I have a Culver connection but I don’t think it’s good enough to get on. If it was 18 holes maybe I’d try to make it happen.
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I’ve reffed there, but was too scared to ask the person setting up travel if they could. Haha
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As someone who grew up spending my summers near there, I’m still mind blown that this place exists. Also, you missed such a solid opportunity to visit the World’s Largest Golf Tee 30 minutes away.
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Fantastic Pod. @Tron know it isn’t the TC way but in the theme of building up to a course, the trip would have to be land in Auckland, play Muriwai, onto Tauranga for Ohope beach links, Taranaki for Waitara, then Waverley and finally Paraparaumu
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For 2025 …
Close To Home
Power Ranch, Gilbert, Ariz
Lone Tree, Chandler, Ariz
Tres Rios, Goodyear, Ariz
Day Trip/Overnight
La Paloma, Tucson, Ariz
Sand Hollow, Hurricane, Utah
Wolf Creek, Mesquite, Nev
Golden Age
Belvedere, Charlevoix, Mich (scheduled in Sept)
Lawsonia, Green Lake, Wisc (scheduled in May)
Northwood, Monte Rio, Calif (no plans but NorCal seems like the most likely place I could end up)
Wild Cards
The Loop at Forest Dunes, Roscommon, Mich (scheduled in Sept)
Forest Dunes, Roscommon, Mich (scheduled in Sept)
Arcadia Bluffs, Arcadia, Mich (scheduled in Sept)
Bucket List
St Andrews (The Old Course etc), Scotland
North Berwick
Bandon Dunes Resort
Royal Dornoch
Sand Valley
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I was in the unknown beginning stages of the vid and a gout flare-up (before I knew what it was), so this wasn’t the most enjoyable round I’ve ever had.
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Loved hearing Shoop Park on the list @djpie. Back in Oct 23 @TCRBrad organized a banger of a day out there for @SecondCityGC. We had the course to ourselves, played it forwards twice and backwards once. I think about this place all the time, and is coincidentally the location of my profile pic.
Some incredible eye candy courtesy of Mr. TCR.
And some of my more pedestrian shots from that day. Super fun course.
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The key takeaway that I had from listening to this pod was that I wish I had a super successful golf podcast where I could speak invites to amazing private courses into existence. The epitome of must be nice.
2026 is going to be my year of Wisconsin golf, so none of that on my list for this year. I’m only going to pick courses that I haven’t played before or that I have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting on (except for the bucket list).
Close To Home
Hueston Woods GC, Oxford, Ohio
Meadowbrook GC, Clayton, Ohio
Cassel Hills GC, Vandalia, Ohio
Day Trip/Overnight
Tartan Fields CC, Dublin, Ohio
Sleepy Hollow GC, Brecksville, Ohio
Virtues GC, Nashport, Ohio
Golden Age
Miami Valley GC, Dayton, Ohio
Philadelphia Cricket Club, Flourtown PA
Manakiki Golf Course, Willoughby Hills, Ohio
Wild Cards
Sunny Brae, Osage, IA
Green Lea, Albert Lea, MN
American Dunes, Grand Haven, MI
Something in the Metroplex. I need to up my Dallas/Ft. Worth golf knowledge.
Bucket List
St Andrews Scotland
Walton Heath
Musselburgh
Scioto CC
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Second Rock Hollow - we played it on our way to SB this November and I am praying we go back next year earlier. It was in ridiculously good condition given the month and I can only think that place runs FAST in the summer months. Layout and greens were really awesome as well. I don’t remember thinking any hole was bad.
@Douger23 - make it happen, you will really enjoy that course.
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It really doesn’t get that fast! They host a lot of regular high school matches and junior events so I don’t think they let it get too spicy. It is target golf, but target golf at its finest.
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I could see them firming that up in some areas and making things really difficult. Easily one of my favorite courses I played last year. Love the opener…driveable par 4. I tried to draw one around the corner and ended up in the bunker. My buddy played it right, we both made birdie and then the next two holes make you think…
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Re @Tron’s reference of Foulpointe on the pod.
https://refuge.nolayingup.com/t/tbc-10k-tbd-whether-its-tbc-or-doa/3500/1245?u=scottw
It’s honestly impossible to state how furious the GCA collective was when the truth came out. And the disbelief.
Like, imagine how shocked, outraged and robbed the NLU universe would be if it came out that Soly was a 15hcp with a pretty swing and all these years it was tricks in editing to make him look like a scratch. Then double it. It was a wild time. Genuinely still makes me laugh out loud all these years later.
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Why in the world are you in Osage?
Place looks sick btw
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Lived there as a kid before I ever picked up a club. Want to play it for pure nostalgia
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@andrewf Also loved the Shoop Park callout on the podcast. It was where I went to my first ever NLU event (and was the first time I was ever paired up with you to play!), so I’ll always value this course for that. Shoop Park represents most of what golf needs for the future - casual, compact, low barrier-of-entry places where a few clubs and a friend will get you on your way.
Keeping a list short to one per category - I guess whatever’s new/most interesting for 2025.
Close to Home:
- Sunset Valley GC, Highland Park, IL (one of my last good courses to knock off of my Chicago list)
Day Trip:
- Davenport CC, Davenport, IA (excited to try to play one of Iowa’s top courses this year)
Golden Age
- Spring Valley CC, Salem, WI
- BONUS: Pinehurst #2, Pinehurst, NC
Wild Cards
- Sand Valley, Nekoosa, WI
Bucket List
- Erin Hills, Erin, WI
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@djpie wanted to share my experiences with Door County golf. Peninsula is decent, but tee times fill up QUICK. A couple of good views of the lake, and peak color season is epic, but overall, a pretty blah course.
I haven’t gotten to play the one private course, but I will vouch for Orchards at Egg Harbor. Tips out at 7200 yards, but has many tees, has a variety of different holes and shots, and maxes out at $76 during the summer with cart. Always in great shape, has some quirks, but is still very charming. And once you’re done, downtown Egg Harbor is 5 minutes away and there are great breweries and restaurants. I got married in Egg Harbor last summer and got to play Orchards for the second time and loved it. Great way to spend the day before my wedding.
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I’m on this side of the valley, we should get a 4 some this year and hit these. I played lone tree a couple months ago in a scramble. Have never played power ranch and it’s 6 min from my house haha.
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Had a chance to play Peninsula last summer, and I’m happy to vouch for it. The front nine is mostly basic but once you get to the 8th (a 70 yard drop shot par 3) it ramps up significantly in variety and has some great greens. Fun place!
I’ve never played Orchards though!
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Power Ranch is pretty decent for a course in a housing development. Doesn’t really feel like they’re encroaching a ton and only 2 holes on both sides.
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