I’ve been writing about golf equipment for almost 30 years. In that time, I have tested and reviewed close to 100 putters, ranging from household name brands to boutique start-ups. Many – by which I mean most – new putter companies fail within a few years. But every now and then, one of these plucky newcomers really moves the needle and shakes up the market. L.A.B. Golf is one of these movers and shakers. L.A.B.’s radical designs and precision engineering are creating tsunami-like waves through all levels of the game, from weekend warriors to the PGA Tour.
What sets L.A.B. Putters apart is their balancing. Putters can be “balanced” several ways. If you balance your putter on your finger, lying the shaft perpendicular across your outstretched digit, you can determine its weighting scheme. If the face points upward, it’s “face-balanced.” If the toe hangs straight down, it’s “toe-balanced.” If the toe hangs down at an angle, there is some degree of “toe-hang.” L.A.B. stands for Lie Angle Balanced. Company founder and L.A.B. inventor, Bill Presse, was a mini-tour player who wanted to simplify his putting stroke. He reasoned that lie-angle balancing would most easily allow the putter to balance such that the face is dead-square with the target line, promoting a consistently square face at impact.
A number of design features combine to create this lie-angle balancing. In L.A.B.’s first models, a key feature – along with numerous adjustable weights and an aluminum chassis wrapped around a steel putterhead and insert – was center-shafting. In other words, the straight shaft was inserted into the center of the putterhead. Combined with some radical head shapes (think branding irons – big branding irons), the initial L.A.B. putters were easy to recognize.
The unique profile of the original L.A.B. offering was polarizing, however. Even golfers who appreciated the consistency with which they stroked their putts were sometimes put off by the head shape or size. The center-shafting, too, if you’re not used to it, can make alignment tricky. In 2025, L.A.B. introduced its first non-center-shafted model, the OZ.1i HS ($499), where “HS” stands for “heel-shafted.”
Playing the L.A.B. OZ.1i HS
I recently played the undisputed king of public golf in Illinois, Cog Hill #4, a.k.a. Dubsdread, where the greens are fast and dramatically contoured. Before the round, I met up with an old buddy of mine who is currently a 2-handicap. When he arrived, he couldn’t wait to show me his L.A.B. DF3 Putter, a smaller, slightly less radical version of the original L.A.B. DF2.1. “This putter shaved two strokes off my score,” he said. “I feel like I’m cheating!”
I then pulled the L.A.B. OZ.1i HS out of my bag and asked, “Have you seen their new heel-shafted model?” (OK, so I can be a little smug sometimes. But this situation called for smugness!) He took it to the practice green and proceeded to run in 3 6-foot putts in a row. We both just smiled and shook our heads at the consistency. And he had to admit that the heel-shafted design fits the eye more naturally than the center-shafted version.
The ball comes off the steel insert incredibly softly, allowing for confident, even aggressive, strokes. Within 8 feet of the cup, the OZ.1i HS instills incredible confidence: I just set the putter behind the ball on the line I want it to begin on, take my stance, and swing – as long as I don’t get handsy, the ball rolls exactly on-line. Even my misses go where I want them to – can’t blame a misread on the putter!
Between the exquisite lie-angle balancing, the Press pistol grip, and the premium steel shaft, I’m not sure I’ve ever tested a putter that immediately fit my eye so well. During the last few rounds with the OZ.1i HS, I feel like everything inside 10 feet should drop, and 3-putting is basically a foreign concept.
For players with exacting standards, L.A.B. offers myriad custom-fitting options on their website and a variety of putterhead shapes (including an Anser-style blade) and colors (the purple ones are back!). There are even shaft options that can add close to $400 to the price tag. Although it is true that L.A.B. Putters aren’t cheap, developing supreme confidence on the green is nearly priceless.
If you’ve never heard of Sub70 Golf, you’re in for a treat. This boutique clubmaker based in Sycamore, Illinois, has been producing clubs that are of the highest quality, but at a very reasonable price-point. As I detailed in the profile linked above, the philosophy at Sub70 is “If it isn’t better, don’t release it.” In other words, unlike the big-name companies that pump out “new and improved” models once or even twice a year, Sub70 only releases new clubs when their own testing confirms that the new designs are actually better than the previous ones.
Although golf season is most of the Midwest is winding down, Spooky Season is here. Leave it to Sub70 to offer wedges that both play and look scary-good. The JB Sugar Skull Wedges ($125) feature a laser-etched Sugar Skull and boast exquisite feel and control. The Sugar Skull logo depicts “la calvera,” the traditional symbol of Mexico’s Day of the Dead.
Aside from the unique artwork, these wedges are deadly around the greens, too. They are forged from 1020 carbon steel with milled grooves. The JB Wedges are designed for versatility and creativity, accommodating the most skilled shot-makers.
Sub70 offers several model options to fit any player’s preferences. All wedges come in a “straight” or “taper” shaft version, the JB 2 Wedges have a more squared leading edge, and the Full Groove versions feature grooves stretching the entire clubface from heel to toe. There are also multiple finish options, including black, raw, and satin.
Playing the Sub70 JB Sugar Skull Wedges
Before putting the JB Wedges into my bag, I was pretty comfortable with my wedge spacing, which consisted of a 52-degree, 56-degree, and a 59-degree. When I received the 60-degree and 50-degree Sub70s, I worried about their fit.
As it turns out, adding a couple degrees on either side of the 56-degree was what I needed. With my PW handling shots 130 to 140 yards, I needed something to cover 120 yards comfortably. My 52-degree had been coming up a bit short and I was choking down on the PW with inconsistent results. The 50-degree filled that gap perfectly. And the rusted “raw” finish makes it look like a real battler.
On the other side, the black-finish 60-degree has taught me to truly love the flop-shot. I have hit more flops since putting the Sugar Skulls in my bag than in the previous year combined, saving strokes every round.
My short game is key to my scoring – the rounds where I get up and down from everywhere are the ones where I go low. After putting the Sub70 JB Sugar Skull Wedges into play, I strung together three rounds in a row in the 70s – something I’ve never done before in my life. Maybe I can’t give the wedges all the credit, but they deserve a bunch of it.
So if you’re looking to strike some fear into the hearts of your opponents, Sub70’s Sugar Skull Wedges might just do the trick.
The Ryder Cup rolls around every two years, and golf fans anticipate it as eagerly as Olympians await the Olympics or soccer fans crave the World Cup. With the Ryder Cup being held at Bethpage Black this year, and Keegan Bradley representing a new generation of US team captains, golf equipment and apparel companies are rolling out a cornucopia of Ryder Cup merch to commemorate the revered trans-Atlantic spectacle.
Here are some hand-picked treats from the bounty of gear and apparel commemorating the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Keegan Bradley Signature Series Golf Balls by Srixon
Captain Bradley stands as a transition in US Ryder Cup Team captaincy. Unlike most of the more “senior” captains in recent history, he’s been playing so well this year on Tour, many pundits said he should pick himself for the team and be a playing captain. In a move that was typical of the integrity he has always shown on the course, Keegan did not put himself on the team, so that he could focus on just being the captain. In order to support Team USA, and to honor Keegan as a long-time Srixon Staff Member, the company is releasing the limited-edition Keegan Bradley Signature Series Z-STAR DIAMOND Golf Balls ($50/doz.). Each commemorative ball showcases a captain-inspired logo wrapped in a red, white, and blue motif reflecting Keegan’s patriotic spirit. Complementing this is the limited-edition packaging that pays homage to Bradley’s Boston roots, complete with a detailed skyline illustration celebrating the city’s rich history and character.
Bridgestone Golf Limited Edition PBR Kit
For the 2025 Ryder Cup, Bridgestone golf is re-releasing a collaborative golf kit with Pabst Blue Ribbon. Available exclusively online ($100), the kit includes 1 dozen limited edition TOUR B RX golf balls with PBR logo, custom PBR towel, and a custom PBR putter cover (blade-style). The “King of Beers” is all-in for Team Red White and Blue!
AHEAD Headwear
Maybe special-edition golf balls aren’t for you because you’ll “just lose them anyway.” Maybe a cap or some other commemorative headwear is more your thing – you know, a keepsake that won’t end up at the bottom of a pond? AHEAD has you (and your scalp) covered with an entire line of Ryder Cup caps ($38).
SuperStroke Ryder Cup Putter Grips
SuperStroke, the winningest putter grips on Tour, are introducing the commemorative, limited-edition Zenergy 2025 Ryder Cup putter grips ($35), with red-and-blue graphics for Team USA, and gold-and-blue graphics for Team Europe. The grips come in 5 styles/sizes, to fit most, if not all, players.
Just one week until the fireworks at Bethpage Black. Grab some limited-edition gear before it runs out, and enjoy the spectacle that is The Ryder Cup!
It’s been a hot summer, but my golf game has been hot and cold. Those of us doggedly pursuing lower scores through the heat and humidity deserve some treats in these waning dogdays, don’t you think?
I’ve rounded up some of my favorite golf gift ideas to help pull you out of the doldrums, celebrate a late-summer birthday (like mine), or just pamper yourself a little before the season ends.
Bushnell
The Bushnell A1-Slope Laser Rangefinder ($300), which debuted just this past February, embodies the precision and quality one associates with the name “Bushnell.” It is by far the smallest and lightest rangefinder I have ever used. Pinseeker and JOLT technology provides instant tactile feedback when the target is locked, the slope yardage is easy to see and read, and the BITE magnetic skin is great if you don’t want to take it in and out of the sturdy case. A final innovation that is rare in the market is the rechargeable battery (cord included). This might be the last rangefinder I ever use.
TRUE Linkswear
If you’re never heard of TRUE Linkswear, you’re missing out. I have five pairs of TRUE golf shoes, and I get more compliments on them than any shoes I’ve ever worn (golf or otherwise). The combination of styling, attention to detail, and comfort are tough to beat. Some of my TRUE shoes have metal aglets. Others have eye-catching sole designs that also provide outstanding traction. All of them have excellent padding and support and, importantly, a nice, wide toe-box. Prices range from low $100s to low $300s. An unexpected luxury of TRUE shoes is that every pair comes in its own mesh and canvas carrying case, which is great for golf trips. Now TRUE Linkswear also offers a large line of polos, hoodies, shorts, pants – pretty much any accessory you need to look like a Tour pro on the course, no matter how you play.
Arcade belts
Speaking as a dad myself, I can attest to an odd fact of male aging: Even as our waistlines expand, our need for belts increases. I don’t know why. I don’t make the rules. All I know is that if you don’t want to flash plumber’s butt every time you get your ball out of the hole, a nice snug belt is a must. My recent favorite belts are Arcade Belts. These elastic, fabric belts with a unique buckling mechanism are super-comfortable and even machine-washable, as the buckles on most models are plastic. (This also means they’re excellent for air travel, as you can leave them on going through TSA.) Arcade has three styles specifically designed with golf in mind: Motion, Futureweave, and Momentum. The only note is that the plastic buckles are slightly chunky, so if your belt loops are narrow, it might be a chore to guide the belt through.
Sub70 Golf JB Sugar Skull Wedges
If you’ve never heard of Sub70 Golf, you’re missing out. The Sycamore, Illinois-based boutique clubmaker is without question one of golf’s most-respected companies. Sub70 doesn’t release any new clubs or lines without ensuring through scrupulous testing that the new clubs are improvements over their previous models. They don’t pay any tour pros to play their sticks, but several pros do. Sub70 also offers free fittings at their homey HQ in Sycamore. (They’ll even mix you a cocktail!) And if the fitting results show your clubs work as well or better than theirs for your swing, they tell you that. Integrity, honest, quality – what more could you ask for?
The Sub70 JB line of wedges ($125) include the iconic Sugar Skull wedge. Designed for golfers with a variety of techniques and who play in a range of conditions, the Sugar Skull maximizes versatility and feel. Finishes include black and “natural,” and lofts run from 46 to 64 degrees. Laser engraving is available, which can be customized if you don’t want the original Sugar Skull. But if you do, you can also get a matching Sugar Skull cap ($35).
REVL Grips by SuperStroke
Conservatively, 60% of players I meet need new grips on their clubs. People tend to put off re-gripping their set like they’re putting off getting their teeth cleaned. I’m hear to tell you right now that the single best thing you can do for your game is to check your grips and re-grip them if they’re even the slightest bit slick.
And when you re-grip, there’s some big news in the equipment world that you should consider: SuperStroke, the maker of the most widely-used putter grips on Tour, purchased the legendary Lamkin Grips in May of 2024. This year, they’ve combined SuperStroke’s Tour-proven design principles with Lamkin’s tried-and-true engineering to produce the REVL line of grips. You may have seen commercials for these grips during recent golf broadcasts. Let me say that the hype is completely well-deserved. I regripped my entire set with the REVL Comfort, one of three distinct models in the flagship line, a couple weeks ago. The Comfort is an all-rubber, quasi-wrap design that seems to just guide me to putting my hands in the right positions. This is the first time I’ve had the same grips on all my clubs at the same time in maybe 30 years, and I’ve played three rounds with them, carding 77, 78, and 78. I’ve never shot three consecutive rounds in the 70s before. I don’t know if it’s the grips, or if by some miracle I’ve figured something out about my swing. But either way, I have never felt more confident when I take my grip and stance, so I don’t foresee playing any grips other than SuperStroke’s in the future (including the SuperStroke Incredible Hulk putter grip I just put on!)
Wilding Brands Beverages for On and Off the Course
My daughter lives in Colorado, and every time we visit her, my wife and I are blown away by the sheer variety, not the mention the quality, of Colorado-brewed libations. Wilding Brands was founded in 2024 by Colorado craft beverage veterans Eric Foster (Stem Ciders), Charlie Berger (Denver Beer Co.), and Brad Lincoln (Funkwerks), and they’re bringing fresh energy and innovation to the craft beverage space. With the recent acquisition of Great Divide and a growing lineup of tasty, refreshing products, they’re quickly becoming a go-to name in modern craft beverages.
A recent sampling from the Wilding Brands’ catalog includes these highlights:
Howdy Beer – This is a crisp, easy-drinking Western Pilsner brewed with American barley and Liberty hops. Howdy is a canonical beer that is ideal for sunny rounds or post-game hangouts. It goes down really smooth, yet it’s far more flavorful than your typical big-brand suds. (Available online via Total Wine.)
Great Divide’s Yeti Series – Flavor-forward IPAs and the iconic Imperial Stout, made for golfers who like bold taste in their bag. The Imperial Stout is rich and flavorful. It’s a bit heavy for my tastes on the course, but pair it with a hearty meal after your round. <Chef’s kiss!>
Stem Ciders – I’m big on ciders, partly because they feel lighter and brighter than beers, anf are therefore perfect for hot days. I’ve tasted the hibiscus, dry, and pear ciders by Stem, and they’re all excellent. The pear is my personal favorite.
Easy Livin’ Hop Water – If you love IPAs, but either can’t or don’t want to drink beer (on or off the course), these hop-forward, zero-proof refreshers deliver the taste of craft beer without the alcohol. They’re ideal for staying sharp and hydrated through all 18 holes.
So wet your whistle and enjoy. There’s still a little summer left!
My car trunk is full of golf shoes. Like, 25 pairs, maybe 30. My buddies laugh, but write a lot about golf shoes. And I like to match my shoes with my outfit for the day. Because I walk most rounds, I like to rotate shoes to cut down on potential blister hot spots or sore feet. My clubs and pushcart still fit, so lay off!
I will admit, though, that several pairs of shoes get picked out of the pile more than any others these days – my five pairs of TRUE Linkswear golf shoes. Never heard of TRUE Linkswear? Well, you’re missing out. This relatively new golf shoe and apparel company, founded in 2009, has come up with a unique approach to building the best shoes, and they keep coming out with hit after hit. Now they have several lines of apparel, too.
What’s makes TRUE unique? A few core, foundational features are the bedrock of every TRUE shoe model.
First is a Zero Drop Footbed. Most golf shoes have heels in them, making your feet unlevel. The TRUE philosophy is that golf shoes should feel like you’re playing barefoot, so your toes, ball, and heel should all be on the same level. According to TRUE, this improves stability, balance, and posture. All I know is that after walking 18 holes in any of my pairs of TRUE, my feet feel completely unstressed and totally fresh.
TRUE OG3 (my current favorite!)
Second is a versatile tread that provides traction on the course but feels just as natural off the course. TRUE did just unveil their first soft-spike spiked shoes, the Lux2 Player (MSRP $219) and the Lux2 Maven (MSRP $319), but I’ve never felt a need for more traction than the standard spikeless soles on other models provide.
TRUE Lux2 Player
Fourth is incredibly lightweight design. Every single pair I own feels about half the weight of what I would expect looking at them.
Fifth, and for me, most important, is a natural width toe box. Most golf shoes narrow towards the toe, squishing your piggies together like Vienna sausages in a can. The most painful, least enjoyable rounds of my life have been those few times when an overly snug toe box has pushed my toes into a position where one toenail digs into the side of another toe. Don’t spend too much time imagining that – it’s not a pretty sight, and it’s even a worse feeling. The toe boxes of every one of my TRUE shoes allow my toes to breathe and bend naturally and comfortably.
Beyond these core principles, there are a number of other great details TRUE builds into various models. She laces are textured, so they don’t come untied. Some laces have metal aglets, which I just think look cool. Souls often have big T or even “TRUE” formed into them somewhere, which, again, just looks cool. There’s always a sturdy heel tab to help pull them on. And each pair comes with its own shoe caddy bag, which is very useful when traveling (keeps dirt and grass from from getting on your clothes in your suitcase).
TRUE Knit Four — these look just as good off the course as on
In the past couple of years, TRUE Linkswear has branched out beyond golf shoes, adding slides, caps, quarter-zips, hoodies, T-shirts, polos, shorts, pants, gloves, socks, etc., etc. to their website. There are frequent sales, as well as limited-edition packs for holidays and other special events. My TRUE Linkwear shoes and apparel are not only my favorites, but they even stand up to the scrutiny of my 21-year-old son, who has been eyeing at least one pair of my TRUE shoes to take back to college with him. As soon as he reads this article, I have a feeling I know what will be on his Christmas
In 1955, Dutch Cragun graduated from the University of Minnesota. He called his father and asked if he could make a living running the family’s small fishing resort on the shores of Gull Lake in the heart of the Brainerd lakes region. His dad said, “Hell no.” Nevertheless, Dutch headed north and began a legendary process of renovation, acquisition, and expansion.
By 1997, he’d acquired enough land to solicit bids on a championship golf course from two of the biggest names in golf course design at the time: Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and Rees Jones. The two famously combative brothers were set for a showdown on Gull Lake when Rees pulled out and RTJ, Jr., traveled all the way from Siberia to survey the property.
In 1998, Cragun’s Legacy Course opened. In 2000, Jones added a third nine. In 2020, Dutch wanted to expand further – the resort comprises over 1,000 acres today, after all. He asked three course architects to submit plans. Former (British) Open Champion and Minnesota native Tom Lehman came to town to watch his son compete in the Minnesota State Amateur. The then-86-year-old Dutch approached the fellow University of Minnesota grad and asked if his firm might be interested in submitting a plan. Within two months, Lehman’s firm had a plan, and after two days of talking, Lehman was “all in” – not just for the new course, but also for a radical redesign of the original 27 holes.
In 2023, The Lehman 18 and The Dutch 18—the Dutch White and Dutch Blue Nines—were put fully into play. Just this year (2025), a radical facelift of the final 9, The Dutch Red, was completed—and just like that, the “Dutch 18” is the “Dutch 27.” Equally as newsworthy, Dutch Cragun sold Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake in April to the local consortium Leisure Hotels & Resorts. With an influx of new capital, and an energetic, visionary quartet of new owners, the classic family and golf resort is positioned to reign over the Brainerd Lakes area.
Course map, Cragun’s Resort
The Dutch Blue, Red, and White
Unlike the orbital Lehman 18, all three nines on the Dutch 27 are walkable. The Red-White combination is scheduled to host the CRMC Championship, a prestigious PGA Tour Americas event, for the next three years. According to Eric Martin, Head Golf Professional at Cragun’s, “We’re working to host a Korn Ferry Tour event, eventually.”
All possible combinations of nines play just over 7,000 yards from the championship tees, and for the CRMC, they can be stretched out a bit more. The hope is that one tee box for the tournament will actually play from the patio of the clubhouse. “We’re waiting on final Tour approval of that,” says Martin. “It’ll be so cool if it goes through.” The 2025 CRMC Championship (August 24-31) will be played over the Red-White combination (par 71), putting the just-opened Red Nine to the test. “We’re excited to see how the pros play it,” says Martin. “There are some great risk-reward holes out here.”
It’s rare for a golf resort – and at Cragun’s, the golf is front and center, even though the fishing and watersports are outstanding, along with a host of family recreation options – to have 45 holes that are essentially by one designer but with such different feels. Whereas the Lehman 18 has revetted bunkers, the Dutch 27 has sprawling, natural-looking bunkers with thick fescue “eyelashes.” As the starter warns at the first tee, players should keep their eye on all balls heading toward bunkers, as they can disappear in the blink of a human eyelash; you’d rather your ball gets into the pristine white Ohio sand. And if you do find your ball in those eyelashes, your best bet is to just wedge it out. Trust me.
My ball, Dutch Blue Hole 3 — a long par 3 with trouble all around. My stance was in the bunker, the ball was thigh-high. I was lucky to chop it out and make bogey. Sand would have been much better!
The large-scale renovation of all 27 holes, though, was geared towards, “making the course more playable,” according to Lehman. “We focused on creating width,” he stressed, “There were a lot of places where a mishit would make the next shot unplayable.” Increasing playability required removing a large number of trees, as well as removing bunkers from areas 180 yards out and to the right of the tees. “Who were those bunkers meant to punish?” asked Lehman. “Average players. Golf is hard enough without punishing the people you want to enjoy the course the most.”
The Dutch Red (par 36) is “much more playable” than the Dutch White or Blue, according to Martin, with whom I played a recent round on the Blue-Red combo. Because I’m a contrarian at heart, I score several strokes better on the Blue than on the Red, however. Whereas the Blue course plays around Stephen’s Lake, as does the Lehman 18, the Red-White combo offers players who can only play 18 holes the best chance at scoring. Martin reports how multiple Cragun’s members who have been somewhat brow-beaten by the Lehman 18 come in the next day to report shooting their “best score ever” on the Red-White combo. So it will indeed be interesting to see how low the pros can go.
After getting off to a gentle start, the Dutch Red Nine presents players with a drivable par 4 at the 4th Hole, with deep, ravenous bunkers well short of the green. Any mis-hit off the tee will likely leave you with a 60-yard bunker shot to an elevated green.
Dutch Red, Hole 4 — Can you carry those cross-bunkers from the tee?
The 620-yard par-5 8th Hole will be a real test for the pros. Not only is it long, but the green complex is devilish – small and elevated, with a rocky waterfall hazard to the right. Anyone who goes for this green in two shots had better have exquisite control over their fairway woods or hybrids. I know it can be done – I watched Head Pro Martin do it (from the blue tees, not the tips—still impressive!) – but playing for PGA Tour Americas money…we’ll see.
Dutch Red, Hole 8 — Which pros at the CRMC Championship will go for this tiny green in two?
Perhaps the most memorable hole on the Dutch Red is the teeny, tiny 118-yard 9th, with its 40-foot elevation drop from tee to green, its crescent-shaped teeing ground that alters the angle of play radically from day to day, and its tiered green that falls away behind into a pond. Personally, if I were on a golf trip, I’d schedule my rounds to end on this hole, where the group can finish with an epic closest-to-the-pin competition for all the money and bragging rights.
Dutch Red, Hole 9 — My advice? Install a video camera and advertise $20,000 hole-in-one prize here. Imagine sitting on the Legends Patio and watching someone hole it!
The pros, however, will close on the Dutch White, which crescendos with a lovely, reachable par-5 with a green partially fronted by a serene pond and framed by the ruggedly handsome Legends clubhouse.
The par-5 closer on the Dutch White Nine will provide lots of drama to close the CRMC Championship.
All rates on the Dutch 27 and Lehman 18, which can run as low as $60 to as high as nearly $200 depending on time and various discount deals, include GPS-equipped cart and range balls. There are always beverage carts circulating, and the patio at the Legends clubhouse bar and grill is the perfect place to enjoy a house cocktail and lunch or dinner as you watch players come in.
Cragun’s Resort
In Legends, the wraps or the wings are excellent choices for a post-round snack. If you hanker for something more upscale, head over to the main resort buildings to Irma’s Kitchen, where Northwoods ingredients meet gourmet preparation. The seared duck breast was spectacular, and the view from the outdoor deck over the lake serene.
Duck breast at Irma’s Kitchen
Behind the main lodge is a large marina, with pontoons and other flavors of floating fun available for rentals. The fishing on Gull Lake is, according to local sources, the best in the area, with its almost labyrinthine collection of bays and inlets. Book the dinner cruise for both the delectable prime rib and a luxurious tour of the lake.
For some family-friendly golf fun, the Nice9 course is a 9-hole par-3 course that is reversible, playing clockwise one week and counter-clockwise the next. It’s actually a very nice challenge for all skill levels, with a few holes that are definitely not pushovers, and “some of the best greens on the property,” according to Head Pro Martin. Pro tip: If you purchase the Rec Pass during your stay, it includes unlimited walking and play on the Nice9 – I mean, drop the kids off in the morning and pick them up at dusk!
First green, Nice9, playing in the White direction. (Red direction tees can be seen in the background.) Not a cakewalk if you hit into the bunker in the middle of the green!
Golfers and families alike are recommended to consider renting one of the several entirely renovated houses on property. These have multiple bedrooms and baths, generous kitchens and common areas, and former garages renovated into poker and poll rooms. I can imagine a boys’ trip with golf, fishing, pool, and poker on the docket during a winner-take-all battle royale long weekend. The new ownership team will be focusing their efforts on updating the lodge and cabins on the property as well. As Martin points out, “The golf courses are in fantastic shape now, aside from some cosmetics like signage. So the first priority is updating the accommodations.”
In short, Cragun’s Resort offers a veritable cornucopia of Northwoods activities year-round (ice-fishing and cross-country skiing, anyone?). For those really looking to exploit the area’s under-rated and oft-overlooked northern Minnesota golf courses, The Gravel Pit short course is across the street, and Madden’s at Gull Lake’s The Classic are highly recommended, along with several other area gems. Cragun’s alone does between 50,000 – 60,000 rounds per season, so demand in the entire area for quality golf is enormous.
Residents of and visitors to the Brainerd lakes region can be awfully glad Dutch Cragun didn’t listen to his father when he came north to take over the family resort. Tom Lehman calls Dutch “a Minnesota treasure,” and what he’s built at his namesake resort is priceless. Fortunately for us, and for the world of golf, he’s shared his bounty with the rest of us, and under new ownership, his legend and legacy will thrive for decades to come.
Long before the land on the shores of Lake Barkley, Kentucky, was a golf course – or even before it was a state park – it was the family farm of Willis B. Machen, grandfather of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald. The tempestuous Zelda was a celebrated writer and the wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of my favorite F. Scott Fitzgerald stories is The Diamond as Big as The Ritz. Although that story is set in Montana (and is actually extremely dark), I couldn’t help but think about it as I played The Cullan at Mineral Mound State Park: the golf course is a real gem, and since it is a golf course, it is technically bigger than The Ritz-Carleton Hotel.
The Kentucky State Parks system consists of over 45 parks, with a dozen golf courses sprinkled throughout the parks across the state. The Cullan is one of the newest and was designed by renowned golf course architects Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry (who also designed Erin Hills, site of the 2017 U.S. Open and 2025 U.S. Women’s Open).
The par-72 layout measures 6,561 yards from the back tees, up to 4,411 yards from the most forward tees. The 600-yard gap between 1 Tees and 2 Tees is a bit large, making the decision about where to play tricky. Because the course is hewn out of dense hardwood forests, and several holes on the front side include carries over the waters of Lake Barkley, there are a fair number of “target golf” holes, along with plentiful blind landing areas. The best advice, then, is for even longer hitters to play the 5,964-yard 2 Tees. In the words of the starter, “Big and strong is not your friend here. Leave your driver in the bag on a lot of holes. Just find that 150-yard marker and hit the club that will get you there.”
Although it is very true that precision is more important here than power, this advice doesn’t hold for every hole – prudent use of the long-ball will serve players well, as long as the ball stays in play (which is easier said than done).
Playing The Cullan at Mineral Mound
I’m going to be brutally honest here: I shot my worst score in two years on The Cullan. This is a course where local knowledge REALLY pays off. As mentioned, there are blind landing areas off the tee, blind landing areas for second shots on par 5s, blind approaches to greens, blind hazards. Toss in the blinding rainstorm we finished our round in, and it felt like about a dozen more rounds would’ve been needed before the scales could fall from my eyes.
The rocky ditch on Hole 1 on The Cullan at Mineral Mound demands some strategic yardage calculations.
Despite the advice above that power isn’t paramount here, the opening nine actually do demand some muscle. Hole 1 is a short par 5, but there is a rocky ditch cutting across the fairway, so if you lay too far back off the tee, the ditch becomes an issue on your second. Holes 2, 4, and 5 likewise require some controlled strength. All are cape holes, with elevated tees, carries across water or valleys, and fairways angled from right to left about 90-degrees from the teeing grounds. So long draws off the tee will put you in great position—flare your tee shots to the right, or hit them dead straight, and you’ll end up in fairway bunkers or woods; don’t take enough club, and you’ll be wet.
The short par-4 2nd Hole on The Cullan requires a decent carry — but not too decent!
The advice to find the 150-yard marker also misleads at the short par-4 18th. I followed the advice, hitting a hybrid basically next to the 150-yard marker. When I arrived at my ball, I realized the 90-degree dogleg right required a tee shot 40 yards past the 150-yard stake just to see the green. Again, local knowledge is critical here.
The 452-yard, par-4 17th Hole is the longest par 4 on the course, but it is literally the first comfortable driving hole for first-timers. There’s finally enough room to feel like you can freely swing your driver, rather than aiming it.
Despite the difficulty of play associated with such a hilly, woodsy, target-y design, the land and waters of Lake Barkley are quite lovely. The Bermuda fairways and bentgrass greens were in good early-season shape, and the white-sand bunkers were well maintained. And several holes are truly memorable.
The aforementioned Hole 2 is just 306 yards from the tips, but a strong, controlled draw will get you around the trees to the blind landing area just short of the green. As noted though, a big straight ball will sail over those bunkers across the fairway.
The 389-yard, par-4 5th is another cape hole where a powerful draw really helps. Blind tee shots even continue at the downhill par-3 7th, where the green might be occluded by the end of the tee elevated tee box, depending on which tees you play.
The par-4 5th Hole at The Cullan is yet another cape hole that demands careful club selection and accuracy.I had to walk up to the front of the Number 2 tee box to see the green at the par-3 7th Hole — could only see treetops from the tee blocks.
The par-5 13th consists of one blind shot after another. My layup over a hill to what I thought was the center of the fairway, apparently found a steep hillside and ran into the woods. The longest of the par 5s, this triple-dogleg is practically unplayable on your first visit here – you simply can’t tell where to aim from tee to green.
The Cullan, Hole 16
The par-3 16th plays over water to a wide, shallow green, capping off a nice, varied collection of one-shotters. And again, the long 17th is really the first and only tee shot where newbies are likely to feel comfortable, because even though the fairway is lined on both sides by thick woods, it is wider than the other fairways on the course—you’ll probably even see your ball land!
Hole 17 at The Cullan: Finally, a stress-free driving hole!
The Cullan at Mineral Mound State Park: The Verdict
The Cullan is a scenic course that demands control off the tee. Length will be rewarded, but selectively. Greens are often elevated, and going long at most of them usually results in a lost ball. This layout was carved out of the state park forest, and most holes are isolated from their neighbors, with long drives between greens and tees. Given these distances and the extremely hilly topography, it is not walkable, unfortunately. Because familiarity with the course will undoubtedly help scoring, I would recommend booking two rounds here — you’ll probably enjoy your second one much more (and lose far fewer balls!). If you want to play more, or are looking for nearby alternatives, I recommend Kentucky Dam Village State Park Golf Course in Calvert City (about 30 min. away). This course was laid out by the legendary golf course architect Perry Maxwell, and it requires considerably less local knowledge, as most of the holes are right in front of you. The cabins at Kentucky Dam Village are comfortable and affordable, too.
Finally, a word about the course’s moniker, “The Cullan.” The course at Mineral Mound was renamed posthumously after Cullan Brown, who had a distinguished amateur career nationally, internationally, and at the University of Kentucky. A posthumous inductee into the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame, Cullan grew up playing at Mineral Mound. As his playing career was really taking off, he was diagnosed with cancer in his leg, and he died shortly thereafter. By all accounts, the young man was not only a fantastic player, but also a fantastic person, with a heart as big as The Ritz.
Course namesake, Cullan Brown. May his memory be a blessing.
I covered the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open at The Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, MA, on the campus of Mount Holyoke College. There were a lot of legendary veterans in that field – Hall of Fame types: Laura Davies, Julie Inkster, Annika Sorenstam, Karie Webb, Lorena Ochoa, and eventual winner, Meg Mallon. Two things about that tournament really stand out in my memory. One, Meg Mallon had no apparel sponsor; she had to buy caps and polos in the merchandise tent. Two, there were a couple young amateurs who were already causing a lot of buzz in the golf world. Maybe you’ve heard of them? One was named Paula Creamer, who was 17 at the time and playing in her second U.S. Open. Another was Michelle Wie, who was just 14 and also playing in her second U.S. Open. Then there was the unknown first-round leader in the clubhouse, 18-year-old Brittany Lincicome, who was playing in her first U.S. Open and who would turn pro shortly after her eventual 55th-place finish. All three would do their part to change the face and reputation of the LPGA. Creamer and Wie would each win a U.S. Women’s Open in the coming years. Lincicome would win two majors, but no national title. This all seems like yesterday to me, but all three of these “young guns” are now retired—so yesterday it was not.
14-year-old Michelle Wie at the 2004 U.S. Women’s Open
Fast-forward to 2025. The 80th U.S. Women’s Open was played at Erin Hills, venue of the 2017 U.S. (Men’s) Open, rather than on the campus of a private college. Whereas Meg Mallon won $560,000 for her 2004 victory, the winner this year, Maja Stark, earned a cool $2.4 million. And yes, she had an apparel contract. Women’s professional golf has changed dramatically in the intervening 21 years. Erin Hills wasn’t even in existence back in 2004. This stroll down memory-fairway begs the question: Which amateurs or rookies in 2025 will shape professional golf over the coming 20 years? Will any of the current players be playing in the U.S. Open in 20, even? No one on the first pages of the leaderboard on the final day in 2025 was entered in 2004. Many were still in diapers, and a couple weren’t even born.
Fan favorite Charley Hull sticks her approach for an opening birdie on Day 1.
Another fan favorite, Lexi Thompson, on Day 2. She didn’t make the cut.
Erin Hills: A worthy major venue
Erin Hills opened in 2008, originally intended as a “poor man’s Whistling Straits.” But just three years after the Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, and Ron Whitten collaborative design opened in Erin (35 mi. NW of Milwaukee), it was hosting the 2011 U.S. Amateur. In 2017, it hosted Wisconsin’s first men’s U.S. Open. What makes this 7,812-yard, par 72 course, which climbs and tumbles over natural dairy cattle pastureland, such a favorite of the USGA?
I posed this question to Dr. Hurdzan, and he provided his thoughts:
“I think that there are many factors that [the USGA] likes: a) [Erin Hills] is in the Midwest close to huge markets like Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, etc.; b) the course can accommodate upwards of 100,000 spectators per day, all of whom can be close to the action; c) the course can be a stern test of shot-making, strategy, and endurance worthy for crowning a National Champion; d) there is loads of room for corporate areas and parking; e) the course is very photogenic and will look terrific on TV; f) it is a public course; g) Erin Hills’ maintenance philosophy is environmentally in tune with the USGA Philosophy.”
The diabolical par-3 9th Hole at Erin Hills — shortest hole on the course, and one of the hardest.
Even the expansive practice facility is special. Dr. Hurdzan points out that “…the ‘practice/learning center’… has to be one of the best in golf by any measure. This facility has it all, and yet it does not prevent using the rest of the land for another golf course if they should choose to do that.”
Most of all, though, Dr. Hurdzan characterizes the course, and the idyllic atmosphere of the grounds, clubhouse, and lodge as “cool.”
Visitors to this bucket-list modern classic will agree. The brawny, big-shouldered layout, played at around 6,800 yards for the Women’s Open, sprawls over a former dairy cattle pasture whose natural landforms were so well-suited for golf that land had to be moved on only three holes (#1, #2, #17). A few blind shots in the original design were removed at the USGA’s request, but even the drainage was nearly perfect from the start. The green complexes are some of the most artistically inspired that you will find anywhere.
3rd Hole at Erin Hills, nearing sunset
The waving purple fescue is omnipresent and ranges from wispy to wiry – you’ll probably find your ball, but trying anything other than wedging it back out into the fairway is risky. (The women got off a little easier with the rough in late spring compared to mid-summer – it could be a lot longer.) The elevation changes, especially atop the 4th tee box, make for some inspirational moments. Erin Hills is playable for everyone (from the right tees), but it can be a bully if the winds are blowing hard.
Despite original intentions, the green fees are steep – and caddies are recommended, adding to the cost. Nevertheless, this is a must-play for serious golfers. The rustic beauty of the lodge and clubhouse will make you want to stay long after your round is over. So book a night in the lodge and replay for a nice discount the next day!
Highlights of the 80th U.S. Women’s Open
In the end, 25-year-old Maja Stark from Sweden carded a final-round, even-par 72 and a 2-stroke victory over Nelly Korda and Rio Takeda. All players in post-round interviews noted how difficult Erin Hills played. Nelly Korda stressed that the greens – both speed (around 13 on the Stimp meter) and pin positions were key factors in her own inability to hole more putts.
Champion Maja Stark the moment she realized she had just won $2.4 million.
As mentioned, Maja Stark collected a cool $2.4 million for the win. When asked in post-round interviews what she was going to do with the money, she said, sheepishly, “Oh, I didn’t even know that was the prize. Um…I might move out of my studio apartment. That would be nice.” Indeed. (Talk about an endearing response!)
The difficulty of Erin Hills in 2025 stood in stark contrast (no pun intended) to the 2017 Men’s U.S. Open, when the course was criticized for being too easy, with Brooks Koepke winning his first major with a score of -16. The USGA that year set pins on the final day in easy spots because the wind was predicted to reach 40 mph. By the end of the day, though, the wind had died down, and players were running birdies in all over. In 2025, the USGA learned its lesson – the weather was absolutely perfect, and Erin Hills played tough as nails. There was just one round in the 60s on Saturday and only three on Sunday.
Nelly Korda (T2) wryly explaining that she simply couldn’t make the critical putts.
Rio Takeda (T2) confirming that she did her best.
Back in 2004, I noted that there were 19 S. Koreans in the field, a number directly attributable to Korean legend Se Ri Pak, who won the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open farther north in Kohler, Wisconsin at Blackwolf Run. In 2025, there were 27 players from S. Korea, and even 21 from Japan. Add large contingents from China, Thailand, various other southeast Asian countries, all throughout Europe and the UK, and the field resembled a United Nations meeting, which is inspiring to younger golfers – girls and boys – all over the planet. Just as inspiring is the fact that in the last 11 women’s majors, there have been 11 different winners. This means the talent pool is wide and deep, and that there’s room for more. Stark joins Annika Sorenstam and Liselotte Neumann, the two other Swedes to have won the U.S. Women’s Open. If Stark inspires Swedish girls to take up golf as much as the previous two winners, we’ll be seeing many more competing on the LPGA soon.
As for those amateur and rookie entrants, who’s going to influence professional golf in the coming decades? As of mid-morning on Friday, there were two amateurs on the front page of the leaderboard, and a total of six amateurs made the cut this year, which is not an atypically large number. And rookies? First-year LPGA Tour pro Julia Lopez Ramirez fired the only round in the 60s on Moving Day (68) to hold second place alone – playing in the final Sunday pairing in your first U.S. Open is pretty impressive. Could some combination of these players become the next Creamer, Wie, and Lincicome? Time will tell. I’m already looking forward to the 100th U.S. Women’s Open – hope I’m around for it!
If you’re a golfer, but others in your family are not golfers, you have doubtlessly received numerous golf gifts that were well-intentioned and given with great love but which were – let’s be honest – completely and utterly useless. I just ran across one of these of my own in the back of a drawer. It’s a heavy glass golf ball atop a metallic gold tee. It came in a fancy, pillowed silk box. Lovely. But I never had the slightest clue what I was supposed to do with it. Hence, in the drawer it went.
If you’re not a golfer – or even if you are – don’t waste your money on golf tchotchkes. Take my advice and go for one or more of the items below – they will be appreciated and, importantly, they will be used.
Golf Balls
Golf balls may seem like a mundane, unimaginative gift. But balls are always appreciate because they are always needed. We golfers lose a LOT of balls.
Srixon, fast becoming one of the most popular balls on the PGA and LPGA Tours, is offering a “Buy-Two-Get-One” deal from May 22 to June 15. This exclusive promotion applies to in-line Srixon golf balls sold in dozens, including the premium Z-STAR Series models trusted by Srixon’s Tour Staff and amateurs alike. When customers purchase any two dozen of the same model, they’ll receive a third dozen free – delivering exceptional value without compromising performance.
Bridgestone has released three new e12 ball models: the e12 HiLAUNCH, e12 STRAIGHT, and e12 SPEED ($35/doz.). Painstaking in-house research has shown that approximately 85% of golfers would benefit significantly from playing a ball that was optimized for their typical launch conditions. The e12 HiLAUNCH model, which is aimed to help golfers increase their launch angle and overall trajectory, features the lowest compression of the three new e12 models. This causes the ball to stay on the clubface longer and launch higher for added carry distance. The e12 STRAIGHT, which is designed for players that need reduced sidespin for less hooks and slices, features a soft, low compression core, sidespin reducing mantle, and Contact Force dimples. The e12 SPEED, aimed at players who launch the ball too high and need a hotter, more boring trajectory, features the firmest compression of the three models for a more penetrating launch.
Bushnell
When I was a wee lad, my grandpa took me to a Minnesota Vikings game – back when they played outside. I remember two things from that game: The Vikings blanket he brought with him that had a zipper pocket for a flask and his Bushnell binoculars that provided a crystal-clear view of the players despite cheap seats and steady snow. I’ve still got both of those things, and they both still work great. The Bushnell A1-Slope Laser Rangefinder ($300), which debuted just this February, is a worthy descendant of those binoculars. It is by far the smallest and lightest rangefinder I have ever used. Pinseeker and JOLT technology provides instant tactile feedback when the target is locked, the slope yardage is easy to see and read, and the BITE magnetic skin is great if you don’t want to take it in and out of the sturdy case. A final innovation that is rare in the market is the rechargeable battery (cord included). This might be the last rangefinder I ever use—if my grandpa’s binoculars are any indication, the A1-Slope will never wear out.
For golfers who like music on the course, there is one accessory that has become essential: The Bushnell Wingman. Bushnell’s newest version of the their revolutionary yardage-provider and speaker, the Bushnell Wingman, is the Wingman View ($150). The View incorporates visual yardages and music information on an integrated LCD screen, so if you want to play in silent mode, you can still get your yardages. And even if you don’t want music (or yardages) on the course, the Wingman serves as an excellent Bluetooth speaker anywhere (it’s not just for golf!).
TRUE Linkswear
If you’re never heard of TRUE, you’re missing out. I have four pairs of TRUE golf shoes, and I get more compliments on them than any shoes I’ve ever worn (golf or otherwise). The combination of styling, attention to detail, and comfort are tough to beat. Some of my TRUE shoes have metal aglets. Others have eye-catching sole designs that also provide outstanding traction. All of them have excellent padding and support and, importantly, a nice, wide toe-box. For 2025, TRUE has launched a number of new models, including the OG3 PRO (my personal new favorite pair of golf shoes!) and their first spiked models, the LUX2 Player ($219 MSRP) and the LUX2 Maven ($319). An unexpected luxury of TRUE shoes is that every pair comes in its own mesh and canvas carrying case, which is great for golf trips. My only advice in ordering TRUE shoes online is to order one size larger than you think, as they do run a little small.
Arcade belts
Speaking as a dad myself, I can attest to an odd fact of male aging: Even as our waistlines expand, our need for belts increases. I don’t know why. I don’t make the rules. All I know is that if you love your dad, you don’t want him to flash plumber’s butt every time he gets his ball out of the hole. So gift him one or more Arcade belts. These elastic, fabric belts with a unique buckling mechanism are super-comfortable and even machine-washable. Arcade has three styles specifically designed with golf in mind: Motion, Futureweave, and Momentum.
The Golf 100
Does Dad enjoy golf history? If so, New York Times bestselling author Michael Arkush establishes a ranking system that places a heavy emphasis on the game’s major championships and profiles the most accomplished and impactful golfers—men and women, known and unknown. Arkush captures the flair, as well as the flaws, of athletes who are intensely competitive, funny, peculiar, or larger-than-life. Crafted from hundreds of interviews and longtime relationships developed over a quarter century, The Golf 100 is a highly entertaining read for $30.
Golf Trip with Dad
I’ve been fortunate to take a lot of golf trips with loved ones, including my son. For me, there’s no gift better than a round of golf with him, or even an extended golf trip. The Midwest has almost too many outstanding golf resorts to count, much less list here. But a few, ranging in price, that Dad will absolutely love come to mind: French Lick Resort (IN), Eagle Ridge Resort (IL), Boyne Highlands Resort (MI), Forest Dunes (MI) , Gull Lake View Resort (MI), Cragun’s Resort (MN), Grand Geneva Resort (WI), and of course The American Club, home of Whistling Straits (WI).
Happy Father’s Day to all, and to all a good round!
The water around Great Exuma Island in the Bahamas is one of the most recognizable landmarks to astronauts 249 miles overhead. The irradiant blue-green hues are unrivalled elsewhere on the plant, as tides rush in and out through shallow channels between Exuma’s 365 islands and cays. The ocean seems to glow, as if lit from below.
Sandals Emerald Bay Resort and its championship Greg Norman-designed golf course boast panoramic views of these waters – vistas that look like they’ve been filtered by some hyperbolic Instagram photographer. But there is no smart-phone trickery here. Only paradise wherever you look.
Sandals Emerald Bay Resort
The name Sandals is synonymous with Caribbean getaways. The first Sandals opened in 1981 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and pioneered the concept of the all-inclusive couples resort. Sandals Emerald Bay opened in 2010 when the company took over and expanded the Four Seasons on Great Exuma. Sandals Emerald Bay is the larger of two Sandals in the Bahamas and is expansive by any measure. Sandals employs 650 on this island of 4,000 residents. Many of the staff come from other Bahamian islands other Caribbean locales (we met several from Jamaica). There are 11 restaurants on property, two large pools, and a nearly mile-long private white-sand beach.
Service at Sandals is outstanding. Guests have the option of upgrading to butler service, complete with a private cell phone to call their butler any time of day or night. Our primary butler, Kevin, seemed to anticipate our every need: surprise charcuterie boards were waiting for us in our room. Hot bubble baths were drawn to meet us when we returned from our strenuous days of sightseeing, golf, and laying about. Prime lounge chairs and cabanas were saved for us by the pool. Signature cocktails magically appeared in our hands precisely when we started thinking, “Hmmm…I might go get a drink.”
Food at all-inclusive resorts sometimes takes a back seat, given the “captive” audience. My wife and I tried nearly every restaurant at Sandals Emerald Bay and were struck by the consistent quality, ranging from very good to excellent. The Jerk Shack chicken and yams were my favorite casual fare (perfect by the pool with a cold beer). For dinners, Soy sushi, Bombay Club Indian, La Parisienne French, and il Cielo Italian were frankly neck and neck in terms of our favorite meals—all excellent, all very different. Dinner at il Cielo was especially opulent, as we attended a small private dinner with Adam Stewart, Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts, whose father, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, is Founder and Chairman of Sandals Resorts. Also in attendance was Greg Norman, World Golf Hall of Famer and designer of the Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course.
Sandals amenities are legendary. From the boisterous main pool with swim-up bar to the Quiet Pool, from the bountiful hammocks strung between palms around the property to the nearly mile-long beach complete with complementary watersport equipment, there is plenty to do. Treatments at the sumptuous Red Lane Spa are extra but highly recommended. If you feel like exploring off-site, Island Routes has a desk opposite reception, where you can book island tours, bone fishing trips, or excursions to swim with the famous pigs of the Bahamas (as seen on “The Bachelor” and soon to be a feature-length film), feed grapes to endangered Bahamian rock iguanas, and snorkel in the crystalline waters of Great Exuma.
Views from the rooms at Sandals Emerald Bay will not disappoint.
Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course
The Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course is a stunning 7,001-yard championship Greg Norman design that has hosted the Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Exuma Classic since 2015. The six-hole stretch from hole 11 to hole 16 are some of the prettiest oceanside holes I’ve ever seen. There are no dramatic forced carries over frothing coves, but with the electric sea as a constant companion, the vistas are nothing short of heavenly.
During an exclusive one-on-one interview with The Shark himself, Norman shared the history of the course, and how those stunning views were nearly hidden from golfers.
Some quality time with course architect and golf legend, Greg Norman (before LIV was announced).
“I became involved with the course in 2002/03. The original developer was from South Africa. Originally, it was a real-estate constrained designed. That’s why some holes are short. All those holes on the back along the ocean were supposed to run between houses, which would line the shore on both sides. Boring! Then they realized how expensive it would be to run utilities down two sides of the property. I convinced them to save money by running it just down one side and allowing for seaside holes. Then Four Seasons took over, and the course sat fallow for a while. When Sandals took over, Butch [Stewart, Sandals’ Founder] listened and carefully protected and managed this course back to life.”
Thanks to Stewart’s stewardship and Norman’s aesthetic, the course today not only hosts the Korn Ferry Tour Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, but also offers Sandals guests one of the best golf deals in the Caribbean. Non-guest green fees are $155, with cart fees $25-$35. Sandals guests pay no green fees, so a golf-addled vacationer could play 36 holes (or more!) of tournament-quality seaside golf—every day—for practically pennies. (Rental clubs and shoes are also available for the more casual player for $65 and $15, respectively.)
While the ocean features on six holes of Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course, the trade winds feature on all eighteen, though the inland holes are somewhat sheltered. This is especially true at certain times of the year, including the week of the Korn Ferry Tour tournament. According to Brooks Downing of BD Global Sports, who runs two Korn Ferry Tour events in the Bahamas (Exuma and Abaco), the week of the tournament has been extraordinarily windy all four years so far.
Sandals Emerald Bay, Hole 11
“The first year,” says Downing, “the tail of a nor’easter hit us. That tournament had the highest scoring average in the 30-year history of the Tour. The par-4 12th had a stroke average of 5.8. Guys couldn’t bring themselves to aim 30 yards out over the ocean and let the wind bring it back. So their tee shots kept landing OB right.”
Because of the tempestuous winds, the course plays differently every day. Even the gorgeous par-3 11th, which stretches to only 148 yards even for the pros, can be a demon if the wind is in your face. My pro-am partner, Paul Barjon, who was 2019 leading money winner on the Canadian PGA Tour, hit a 6-iron into the 11th in the pro-am. I tried a 9-iron from 100 yards…and failed to make the green.
Sandals Emerald Bay, Hole 12 green (best shot I hit all day)
For all the postcard beauty of the seaside holes, the real test of an oceanside golf course is the inland holes. At Sandals, Norman has hewn memorable holes from scrub brush and wetlands, and incorporated several water hazards that aren’t the Atlantic Ocean. One of the real beauties is the 165-yard 6th, a downhill par-3 to a peninsula green that is wide but shallow.
Sandals Emerald Bay, Hole 13Sandals Emerald Bay, Hole 16
For visitors, the secret to enjoying your round (or rounds) here will be choosing the right tees not just for your skill set, but also for the conditions. If the wind is whipping, play up. In addition, always prioritize hitting it in the fairway over hitting it a long way. On nearly every hole, you will find water, rocks, brush, or waste areas 10 yards off of nearly every fairway and green. What you likely won’t find is your ball if you hit it in these places. So make sure to bring or buy plenty before your round, or you’ll be re-stocking at the turn.
No matter how you play, take plenty of time to soak in the sun and sea, along with plenty of photos of what might just be the most beautiful corner of the Caribbean. There may be astronauts overhead wishing they were playing golf in the midst of that otherworldly blue.
Midwestern Golf 