You’ve likely seen the infomercials for the putters that stand up behind your ball. This review is NOT about those putters. The Bloodline Vale (HPP) ($299) does stand up on its own, but there is no infomercial for Bloodline putters, the original self-standing putters.
The Vale is Bloodline’s newest addition. It’s a mallet with a “sabretooth” head shape – two “fangs” (flanges) extending from the rear to provide heel-toe balance and a big sweetspot in the center of the face. The head is exquisitely face-balanced. Two of the three alignment lines on the top of the putter head extend from face to the tips of the flanges, with the short line in the middle. This system precisely frames the ball, too, so when the putter is standing up behind the ball, the optics are ideal.
I played The Vale for several rounds, testing on faster and slower greens. Although a couple of my old-school playing partners (like, playing for 60+ years old-school) ridiculed it as a gimmick, after they saw putt after putt struck on the precise line I was trying to hit, even they had to admit it worked.
How does it work, exactly? Well, The Vale (HPP) has a high-performance polymer head that is quite heavy, and the carbon fiber shaft and custom grip are extremely light. (You can find several other models at Bloodline, including The Vale (AA), with aircraft-grade aluminum head construction.) There are four small nubs on the bottom of the clubhead to level it out and stabilize it when it stands alone. The Vale comes with a tiny Allen wrench to adjust the lie angle, too, though if it is set too flat, balance might be affected.
As already noted, when I played with The Vale, it felt like every putt took the line I intended. Sometimes my reads were off, but I never questioned what line I *thought* was right.
I made this downhill putt, by the way, immediately after my old-school playing partner mocked The Vale.
The one detractor from The Vale’s performance for me was due to the weighting scheme. The balance point (when you balance the putter across your finger) is just a couple inches above the putter head – again, that’s how it stands by itself. This weighting is opposite that of putters with counterbalanced grips and shafts, which has become extremely common in recent decades. So it was difficult for me to dial in the speed with such a head-heavy putter. The Bloodline Vale rolls the ball beautifully off its grooved face, and during my first couple of rounds, many putts either flew past the hole or, as I tried to adjust, came up just short—but online.
The verdict
“Vale” means “farewell” in Latin. With some practice to dial in the speed, you’ll be saying “vale” to a lot of putts as they dive into the hole like homesick gophers. Don’t listen to the old farts who needle you about your self-standing putter – just tell them you’ll show them the line.
The Bloodline Vale is a visually striking putter, too, aside from the stand-alone capability. The headcover is made from bright red vinyl with a knight and coat of arms (evoking the Knights of the Vale from Game of Thrones) and a magnetic closure. The quality throughout is top-notch – definitely not the stuff of infomercials.
PGA Certified Director of Golf Mark Krizic took over ownership of Fyre Lake Golf Course in July, 2020. Nearly two years later, his initial assessment of the Nicklaus-designed course has only grown more certain.
Fyre Lake Golf Course, 8th green
“When I first came here, I said, ‘This is a top-10 Illinois course,’” remembers Krizic. “Look around at this property. There’s nothing else like it in Illinois. It can be a top-10 course, easily.”
The unique layout rises and falls along the shores and inlets of Fyre Lake (which is one of the best unheralded fishing lakes in the state, by the way). Ever since opening in 2013, it’s been sort of legendary for local players in the golf-rich Quad Cities. Until now, though, ownership and conditions have been inconsistent. Krizic has changed that, turning the myth into something both real and magical.
Length is not the primary defense of Fyre Lake Golf Course; the members’ tees are 6,192 yards, and the championship tees stretch to just 6,544 yards. Rather, uneven lies, tucked greens guarded by the lake, deceiving yardages, and ever-present prevailing winds conspire to make Fyre Lake play at least 500 yards longer that it says on the scorecard. In other words, it’s a challenge and a thrill, and under Krizic’s ownership, the assessment of its eventual recognition appears fully within reach.
Bunkering, elevation changes, visual tricks, and plenty of contouring provide plenty of challenge at Fyre Lake.
“It’s a great design,” repeats Krizic. “I’ve played golf all over the world, and this land and layout are special. It’ll take some time, but we’ve made a lot of progress already.”
The most obvious upgrades affect both the playability and the visual aesthetic of the course. “We’ve removed hundreds of trees already,” explains Krizic. “Look out at the lake,” he says, pointing from the small clubhouse deck. “None of those trees are supposed to be there, according to the original design.” More trees—nearly all of them throughout the property in, or even adjacent to the lines of play—will be coming down within the coming year. The grassy areas, which had been allowed for years to be taken over by weeds, will be returned to the original fescue. “Imagine in late summer,” opines Krizic. “That fescue will be golden brown. It will be beautiful.”
“All the money we make is going first into the course itself,” explains Krizic. “I’m old-school. The course itself, not the clubhouse or amenities, will keep golfers coming back.”
Playing Fyre Lake Golf Course
As noted already, Fyre Lake Golf Course should not be underrated due to its length. The par-70 design forces precision from tee to green, and plenty of power is also required on several holes. The 440-yard 1st is one of the prettiest opening holes in the state, with the back tees set basically off the edge of the practice putting green next to the clubhouse and the namesake lake in the distance. The bank between the higher first fairway and lower second has been mown, so opening drives that are pushed or sliced are now findable and playable, improving both vibe and pace of play. All three times I’ve played Fyre Lake, my first drive has gone right, so I immediately noticed this improvement.
The opening hole at Fyre lake is one of the prettiest in the state.
The 521-yard 2nd is the only par 5 on the front. It plays from a tee sitting below the level of the fairway all the way uphill to a well-bunkered green perched on a hillside high above. It feels more like a 700-yard par 5, but the view from the green back down the fairway toward the lake is worth the trek.
The putting surfaces themselves are full of movement, and many of them have multiple tiers, but they roll true; conditions are much improved from two years ago. A curious aspect of the greens is the lack of collars: no fringe, no “frog hair.” According to Krizic, this is a hallmark of Nicklaus designs. “He doesn’t like collars. It makes the greens really pop visually.” Krizic and his greenskeeper are currently in discussions about whether to add collars, though.
The 436-yard 3rd, which thanks to the only triple-bogey of my most recent round I now refer to as “The Devil’s Cloaca,” tumbles back downhill toward the lake, with no level spot on the fairway until it ends short of the thick rough on the lakeshore. Your approach here has to find a rock-walled green with no bailout right and H2O left.
Choose your club and line carefully at the downhill 3rd Hole at Fyre Lake.
As pretty as the front nine holes are, with multiple elevated tees reminiscent of Michigan golf, the real magic happens after the turn, with one memorable hole after another. The 190-yard 12th is a daunting par 3 from the tips – actually a totally different hole from the back tees compared to all the other tees. From there, it’s a 180-yard carry between trees and over a deep ravine. From the more forward tees, there’s progressively less and less carry required, but the angle to the putting surface becomes more awkward—a thrilling design for players of all skill levels.
The 401-yard 13th plays way downhill to a semi-blind landing area, and then further downhill to an island green that you just might see in your dreams or your nightmares, depending on how well you hit your approach. One of Fyre Lake’s rare design drawbacks is here. The back tees for the 386-yard 14th are located on the same island. So if the group in front of you is playing the tips when they shouldn’t be and are hitting ball after ball to try to get back over 230 yards of water to the 14th fairway, you’ll have plenty of time to ponder the tricky approach.
The green of the 13th Hole at Fyre Lake shares the same island as the back tees for the 14th Hole.
Personally, I also find the 372-yard 15th problematic, but probably because in the three times I’ve played Fyre Lake, I’ve averaged at least double-bogey. From any tees, there’s little visible fairway to aim at, and the reedy shore of the lake borders the left side from tee to green. If you’ve got a reliable power fade with your driver or fairway wood, you’re fine off the tee. But then your approach will need to carry water again to a small, mounded peninsula green. I have come to call this hole “The Devil’s Bathtub.”
If you can hit the 15th fairway, you’ve got this tiny green to aim for next.
The 430-yard 18th is a swooping, downhill right-to-left cape hole over water and bordered by bunkers and water. End with a good drive here, and your round will feel magical.
The 18th Hole at Fyre Lake is an outstanding closing hole, requiring precision and power.
The verdict on Fyre Lake Golf Course
Magical is a good word to describe Fyre Lake. The name sounds like the title of a fantasy novel series, and mystical things will happen to players here, thanks to the fantastical design’s use of the whimsical topography. Elevation changes and forced carries make all targets appear farther away than they really are – almost like a spell that plays with your eyes. There can be horrors too, though, from drowned balls to rolled carts.
“As I say,” explains Krizic, “I’m a purist. You saw the one and only sign on the course coming off the tee on 6, right?” I had – it said, “Slow down!” This was wise advice as the tee towered a good 60 feet above the fairway. I suggested a few more of those might be needed on stretches of cartpath that felt more like a rollercoaster. “No, that’ll be the only one,” Krizic replied with a smile.
The old-school approach also applies to the green fees. There are just three rates: $65 (Fr-Su), $55 (Mo-Th), $45 (Senior Mo-Th). “We don’t mess with that dynamic pricing stuff,” Krizic says.
One off-course upgrade already implemented is the hot dogs. Don’t laugh. They’ve all-beef and served on pretzel buns, which are transformative. Seriously, treat yourself to one (with high-end condiments, too).
For those who have played Fyre Lake and wonder about the future of this almost mythical layout, Mark Krizic wants players to know this: “The vision for the course is always the same. Make sure the greens are consistent, maintain the golf course. But you have to put money into the golf course to make it happen. We’re improving customer service and amenities. But our very first focus is the golf course” – a course like no other in Illinois.
Terry Koehler has been in the golf equipment industry for 40 years. He began with Ray Cook Putters in the early 1980s. He joined Ben Hogan Golf in the early 90s. He founded both Eidolon Golf and Scor Wedges, where he developed the first progressive weight wedge system. Then he brought Ben Hogan back to life. He planned to retire and write as “The Wedge Guy.”
Edison Wedges feature weighting targeted at amateurs, but without the usual “chunky” profile.
But Koehler felt he had some unfinished business. So he founded Edison Wedges. What makes Edison Wedges different from the wedges of big-name companies? In a recent interview, Koehler opined about Edison, wedges in general, and what average golfers need in their wedges.
Terry Kohler: In all major companies’ wedges, the top two-thirds of the clubhead in most wedges is thin. The biggest wedge mis-hit for most amateurs is high on the face. The smash factor decreases dramatically when impact is above the 5th groove. Spin decreases, too. 87% of spin on full shots comes from wedge weighting; only 13% comes from the grooves. The gear effect is also accentuated because the weight is below the ball. So most amateurs hit wedges too high, offline, and with not enough spin.
Kiel Christianson: What’s keeping major manufacturers from making wedges for average golfers?
TK: They make wedges for their tour pros. Wedges are the only clubs that don’t have many game-improvement elements. Less than 2% of recreational golfers play blades as their irons, but 98% play wedges designed for pros. Impact is optimized between grooves 2-5. This is where pros hit it. Average players usually contact the ball between grooves 4-8. Edison wedges are built for center of impact between grooves 3-8. This is what 8-20 handicappers need. All companies are trying to sneak weight higher in the face, but hampered by what tour players will let them do. Iron Byron proves what is good for pros is not appropriate for the vast majority of recreational players.
KC: What about those wide-soled, anti-chunk wedges?
TK: I call those one-hit wonders. They’re good for getting out of the sand, but not for full shots or creating shots around the green. Nobody knows what their next lie is going to look like, or what the conditions will be. When I looked around at wedges on the market, I said, “For Pete’s sake, let’s build a sole that will work in all conditions.”
KC: So what features of Edison Wedges are specially designed for average golfers?
TK: Edison has more weight above impact than anyone has ever done before, and they’re forged. The top section is 34% heavier than low section – this makes for a more penetrating flight and more spin. Testing shows that Edison wedges without the grooves cut in yet produce more spin on a dry ball than our competitors’ grooved wedges. Again, grooves only account for 13% of the spin equation. On short shots around greens, grooves matter more.
KC: Do they look chunkier at set-up?
TK: Our wedges are obviously thicker from back or in cross-sections – about 2x as thick on top half of the clubface than big-name wedges. At address the topline is slightly thicker, but not distracting.
How Edison Wedges play
The Edison Wedges website features a Wedgefit page, where shoppers can enter information about their game, tendencies, and current wedges. Koehler personally inspected my profile, and set me up with a three-wedge set: 49-deg., 53-deg., and 59-deg ($184 each). The lofts were somewhat surprising when I opened the box, as I usually play a 52, 56, and 60 set. And, importantly, I know precisely what my yardages are with these lofts.
Nevertheless, I took the Edisons to my local course (and some not-so-local ones) to play them for ten rounds. I remember quite clearly what I thought when I hit my first shot with one, too: “Wow—Koehler wasn’t kidding.”
You can feel immediately that Edison Wedges are forged, as they feel rock-solid yet exquisitely soft. The soles have worked perfectly in both the sloppy early-spring conditions and now in what has become a very dry early summer. Bunker shots with both the 53 and 59 have been better than ever – I got up and down for three rather improbable pars at Fyre Lake Golf Course from some very deep greenside bunkers with the 59, despite being short-sided every time.
Not only is the feel of Edison Wedges fabulous, but as Koehler described, the ball flight is generally lower than most wedges, and the ball spins more. I have “backed up” these wedges more than ever before (except, perhaps, Koehler’s old Scor Wedges, which I also reviewed).
The only downside to the wedge set are the yardages of the unfamiliar lofts. The 49-deg. Edison traveled considerably farther than my old 52-deg., about the same as a soft pitching wedge. So it was difficult to figure out how hard to swing for a standard 125 yard “gap” wedge. The same went for the 53-deg., which required trying to swing softer to hit my normal 100-110 56-deg. yardage. As a result, I found myself over the back of more greens during those ten rounds than I recall all last season.
On the other hand, I had given up trying to hit full 60-deg. wedges, as they often came out soft and right because they were contacted so high on the face. Edison’s weighting has put an incredible 80-yard full-swing option into my bag. In fact, the 59-deg. now gets the call for any shot less than 80 yards.
The verdict
If you’re not a pro golfer, and if you struggle with your wedges, Edison is well worth a try. According to Koehler, most Edison customers come for one wedge to try them out first, “And they come back for a whole set after a round or two.”
“I’ve got Iron Byron data from 60,000 average golfers,” says Koehler. “There’s not another wedge on the market that’s built like Edison.”
In other words, they were invented specifically with players like you—and me—in mind.
The mighty Mississippi meanders serenely between Illinois and Iowa, separating the two Illinoisan cities of Rock Island and Moline from the two Iowan cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. Together, they constitute the Quad Cities, an area rich in history, food, entertainment, and golf.
Riverboat gambling is the biggest tourist draw, but well over a half-dozen public courses (and several private clubs) dot the surrounding countryside. All of these are reasonably priced, well maintained, and challenging in their own ways. The trove of hidden gems among these courses promises intrepid golfers a far richer pay-off than they could ever reap from the slot machines on the river.
One of the longest of the courses in the Quad Cities area is Glynns Creek Golf Course, located in Long Grove, Iowa, just north of Davenport. The 7,036-yard Dick Watson design opened in 1992, and it’s owned and operated by the Scott County Park District.
The peaceful green at the par-4 3rd Hole at Glynns Creek Golf Course
I first visited Glynns Creek in 2006, and I had forgotten just how isolated it feels to visitors. You drive from what seems like quite some time across the rolling farm fields among the predominantly white and sandstone-red colored farmhouses and barns, thinking to yourself, “I must have missed a turn.” Then you catch a glimpse of a fairway that’s a different shade of green from the emerging crops.
Great municipal facilities like Glynns Creek have a real family feel to them – everybody knows everybody. So when a stranger like me walks in, people notice. I introduced myself to Josh Bowlin, Head PGA Professional, noted that I hadn’t visited since 2006, and asked, “So, what’s changed since then?”
The question was rightfully met with a deep chuckle – 2006 is longer ago than I fully realized when I asked the question.
“Lots of changes,” said Bowlin. “The biggest change is that we’ve mowed down the high grass between holes, so there’s more room on many holes. We also removed a ton of trees that were killed by the emerald ash borer.” So “more open” is a general theme throughout the layout. “There’s also a new driving range and a new short-game practice area.”
“And the greens are much faster,” added Bowlin. “They’re running at a 9 on the Stimp meter now, but we’re working on getting them to 10. So the biggest tip I have for visitors is to play to the centers of greens and keep the ball below the hole.”
Admirably, the considerable upgrades have not brought with them a steep rise in green fees. In fact, at $44/weekend and $39/weekdays (with GPS-equipped cart), rates have only risen about $4 in 16 years.
How it plays
From the tips, Glynns Creek is long enough to challenge the best players. Even the blues, at 6,700 yards, require considerable skill and power. The whites, at 6,295 yards, are reasonable for most amateurs, especially newcomers.
With only about 15 sand bunkers on the entire course, and very little water, the major hazards are the occasional stands of trees and the ever-present rough. “Keep out of the rough,” cautioned Bowlin before my round. “It is so thick, one of two things will happen: you’ll either catch a flier, or you won’t get out.”
The green of the 5th Hole at Glynns Creek provides a sampling of difficulties without requiring any sand bunkers.
My experience with all but two shots from the rough (and there were many) was the latter – it was like trying to chop out of a hay bale. Anything more than an 8-iron just got eaten up, and the ball was lucky to go 30 yards.
In this rough, however, lay the subtle genius of the low-cost muni: opt for lush rough and artful grass-bunkers over sand bunkers, remove excess trees, don’t mow at all where balls really should not be hit, and focus care and money on the greens to get them fast and true. Glynns Creek offers a master class in this approach to affordable golf.
Above the 9th green at Glynns Creek: thick rough in the fairways and mounding all around the greenSome of the artful mounding around the greens complexes (10th Hole)
Many of the greens are framed by mounding, and depending on pin position, missing the putting surface can be hugely penal. Several of the greens are tiered, and finding the right tier is critical. The back nine really shines, including the final four holes, starting with the par-5 15th, followed by the par-3 16th, the longest par-5 (the 17th is 600 yards from the tips), and the strong 426-yard, par-4 18th. In front of the final green, you’ll find a single, sublime pot bunker – dead in the middle-front of an elevated kidney-shaped green. Well anyway, I found that bunker, but I was able to get up and down from the heavy but nicely consistent sand to end with a par.
The few bunkers that dot Glynns Creek Golf Course are expertly positioned, like this pot bunker smack-dab in front of the elevated 18th green.
The verdict
About 80% of play on Glynns Creek is local, but visitors from Chicago and Rockford regularly make the trip to the outskirts of the Quad Cities to enjoy the value and challenge here. Aside from the cabbage-like rough, the only frustration was the persistent cloud of gnats that one finds here in the early summer. I actually was able to skip lunch because I swallowed so many bugs. On the other hand, pace of play was not a frustration at all, as the staff in the pro shop monitor the carts’ GPS units and will go have a talk with slow groups. This may be a muni course out in the countryside, but the staff and players at Glynns Creek take their golf seriously, and they have a serious golf course to show for it.
Firm, fast greens with plenty of contouring require no additional defenses.
If you go
Stay right in downtown Moline at Stoney Creek Inn. It’s within walking distance of many restaurants and bars and other attractions. It’s where lots of players and caddies stay during the John Deere Classic PGA Tour event.
My son—the younger of my two kids—just graduated from high school, and he’ll soon make his way out of state for college. He won’t be playing golf there, but I hope he takes the work ethic embodied in the photo below with him when he goes. This was his sophomore year on the golf team, as I waited for him in the parking lot while he conscientiously completed a putting drill. It’s my favorite phot of him in 4 years on the golf team, where he played well—consistently low-man on the team in post-season play.
I guess, in the end, all that fathers can hope for is that they’ve equipped their children with sufficient life-lessons before they leave home. It’s sort of like making sure they’ve got golf balls and tees, a towel, a scorecard, and decent clubs before teeing off. This Father’s Day, return the favor and make sure your old man is equipped to handle whatever the next round – of golf or of life – has in store for him. Here are my favorite golf gifts for Dad this year.
Fuzzy’s Vodka
You know what? I think I’m going to start this gift guide at the 19th Hole for a change—it’s been a rough year already. In 1979 Fuzzy Zoeller, one of golf’s biggest personalities, burst onto the scene with his surprise win at the Masters. Today, his eponymous Fuzzy’s Vodka is made from 100% American corn, five times distilled and ten times filtered, and a portion of each batch is rested in new American oak barrels. The result is crisp, smooth, and incredibly clean. In response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, Fuzzy’s is promoting the American Stallion – same ingredients as a Moscow Mule, but different name and only all-American Fuzzy’s Vodka.
Arnie and Jack: Stories of My Long Friendship with Two Remarkable Men by Charlie Mechem
Maybe the Dad in your life is feeling reflective like me, and maybe a little bit sentimental after an American Stallion or two (also like me). Roll with the mood and gift ol’ Dad a book about two of the nostalgic icons of golf, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. The author, Charlie Mechem, had a long and remarkable legal and business career that included serving as a longtime advisor to both Palmer and Nicklaus. “I was honored and privileged to know Arnie and Jack for many years as good friends and to be blessed by those relationships,” said Mechem. “My life has been greatly enriched by my friendship with these two men.” Nobody has stories like Charlie of a couple of the great “fathers” in golf. To learn more about Mr. Mechem and to learn more about the book, visit HERE.
SkyCaddie GPS
As a golf writer, I play a lot of different courses around the world, from the Bahamas to Iceland. It’s often tricky to get a feel for a course or for certain holes never having seen them before. The SkyCaddie SX550 GPS ($400-$480) is the newest release from SkyGolf. WiFi connectivity, a 5-inch touch screen, IntelliGreen® and Holevue® technologies, with contours of all greens for 35,000 preloaded, ground-verified, error-corrected courses. Frankly, there are too many features and functions to list here. Suffice it to say you will be able to pinpoint every shot yardage to every feature of the course and track all your shots and stats, too. The basic unit comes with a free 1-year subscription, which can be expanded to a 3-year subscription for a fraction of the cost. Totally worth it, especially if Dad plays lots of new courses or is planning a bucket-list golf trip.
GOLFFOREVER Swing Trainer and Fitness System
GOLFFOREVER is a comprehensive, customized at-home training system ($199) that takes a science-based approach to maximizing golfers’ performance by improving flexibility, core strength, balance and rotational power. Think Peloton for golf. It is the first golf-specific home training program to combine home exercise equipment with streaming instruction. Then GOLFFOREVER takes it one step further by customizing each golfer’s exercise routines just for them, based on a proprietary strength and flexibility test users take when starting. This consists of three videos and associated exercises to see where you’re at. It is used by more than 50 PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players—including World #1 Scottie Scheffler—and thousands of everyday golfers alike. For more information visit HERE. The equipment comes with a 30-day free trial of the video lessons, which cost $25/mo month-to-month or $16.58/mo billed annually.
FootJoy FUEL and Field Golf Shoes
FootJoy has redefined comfort while maintaining its spot at the top of the golf shoe pyramid. The FJ FUEL ($130) is new for 2022. Available in men’s, women’s, and junior’s sizes, the FUEL has a sneaker-inspired design that features the StratoLite foam compound. These shoes cradles your feet and weigh practically nothing. I walked 36 holes in these straight out of the box, and my feet felt fantastic. And the stability is really impressive.
If Dad is more of a traditionalist, he FJ Field ($200) is the newest addition to the FootJoy Premier Series. It was the most-worn shoe in this year’s Masters, so you know the quality is second to none. The spikeless outsole is constructed of multiple compounds to provide both traction and stability, and the OrthoLite insole is luxurious—ideal for protecting the feet of the best golfers on the planet. Doesn’t Dad deserve both timeless fashion and modern comfort?
Cole Haan ZERØGRAND Overtake Golf Shoe
Iconic shoemaker Cole Haan is expanding its golf offerings in 2022. If Dad’s footwear tastes run toward styling reminiscent of crossfit or basketball shoes, the ZERØGRAND Overtake Golf Shoe ($150) is for him. Superb traction and comfort are guaranteed, and the mesh bootie inner lining hugs your feet and wicks moisture away from them, making blisters nearly impossible. These shoes feel like a second skin.
The go-to gift: Balls
Titleist is most famous for the ProV1/V1x models, but their lower-priced balls, geared towards various amateur players, boast the same top-tier quality control and consistency. The Titleist Velocity ($30/doz) is geared toward squeezing the most distance as possible out of your long clubs while maintaining acceptable greenside feel. On the other end of the spectrum, Titleist’s softest ball is the Titleist TruFeel ($25/doz). It still generates distance, but its real strength is exquisite feel and control around the green. Finally, the Titleist AVX ($50/doz) is a 3-piece performance ball that produces low spin and low ball flight with tremendous greenside control If the ProV1 is made for pros, the AVX is for the scratch handicappers at your club.
My first review of Srixon golf balls—which appeared some 15 years ago—introduced them as the best ball whose name you can’t pronounce. Today, Srixon has become a household name amongst avid golfers between their high-quality equipment and their high-profile sponsorships on Tour. At the top of these high-profile Srixon staffers is Brooks Koepka, who plays the brand-new Z-Star Diamond ($45/doz). The Z-Star Diamond is a 3-pc Urethane ball, with high greenside spin, mid driver spin, and mid-high iron spin. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better all-around balance in a golf ball. The redesigned Q-Star ($28/doz) is a low-compression ball for higher handicap players who want all the benefits of a premium ball without the premium price tag.
Maybe the most aggressive ball marketing campaign this season has been rolled out by Bridgestone. The Tour B Series (all $50/doz) consists of four ball models, with one model in two versions. The Tour B X has been designed in consultation with Bryson DeChambeau, and he and Matt Kuchar play it on Tour. The Tour B RX is played in competition by Lexi Thompson. The Tour B RXS is played by Fred Couples. The Tour B XS was designed with input from Tiger Woods himself, and Tiger plays it in competition (well, limited competition, so far). And finally, if Dad REALLY wants to feel like Tiger when he plays, pick up a box of the limited-edition Tour B XS – TW Edition, stamped with the “TIGER” name. After Bridgestone introduced these last year, you’d see the occasional Twitter post by people who found them at their local courses and were convinced Tiger had played there!
Golf Pride CPX Grips
Golf Pride’s new CPX is the first grip completely concepted and developed at Golf Pride’s new Global Innovation Center in Pinehurst, NC. CPX, which stands for “Comfort Performance Extreme,” is constructed from a very soft and responsive rubber compound that molds to the golfer’s hands for the ultimate in comfort and stress relief. The soft and tacky material features a 45-degree diamond pattern inspired by the grips on BMX bikes. In addition, the innovative Control Core® in the grip’s end-cap complements the soft rubber compound to afford the best of both worlds: maximum softness and maximum control. I love the texture of these grips, and even though my previous grips still had some life in them, I regripped everything to take full advantage of these innovative grips.
Sun Mountain Speed Cart V1R
Give Dad the gift of more golf-related exercise with a new push cart. Sun Mountain’s Speed Cart V1R ($270) is updated for 2022. The V1R opens and closes with the flip of two levers. It has an ergonomic storage console and a headcover basket, is available in 10 different colors, folds down to W 37” X H 16” X D 13”, and weighs just under 18 lbs. When folded, the V1R is long and narrow – perhaps a bit too long for many sedan trunks, but ideal for a pick-up or SUV. And it fits perfectly in full-sized golf course lockers. This is probably the smoothest-rolling cart I’ve ever used. It feels like your bag is floating down the fairways.
There you have it – a wish-list fit for any golfing Dad. My only wish is for a few more rounds with my son before he heads off to college. So maybe find some time to play with your old man, too.
For over a decade, I’ve been writing a Valentine’s Day Golf Gift Guide. But realisticly, that’s not a day for golf gifts.
What should be a holiday though, at least for those of us with green running through our veins and visions of birdies dancing through our heads, is Masters Week. If you live in a colder climate, this is the start of golf season. You wait all winter for the televised panorama of azaleas and dogwood, of verdant fairways and roaring patrons. Your heart flutters when you hear Jim Nantz intone, “Hello, friends.” I mean shivers, amirite?!?
This. This is when we should be buying gifts. Doesn’t matter if you’re buying them for yourself or for others. Time to restock, retool, re-enter the world of sun and fun and golf. So if you’re looking to treat yourself or someone else to some new swag for a new season, here are a few of our top suggestions.
Sun Mountain Speed Cart V1R
Sun Mountain Speed Cart V1R
I don’t know about you, but this pandemic has been hell for my physical fitness. Walking the golf course a few times a week is the best chance I have for exercise, and a quality pushcart is key to getting in 14,000 steps while saving my back and shoulders. The Speed Cart V1R ($270) by Sun Mountain is updated for 2022. The V1R opens and closes with the flip of two levers. It has an ergonomic storage console and a headcover basket, is available in 10 different colors, folds down to W 37” X H 16” X D 13”, and weighs just under 18 lbs. When folded, the V1R is long and narrow – perhaps a bit too long for many sedan trunks, but ideal for a pick-up or SUV. And it fits perfectly in full-sized golf course lockers. This is probably the smoothest-rolling cart I’ve ever used. It feels like your bag is floating down the fairways.
FootJoy FUEL and Field Golf Shoes
FootJoy FUELFootJoy Field
Along with a great pushcart, a summer of 18-hole walks requires some comfortable shoes. My very first pair of golf shoes were FootJoys – leather, metal spikes, and no padding. For a couple years, I associated golf with blisters and pain. But shoe technology has come a long way since the Taft administration, and FootJoy has redefined comfort while maintaining its spot at the top of the golf shoe pyramid. The FJ FUEL ($130) is new for 2022. Available in men’s, women’s, and junior’s sizes, the FUEL has a sneaker-inspired design that features the StratoLite foam compound. These shoes cradles your feet and weigh practically nothing.
The FJ Field ($200) is the newest addition to the FootJoy Premier Series. It will be the most-worn shoe in this year’s Masters, so you know the quality is second to none. The spikeless outsole is constructed of multiple compounds to provide both traction and stability, and the OrthoLite insole is luxurious—ideal for protecting the feet of the best golfers on the planet. Don’t you deserve both timeless fashion and modern comfort, too?
Cole Haan ZERØGRAND Overtake Golf Shoe
Col Haan
Iconic shoemaker Cole Haan is expanding its golf offerings in 2022. If your footwear tastes run toward styling reminiscent of crossfit or basketball shoes, the ZERØGRAND Overtake Golf Shoe ($150) is for you. Superb traction and comfort are guaranteed, and the mesh bootie inner lining hugs your feet and wicks moisture away from them. These shoes really feel like a second skin.
Galway Bay Vests
Galway Bay vests
Luxury golf outerwear leader Galway Bay is introducing a new line-up in April, 2022, just in time for the Masters. If the golf season where you live can bring some unpredictable weather, this new collection will help keep you dry and warm. I have no idea yet how much anything will cost – in fact, actual photos haven’t even been released yet. But I’ve seen the concept drawings of the vests, and I’m a sucker for a cozy, stylish vest. So keep your eyes peeled come April.
Bushnell Phantom 2 GPS
Bushnell Phantom 2
Whether you walk or ride, having a handy, quick, light GPS will help you routinely choose the right club. The Bushnell Phantom 2 GPS ($130) is the lightest, most compact GPA device that is also easy to read and easy to keep track of. Numbers are large and easy to read, providing front, center, and back of green yardages. There’s also a green view mode with moveable pin placement. Best of all, the integrated magnet locks the Phantom 2 firmly onto any ferrous surface on your pushcart or golf cart.
Tifosi Sunglasses
Tifosi Swank XLTifosi Veloce
My son’s summer job for a couple of years has been as cart boy at the local course. If he had been allowed to keep and resell all the sunglasses he found in carts, he would have made more than he did from his actual pay. The point is, people spend lavishly on sunglasses and then lose or break most of them. Enter Tifosi, maker of high-quality, stylish shades that you don’t want to lose, but you can afford to lose—and replace—if that’s how your day goes. Tifosi’s newest model is the Swank XL ($30), which has classic “Wayfarer” styling in six different frame and lens color combinations. If you’re into more of a wrap-around look, the Crit, Veloce, and Seek FC models ($50) all feature the Enliven Golf lens, especially designed to accentuate contours and contrasts on the course.
Circle 15 Golf Glove
Circle 15
Circle 15 Golf is the brainchild of PGA Tour Pro Chris Smith (whose family owns the hidden gem Rock Hollow Golf Club in Peru, Indiana). Circle 15’s flagship product is The Genesis golf glove ($25). According to Smith, the golf gloves that pros wear on tour are nothing like the ones amateurs buy in their pro shops – until now. The suppleness and thickness of the sheepskin leather is like no other golf glove you’ve ever worn. At present, the Circle 15 website says The Genesis is sold out—and there is a very good reason for this: it is honestly the softest, most form-fitting glove I’ve ever put on. They do seem to run a bit narrow, though, so keep that in mind when deciding on your size.
I have two traditions for the start of the golf season: Clean my clubs and replace all the old balls in my bag (which have been frozen solid all winter in my car trunk—I know, I know) with brand new sleeves. 2022 is a big year for golf balls, with all my favorite companies introducing upgrades of their respective popular models.
Titleist is most famous for the ProV1/V1x models, but their lower-priced balls, geared towards various amateur players, boast the same top-tier quality control and consistency. The Titleist Velocity ($30/doz) is geared toward squeezing the most distance as possible out of your long clubs while maintaining acceptable greenside feel. On the other end of the spectrum, Titleist’s softest ball is the Titleist TruFeel ($25/doz). It still generates distance, but its real strength is exquisite feel and control around the green. Finally, the Titleist AVX ($50/doz) is a 3-piece performance ball that produces low spin and low ball flight with tremendous greenside control If the ProV1 is made for pros, the AVX is for the scratch handicappers at your club.
My first review of Srixon golf balls—which appeared some 15 years ago—introduced them as the best ball whose name you can’t pronounce. Today, Srixon has become a household name amongst avid golfers between their high-quality equipment and their high-profile sponsorships on Tour. At the top of these high-profile Srixon staffers is Brooks Koepka, who plays the brand-new Z-Star Diamond ($45/doz). The Z-Star Diamond is a 3-pc Urethane ball, with high greenside spin, mid driver spin, and mid-high iron spin. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better all-around balance in a golf ball. The redesigned Q-Star ($28/doz) is a low-compression ball for higher handicap players who want all the benefits of a premium ball without the premium price tag.
Maybe the most aggressive ball marketing campaign this season has been rolled out by Bridgestone. The Tour B Series (all $50/doz) consists of four ball models, with one model in two versions. I may hold a PhD, but it’s not a PhD in material science, so I have no idea how to differentiate these high-tech pearls. The best heuristic I can come up with is to think about each of the various balls’ properties in terms of the Tour pros who play them. The Tour B X has been designed in consultation with Bryson DeChambeau, and he and Matt Kuchar play it on Tour. The Tour B RX is played in competition by Lexi Thompson. The Tour B RXS is played by Fred Couples. The Tour B XS was designed with input from Tiger Woods himself, and Tiger plays it in competition (well, limited competition, so far). And finally, if you REALLY want to feel like Tiger when you play, pick up a box of the limited-edition Tour B XS – TW Edition, stamped with the “TIGER” name. After Bridgestone introduced these last year, you’d see the occasional Twitter post by people who found them at their local courses and were convinced Tiger had played there!
Everyone Here Is From Somewhere Else, a novel by Jeff Wallach (Open Books)
For evenings after a round, or rainy days when you can’t play, a good book like this is a must-have to start off a new golf season. Jeff Wallach has written for a dozen national magazines on topics ranging from finance to golf and travel. His previous novel, Mr. Wizard, introduced Phillip and Spencer Elliot. His newest novel centers around the physical travels and existential expeditions of these brothers after the death of their intrepid mother. Wallach weaves together scenes both humorous and poignant, along with evocative descriptions of Irish golf as the Elliot brothers come to terms what their mother wanted for them and what they want for themselves.
There you have it, friends – all you need to embark on another summer of golf. Enjoy the Masters, and may every bounce be favorable.
Cleveland Golf is historically known for its wedges and putters. Recent Cleveland driver offerings have also been extremely strong, however. In 2021, Cleveland’s Launcher Driver line literally expanded Cleveland’s august reputation with the Launcher XL.
The Cleveland Launcher XL ($399) lives up to its moniker. The driver head is 6.7% deeper front to back, which adds an 11% in MOI (5,200 g*cm²). The effect of this design on performance is a 27% tighter dispersion over the previous generation of Launcher Drivers. The company promises “long and straight” drives with the Launcher XL. And hey, I like long and straight. So I decided to give it a test.
Playing the Cleveland Launcher XL Driver
The Launcher XL boasts a number of features both visible and invisible to the naked eye. Most visible is the adjustable hosel, which allows tinkerers to optimize launch angle, distance, and shot shape with up to 12 different loft settings. Invisible features include a Rebound Frame, described by Cleveland as “alternating zones of flexibility and rigidity [that] direct more energy into the golf ball.” Another is called “Action Mass CB.” The “CB” bit stands for “counter-balance,” and refers to an 8g weight in the grip-end of the shaft. Some all-time greats—Jack Nicklaus, for example—swear by counter-balancing. Average golfers like me (or, likely, you) might not notice the effects of counter-balancing, but if Jack likes it, it can’t hurt.
Sure, these features are swell and all, but for me, press releases pale in comparison to actual hands-on performance. So I played the last few rounds of the 2021 golf season at Lake of the Woods Golf Course with the Launcher XL. Late-season rounds in central Illinois can mean cold temperatures and plenty of wind. The testing would not be easy.
As it turns out, “long and straight” is not an empty promise. Despite the conditions, I hit some of my best drives all year. For example, the 13th hole is 330 yards from the white tees. It plays fairly steeply uphill from the tee to the 150 yard marker, where it flattens out until the green, which is another 6-feet uphill. OB runs tee-to-green on the left, and trees lurk to the right. I’ve hit some big drives here this summer with the driver I put in my bag this spring, ending up just 20 yards short a couple times in hard, dry, fast conditions. With the Launcher XL, in soft, wet, cold, windy conditions, I came up just 30 yards short. With only a few yards of roll. Dead straight, too.
“But,” you may say, “I want to work the ball. I don’t like long and straight.”
To you, I say, “There’s always one.”
Seriously, I enjoy shaping shots. But I don’t enjoy fiddling with adjustable hosels. So the real test is whether the neutral settings of the drivers I test still allow for draws and fades (like, intentional draws and fades—I know they all can handle the unintentional ones). Fast-forward to hole 7 during the penultimate round of the season. The 7th at Lake of the Woods is just 292 yards from the white tees, but over a pond, uphill, and with a right-to-left bend around towering trees and an awkward fairway bunker to a green surrounded by more sand. The prudent shot from the tree is a hybrid to the 100-yard marker. It’s more fun to try to bust driver around the corner, which is precisely what I did with the Launcher XL – ended up 25 yards short of the green, despite a persistent headwind. Even my HS golfer son, who now hits it past me nearly every time, uttered the word “Beautiful.” Eat your hearts out, Tiger and Charlie Woods.
Cleveland XL Driver: The verdict
2022 is going to be tough at the beginning, because I am going to have to decide whether to keep the Cleveland Launcher XL in my bag. Its performance is comparable to the $500 driver I’d been using most of the 2021 summer. Tough call.
If there is one knock against The Launcher XL, it is the sound at impact, which is a big “clangy” compared to some other drivers I’ve tested over the past year. One of my son’s friends broke his driver during the fall, and I lent him a couple to choose from for his final junior tour event. He loved the XL’s distance, but didn’t like the sound.
As for me, well, I’m older, and my hearing is not as acute. It would be nice to have a driver that matches my wedges and putter. And, Hogan help me, I do like “long and straight.”
(NOTE: The Launcher XL also comes in LITE and LITE Draw versions ($349), for golfers who want extra swing-speed with or without draw-bias.)
Routines are powerful. In golf, routines are especially valued. How many times have you heard top players talk about the importance of maintaining their pre-shot routine, or their practice routine, or their fitness routine? For amateurs, just working regular play into your routine is key to improvement. You’re not going to lower your handicap playing just once a month. One positive consequence of the pandemic has been more people playing golf more regularly.
There are bad routines too, though. And when productive regular routines get disrupted, it can be tough to get them back. Supply chains are essentially routines, and we’re seeing what happens when a global pandemic disrupts them. If you usually procrastinate, it would be wise to adjust your shopping routine and order early this year. Here’s a selection of gift ideas that will help keep golf part of your routine in 2022.
BIG MAX Blade IP push cart
Maybe the best routine in golf is walking when you’re able. 18 holes works out to a 6-8 mile walk on most courses, which is fantastic exercise (and saves loads on cart fees). Lots of golfers replaced gym workouts with walking over the past couple of years, and this trend is continuing. Serious walkers who want to reduce strain on their backs are recognizing the benefits of push carts. One of the most compact and sturdiest on the market is the BIG MAX Blade IP ($350). BIG MAX is Europe’s top cart manufacturer, and the Blade IP is their most popular model. It folds to just 5” deep, so it easily fits in cars or lockers, and it’s built to last with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Galway Bay rainwear
Walking the course sometimes necessitates some extra protection against the elements. Galway Bay is renowned for high-quality outerwear that breathes while still keeping you warm and dry. Their new line of rainwear is constructed out of Hydro-Flex 32 fabric, which is extremely lightweight and quiet. My son received a Galway Bay all-weather long-sleeve rain jacket ($329) toward the end of his high school golf season and wore it during a couple of tournament rounds. His characteristically to-the-point evaluation? “That jacket kept me bone-dry—it really works!” Matching rain pants ($184) are also available to complete the ensemble.
Piper Golf Balls
Boutique golf ball brands have proliferated over the past decade. With golf’s popularity exploding during the pandemic, the market has expanded to make room for these innovative, quality, affordable pearls. One of the newest is Atlanta-based Piper Golf. Founder Mike Gottfried finally had enough of not knowing which ball suited his swing, so he developed a line of golf balls calibrated in construction, materials, and performance for players of all levels. Piper Green ($20/doz) is a 2-piece Surlyn-covered ball for slower swingers and higher handicappers. Piper Blue ($25), their most popular model, is a Surlyn 3-piece for 5-15 handicappers. Piper Black ($30) is a 3-piece urethane ball for players with mid-fast swings who consistently score in the 70s-80s – it competes with ProV1s. Piper Gold ($35) is the top-of-the-line 2-piece urethane ball for fast swinging top players. I’ve played all four and found all of them to perform as advertised. Brand loyalty is basically a routine. If it feels like it’s time to break your old routine and try something new, Piper is a solid option.
Clean Flight personal ball washer
One routine interrupted by COVID is cleaning your golf ball on each tee, as lots of courses removed ball washers to cut down on points of contact between players. But no matter what brand of ball you play, you’re going to want to keep them clean. The Clean Flight personal ball washer ($35) fits into a cart cup holder or clips onto your bag and comes with a tube of cleaning gel. I’ve used it with the gel and also with just a bit of soapy water in it to great effect – really handy in sloppy, muddy conditions!
Bushnell Phantom 2 GPS
Whether you walk or ride, having a handy, quick, light GPS will help you routinely choose the right club. The Bushnell Phantom 2 GPS ($130) is the lightest, most compact GPA device that is also easy to read and easy to keep track of. Numbers are large and easy to read, providing front, center, and back of green yardages. There’s also a green view mode with moveable pin placement. Best of all, in my opinion, is the integrated magnet, which locks the Phantom 2 firmly onto any ferrous surface on your push cart or golf cart.
Claw Pro golf glove
One golf routine I do not appreciate is paying $20 for a new glove every month or so. I much prefer my new routine of wearing one Claw Pro ($25) glove for an entire season. The Claw Pro is constructed of durable and breathable synthetic suede and mesh on the top with a ribbed silicone web coating on the palm, which keeps its grip seemingly forever.
Orca 16oz Chaser Tumbler
You know how Phil Michelson became the oldest major winner in golf history when he won the 2021 PGA Championship? Routine. Stretching, practice, diet, super-charged iced coffee – routine! Seriously, you don’t see Phil playing anymore without a tumbler of iced coffee (suped-up with nutritional additives). If you are thinking about adding a similar on-course drink to your routine, put it in the Orca 16oz Chaser Tumbler ($28). The doubled-hulled, vacuum-sealed stainless-steel construction will keep your drink—whatever it is—cold (or hot) for the entire round. And the hammered pearl model has a finish attractively reminiscent of a golf ball.
Wyoming Whiskey
One of my favorite golf routines is a drink with my buddies after the round. My new favorite libation for this ritual is Wyoming Whiskey’s Small Batch Bourbon. This smooth 88-proof bourbon is hand-crafted in Wyoming and aged 5 years. It has a floral nose with notes of cinnamon, caramel, and browned butter on the palate. It’s a great entry to an increasingly complex line of bourbons and semi-ryes that prove that great whiskey, like great golf, can be found in every state in the nation.
Big ticket item: Indoor golf simulators by GIMME Simulators
The best routine for golf is practice. And if you have the wherewithal to practice at home, a daily practice routine would be easy to develop. For the ultimate big-ticket item this holiday season, check out the extensive line of golf simulators and launch monitors offered by GIMME Simulators. GIMME not only helps you plan and construct the simulator package that best suits your needs, but also installs and maintains it for you. Their simulator packages run from $10,000 up to $34,000, depending on manufacturer and accessories.
Bonus Stocking stuffer: On Point 3D Ball Markers
If the golfer on your list is the kind of player who looks for an edge in every part of their game, slip one or two 3D Ball Markers by On Point Golf ($20) into their stocking this year. These 2-piece ball markers consist of a domed top half with one of several types of aiming rails or lines on it, and a flat coin bottom half with similar alignment lines. The idea is that the domed and dimpled top half mimics the golf ball and improves alignment. And having a ball marker that is two markers in one comes in handy a couple times a round, too.
May we all return to healthy and happy routines in 2022 and develop some new ones, including playing more and better golf. Happy Holidays!
The 18th green on The Straits Course at Whistling Straits is going to see some action at the 43rd Ryder Cup
Let’s be very clear: There is MUCH more to The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin, than The Straits Course at Whistling Straits. This iconic and unique resort offers four Pet Dye courses, not to mention the Kohler Waters Spa (try the Rain Man or Woodsman Massage treatments), one of the best restaurants in the Midwest (The Immigrant Room), and a host of 5-star amenities.
The American Club began life as the dormitories for Kohler workers. Now it’s a 5-star resort.
But The Straits Course, venue of the impending 2021 Ryder Cup and three past PGA Championships, is definitely the show pony of this breathtaking golf-centric resort. Golfers will want to plan their visit around The Straits Course at Whistling Straits ($410, walking only, caddie required, $65 plus gratuity). Just be sure to play the appropriate tees. For the Ryder Cup, The Straits will be stretched to about 7,800 yards, so it will give the pros all they can handle, especially if the wind is whipping in from the northeast over Lake Michigan. The holes perched above the lake are ideal for TV audiences and your photos alike.
Do you think there will be any drama at the 17th hole during the Ryder Cup?
For all of The Straits’ splendor, though, most of the dunes and bunkers (all man-made, by the way) are eye candy. Pete Dye described the course as “popcorn” but added that “you can choke on popcorn.” Mike O’Reilly, head golf professional at Whistling Straits, says, “If you can get over the visual intimidation, you’ll be fine.” Of course, it helps to have a caddie, and to play off the appropriate set of tees. “The Straits is a big, brawny course, and it does its best to intimidate you,” counsels O’Reilly. Keep your wits about you, though, and it offers easy bogeys, but make you work for par or better.
For pros, most of these bunkers are out of play. Unless it’s a back left pin…
Depending on who you’re talking to, The Straits Course isn’t even the hardest course in the American Club’s collection. My nod for most difficult is The River Course at Blackwolf Run. This 7,404-yard gauntlet is demanding from all the tees, as many holes run along the Sheboygan River and are densely wooded. It’s a completely different feel from the stark links-scapes of both The Straits and Irish Courses at Whistling Straits.
The long par-3 13th on The River Course at Blackwolf Run. How do you even hit this green?
The Straits is the ideal layout for matchplay, however, with plenty of birdie opportunities combined with severe penalties for stray shots. It’ll bait the pros into swinging for the fences, and if the wind blows or swings get loose, the lies and angles can change dramatically.
Let the matches begin!
The Par-3 7th — another absolute gem from Pete Dye.From the tips, you can’t even see the fairway of the par-4 8th Hole. The tee box on the long par-4 18th of The Straits Course. The Ryder Cuppers should be able to avoid the bunkers on the left. If they don’t…Players locker room, Whistling Straits — One team will be washing away tears on Sunday evening.
The General at Eagle Ridge Resort is the centerpiece of the Eagle Ridge Resort. The 6,820-yard Roger Packard and Andy North design is the newest of the four golf courses at the sprawling four-season resort just outside the historic town of Galena, and it’s the track that guests plan their golf vacations around. The resort’s other two 18-hole courses, The North Course (6,875 yards) and The South Course (6,727 yards), along with the 9-hole East Course (2,648 yards), all traverse the same heaving and plunging “driftless zone” topography unique to this northwest corner of Illinois. But it is The General that takes the best advantage of the dramatic landscape, presenting golfers with hole after hole after hole characterized by two words that sum up the very best resort golf: “Fun!” and “Wow!”
The golf courses at Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa take full advantage of the unique “driftless zone” topography.
In talking with some of the resort management before I teed it up on the North, South, and General Courses, a frequent comment I heard was that The South (or North) was equally deserving of praise as The General, which is true. Lots of locals and regular vacationers at Eagle Ridge say The North, in particular, is their favorite. But The General has that wow-factor: It’s all carry off the tee – if you can get off the tee, you’re golden. But even if you don’t get off the tee, you’ll have fun trying. Because therein lies the very secret to The General’s brilliance: It allows you to enjoy those tee shots.
The 357-yard, par-4 5th on The General, with its 100-foot drop. “This is crazy!” — author’s son
The North Course, opened in 1977, and The South Course, opened in 1984, are both stout tests, with narrow fairways snaking through dense woods. But the combination of elevation changes and multiple doglegs have the effect on both of these older layouts of taking driver out of the hands of longer hitters or severely penalizing crooked hitters. In the yardage books, there are numerous holes on both courses where the “preferred” landing area lies around 225 from the regular men’s tees. Moreover, many of these landing areas are blind or semi-blind – over hills, around corners, or uphill from the tees – so players don’t quite get to enjoy watching their balls land safely in the fairway (or see where the balls go if they are offline).
Over the past few years, though, Both North and South have widened a bit. “Lots of trees have been taken out,” says Colin Sanderson, Director of Sales and Marketing, “many because of damage from the emerald ash borer.” So players who haven’t visited for several years need to return to experience the kinder, gentler North and South Courses.
The General opened in 1997, and the input from 2-time U.S. Open champ Andy North produced a somewhat different philosophy. Here, almost every features an elevated tee with broad, clear views out over the fairways below. Players get to watch drive after drive sail majestically out over generous, beautifully framed landing areas. Rarely is anything hidden – not bunkers, not hazards, not water – so even first-time players can see the lines they should try to take. One notable exception is the fiendish 398-yard 7th, where a pronounced draw is required around a fescue-matted hill on the left. Long, straight drives are likely to be lost beyond the fairway’s bounds.
Tee shots are king on The General. The daunting 370-yard 8th plays all uphill, but all the glory and trouble are directly in front of you.
The General is still a stern test for golfers of every playing level—one of the best tests in the state, according to several publications. But it is the sort of test you do not have to study for during multiple rounds. During my two visits to Eagle Ridge, I ran into dozens of groups of golfers, all of whom had been coming back to the resort year after year for 12, 16, 20, even 25 years. Without fail, these players said their favorite course was The General, but the ones who’d been coming back the longest were also more likely to express appreciation for The North and The South Courses as well – they just take time to grow on you. Sanderson, who has been with the resort for about 15 years, admits that The North is his favorite, and the tree-thinning is one of the reasons.
Highlights from The General
The General, named after former Galena resident Ulysses S. Grant, grabs your attention and imagination from the very first hole – which used to be the 10th. The nines were flipped recently for a few reasons. One of the major ones is that the former 9th, now the 18th, plays uphill to a green tucked directly below the clubhouse’s new cantilevered deck, which stretches out behind the completely renovated Highlands Restaurant and Lounge 289. It’s one of the most memorable closing holes I’ve played in Illinois—with a tee shot over a wide ravine to a narrow fairway bordered by trouble on both sides. Now diners at the clubhouse can share in some of the memories.
nThe tee shot on the 410-yard 18th seems infinitely harder now than it did when it was the 410-yard 9th. The “new” 18th Hole at The General
One of the consequences of reversing the nines, however, is that the lovely downhill 10th used to be a gentle opening hole. Now the 1st hole is 396 yards from the back tees, playing over a pond to an uphill fairway – this is one of the five toughest tee shots on the course, and it serves as quite a welcome. The second shot here isn’t any easier—in fact, it is arguable harder than the drive. The green falls off on both sides and the back, so any shots that miss the green may end up lost.
The opening tee shot on the 396-yard 1st of The General is a fine how-do-you-do.And the approach on Hole 1 doesn’t get any easier than the drive. Is there even a green up there?
It is the tee shots at The General that players will remember the most, though. My notebook is filled with the phrase, “Another great driving hole!” The reason is that, with only a couple of exceptions, the landing areas are fully visible off the tees, as is the trouble you want to avoid. The most memorable is certainly the 357-yard 5th hole, where a nearly 100-foot drop from tee to fairway allows bombers to try to play it like a par 3. If you’re going to allow mulligans, do it here until you succeed in really sending one out—and down—Into the fairway.
The group ahead of you looks like ants on the 5th green from the tee box.
The green complexes are also memorable, with pristine putting surfaces. Take the green at the 372-yard 17th, which is cut into an amphitheater of limestone, the likes of which I’ve never seen anywhere else. Several other greens require precision as well, with trouble on all sides. The 13th only plays 374 from the tips, but miss the green anywhere, and you might not have any chance at all to get up and down, even if you do find your ball.
Don’t miss the 13th green on The General. Just, don’t.12The limestone-encircled 17th green on The General is a great golf hole and a great place for an ambush.
Finally, the collection of par 3s are only the 10, 11, 17, and 18 handicap holes, but all are visually intimidating, and all demand careful consideration in pulling the right club.
The 170-yard 12th looks easy, but none of the three players in front of us hit the green. Choose your club wisely.
There is a reason that The General is perennially named among the top 10 best public courses in Illinois. Having played several of the higher-ranked courses myself, I would say it deserves all the accolades.
Above the 15th green on The General
Highlights from The South Course
The South Course challenges first-timers with difficult club selections off the tees. Fairways curl around doglegs and disappear over hills, sometimes resulting in well-struck shots ending up in poor positions (or lost). There is an abundance of left-to-right doglegs with dense woods on the right of the fairways, setting up for confident fades but punishing slices severely.
This is not to say The South Course is not enjoyable – it has some very fun holes, and if your tee shots generally end up in the short grass, some of the approach shots will stay with you for a long time. It’s just that if you are unfamiliar with the course, you’ll need to pick a line and a club based on the yardage book, and hope the ball goes where you aim.
The 406-yard closing hole is probably the most fun to play, as it is one of the few holes with a landing area that is wholly visible from the tee. Club choice is still key, though, as a stream cuts across the fairway about 250 yards down the hill. If you want to carry it, you’ll need to drive cover least 280 yards in the air.
Hole 18 on The South Course tumbles downhill to a creek and then rises again up to the green.
Highlights from The North Course
The North Course is the best one to start out on to get a feel for the landscape and the large greens. After a wide-open first hole, the fairways tighten back up on the 533-yard, par-5 2nd hole, where the S-shaped fairway calls for a controlled draw around a row of towering trees.
Follow the straight and narrow to the 5th green on The North Course.
The fun really begins on the 165-yard, par-3 8th hole, which plays 50+ feet downhill to a massive green partially obscured by the edge of the teeing grounds. To the left of the green is a picturesque natural limestone stack, and, when you head down the hill, you realize you were also teeing off over a small inlet of Lake Galena. This is one of the most memorable holes on any of Eagle Ridge’s courses, and one of the prettiest one-shotters in the state.
The 165-yard 8th Hole on The North Course has it all: elevation, sand, rocks, trees, and water hiding below the teeing ground.
On the back nine, The North Course opens up off the tee, starting out with a the 512-yard 11th hole, which is reachable in two. But take heed of the barn left of the fairway and green, which sports countless pockmarks and broken windows from wayward hooks. The 16th (180 yards), 17th (439 yards), and 18th (420 yards) holes are three artfully designed closing holes that will beckon you back to this original layout. Even though The General has the wow-factor, The North Course is well worth more than one round.
Appreciating the design of Hole 17 on The North Course
Summing up golf at Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa
Eagle Ridge Resort is the original Illinois golf resort, and it is still the king. In 2018, Mark Klausner took over Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa, and improvements have been underway ever since. “Coming from the ‘inner’ south side of Chicago, quite by happenstance, Kathy and I ‘discovered’ The Galena Territory,” says Klausner, who moved his wife and six kids to Galena some 20 years ago. “As a serial entrepreneur,” explains Klausner, “I was most fortunate to be at the right place at the right time. Ensured that the finest staff continued in their employment, I proceeded with the greatest venture of my career. Kathy and I proceeded in our quest to expand the horizons of Eagle Ridge Resort and make it even a greater place.”
“We’re trying to get the courses back to how they were originally designed,” said Sanderson. “The native grasses and scrub had grown up all over, and players were losing balls right off the first tee. No one wants to spend their day looking for balls. We’re filling in nearly all the bunkers on the East Course, too, to make it more fun for families to play.”
These measures are reviving the true spirit of resort golf, striking the perfect balance between challenge and fun, so that guests will return year after year. Even if you don’t golf, there is so much else to do on the expansive resort property itself and in the historic Galena area. For more details, see the companion article about Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa here.
Aerial view of Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa (courtesy of Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa)
Midwestern Golf 