golf Digest Top 100 Public ranking, where it placed 59th last year. Conditions and staff are always great at The Classic.Highlights on the course include the par four third, a drivable hole for the long hitters who want to carry it over water on the right side; and the par five 16th, a dogleg right that slopes severely downhill before the hole, where water surrounds the green in every direction save for the back. There’s a lot of water on The Classic, and a whole lot of fun holes. Many present risk-reward options for the faint. Players are faced with a decision on the par four fifth on their approaches: hit to a small green left of the pond, or slap their irons to the right green, which is much bigger but 50 yards further away. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure.Anyone interested in a solid test of skill should sprint to The Classic at Madden’s if in the area. That is, if you can take the beating. It’s a no brainer and one of my favorite courses in the state of Minnesota.

Texas Star, considered a top public golf course in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, comes off a bit overrated when compared to other spots in the city. The Euless course has a nice layout and the greens are acceptable, but it does not live up to the hype or the hefty price tag attached to a round.Conditions were a little rough at Texas Star (though to be fair, we played in spring), but there were some nice holes on the course. The 18th is a great high-risk, high-reward par five that can be played a million ways around water and other hazards. Hole 15 is a fantastic par four.Don't get me wrong: Texas Star is a decent course, but for the money I'd rather play at The Tribute, Coyote Ridge, and several other of the area's public tracks.

If you’re looking for a fantastic public golf course offering in southern Minnesota, you’ve found it: Dacotah Ridge earns every accolade and more. Uncharacteristic for the region it resides in, Dacotah Ridge sports very few trees. In fact, they’re completely absent on 12 of the 18 holes, five of which hug a large pond in the middle of the property that provides for the best views on the course. The track’s challenges lie within a few blind shots you’ll encounter and the mammoth white bunkers, some of which are larger than the green beside them, which can be a bummer.A few of the best holes: the par four 10th, a downhill approach shot the player needs to carry over Wabasha Creek to a thin green; the picturesque par three 11th, a drive that requires a carry to the green over the aforementioned pond; and the par five 18th, a dogleg left that possesses (no joke) about half the trees on the golf course. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find any single hole on the back not considered strong.With Dacotah Ridge, Rees Jones gave southwest Minnesota its premier golf course. It’s worth the trip from the Twin Cities and one of the greatest values you'll find in a public track.

One of the better public offerings in the Twin Cities area, The Wilds is a 25-year-old Tom Weiskopf design that is typically well-conditioned and full on the tee sheet. It’s a course that, in the handful of times I’ve played, is sought after for those in the south metro. A few years ago, in the middle of July, two buddies and I had to call for a tee time 48 hours before we hit the links. This is a testimony to The Wilds’ popularity.Some of the greens are heavily contoured and unmistakably meant to be high-risk, high-reward. This sentiment begins as early as the second hole, a reachable par five with funky ridges on the putting surface. The 16th is a short par four with a semi-blind tee shot and a few tiers on the putting surface to boot. A few holes utilize tremendous elevation changes, most notably the uphill par four ninth hole, one of my favorites in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.If you live in the Twin Cities area, paying to play The Wilds once is a no-brainer because of its conditioning and solid layout. The price may be too lofty, however, to feel good about a return to the course.

On a trip to Ireland last year with my mother, we planned to drive around the entire island and enjoy all its areas. Three days into the trip, we trekked up to the north of the island, staying our first night in a nice flat in the town of Portrush. It was months before the 2019 Open Championship was slated to occur at the seaside links, and we were eager to take a chance at the world-renowned track.Royal Portrush is a unique experience and should not be missed if in the area. I echo the others here who wax poetically about the par four fifth hole along the sea: the further right you aim your tee ball, the closer to the green you can bounce, but if you come up short you face almost certainly a lost ball. I also enjoyed the treacherous looking (and newly redesigned) par five seventh, to which I hacked my way to a seven and was only mildly disappointed. My mom and I agreed we were happy the wind was not blowing west during this particular stroll. In all, I would say about 15 or 16 of the holes of Royal Portrush are truly great, including the par three 16th. Nicknamed Calamity Corner, this par three is best reached with a wood or long iron. Take a deep breath and swing your hardest to reach this large green. Finishing off our foursome was a man from Scotland and a man from the Netherlands, both friendly and helpful to us Americans, as we had never played the course before.What can you say about Royal Portrush that hasn’t already been said? It is clearly among the best golf courses in the world and provides some of the most memorable views. It is the single hardest course I’ve ever been privileged enough to play, and one of the more memorable days of my life on the links. As evidenced by a lot of pros struggling at the Open, I can’t even imagine how strenuous the test when the wind blows mighty.

No golf excursion to the Dublin area is complete without a trip to The Island Club. While visiting the Emerald Isle last year, I had time for one last round to sneak in before catching my flight in the morning back to the United States. I hopped onto online forums and asked people at various stops--and back at home, as my father recommended the track--on the trip where I should bring my sticks for the final time. I gave a radius of 50 kilometers to include all of the Dublin area's best links. The overwhelming answer I received: The Island Club.The round was like something out of a Ireland golf fantasy: joining me on the front nine were two members north of 70, who explained to me the history and importance of the course on a local scale. Said one of the elders: "I'd rather play here any day than Portmarnock."Sporting small fairways, the course itself is tighter than most links, and there's elevation changes galore. Interestingly enough, the first eight holes are all par fours but the routing never grows tiresome and no two holes look the same. The fifth, a blind, downhill tee ball, is more forgiving than it looks. The two members noted to me that if you try to drive the green on the eighth hole, make sure you're able to fly the fescue that sits about 50 yards shy of the green. The back nine, a more traditional routing with two par threes and fives, is no slouch either. The three-hole stretch beginning on the 13th is one of the strongest I've ever seen on a golf course. The 13th is a long par three with a carry over the beach that surrounds the majority of the property is a mammoth test as views to the west captivate your eyes. The 14th is perhaps the hole The Island Club is most known for, with the skinniest fairway you'll ever see on a par four.I didn't play Portmarnock, and I chose not to tee it up at The European Club or the K Club either. I never regretted once my decision to forgo these three, as The Island Club provided a unique and special Irish golf experience. Each hole is distinctive, and you'll be hard pressed to find a more affordable value. It's a must play in the area.