Some Things Wisconsin Golf

[ode1]

Frozen greens is a deal breaker for me.....if it's just one or two/a couple, then no biggie....but bouncy ball golf es nu bueno!

[Phreddy]

I received an email this morning from Sand Valley....They are now accepting 2021 tee time and lodging bookings....I like to think that they are becoming that successful. It is good for golf and tourism for the state if that is indeed the case.

 

Phred

[Phreddy]

Walked my first 18 of the season at Mee Kwon. The course isn't open, and there are no pin flags or tee markers, but I was one of about a dozen knuckleheads out there. Everything was so soft that I skipped the par 3's. A short iron would have left a pretty good skid mark in the greens. I did drop a ball and putt out as cups were still in the ground. At 37* and wearing an extra layer this wasn't about distance off the tee it was just getting outside and battling boredom. Having spent Jan/Feb in Arizona I am swinging the club in mid season form, but two weeks of inactivity had me shaking like a junkie. My wife believes me to be mentally unstable, and I think she is referring to my golf, bu then again...

 

Phred

[TBone0576]

My buddies played Brighton Dale Links this weekend. When temps are below 40 it just doesn't seem worth it to me so I stayed home and got some projects done. When I did go outside it was pretty pleasant with almost no wind. With temps in the low 40s today and mid 40s tomorrow I was planning to drive up to Petrifying Springs and see if I can get in at least nine if not 18 after work. Haven't heard a thing about the courses closing yet so I am going to play as long as I can.

[scratch67]

I miss many of the courses in WI. Lived there for 15 years. Add to the tournament list, Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

One thing I DO NOT miss is the winters. I can play year round now. ??

[collje26]

Thanks for the input....

[Ryan3773]

Ives grove is in pretty good shape, course was much drier than any other place I played.

 

anyone know about spring rates/opening dates at the Kohler courses?

[chinaski]

Good to hear Ives Grove is in decent condition. Hoping to play a round tomorrow afternoon; maybe the last in a few weeks. MKE county closed all operations today, including courses; so it's just a matter of time before they are all shut down for time being.

[ode1]

Going to be interesting to see what courses do, municipal run vs. privately run. I can see most if not all munis shutting down for the time being! Then again very few courses are open.

[chinaski]

I had called Ives Grove around Noon to make sure they were open yesterday. They said yes, that they were going to try and stay open and open up more online payment options, walking only, etc. But, I show up at 3pm at they were shut down. They had the new range open, which was surprising. Maybe it's private? I didn't bother to check it out since I wanted to try and play.

I then went to Muskego Lakes. Only my second time there. Super wet. Really poor condition, even for late winter/early spring. Glad I didn't try and play 18.

[TBone0576]

All Kenosha County courses are closed starting today. I was out at Pets and walked 18 yesterday. Course is in nice shape and they are getting ready to replace and put in new cart paths the entire course. Disappointing news for sure but I know there are other places open including Spring Valley. I am assuming the County courses are closed because they are government funded and non-essential.

[chinaski]

Looks like Waukesha County courses are open, which is surprising. I should have checked there yesterday. Nag is one of my favorite county courses in WI.

[ode1]

That's one I want to get to....Nag.....lots of good county courses around, my favs are Brown Co. And Washington Co.

[PTM]

Those paths are going to be a mess. Someone needs to tell Kenosha County to stop moonlighting as a paving company and let actual paving companies pave.

[Phreddy]

An "unnamed" buyer has ponied up $3.1 million and purchased The Bull from the bank. They intend to be open for play in 2020.

[TBone0576]

They did a couple portions last year but I guess it was too wet in the spring. The pre-work all looks good. I agree they are not a paving company and I have seen some of them look kind of crappy but it is better than a rutted up path with lots of potholes. I walk and push a cart so if I happen to be near a path I will usually take it, especially pushing it up some of those hills, otherwise I couldn't care less about them.

[collje26]

Absolutely insane. I'll be curious to see what they do to attract more public play there.

[jwhite86]

I'm happy to hear about a buyer for The Bull, hoping they bring back the 50/50. I know they were losing a ton of money from the restaurant. Poor customer service has always turned me off, but hopefully something good comes from all of this

[collje26]

I'm in Appleton, WI. Does anyone know the nearest range or course that's open near me? I've hear Hilly Haven the range is open but I'm hoping to play sometime this weekend.

[ode1]

Ledgeview .... Played there Tuesday.....not sure with the little snow we had yesterday the course is open today, but the range likely would be.

[collje26]

Yeah that place is always open haha, forgot about it! Are you local to green bay/depere?

[ode1]

Close, about a 35 minute ride up 43 and I'm there (Home course is Branch River). It's in decent shape considering, IMO the biggest obstacle are the temp tees/lack of flat ground....a few wet spots but overall playable. One green had some snow on it, I think it was #12, but after the rain today/tonight that should be gone. No bouncy ball greens!

[PTM]

Yeah, the County realized they couldn't handle the prep work, so they only decided to do the paving work. The company that did the work is good and did a decent job considering the Fall conditions.

[jwhite86]

I always forget about Branch River, I've played it once during a scramble and had a good time... about 30-35 minutes north of me

[ode1]

Must be in the Sheboygan/Plymouth area!

The good news is it's open again this year....rumblings the last two years of it closing. Still for sale....they had a buyer but buyer backed out. Good course, I like the layout quite a bit, but the damn gnats!

 

 

[jwhite86]

Yeah, Sheboygan... also, yes, the gnats!

[collje26]

Got it! Played there many times. One of my teammates (Jimmy Albright III) was from there. Loved that course minus the bugs. I’ve been dying to get on Pine Hills Country Club. If you ever want to get out and play I’m always for it.

[Phreddy]

Pine Hills is on of THE nicest courses in the state and it has the most hellacious par 3 I've ever played.

[ode1]

I know Jimmy, used to live right off the 8th hole, worked at the course for a few years after I first became a member and he was still in school! Nice kid. I think he's a rep for TMag (maybe Callaway?).

Have heard great things about Pine Hills.....a few guys I know with $ have talked about becoming members out there....but Branch keeps hanging on!

[rtraudt]

Number 5 I assume? Brute of a hole, even if you're playing from a set of tees up! And I agree, it is an absolutely exceptional course that I have been fortunate enough to play a handful of times. The greens might be the most challenging that I've played in the state (either those or Lawsonia), and more than make up for the fact that the course is not exceptionally long on the scorecard. The routing and the way that layout uses the landforms on that property is phenomenal. The Fried Egg did a wonderful write-up on the place, and I know a round there was included in his Steamshovel event (although that is not likely to happen this year considering recent events...).