No Planes, No Trains Just an Auto Odyssey

Phreddy · July 17, 2020

I left SE Wisconsin the other day bound for Cedar Rapids Iowa. I spent the morning visiting old family homesites and the requisite cemetery visit. The afternoon found me playing Amana Colonies. A very frustrating course to play for the first time as a solo with zero local knowledge. Conditions were good, but the number of blind shots into fairways and greens coupled with a serpentine layout made it tough going. Lots of strokes were left on the table. Back in the car and off to Perry Iowa. I found and walked on a good number of the 7 family farms that have now drifted into other hands and live on in the memory bucket. I played the Perry Golf and Country Club. Nine holes, a pool and bar/deck inhabited by some of the nicest people you will find. A couple hills. A couple doglegs and mostly out and back. Nothing complicated and not trying to be something it isn't. Just a small town golf course giving neighbors a chance to play, hang out and have a beer. Special in its own right. Tomorrow is the Tournament Course of Iowa in Polk City, followed by a couple days of driving. Then a reunion with son #2 in Denver, perhaps Fossil Trace and and either another day of golf or him walking my butt into the ground up a mountainside.

Point the car east and play two days at Prairie Dunes (probably 3 rounds) in Valentine Nebraska. Ease off the throttle costing back into Iowa and stop off for a round at Harvester. Then I need to decide if I miss the bride and the dog. I could stay one more day as I was able to get on at the Des Moines CC, or maybe one more round on the drive back...Deere Run? The Denver son is soon to be the Minneapolis son given a job change. I've left 2 sets of grandparents, a set of parents and 6 sets of uncles/aunts resting in peace in Iowa. All the cousins have scattered with the wind. I doubt I will make this trip again and it has been a bittersweet journey. A summer sun, a camera, a bag of clubs and a retirement schedule have made it possible to wander and be beholden only to the next booked tee time.

Thanks for entertaining this motel room stream of consciousness.

Phred

Argonne69 · July 18, 2020

Dismal River would be worth a visit.

geochitown · July 20, 2020

nice read, best wishes for your travel...

geochitown · July 20, 2020

Have you played Wild Horse in Gothenburg, NE just off of 80.

Highly spoken of

BirdieRoll · July 20, 2020

If your schedule allows, a round at Cedar Rapids CC would be a special walk. Said to be fantastic after their renovation. A Ross original.

Phreddy · July 20, 2020

Wild Horse is on the menu for tomorrow. Then it will be 2-3 rounds at The Prairie Club. I will finish out my travels with Harvester and then maybe one more. I think my home pro could get me on at Cedar Rapids CC. I played it once before about 5 years ago. The drive home from Rhodes, IA (Harvester) is about 6 hours. Probably more than I want to bite off after an 11:30 tee time in the 90+ heat. If I get home too soon I may have to help daughter #2 move. My box toting days are best left behind and that is why boyfriends are allowed to exist. Retirement schedule flexibility after a demanding career run is a blessing.

Today was hiking day with number 2 son walking his old man's legs into the ground when the trail peaked out at around 12,000 feet. He is much stronger than I am, but since he has spent a couple months locked down working from home while I have been walking 4-5 18's a week over the last few months I may have actually been more aerobically fit. Neither of us has had a haircut since March. The only thing we were missing was a cameo by Jerry Garcia.

Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions.

Phred

Argonne69 · July 20, 2020

I'd play 2 rounds at The Prairie Club, and then head over to Dismal River. Both the Doak course and Nicklaus course there are worth the trip.

Phreddy · July 20, 2020

Dismal River was on my possibles list when I planned my route. Cleary a very fine track. I'm not sure that I remember the steps but they wanted a written request either by myself or my club pro, and/or a written request followed by a call and written verification by our pro. More hoops than I was willing to jump through. The pro at my club has been very generous in making calls for me in the past, but everything in moderation. I have kids in San Francisco, Nashville, Madison, Denver and Minneapolis....he has made a lot of calls on my behalf! I am playing both courses at The Prairie Club and they offer a replay rate there. I have replay tee times booked, but it promises to be humid 90's and I am not sure how much will be left in the tank.

Phred

Argonne69 · July 21, 2020

Hmmm. It's quite possible things have changed. I don't belong to a club, and when I played there it was as simple as filing out an online form requesting one of the public tee times. I did play on a Monday, and the place was basically empty.

Chanceman · July 21, 2020

Phred, was it difficult to get on at The Harvester? i think it used to be Public but has since gone to Private? Cost? Seems like a great track out there! Btw I also recommend the two courses at Prairie Club and both at Dismal River. The Doak is one we missed but it is supposed to be excy. Amazing country in the Sand Hills. Ch

Argonne69 · July 21, 2020

Here's my trip report for my 2016 cross-Nebraska trip.

Unfortunately the photo links were broken when the site migrated to the new platform. Below is a link to the photos: Nebraska 2016

Phreddy · July 21, 2020

Harvester is very private, but it was not difficult to get on....They only allow 2 non-members to play per day (I am not sure if that includes the weekend), and you pay a steep greens fee. The use of a caddie for an additional $100 plus tip if you choose to tip is required. It falls very much in line with the type of green fees I would expect at a Kohler or Erin Hills in my home state. Not my typical tariff but it has been on my interest list for a number of years and I thought I may have lost my chance when it went full private. I canceled a round at Des Moines CC to play Harvester, and I am leaving lots of fine courses in my wake that I would like to try.

Dismal River, if I had been able to fit it into my schedule, would have been a weekend request. I may be suffering for some confusion over the hurdles I would need to jump to play there or the weekend may have necessitated extra steps. The young lady I spoke to was very sweet but somewhat confused herself and that didn't really help the translation. I booked 9 tee times/hotels in something like two days. Even the dog thinks I am somewhat addled so I can't promise complete accuracy.

Phred

geochitown · July 21, 2020

Sounds like a great trip!

I'll second the recommendation for Cedar Rapids CC.

Renovation there looks and is reported to be fantastic.

WIth your travelling, sounds like you'll pass through that way again though.

Just keep truckin' on...

Phreddy · July 25, 2020

9 days, 7 courses and 3 states. It was a great adventure. It was really good to connect with son #2 who I don't see nearly enough. I wore a mask in all common areas and went through a bucket of hand sanitizer. I don't think the risk profile was much greater than if I had been at home for the last fortnight. I played (in order of appearance) Amana Colonies, Perry Golf and Country Club, Tournament Club of Iowa, Wild horse, Prairie Dunes (2 courses) and The Harvester Club. The Dunes course at The Prairie Club was my favorite, although the winds blew at a steady 25-30 mph on the back 9 making club selection and lines off the tee a challenge that I probably failed. Were there some great courses that I missed during my pilgrimage? No question. Absolutely. That is why the prospect of a "next time" exists.

A quick "Thank You" to the suggestions and thoughts.

Phred