To say that the anticipation of playing a ‘brand new’, highly talked about, golf course in Northern Michigan was feverish, might be an understatement.  Especially when this property is a compliment to Arcadia Bluffs, one of my favorite golf courses, anywhere.  Then add in the focus on creating a completely different brand of public / resort golf experience, I could barely stay off-of the website for the hole by hole tour, leading up to the visit.

The new Arcadia Bluffs South Course was built in the mold of American Golf Course architects CB Macdonald and Seth Raynor, but not as replica course, a new original dreamed up by Fry Straka Global Golf.  With the spirit of Chicago Golf Club in mind, Arcadia Bluffs has created something that many of us ‘public golfers’ and probably most private club members have never experienced.

From the first tee shot, you quickly realize this is not going to be your average, aim down the middle and hit it hard kind of round.  There are bunkers to consider on every tee shot, not just on the right or left side, but cutting in diagonally or small pot bunkers out in the middle, ready to catch a well executed shot if you did not consult the yardage book.  Playing firm and fast, you must also get used to landing the ball short of your target.  Even a 58 degree wedge from 85 yards can roll out 30 – 40 feet depending on the slope of the green.

While I loved every second of the challenge, my playing partners might have gotten a little weary of my constant discussions around every tee ball and approach?  Other unique qualities to the South Course include very geometrically shaped greens, some squared off and not your typical amoeba shape that most courses follow these days.  Several greens had wrap around bunkers that you could only see on one side but wrapped around the sharp corner to the back of the green.

The par-5 3^rd hole was one of my favorites on the front nine.  A demanding tee shot with bunkers left and right that result in a wedge-out scenario and extremely long third shot if entered.  Successfully hit the fairway from the tee and your 2^nd shot is a bit easier but still requires 160 or more yards to carry the next set of bunkers.  The comes your short third shot.  You may have seen a ball run out on the first two holes, but now you have an uphill pitch or approach to a pin that looks like if you go over you make 8.  Your mind is constantly running during the round and if you pull off the perfect shot and get a ball within 10 feet you feel a real sense of accomplishment.

There are no weak holes at Arcadia South.  Each one with its own beauty and challenge.  Counting off your yardage so not to go bounding over greens and occasionally coming up short in a bunker. 

The par-3, 12^th hole is about a 150-yard shot.  Horseshoe shaped green with a bunker dead in the middle and a false front on the left side.  We played a middle pin which looked easier until you got to the green.  Right on top of a subtle ridge, two putting from 30 feet was no easy task.  The brilliance of Fry Straka Golf comes out in the abundance of subtle breaks that do not always show up on the plum bob or aim point.  A PGA Tour Green book at Arcadia South would look like War and Peace. 

I could easily write a 5-page paper on Arcadia South, which was a rarity in my college days.  Arcadia Bluffs was already an annual pilgrimage for me and my golfing buddies, but with the addition of the 2^nd lodge and now the South Course, Arcadia, Michigan is on the map for great golf destinations.

For more information go to www.arcadiabluffs.com

Built exclusively for guests at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, looking for an exceptional off-campus experience, Fallen Oak Golf Club exceeds expectations.

Just a 20-minute shuttle ride from the Resort in Biloxi, MS, this Tom Fazio design is beautifully laid out among the Southern Mississippi landscape of large oak trees, tall pines and natural wetlands. From the moment you arrive you are greeted and directed to one of the most stunning 19^th holes you will see. A giant wall of seamless windows, perched slightly above the 18^th green for a terrific way to end your day with a Beer and a Burger. Knowing this is what awaits you, only amps up your anticipations for the rest of the day.

Custom golf carts with seats you barely want to get up from, take you to a beautiful range. You are not a part of a 200 person cattle call at Fallen Oak, nicely spaced tee times make you feel as if you are the only group on the course.

Expecting a nice but slow start to the round, the 1^st hole is actually one of the most stunning on the course. A mid-length par-5, dog leg left around a stream and pond, require a good drive and a strategic layup, unless you are feeling confident enough to take on the many bunkers and water near the green. Immediately you feel the speed of the greens and something most of us do not get to experience is greens with a sub-air draining system, usually reserved for the PGA Tour courses (although Fallen Oak has hosted the PGA Tour Champions, multiple times).

The third hole is a mid to long iron par-3 completely over the natural wetlands short and left. But don’t just bail out right to be safe, a significant slope from right to left could propel a frisky chip shot to the back of the green or even the water if not careful. Just three holes in and you can tell it is going to be a special round.

A good mix of shorter and longer holes continues on the front nine, where most clubs in the bag come out. My favorite one coming in was the par-4, 6^th hole. A classic risk/reward hole of only about 290 yards but slightly down-hill with the fairway sloping to the green. The risk lies on both sides with marshland protecting the right side all the way up to the green and two deep bunkers protecting shots hit too far left. A well struck driver or 3-wood could give you less than 40 yards into this tricky green.

After a quick pit stop at the turn to catch the view of the impending 18^th, the back nine quickly showed that it would feature a bit more elevation changes than the front nine. The 10^th hole has a fairway the creates a valley on your approach and the 11^th and 13^th holes (par-4 and par-5) play up the hill.

The par-3 14^th hole is a short but deceiving shot. Well bunkered, our pin was on the right side of the green which was protected short and long by sand. Be accurate or have an awkward lie from off the green and be thrilled with bogey.

Finally, you get to play back down the hill on the par-5, 15^th hole. One of the most visually stunning holes of the back nine. This reachable par-5 (with a good tee ball) bends a little to the right and appears to have a lot of room for a miss, but the right side, short of the green is not very flat and plays significantly below the green, while left will be a crap shoot of missing small pods of trees. A birdie hole, but only on two or three well executed shots.

If you are able to successfully navigate the challenging and up-hill 16^th and 17^th holes, you get to enjoy the unmatched view of the 18^th hole. The fallen oak the club is named after is obvious down the right side. The clubhouse in the distance reminds you of that is to come, but there is no relaxing for the next 10 – 15 minutes as the longest par-4 on the course will take all of your skill to complete at par or even bogey. After a good drive the green sits below the fairway with water and bunkers protecting the left and another green that slopes from right to the water will challenge any miss short or right of the green.

Let’s just say we all made par on 18 (wink, wink).

Fallen Oak provided one of the most stunning golf experiences our group had ever seen and matched it with a clubhouse and friendly service that puts this on the list of must plays not just on the Mississippi Gulf Coast but throughout the Southeast. It is worth the splurge and heck, you might even win your greens fee and more back as you finish your night off at the Beau Rivage Casino.

For more information on Fallen Oak and the Beau Rivage Resort and casino, visit – www.fallenoak.com and www.beaurivage.com.

The New Orleans area is rich with history and tradition. We know all about the French Quarter, Mardi Gras, The Sugar Bowl and numerous Superbowls, but there is also a long history of golf, including a very popular stop annually on the PGA Tour schedule. The region also offers a lot of public golf options for locals and the millions of visitors each year.

One of the options, pretty close to downtown is Stonebridge Golf Club. Just about 15 minutes from downtown, Stonebridge offers a challenging but fair 18-hole layout with a bonus 9 for settling those carryover bets. Water comes into play on nearly all 18 holes of the championship layout and it can sneak up on you at times if you are not paying attention. The greens are smooth and role true and can get nice and fast as they dry out during the Fall season. Their claim of seeing the local reptiles also came to pass before we even got to the range. A small gator swam right across the lake in front of the clubhouse and perched up on the 18^th fairway for at least the 6 hours we spent on property.

The first hole is no gimme. A long par-5, with water down the right side, and the fenced off canal down the right. Two off the first might be a good option if you don’t have time to warm up at the range. If you navigate the tee shot the 2^nd shot is much easier and should leave you a short pitch into the medium sized green. Keeping your approach shots below the hole is crucial, not just on the 1^st but throughout the round.

Then you get to the par-4, 4^th hole, probably the most visually intimidating tee shot of the day. On the left side you have the intra-coastal waterway and no rough to stop your ball from rolling down the steep slope if you tug it a bit. The right side is protected by OB. Our foursome hit 9 tee balls combined and let’s just say, most of them were not found. When double bogey wins the hole, something got into your head on the tee.

My favorite hole of the front was #9. A reachable par-5 with a generous landing zone for your tee shot but a well-protected green with bunkers guarding short and left of the green and water that comes into play down the right about 50 yards short of the green add a level of difficulty to the layup or attempt to go for it. Depending on the wind and the pin placement it could be one of the easier or tougher birdies or pars this nine.

The tenth hole gives you another look at our friend ‘the gator’, but with a pretty wide open fairway, the green provides the real challenge with a severe, two foot slope dividing the back left portion of the green from the rest. Get it on the wrong level and par will be a great score.

Hole #17 is a terrific penultimate hole for a match. A mid-length par-4 with a slight dog leg left so any tee ball to the right can make for a long approach. Huge fairway bunkers guard the left side of the fairway and the dogleg so choose your line carefully. The green is well guarded and mostly hidden from view and with water right of the green, your distance control has to be perfect to have a chance at birdie or even a two putt par.

The best part after completing the 18^th hole was the opportunity to keep the round going with the Par-33, executive 9. A nice combination of short and long holes, the presence of water is still very prevalent throughout and the finishing two holes are a lot of fun. The par-5, 26^th hole is only reachable on downwind days but can be a tricky approach and of course the canal challenging 27^th hole forces you to suck it up and hit a shot completely over the canal.

Stonebridge is a terrific option if you are staying downtown when you visit the Big Easy. The greens roll true and the course is in great shape. It is a great match play layout with risk reward throughout.

To learn more visit www.stonebridgegolfofno.com.

As if a visit to Key West needed any added fun, to think golf can be on the list when you are on an island that is only 2 miles by 6 miles, is just a bonus.  Then to find out it was designed by renowned architect Rees Jones, you figure it might be a lot better than it has to be, since it is the only option for a Championship Golf Course in over 100 miles.

What a pleasant surprise!  Playing about 6,500 yards from the tips, the course has a terrific variety of short and long, narrow and wide open holes throughout the 200 acres.  The wind direction and strength is a daily variation and we caught the typical trade winds gusting at about 20 miles per hour adding in a real challenge.  The first impression of the course was on the putting green next to the first tee.  The greens were so fast and smooth we knew we were in for a fun day, kudos to the golf course Superintendent and his crew.

The front nine starts off with an open Par-4 but the 2^nd hole steps up and actually played longer at 412 yards into the wind, than the Par-5 3^rd, playing at 475 yards, down wind.  Once I got used to the large, dinosaur looking Iguanas walking around, I was able to settle into the demand on accuracy required by the 4^th – 8^th holes.  The 4^th is a short Par-4 with a bunker down the left you want to avoid and trees down the right so you can lay up off the tee and have a mid-iron in or get aggressive and enjoy a sand wedge in if you can keep it straight.  The 5^th is a benign looking Par-3, but with the wind in your face it plays a couple clubs longer and if you cannot miss the two bunkers guarding the left and right, a par is nearly impossible.  Par is possible on 6 with a ball in the fairway, but no matter where you hit it on 7, it is one of the toughest approach shots on the course.  The green is protected by mangroves short and right, but if you bail out left, up and down is a real challenge.  Four through 7 set you up for the signature shot on the Par-3, 8^th hole.  A mid length shot completely over the mangroves, which make the yardage look longer than it really plays, so club selection and hitting a solid shot are imperative.

My favorite holes on the back nine were the 12^th, 16^th and 18^th holes.  The Par-4, 12^th hole is short by most standards, but a carry of about 220 yards over the water down the left and a well placed bunker in the middle of the fairway put a focus on placement off the tee.  The beautiful Par-3, 16^th is a short hole as well, but it is tucked into the trees and has another carry over water to a wide and sloped green.  The Par-5 finishing hole is a great way to end the round and any bets if you have a close match going.  The water is reachable off the tee, which we found out after our first guy teed off, saving the rest of us from the same result.  The water then continues up the entire hole on this slight dog leg right.  Into the wind, it is a layup on the 2^nd shot all day long, but get the wind behind you and get it in the fairway, a long hitter might have a chance.   The green is one of the more challenging on the course and makes birdie a really great score for a Par-5.

Key West Golf Club gives you the feel of the only Caribbean Golf Course in the U.S. and the wildlife does not disappoint.  Throw in the Iguana at the top of the driving range net (still not sure if it was real or not) and you have a first class golf experience that is perfect for a laid back vacation in paradise.

To learn more about Key West Golf Club, check out – www.keywestgolf.com.

Only about an hour from downtown New Orleans, in Pass Christian, MS, The Oaks Golf Club is a terrific low country golf experience.  Weaving through an upscale residential development the star of the course is all of the, wait for it…, Oak Trees.  I thought there might be just one that stood out, but I noticed at least 5 that could be ‘The’ Oak that is used for the logo.

Anytime a Midwesterner gets to play golf in January, you feel spoiled, but when you find putting surfaces that role this true and fast in January, it takes it to a whole new level.  No need to play winter rules at The Oaks because from tee to green the golf course was in terrific shape thanks to Superintendent JT Cockrell.

The front nine starts out with some nice Par-4’s to get you going and focused, but the fun kicks in on my favorite four hole stretch on the golf course from the 4^th – 7^th.  Four is a short Par-4 but the uphill tee shot lengthens it a bit.  Avoid the bunker on the left side of the fairway and you have a short iron in but the green is downhill to a green tucked back and to the left that forces you to approach from a difficult angle forcing a premium on distance control.  A huge swale in the middle of the green makes a two putt difficult if outside 30 feet.  Then the Par-3, 5^th forces a good carry over a ravine and through a beautiful chute of trees.  Not as difficult as it appears, you still have to clear your head to hit the shot that is needed.  Next you are on to the Par-5, 6^th.  A dogleg left that with wind in the face dares you to try to cut the corners to shave off some distance.  Make sure you scout out the dry creek in front of the green and pick your club wisely as hitting the middle of the green leaves no picnic of a two putt with a pin on the back ledge of the green.  To end this stretch you have the picturesque Par-3, 7^th.  A slightly elevated tee with a forced carry over water to a narrow but wide green, puts you in a hit it solid or walk to the drop zone scenario.  Although I was not the closest to the pin in our group, it was my most satisfying birdie of the trip from 15 feet.

The back nine does not disappoint with a great variety of holes including the challenging Par-5, 10^th hole to get things rolling and another daunting carry over water on the Par-3, 12^th.  A mid-iron shot, into the wind and bunkers short collecting anything that barely clears the water, as my two attempts did.  The golf course presents every shot in the book, keeps your focus on keeping the ball in play but gives you a great chance to make putts with terrifically smooth and quick greens.

The Oaks is a terrific option for Gulf Coast Golf in Mississippi and one that I will return too regularly during my travels in the region.  Thanks to Russ Bloom and his crew for a great experience from Pro Shop to golf course and even the generosity to deliver some beer to us on the 15^th hole when we realized we had ‘underestimated’ our consumptionJ

For more information on The Oaks Golf Club visit – www.theoaksgolfclub.com.

It is always fun to get a chance to play a golf course that you have seen on TV and that is why I looked so forward to playing English Turn Golf & Country Club.  As host to the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic from 1991 through 2004, I can recall many blustery days watching the Tour’s best try to hit the small island green on the Par 5, 15^th hole year after year.

Just 10 miles from Bourbon Street, English Turn provides the ability to enjoy the New Orleans Nightlife and the best golf it has to offer with a short drive.  With January temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s New Orleans is a great spot for a quick golf getaway as well and that is just what we did on the Monday of the National Championship game between Oregon and Ohio State.

First impressions as you drive on property is how big English Turn is, from the land around it to the clubhouse and practice facility, you can see the infrastructure that successfully hosted a weeklong party with the PGA Tour.  The Staff at the Club were extremely friendly and helpful, which always gets the day off to a great start.

From the first hole you can see that there is some room for your tee shots, but plenty of trees to get in the way and turn a clear shot into a punch out.  The other thing that stood out immediately is the size of the greens.  With smaller than average putting surfaces accuracy with your approach shots and wedges were going to be vital.  It also featured some fun mounds and bumps around the greens to force your creativity into play with errant approaches.

While you see water from most holes, it really comes into play on the short Par 4, 4^th hole.  From our tee, only 300 yards, but with water guarding the front, left and back of the green, a 200 yard lay-up off the tee made the most sense.  Don’t get lazy or the two pencil thin but tall palm trees just right of the fairway will get in the way as one of our foursome found out the hard way.  A short wedge approach seems simple, but with a green with several slopes, requires judging the spin crucial as the ball tends to just move away from the hole on the right side or middle of the green.

The Par 5, 6^th hole was what I consider a classic English Turn hole.  Into the wind the entire way, the 6^th featured a narrow, diagonal green that is protected by water from about 120 yards out up the right side.  Play aggressively and you bring trouble into play but lay back and you have a mid-iron in like I did.  I luckily found the green from 140 yards out and made a nice comebacker to save par, but it was tough on every shot.

Right out of the gates on the back nine you have a tough hole at the Par 4, 10^th.  At only 380 yards it seems benign but add the wind in your face and an approach shot blocked by large mounds in the center and right side of the fairway, just locating the flag is not enough.  Water follows the fairway up the left side all the way to the green and even guards it from shots that come up short.  If you miss the green left and are lucky not to be in the water, one of the most unique bunkers comes into play.  Only about three feet wide getting up and out with a tricky lie is almost impossible.

The 11^th, 12^th and 13^th holes are a great combination of risk reward holes that are well protected but in the back of your mind it is all building to the famous 15^th hole.  At only 500 yards it is reachable or at least gives you the delusion that you can reach.  Well placed bunkers down the left side of the fairway force you to take on the water that guards the entire right side of the hole.  Unfortunately I could not handle the pressure and dunked two on the hole and had to watch my playing partners.  If you navigate the fairway better than I did, you can have a hybrid or long iron in to one of the largest greens on the golf course.  No matter how large, a green completely surrounded by water is a daunting task.  Nobody reached in two but we did have two players with reasonable birdie putts.

The sunset behind the 18^th hole as we finished was a terrific way to finish even if 18 was a bit much to handle at 430 yards into a stiff wind.  English Turn provides every challenge you can ask for and really puts an emphasis on your approach shots and short game.  Definitely a stop you should make when next in the Big Easy.

For more information visit www.englishturngolf.com.

Aptly named as the University of Wisconsin Golf Course, University Ridge is consistently considered one of the state’s best courses.  Having hosted many fine state championships as well as multiple Men’s and Women’s Big Ten Championships, U Ridge is a tremendous test from any of the five tee boxes.

The front nine is more of a prairie style with a few trees coming into play and the back nine weaves through a heavily wooded area requiring precision with your tee and approach shots.   As we are getting used to in Wisconsin, the Ridge boasts immaculate Bentgrass fairways and newly opened 007 Creeping Bentgrass Greens to improve consistency and performance for the future.  One of the most defined golf courses I have seen, it is obvious where you can and cannot hit the golf ball here.

The opening nine has a unique 3-3-3 layout with 3 Par 3’s, 3 Par 4’s and 3 Par 5’s giving you ample opportunities for scoring as long as the challenging Par 3’s do not get you .  The Par 5, 2^nd hole gives you multiple choices on both, your tee shot and approach / lay-up, depending on the wind direction.  The tee shot requires a carry of about 220 yards which on most days is not a scare but with a 20 mile per hour wind in the face, a slight mishit may not make it.  If you navigate the tee shot successfully, a decision to go for a very well protected green, layup on an aggressive line to the left or out to the right awaits you.  A huge oak tree protects the front, left side of the green, a ravine catches shots that come up short and a bunker deep makes getting up and down tough on a green sloping away from you.  Par was an excellent score for us that day and I think is a good score most days.

The Par 3, 8^th hole and Par 5, 9^th hole are a great variety in the closing stretch.  The 8^th is a severely downhill mid-length Par 3 that on many days would be a simple 8 or 9 iron, but with a creek short of the green and the wind howling a 4 iron was no bargain.  Only one of our four balls made the green and the average of 4.5 ended up being one of the toughest holes for us on the day.  Playing a downwind Par 5 to finish the nine was a welcome relief.  Until of course we noticed the approach shot to this elevated green, even a wedge shot of 75 yards was daunting.  A great match play hole if you had the length to go for it in two.

After the turn it was obvious we would be facing a slightly different and tree lined challenge.  Holes 10 – 14 demand accuracy from tee to green and around the greens to walk away with Par or better, no gimme holes here.  The fun really begins at 15, a slightly downhill, sharp dogleg right, risk vs. reward hole.  At just over 300 yards, a simple 180 yard layup leaves a wedge but must be placed down the left side to clear the trees on the right.  While unable to reach the green we mostly chose to try to cut driver around the corner and with only one successful attempt, only a 50 yard pitch shot remained, advantage gained.  With the shot down hill and the green sloped from back to front you needed to take it in low or a perfect Steve Stricker dead hand wedge to get it close.  Then you reach the 16^th tee and the most fun hole on the golf course.  The Par 5 presents two options off the tee, play safe to the left or try to blast it over the trees between you and the green and hope you get a good lie in the fairway or rough, if you carry it long enough.  If you make it you have to then go for the green, because why else would you risk it?  An uphill shot to a very wide green that is protected by a large tree short, middle, a huge slope short and what seems like acres of bunkers if you do not carry it long enough.  If I hadn’t mentioned it yet, the rough was consistently thick throughout so missing the green in two would not leave an easy up and in for birdie.  I felt a wave of confidence after making a long birdie putt on 16 only to see it leave my body quickly on the next tee box.  A Par 3 of 192 yards with nothing but water staring at you all the way to the front of the green.  A beautiful hole if you just closed your match out on 16, but a make it or break it hole if you are still competing.  Luckily my poorly struck 4 iron found dry land right of the green, I was thrilled with a chance at Par or the likely Bogey.

It is easy to see why University Ridge (U Ridge or The Ridge as we heard it called), is widely regarded as one of the best in not just Madison but the entire state.  The beauty of an Audubon Sanctuary Cooperative paired with a challenging, but fair, Robert Trent Jones Jr. design have clearly established The Ridge as a top facility in all of the Big Ten.  This is a must play for any golf trip to Southern Wisconsin.

To learn more visit www.universityridge.com.

About 30 minutes south of New Orleans International Airport is a gem of a course that may not get its full due, but I think that could change in the near future.  The first thing I thought when I looked at the course map of La Tour Golf Club is that I was going to need an extra sleeve or two of golf balls.  With water seemingly in play on all but 2 holes, fortunately while it is there it is not staring you in the face on every shot but definitely is there for errant shots.

One of five designs or renovations attributed to David Toms, Louisiana native and former LSU Tiger, I was interested to see how he put his stamp on La Tour Golf Club, the only course he built from the ground up.  What stood out to me was a great variety of golf holes and shots demanded and greens that rolled very fast and true, especially considering we were playing in late October and not prime season.  I used every club in my bag and when you factor in the wind condition holes with similar yardages played dramatically different into and down wind.  The Par 3’s are what really stood out to me with two requiring forced carry over water and two framed uniquely with bunkers and hills.  The Par 3, 4^th has a slightly elevated tee to a green protected by water short and bunkers short and long that make par very tough.  The back left pin we faced was well protected by a steep slope short of the hole making anything right of the pin a challenge to two-putt.  The Par-3, 8^th hole had water but not really in play.  The challenge here was judging the distance as a bunker left of the green looked further than it was.  Add to that a challenging green complex with some subtle but frustrating slopes and another tough pin, just on the edge of the front slope, equaled a three-putt from just 20 feet.  The front nine’s finishing hole was a strong challenge for us with wind into us and from the left, the 426 yards played more like 450 and hitting hybrid into an elevated green with deep bunkers was no cake walk.  Bogie was a blessing and the 19^th hole was a welcome sight after the bogie, bogie finish.

The back nine again required approach shots with short, mid and long irons but the Par 3’s provide two different shots.  The Par 3, 14^th is almost an island green with plenty of room short but with wind directly in the face, the 176 yards was playing about 200.  Miss the green short left as I did, the front right pin made a pitch shot nearly impossible so I putted, which would have been the right play had I executed better.  The Par 3, 17^th was the most unique of the one shot holes, inspired by the famous Postage Stamp hole from Royal Troon.  A slightly elevated tee to a very narrow and deep green with bunkers left and right and a huge slope left that can either bound balls back to the green or deep into the native areas.  Only 140 yards and dead down-wind for us, it should have been easy but we managed to walk off with two bogeys after missing the green and failing to get up and down on either par attempt.  Well when I said that the 9^th hole was a tough way to finish the front nine, I had not yet looked at the Par 5, 18^th on the scorecard yet.  Playing 546 from our tees but this time the wind was directly in our faces and water down the entire left side of the hole.  Staying out to the right with our tee balls took a lot of distance off and the layup was tougher than we thought.  Needing over 200 yards to clear a fairway bunker 150 yards short of the green, 3-wood just was not enough in the wind and now we both had, arguably, the toughest shots we faced all day.  Luckily the 19^th hole gave me the ability to pull off a very satisfying 5 iron out of the bunker and to the back of the green and a lucky 1-putt finished the round in style with a hard fought birdie.

La Tour provided playability but a stern challenge to golfers of all abilities, with tee boxes stretching from 5,600 yards to over 7,100.  Generous landing areas and occasionally tough green complexes, makes La Tour an experience that will be different every time you play.  Anytime greens roll as fast and as true as these did it makes for an enjoyable round and I would recommend La Tour to anyone heading to the New Orleans Area for a golf getaway.

For more information visit www.latourgolfclub.com.

I have been to Las Vegas several times for the typical adventure but this November brought the first opportunity to hit the links.  Fortunately one of the first places I reached out to was The Legacy Golf Club in Henderson, a little south of the Airport.  With the luck of the draw, I was talking to Andy Deiro, General Manager and former Golf Pro at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau.  After a few minutes of talking about how much we like Dalhousie, Andy recommended that we try a round at The Legacy and then their sister course on the other side of Las Vegas, Angel Park.  Both run by OB Sports Golf Management, the same company that runs Dalhousie, I knew I would be in for a great experience.

The Legacy is set among an upscale, Las Vegas suburb, and as I was told by the other twosome in the group, Gladys Knight and Vanna White were two of the distinguished residents of the community.  A grand clubhouse with an enormous and beautiful practice facility off the back patio set the tone for the course.  With greens rolling quickly and fairways rounding into perfect shape from the October over-seeding, it was green for miles.  With homes well removed from the course you still get the desert feel at the Legacy.  The front nine was full of solid golf holes with contours in the fairways and greens that forced you to be in the right position, or risk making a big number.  My favorite stretch of the front was the finishing stretch of 8 & 9.  The eighth hole is a dog leg left with a big pine tree down the left side but a hidden fairway bunker beyond it if you miss the fairway.  A small pond guards the front and right of the elevated green for shots where you do not take enough club, and a huge swale left catches errant approaches and makes up and down a bit tougher to judge.  The ninth is a long par-5 with a very well protected green with a waste bunker starting at about 90 yards short and right of the green.  Go long to avoid the greenside bunkers and up and down is a real adventure.  With the pin placed in the back right at the top of a ridge, distance control on the approach is imperative.

The back nine starts out with one of the most recognizable holes in Vegas.  A par-3 with four distinct tee boxes, each in the shape of a heart, diamond, club and spade, Pure Vegas for sure.  In true gambler fashion the par-5, 17^th hole is a great combination of risk reward.  A good tee ball easily gives you a chance to go for it in two but water cuts in about 120 yards short and left and bunkers down the right side leave a narrow strip for a layup and a green sloped from back to front and right to left that can feed balls towards the water.  A birdie here is a great score and could be the difference maker in the match.

Angel Park on day two brought one of the coolest ‘golf facilities’ I have ever seen.  With two championship, 18-hole courses, a 12-hole par-3 course that offers 9-holes of play under the lights at night and a full grass putting course to round out the experience.  There were families and couples on the putting course, foursomes and buddies trips playing 36 on the Palm and Mountain and on the Cloud 9, par-3 course we were sandwiched in between a Grandfather and Grandson behind us and three guys that rarely play golf, having a blast in front of us.  Take your pick and you can do it at Angel Park.

We had the privilege of playing the Palm Course, the shorter of the two tracks but by no means, easy.  Just like The Legacy, the greens were rolling smooth and fast, placing a real challenge on the short game, both putting and chipping.  Terrific views of the mountains at Red Rock Canyon National Park accentuated the entire course but the fun was stuffed into the short par-5’s.  Each one reachable with a good tee shot but each protected around the green in various ways.  The par-5, sixth hole is the only one of the front nine and was not the easiest tee ball to figure out which way to aim.  Fairway to the right is not reachable but looms out there as if it were.  Play safe to the left and now you have to play back to the right and clear a bunker just short of the green or face a dreaded 40 yard bunker shot.  The par-5, eleventh is probably the easiest of the par-5’s but the approach plays back up a hill to an elevated green that makes running it up nearly impossible.  Leave it just short and you have to chip up and over a false front which is really challenging for a front pin location.  If your match is on the line late in the round as mine was, the par-3, seventeenth hole is a great way to test what you have inside.  Playing about 175 from the blue tees it is almost all carry over a small gorge with bunkers short left and along the entire right side, if your opponent puts it on the front fringe like mine did, it might force you to try too hard and put it in the gully, also like I did.  Thank goodness I won at The Legacy the day before, so off to Cloud 9, par-3 to settle the bet.

Cloud 9 is a tremendous par-3 experience and easily the best short course I have ever played.  The greens rolled as true as the Palm course and it was not just a bunch of 50 yard shots.  With holes stretching from 85 yards to 146 according to the scorecard, we hit clubs from sand wedge to 7 iron.  This is a complete golf experience packed into 12 strategic tee shots during the day and 9 at night, completed by the island green on the 11^th or 8^th hole depending on the time of day.  This was the best way to go out and settle a close match by far.

In the past, I always thought of Phoenix as the golf destination in the Southwest and while it is still a great place to go, Las Vegas has just become a spot that combines golf and so much more.  Plus take a buddies trip to Vegas and The Legacy or Angel park will come pick you up with convenient Van service available to groups of at least six players.  OB Sports has got a terrific twosome for you to hit next time you are heading to The Strip.

To learn more visit www.thelegacygc.com, www.angelpark.com and www.obsports.com.

Another perfectly cool 75 degree day met us for our round at Hawks Landing Golf Club a little Southwest of Madison in Verona, WI.  A beautiful clubhouse up on a hill overlooking the 10^th tee and 18^th green provides the type of view you always want when enjoying a post round cocktail at the 19^th hole.

Beautifully maintained bent grass fairways and sculpted rough defined the layout throughout the property.  Despite being late in the season, the rough held up and was a true penalty for shots missing the fairway.  As I was told and experienced first-hand, the greens are the star at Hawks Landing.  Quick and true, every putt inside 25 feet felt as though you had a chance of rolling it in.

The front nine had some surprising elevation changes starting with the long Par-4, 2^nd hole and again back up the same hill for the short Par-4, 3^rd hole.  Oddly enough, despite 2 playing 33 yards longer on the scorecard, the wind made 3 a far more challenging par.

My favorite holes on the front nine, while many of them, were the two Par-5’s, numbers 5 & 9.  Hole 5 plays back down the hill and has a tight landing area for your tee shots with OB all the way down the right, bunkers and cart path just inside the OB and forest and thick rough down the left.  However if you find the fairway no more than a hybrid or long iron awaits.  While that sounds simple downhill and down wind, an enormous oak tree protects the right side of the green and a bunker so deep you cannot see the green protects the middle and left so your approach better be precise.  Short game letdowns forced me into par after playing the hole twice.

The Par-5, 9^th hole is the signature hole of the golf course.  Playing straight up the same hill, the old silo is the aiming point in the distance.  The tee shot is not overly difficult but your layup and approach shots require accuracy and distance control precision.  The green is atop the hill and requires at least 1 ½ clubs extra not to mention the wind in our faces and a pond and stream down the right side give you no room for error.  Our front pin made blowing it long and left a very tough up and down and two of our four players finished BIP (Ball In Pocket).

The back nine has a great combination of long and short holes.  Holes 10, 11 and 15 are long challenging Par 4’s and along with 16 (202 yd. Par-3) and 18 (520 yd. Par-5) are the teeth of the back side.  My favorite holes inward bound are the Par-3, 13^th hole a beautiful mid-length hole with water all the way down the right side.  The green is smartly slanted towards the water so playing safe is no option.  If 13 beat’s you up, at least there is a feeling of hope on the short Par-4, 14^th.  At 285 for our group it was only drivable with a nice bounce but it is so well bunkered in the landing area and around the green that if you do not find the fairway, making a par is not going to be easy.

The eighteenth is a tremendous finishing hole, especially if your match is coming down to the last.  A Par-5 with a wide landing area, that plays slightly up hill just enough to keep us short hitters from going at it in two.  It also forces you to think about your layup because a large pond is short and right of the green.  An approach from the right side helps with the angle into the shallow but wide green that has enough slope in it to make those 20 footers a little harder than many of the greens.  All in all, a great match play and finishing hole to a tremendous layout and fun golf course.

We got a real kick out of talking college football with our starter to begin the day and saw the passion for Wisconsin Badger Football throughout the property as we played on a Football weekend.

Hawks Landing is a definite must play for those heading North to Madison for their next golf trip.

Learn more at www.hawkslandinggolfclub.com