Introduction and the Lodge First off, this post doesn't talk at all about the golf at the fabulous Streamsong Resort.  For many people Streamsong is a bucket list destination - or it should be.  I have had the wonderful good fortune to have visited here twice.  The first time was in 2015 and I returned in February 2018.  I have told people, after that the first visit, that the rounds at Streamsong Red and Blue were my favorite that I have ever played.  When I had a chance to return here after the new Black course opened I was beyond excited!  This time, not only ..read more

After finding out that each and every one of my golf shoes are no longer water proof in 2017, this year I have ventured outside my norms.  In the past almost all of my shoes have been Footjoys.  This year I decided to give the Adidas Boost 360 a go.  These are my first pair of Adidas and my first foray into the BOA lacing system.  For those that don't know, the BOA system uses a system of braided wires instead of laces to tighten the shoe.  The wires are attached to a turning ratchet type device that lets you easily loosen or tighten the "laces" with the turn of ..read more

Before I talk about this device, I first have to apologize to Frank Ramey at Pin High Pro who was gracious enough to send me this device for my feedback.  Frank reached out to me asking for my opinion on the Pin High Pro and I have been very late in getting this review posted.  For that, my most sincere apologies. The Pin High Pro pinhighpro.com is a simple device designed to teach you the proper weight shift that should occur as you make your golf swing.   The device is pretty small as you can see from this picture. As everyone knows, a large mount of your power co ..read more

Hole 16 Par 4 371 | 371 | 349 | 319 yards You finally get a respite from the long holes on the par 4 6th hole.  This hole is a blind tee shot to a hole that is pretty much straight ahead.   The best line off the tee is along the slope on the left side.  The fairway slopes pretty good from right to left so you want to try to avoid the left side.  Just don't hit too far right as a series of rocks run along that side, backed by trees which line the entirety of the hole.  Once you get over the hill you have a clear view to the green.  A slope to the right of t ..read more

Hole 7 - Rabbit Par 3 230 | 206 | 193 | 180 |167 yards The 7th hole is a long par 3 with plenty of trouble to find yourself in.  From the tips this hole is 230 yards, which is brutal considering how well protected the green is. Immediately in front of the teeing ground is a small stream to be carried, along with native grasses. This really isn't in play but serves to frame the start of the hole.  More troublesome are a pair of large bunkers that front either corner of the green.  The green is elevated so finding yourself in one of these bunkers will leave a steep shot u ..read more

I have a special affinity with Ireland. I think the Emerald Isle is perhaps the most beautiful place I've seen. And one of the most beautiful places in a land full of special places has to be the wild county of Donegal.  Here is a Vimeo I found of Rosapenna Golf Resort. It looks just jaw-dropping, like so many of these wonderful places. Whether you love golf or not, you owe it to your self make a journey here at some point.   ..read more

Sweetgrass Golf Club is an onsite property at the Island Resort and Casino in Harris, MI.  Harris is a small blip of a town located almost on the eastern edge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  It is about 15 miles west of Escanaba, which does sit on Lake Michigan. From Minneapolis this is a long day's drive in just over 6 hours.  You do get to pass through some beautiful Wisconsin farm and woodlands.  In Fall, this is an especially stunning drive. The course is about 2 hours north of Green Bay or 4 hours from Milwaukee. Sweetgrass opened in 2008. It was designed by a Mich ..read more

Mississippi Dunes in Cottage Grove, MN was at one time one of my favorite courses.  I thought it was one of the toughest tests of golf in the metro with several small elevated greens that took skilled approaches to do well on. A couple of years ago they hiked their rack rate to some ridiculous amount and recent reviews online said that the course was being run into the ground. Well it was made official a couple days ago- the course is now for sale to either a new owner for golf operations or for single family development. Its a shame to lose another one. On a positive note, the demise ..read more

Hole 10  Par 5 565 | 534 | 513 | 462 | 430 yardsThe opening hole on the back awards you with another brilliant vista of the surrounding mountains from an elevated tee box next to the clubhouse.  The fairway here travels diagonally to your left to the green.  The hole splits a vast expanse of scrub brush so keeping the ball in play off the tee is critical. This hole begins one of the best stretches of golf holes I have played recently.  Actually, It may be one of the best 6 hole stretches of golf I have ever played. Making your drive more difficult a string of bunkers are ..read more

The grounds crews were up extra early making the course immaculate for the tournament. The 4th annual PHAT finale was again hosted by the beautiful Troy Burne Golf Club over in Hudson, Wisconsin.  It is fitting that one of the premier courses in the Twin Cities metro area was  the stage for the inevitably premier play by all of the PHAT members, except for a couple of players with vowels and/or consonants in their name. The practice green was a mass of PHAT players honing their putting games before the tournament The first hole was strangely absent of galleries early on.   ..read more