Golf Blog

Top 20 Golf Destinations in America

This is the first official pjkoenig ranking of America’s best public golf destinations. I urge you not to take this lightly. All of the spots listed here MUST be considered when planning any proper golf buddies trip. Maybe your brother is getting married, or maybe your best friend from college just got divorced. Perhaps you just want to get weird with your golf buddies. In all of these situations, a golf trip is required and it is a big deal.

For this ranking, only public destinations are considered and all private golf clubs will be completely ignored. When planning a trip for 8 or more golf buddies, It would be foolish to assume that greater than 1% of the golfing population can put together a day of 36 holes at Shinnecock Hills and National Golf Links on Long Island. As you can imagine, this caveat eliminated a lot of great golf destinations.

This list is much more than a quick slideshow of the traditional destinations. This list has been carefully calculated and avoids bias as much as humanly possible. I even managed to overlook the food poisoning that I received at Pinehurst in 2018.

I simply filled in the numbers and let the destinations fall where they may. The list below takes the following 5 criteria into consideration and they are weighted accordingly. The full matrix is at the end of this post.

Golf (50%) - As it should be, the actual golf is the most important criteria on this list. Quantity and quality of golf are both of premier importance.
Entertainment (20%) - From live music to local dive bars, you gotta find something to do after the sun goes down. A wide variety of options is also important. Not everyone likes to get blacked out drunk and line dance to country music.
Value (15%) - Most large groups of golfers span across a pretty good income range. A destination is going to move up the list if you can bring your hilarious, but homeless buddy Steve and still manage some good golf.
Convenience (10%) - Getting to the destination and getting from course to course is considered in this criteria. Nobody wants to ride with your buddy Bill while he farts in the car for 7 hours. A lot of big cities were eliminated given the difficulty of keeping the trip golf centric.
Golf Experience (5%) - How cool are the overall golf vibes? Does the destination have a fun short course? Are there goat caddies? It is the unique and fun aspect of the game that is measured here..

#20 - Michigan

It could actually be a crime to put an entire state this good at the bottom of any list. However, it is important to keep in mind that even making a list this exclusive is a massive accomplishment. When it comes covering the state of Michigan, you have a handful of great golfing areas. Here are the hotspots.

Arcadia Bluffs - perhaps the most scenic golf course in Michigan has a new friend with the new south course opening in 2018.
Boyne Highlands - The Heather & Arthur Hills both deliver some heat.
Forest Dunes - Tom Doak’s reversible golf course, The Loop, and Tom Weiskopf’s classic design.
Grand Traverse - Jack Nicklaus’ The Bear

Depending on how you set up the trip, there can be a decent amount of traveling involved on a buddies trip to Michigan. I scoured the entire state over two weeks on the RGV Tour. Check out the recap here.

The aptly named Arcadia Bluffs in Michigan.

#19 - Coer D’Alene, ID

I told myself, I wasn’t gonna do it. Don’t use the floating island green as the poster boy for this destination. But I did it anyways. It’s just such a cool thing that everyone should experience. It’s not just the floating island green that will get your attention, all of the par 3’s at Coeur D’Alene Resort are top notch. A round at nearby Circling Raven makes this a serious destination. Aside from the golf, you have a casino nearby and one of the country’s most beautiful lakes available for water sports. There is also a quaint little downtown for eating and shenanigans. We rocked the karaoke scene pretty hard. You can read about the full experience on the blog recap here.

The floating 14th at the Coeur D’Alene Resort Course.

#18 - Streamsong Resort, FL

Although this little slice of golf heaven is rather difficult to get to, it holds everything that a group of golf buds could desire. Most importantly, it has some seriously good golf. The new Black course by Gil Hanse adds to an already impressive lineup of the Red and Blue courses designed by Coore & Crenshaw and Tom Doak, respectively. With on course lodging, Streamsong ups the convenience factor with stay and play options for booking.

#17 - Myrtle Beach, SC

For good reason, Myrtle Beach has been on the golfer’s map for decades. With options for beach activities and summer time goodness, you will have a swinging good time in Myrtle Beach without playing any golf at all. Fortunately, there is plenty of good golf to find in the area. Here are my go to courses in one of my favorite states.

Caledonia and True Blue - Two outstanding Mike Strantz designs. If you can only play one, play Caledonia.
Barefoot Resort - Fazio, Dye, Norman, and Love designs await your golf party.
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club - One of RTJ’s finest designs. Private club that allows unaccompanied play through www.myrtlebeachgolf.com.

You can read about these courses and more on my RGV Tour journey through South Carolina.

#16 - Kiawah Island Resort - SC

Number 16 on the list is a personal favorite of mine. Ever since I first played the Pete Dye designed Ocean Course as a kid, I have been smitten with the bold oceanside layout. If you only play the Ocean Course itself, your group is guaranteed to have an experience that they will remember for years. Fortunately, the resort has 4 other great options to round out your golf experience with Cougar Point, Osprey Point, Turtle Point, and Oak Point. The point is… there is plenty of good golf to play at Kiawah Island.

The front nine of the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island.

Alligators are plentiful at Kiawah Island

#15 - Big Cedar Lodge - Branson, MO

The Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, MO is an up and comer on the list of golf destinations. With a lot of the construction coming in the last several years, the finished product will be a serious golf force on the golf trip list. Check out this hot fire course lineup.

Ozarks National - Coore & Crenshaw design
Payne’s Valley - Tiger Woods design
Buffalo Ridge Springs - Tom Fazio Design
Top of the Rock - Jack Nicklaus designed par 3 course
Mountain Top - Gary Player designed short course

Since Big Cedar Lodge is technically a Wilderness lodge, golf is not the main focus. A quick scan of the “things to do” section revealed about 20 non golf related activities.

A giant sinkhole has been excavated in front of the range at The Top of The Rock.

#14 - Palm Springs, CA

When you look at Palm Springs from an airplane, you see a desert landscape punctuated with seas of green. As you examine those green seas closer, it becomes very clear what the city’s priorities are. Hundreds of golf courses tell you that Palm Springs love it’s golf. With so many options to chose from, how do you decide? Here are my top 5 public Palm Springs golf courses.

The Classic Club - An Arnold Palmer design that has hosted the Bob Hope classic numerous times.
Escena Golf Club - A high quality Jack Nicklaus design
Desert Willow Golf Club - The Firecliff course is one of my favorites in the area.
Silver Rock Golf Club - An Arnold Palmer design set right up against the mountainside.
Indian Wells Golf Club - The Celebrity and Players course. You know which one you are.

Silver Rock is one of my favorite picks for Palm Springs golf.

#13 - Sand Valley, WI

Sand Valley is a part of the Dream Golf umbrella that includes places like Bandon Dunes and Cabot Cliffs. So it is safe to say that the formula for success is alive and well at Sand Valley. With 2 championship layouts and a short course already in place, this destination will only improve as time moves forward and new golf is added. The lodging is also deliciously close to the golf courses and the dining is just as tasty. On my last visit, I had the cheese curds for three consecutive meals. Check out my full recap from my latest visit here.

#12 - St George, UT

Some of the most visually striking golf courses in America are in the St George, UT area. With amazing National Parks nearby, you’ve got a pretty cool opportunity for an all world golf destination.

Sand Hollow - The top of my list. The back nine is like nothing else in the country.
Wolf Creek - If there is such a thing as a golf roller coaster, this course would be it.
Sky Mountain - Sleeper pick alert!! Views this good do not come under $50. I walked it for $32.
Coral Canyon - Another good looking gem.

#11 - Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail - AL

Throughout the fine state of Alabama you will find a sprinkling of high quality golf courses all designed by Robert Trent Jones. It is the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and It is without a doubt, the greatest value for golf in the entire country. There are 10 golf courses in total and you probably won’t have time to play them all, so you will need to plan your route accordingly. You can read about my selections and the time we spent on the trail here.

We decided to parlay our golf trip with an Auburn v Clemson football game. It was tailgates, Motel 6’s, and too many visits to the Waffle House. It was a slammin’ Alabama good time.

The opening hole on Capitol Hill’s Judge course. One of my RTJ favorites.

#10 - The Greenbrier - White Sulphur Springs, WV

The Greenbrier is the oldest resort on this list and it’s a great place to soak up some golf history ambiance with your golf bros. The Greenbrier is the site of the 1979 Ryder Cup and is the old stomping grounds of Mr. Sam Snead. It’s also one of the few places that the public can play an original Seth Raynor design. For the golf architecture fanatics in your group, this should be a big deal.

Head on out to Slamming Sammy’s after your round on the Old White TPC or the Meadows course.

The Old White TPC course at The Greenbrier.

#9 - Silvies Valley Ranch, OR

At Silvies Valley Ranch they have caddies that are goats. That is right I am talking about goat caddies. This fact alone should be enough for you to start planning your trip. But Silvies takes it a step further by providing some incredible golf to go along with those goats. Dan Hixson has designed a reversible championship course that plays wildly different depending on the day. There is also a challenge course and a 9 hole par 3 course. The only bad news is that this destination earns the honor of the most difficult destination to get to. You can read the entire story on the resort here.

Bruce the goat caddy eyes and assesses the golf action.

#8 - Bend, OR

It’s the second destination in Oregon on this list and if you know anything about golf destinations, you know that it won’t be the last. There is a ton of really good golf packed into the Bend area. The top hits are below.

Pronghorn Resort - Nicklaus has designed a real beauty in the high desert.
Brasada Ranch - When golfing with your bros at Brasada, It’s customary to say “Hey nice shot, Brosado!”
Tetherow - You will either enjoy the challenge of this David Mclay Kidd design or you will curse his name and throw your clubs in the lake.
Crosswater - A big and bold Cupp and Fought design.
Sunriver - Two beauty’s with the Meadows & Woodland Course

You can view the full list of Oregon courses here. I got em all covered.

#7 - Las Vegas, NV

As much as you might want to ignore Las Vegas as a serious golf destination, you simply cannot do it. Aside from the neon lined fairway called Las Vegas Blvd, there is a lot of high quality golf to be played in the area. Here is my quick list of the places that should be considered on your Vegas golf blowout. I would also recommend throwing your hungover buddies into a rental car and driving the hour out to Wolf Creek. If you can’t find some fun afterwards on the boulevard, then I don’t know what to tell you. Don’t forget to avail of auto insurance before you set on your journey. Visit insurancenavy.com to get affordable car insurance now.

Coyote Springs - Underrated Nicklaus course but worth the hour drive.
Shadow Creek - $500 green fee and must stay at an MGM property. Time to cash in your blackjack winnings.
Cascata - The nearly $300 green fee will set you back, but at least it’s not $500
Paiute Golf Resort - The Wolf, The Sun, and The Snow: 3 Pete Dye designs worthy of the 30 minute drive.
Bal Hai - Close enough to see the strip but not close enough to slice your drive onto it.

#6 - Pinehurst, NC

Even at #6, I was surprised that Pinehurst didn’t finish higher than it did. With the resort recently making improvements to course #2 and the opening of a great little par 3 course called The Cradle, the resort has really brought itself up to speed with the modern golfer. In addition to the resort, which has 9 golf courses, there is also a wealth of other options that I would list as must plays.

The Dormie Club - Coore & Crenshaw design. Never heard one bad word about it.
Tobacco Road - A bold and fun Mike Strantz design. Might be the most fun golf course in the world.
Mid Pines - Donald Ross masterpiece.
Pine Needles - Another Donald Ross masterpiece.

Pinehurst gives you a nice little carry bag to use for your round at The Cradle par 3 course.

Pinehurst #2 has been returned to its sandy Ross roots.

The golf in and around Pinehurst will get you excited.

#5 - Scottsdale, AZ

Golfers like to visit Scottsdale for the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Open in January or Baseball’s Spring Training in March. Either way, Scottsdale is an obvious destination of choice for those stuck in the doldrums of winter across the rest of the country. With so many courses to decide from, I am here to make things easy.

We-Ko-Pa - Two of the best public golf courses in the desert await. This is my top of the list.
Troon North - The Pinnacle & Monument courses are often referred to as the best public options for golf in Scottsdale. Troon doesn’t disappoint.
Wickenburg Ranch - Don’t forget to play the short course, Little Wick as well.
Ak Chin Southern Dunes - This one is worth the 30 minute drive.
TPC Scottsdale - Go for the final four holes. You won’t remember the first 14.
Quintero Golf Club - Some seriously fun and scenic golf holes from Rees Jones

4 years ago, I wrote one of my first blog posts about a golf bros trip to Scottsdale. Read it here.

A double rainbow over the 11th hole at Southern Dunes

We-Ko-Pa is my go to option for public golf in Scottsdale

#4 - Lake Tahoe, NV

Scoring high in the value and entertainment categories is the stunningly blue Lake Tahoe. However, the location is perfectly suited for a serious golf buddy blowout. Just rent a house in the area on VRBO or AirBNB and golf your little heart out. With casinos in the south lake area and a more reserved, quiet vibe up north, Tahoe works for just about everyone. Lake Tahoe is a serious powerhouse destination. You can read about my latest visit to Tahoe here.

Edgewood Tahoe - Home of the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship. A true Tahoe gem.
Old Brockway Golf Course - Former hang out of Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin. Scene of the first Crosby. A 9 hole must play.
Old Greenwood - A solid Jack Nicklaus design. A local favorite.
Grays Crossing - A Peter Jacobsen/Jim Hardy designed championship golf course.
Coyote Moon - Some fun holes, some weird ones, great views abound.

#3 - Pebble Beach, CA

With green fees consistently over $300 for the top golf courses on the Monterey Peninsula, this destination does not score high in the value category, but quite frankly it didn’t matter. It’s Pebble freakin’ Beach. Dubbed by many as the greatest meeting of land and sea, Pebble Beach is every bit as good as you have heard it to be. Here are the must plays in the greatest zip code in golf. It’s 93953 in case you were wondering.

Pebble Beach Golf Links - Probably worth the $550 green fee.
Spyglass Hill Golf Course - I’ve heard many local caddies say that they believe Spyglass is better than Pebble Beach.
Pacific Grove Golf Links - The front nine will leave you wondering, the back nine will blow you away. $39 for twilight is a ridiculous deal.
Bayonet & Black Horse - Not on the Pacific Ocean, but close enough.
Spanish Bay Golf Links - Listen to bagpipers pipe their bags as the sun goes down over the Pacific Ocean.
Poppy Hills Golf Course - A renovation in 2013 brought back Poppy Hills into relevance.

Pacific Grove Golf Links is on my list of must plays in Monterey.

#2 - Destination Kohler, WI

Wisconsin is the best state for public golf in the United States. It’s got the premier golf courses, the unique courses, and several value courses all in the mix. I just can’t get enough Wisconsin.

Right at the epicenter of the Wisconsin golf storm is Kohler, Wisconsin. You have the Straits and Irish courses at Whistling Straits and the River and Meadows courses at nearby Blackwolf Run. If that’s not enough to satisfy the golfer’s soul, here are 3 other locations that deserve a visit.

Erin Hills - US Open stunner
Lawsonia Links - It’s gotten some well deserved attention in recent years, but this classic design should not be missed.
Sentry World - The world famous flower hole will blow you away.

You can read about my first visit to Wisconsin here.

The flower hole at Sentry World features a new floral design each year.

#1 - Bandon Dunes

At the top of the list it’s Bandon Dunes in a runaway victory. With the anticipated addition of Bally Bandon Sheep Ranch in 2020, Bandon Dunes is only getting better. It’s gonna take a golf miracle to oust this destination from the top of the list any time soon.

Bandon checks all of the boxes and checks them hard. Let’s closely examine the winning performance in our five categories.

Golf - Bandon Dunes has outstanding variety mixed with tremendous quality.
- 4 top 100 golf courses all in the same place.
- The Punchbowl - A massively fun putting green course
- Bandon Preserve - The country’s best par 3 golf course.
Entertainment
- The Bunker Bar
- McKee’s Pub
- If you are feeling really adventurous you can head into downtown Bandon. Arcade Tavern is where the action is.
- The fire outside of McKee’s
- Night golf
Value - $250 per round with a replay rate of $125. Your 3rd round of the day is free and Bandon Dunes will give you $100 if you manage to play a fourth round on that same day.
Convenience - Not hard, but not easy to get to. Once you are on the property, everything is quick and easy.
Golf Experience - Everything about Bandon Dunes is tailored to be about the game of golf. It’s golf as it was meant to be.

Screen Shot 2019-07-30 at 5.48.14 PM.png

O Canada 2.O

After a recent visit to Kamloops in Canada, I decided to take exactly one day off before returning to Canada for more golf action. This time I was bringing friends. These are not just your normal friends, these friends have some serious golf firepower.

Josh Strukoff hydrates before pounding one deep.

Tisha Alyn - Golf Model, The Influencer among Influencers
Luke Elvy - CBS Golf Commentator, Australian accent, Chief Fun Haver
Patrick Koenig - Local Golf Idiot, Director of the fancy shirt department
Josh Strukoff - Golf is Mental blogger, Water Drinker, Golf Grinder

Koenig smiles as he sends one into the woods.

Our crew was set to take on 7 golf courses in just 4 days in the Kimberley and Cranbrook area of British Columbia. Like many people, I had not heard of the destination before so I was excited to explore some new golfing lands. The hits were going to come fast and we were going to make sure that they were furious.

The Kimberley tour kicked off at Kimberley Golf Club.

Kimberley Golf Club has been around since 1924 and is a local favorite for golfers. Green fees start at $45 and is easily one of the best values in the British Columbia Rocky Mountains.

A sign of the activities to come in Kimbereley and Cranbrook.

Just golf, trees, and mountains at Kimberley Golf Club.

After a rousing good morning at Kimberley Golf Club, it was time to head out to Trickle Creek Golf Resort. When I first saw Trickle Creek on the itinerary, I knew that there were going to be some great opportunities for captions. It turns out that the caption game with Trickle Creek was more difficult than anticipated. Perhaps I just like the word trickle.

View this post on Instagram

Kicked things off with @golfkimberleycranbrook today. The pants match the chairs. 🇨🇦#golfkimberleycranbrook 🎥: @lukeelvy13

A post shared by Patrick Koenig (@pjkoenig) on Jun 24, 2019 at 6:27pm PDT

One thing that I would not struggle with at Trickle Creek was my high kicks. With the wet rock and the small landing area, this is what I would consider a high risk kick. The good news is that I am now considered a professional high kicker and I train for this sort of stuff. Do not attempt at home.

The divot of the trip came on the front nine at Trickle Creek.

Trickle Creek Golf resort is located in Kimberley, British Columbia which has the highest elevation in the province at just above 4,000 feet above sea level. So our golfballs were flying far and sure. The Les Furber design offers golfers options and provides a lot of interesting and fun golf holes. The course is located right next to the North Star mountain and provides plenty of dramatic views.

With one successful day of golf in the books, it was time to lock and load for another day of 36 golf holes. We started out with the first Gary Player design in Canada, Wildstone Golf Course. We braced ourselves for some wild times at Wildstone. The highlight and lowlight came with another close call on the ace cam on hole #16. Just another tap in 2 for this ace hunter.

Getting Wild at Wildstone with Front and back views. #GolfKimberleyCranbrook pic.twitter.com/B4SxuwvhPa
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) June 25, 2019

The 17th hole at Wildstone was one of our favorite holes of the trip.

Push-ups completed

During the first two days of competition we did not play for cash, we played for push-ups. Push-up bets are a great way to ramp up the fun and get jacked at the same time. As you can see below, Tish out push-upped us all. Since I was dominating the field with my stellar play, I had no push-up debts to settle. I decided to do a few anyways as I was feeling left out..

For the afternoon round, we found ourselves amongst the trees of Cranbrook Golf Club. Our group would attack those trees with only 3 clubs for the 3 hole, 3 club challenge. When deciding what clubs you will need for a 3 club challenge, it is important to look at the holes themselves. Is distance a concern? Can you putt with your 7 iron? All angles and scenarios must be considered. I decided to go with a 3 wood, 6 iron, and a 56 degree wedge.

With Tisha and Josh dropping out of the race early on, Luke and I emerged as the likely favorites to take home the 3 hole 3 club victory. I was draining putts with my 56 degree wedge and Luke was hitting his 7 iron like Jesus himself. On the 3rd hole, I had a 3 foot putt to take home the victory. The putt with my wedge never stood a chance, it sailed wide right and I found myself locked into a sudden death duel with Mr Luke Elvy. For the next two holes Luke and I would trade bogies in a showdown of thrilling mediocrity.

On the 3rd playoff hole of the the 3 hole, 3 club showdown, Luke faced a downhill 20 footer for the victory. Like a seasoned 3 club professional, Luke bladed his wedge into the back of the cup with tremendous ferocity and celebrated like an animal. Luke promptly thanked his parents, his sponsors, the fine city of Cranbrook and it’s citizens for believing in him.

“I have never won anything like this in my life”

— Luke Elvy - on his 3 hole 3 club playoff victory

The scene of my missed 3 foot putt for the victory

The next course on the docket was Bootleg Gap Golf Club and it would quickly become one of the group’s favorites. Aside from the excellent name, the golf course is also wildly fun. The Les Furber design plays along the St Mary’s river and offers many impressive views of the nearby mountains.

In one of the dumbest bets in the history of sports betting history, Josh and I spotted Luke and Tish a 7 hole lead on the day’s match. Not 7 shots, 7 freaking holes. That’s right, we would have to win the first 7 holes just to get back to even. It was certainly not a wise wager but it was the inaugural playing of the 7-up Cup… and probably the last.

The 2nd hole at Bootleg Gap takes you right up to the hoodoo’s edge.

Even though the outcome was partially decided before a golf shot was even struck, we attempted the come back of all come backs. The result… an 8 & 7 victory for Luke & Tish. This situation called for some serious heckling of the winner’s press conference. This video was my favorite of the entire trip.

When you lose a bet, it’s important to remember how to properly sabotage the winning interview. @Luke_Elvy @Tisha_All_in @golfismental #GolfKimberleyCranbrook pic.twitter.com/6hwkNP6ECz
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) June 26, 2019

The signature par 3 12th at Bootleg Gap.

The 6th, 9th and 18th holes at Bootleg Gap.

The golf party kept rolling that afternoon at St Eugene. Another Les Furber design, St Eugene rolls from the open fields to the woods and along the St Mary’s River. Dramatic views of Fisher Peak are visible from just about everywhere on the golf course.

The 17th hole features a golf teepee behind the green.

The 8th green with the 9th hole playing along the St Marys River.

With a trip to the airport looming, we had just enough time for one more round of golf. The stage was set for the finale at Shadow Mountain and a showdown with the course’s signature 17th hole. Nicknamed ‘The Monster’ the 17th plays 606 yards from the back tees and features a 100 foot elevation drop from the tee box. I would pump one right into the trees en route to a disappointing bogey.

Our exciting Kimberley/Cranbrook trip in BC has come to an end. It’s one of the best value golf destinations you’ll find in the 🇨🇦 Rockies. Dull of heroic shots, eye popping views & fun. With 7 courses within a 24 minute drive, it’s 💯🔥 #GolfKimberley247 #GolfKimberleyCranbrook pic.twitter.com/sskSLKAr2j
— Luke Elvy (@Luke_Elvy) June 27, 2019

One of the finer things about the Kimberley Cranbrook area is the airport. With only an hour remaining before my flight, I was just finishing up on the 18th hole. Normally I would have missed my flight by a good margin, but with the Kimberley airport, I had some time to spare.

The final photo from a inspiring 4 days of photos.

Josh wins the award for trip MVP. This guy never stops the grind!

All of the golf that our Canadian super squad played on this trip was on public courses and would rank as some of the best value golf courses that I have played. When you consider the exchange on the US dollar, you have got yourself a serious golf deal. During our visit we stayed at the Northstar Mountain Village Resort and all 7 courses are within a 24 minute drive from the resort. When you start considering the hot tub in every condo, you have got a serious golf buddies trip idea.

If I only could figure out a way to Hot Tub Time Machine myself to my next destination.

South Bend Bound

On January 4th of 1980, I entered this earth at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana. In 2019, I would return to South Bend and so would the US Senior Open. Just think about all of the details over the past 39 years that had to fall into place to align these two events. But honestly, who cares!?! I was here to explore some of the golf in South Bend, cover the US Senior Open and take on the Warren Course at Notre Dame. It was time to Visit South Bend.

Jake from Visit South Bend escapes the sand.

My partner in crime for the week was Jake from Visit South Bend. Jake plays to a solid 6 handicap but in terms of a golf sidekick, he is a scratch player. Since Jake and I had decided that we needed to warm up our own swings before watching the professionals, we headed out to nearby Blackthorn Golf Club.

Designed by Michael Hurdzan, Blackthorn Golf Club opened up in 1994 to critical acclaim. Like many of Hurdzan’s designs, it was an instant success. Golf Digest ranked it as the #4 best new public golf course in the country that year.

Considered by many local golfers to be the #1 public golf option in the South Bend area, Jake and I tackled the golf course with enthusiasm.

The finishing hole at Blackthorn requires two well placed shots if you want to think about putting for eagle.

After finishing the 12th hole at Blackthorn, the golfer is treated to a golf barn ride on the way to the 13th tee box. That’s right! The cart path goes right through an old rustic dairy barn! The golf course property used to be an old farm and the dairy barn has been converted into a golf barn. I would rank it in the top 5 golf barns that I have seen.

When I originally wrote this post, I decided to put these golf barn photos on Twitter to see what other golf barns people enjoy. It turns out that there are many folks that get into a good golf barn. This thread is worth a look if you a golf barn type person.

Another member of my top 5 golf barns is at nearby Cog Hill.

The current #1 golf barn is at Sun Country Golf Course in Cle Elum, WA

After managing to break 80 at Blackthorn, it was time to go watch the pros break 70 at Notre Dame’s Warren Course for the US Senior Open. Steve Stricker was the man in charge that day. He grabbed a hold of the early lead with a smoking good 62. He would follow up that 62 with a 64 to move to -14 and threaten the US Senior Open scoring record books. As I would later find out, the course isn’t really that easy.

Jimenez mentally prepares himself to hit a laser beam down the left side of the fairway.

Retief Goosen and Tom Watson chat it up.

Jeff Sluman gets animated for the camera.

I was not shy about flashing my fancy media VIP credentials.

It was pretty much like Wayne’s World but with more golf.

It’s @shanebacon calling the action with Strange and Faxon on the 1’s and 2’s. Not sure if that’s correct TV lingo, but it sounds cool. @visitsouthbend #USSeniorOpen pic.twitter.com/Fmcmajl3oO
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) June 28, 2019

Convinced that we had actually learned something from the professionals at Notre Dame, Jake and I hit the course early the next morning. This time we were headed to Elbel Park Golf Course. Located right next to the Mud Lake Wetlands, the course was not as muddy as we expected it to be. Instead of mud balls, we found mud birdies.

That afternoon, our group decided to gang up on Jake and beat him badly at golf. There was no real reason why we decided to go after Jake so hard, but it was our stated goal to “make Jake cry.” We threw everything we had at him, but Jake would not budge, he holed clutch par putts and hit fantastic iron shots down the stretch. Not only did he hold onto his wallet but he also defended his golf honor valiantly. That sunny day in South Bend, we did not make Jake cry.

Usually, I hate Canadian Geese, but these fellas were oddly polite.

That afternoon, we headed back to The Warren Course for some more Senior Open action.

When you’re 69 and can still peg it with the best of em. @TomWatsonPGA @visitsouthbend @CallawayGolf pic.twitter.com/hx6BF7Mnbr
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) June 29, 2019

Going into the final round, Stricker had built himself a 6 shot lead and it looked like Sunday was going to be a victory walk for the 52 year old. Jake and I decided to take a walk of our own around the Eberhart Petro Golf Course in nearby Mishawaka before catching the conclusion of the golf tournament. The golf course opened in 1929 and plays across the mighty St Joe River 4 times.

The 4th green at Eberhart Petro lacks sand but it does not lack character. I am a fan.

Got my @alfonso_ribeiro on today with this Carlton Bankshot. @visitsouthbend pic.twitter.com/sg0DTGiSgP
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) June 30, 2019

The tee box on the 3rd hole at Eberhart requires a precise drive over the St Joe River.

After another great round of golf at Eberhart, it was time to head back to Notre Dame to catch the final round of the US Senior Open.

After making birdie on the first hole, Stricker opened up a 7 shot lead and never looked back. The victory lap was on and we happily followed along for the ride.

Jerome Bettis and Tim Brown made a visit to the media center.

Steve Stricker plays his shot into the 3rd hole.

This volunteer is concerned, Steve Stricker is not.

It was barely a two man race with Jerry Kelly trailing Stricker by at least 5 shots all Sunday.

An excellent display of friendship unfolds on the 72nd hole.

After watching Stricker stroll around the Warren Course like it was a pitch and putt, I figured that I could probably break 80 on this golf course myself. Fortunately, I was going to get the opportunity to try. Playing from the same tees with the same Sunday pins as the pros, could I break 80? I asked this question on Twitter and Instagram. 61% of the audience voted that I could break 80. I knew there would be some disbelievers, so I decided to record every single one of my strokes. In the end, there would only be 77 of them. The video below is for the 61% of you who believed. The other 39% can go fly a kite.

View this post on Instagram

Just like 8 minute abs but it’s 2 minutes and golf. @visitsouthbend

A post shared by Patrick Koenig (@pjkoenig) on Jul 1, 2019 at 7:54pm PDT

One of the best parts about visiting South Bend, IN is that Chicago is just up the street. Even though South Bend had all of the golf that I needed, a trip up to Chicago is a nice little plus when visiting South Bend. I paid a visit to the Sears Tower and Chicago Golf Club before heading out of town.

O Canada

For years, I kept hearing about this place in Canada called Kamloops. I would hear things like “Oh you gotta go to Kamloops.” or “What!?! You have never been to Kamloops?” So when the folks over at Golf Kamloops came calling, I was pretty excited to work with them. I replied with a “Yes, I have heard about your glorious golf courses, yes, I will come and yes, golf them hard...” or something like that. Over the next 4 days I would golf 6 courses in the Kamloops area. The first course on the list was a place called Talking Rock Golf Course.

Since opening on the shores of Lake Shuswap in 2007, the golf course and the accompanying Quaaout Lodge have been held in high regard by the local golfers. Everywhere I went in the area, people wanted to make sure that I saw Talking Rock. For several days I had the pleasure of talking in Talking Rock. There was a hot tub in my room and a golf course in my back yard. I was a happy man.

That’s a bear in the bunker… a bear bunker

Talking Rock Golf Course was designed by renowned Canadian Architects Graham Cooke and Wayne Carlton. Cooke and Carlton didn’t move much dirt in the creation of the course, so the end result is a very natural feeling round of golf. Even though the majority of the course meanders through the forest, it doesn’t feel tight and offers plenty of room off of the tee for sideways shots. The course finds it’s way out of the forest for a great finishing hole right on the banks of the Shuswap Lake.

Instead of wagering for cash at Talking Rock, we played for push-ups. As you can see in the graph below, there is a direct correlation between bogies made and push-ups completed. We even ran into the local golf dog after we pumped up our pecs. I didn’t catch the pupper’s name, but those eyes tell you all the story you need. This dog loves golf and he loves Talking Rock Golf Course.

The penalty for poor play is push-ups on the pier.

The next day I was set to take in some Kamloops local flavor with a day of 36. It was The Dunes at Kamloops and Rivershore Golf Club. Just like all of the courses on this post, both of these courses are public places that anyone can play and enjoy. Set against the mountainside, Rivershore and The Dunes are fun to play and offer some great views.

The 6th hole at The Dunes at Kamloops is a short par 3.

The 7th hole at The Dunes plays right up to the river.

The 16th hole at Rivershore was one of my favorites on the golf course.

A couple of local golfing studs crashed the golf party at Rivershore. I love a good interruption.

The next golf course was the big ticket item, it’s the one that you may already know about. It was time to play Tobiano. Or as I like to say “It’s Tobiano Time!” I was set to tee it up with the head professional at Tobiano, Shannon. With the golf world dominated by men, it’s always encouraging to see a female in a leadership position. It’s even better when it’s someone like Shannon. Not only can Shannon golf her ball, but she brings the jokes and a seriously fun attitude.

I would rank Tobiano as one of the top 10 most beautiful golf courses that I have seen in my travels. Having seen nearly 1000 golf courses all across the globe, that should say something about the setting for golf at Tobiano. Kamloops Lake is in view from every hole on the property and Thomas McBroom has routed the course to take full advantage. With lakeside holes on both the front and back nines, Tobiano does not let down.

The 7th hole at Tobiano is a signature par 3.

Breakdown of emotions while playing Tobiano

The 8th hole is a long and winding par 5 that finishes close to the water.

The 17th hole is Tobiano’s last chance for an ace.

I had the pleasure of celebrating 14 years of sobriety with my new friends at Tobiano. After making a glorious eagle on the 16th hole, I ordered some cheesecake and they put a candle in it. It was another good day to not be drunk out of my mind.

One of the unique things about putting my sobriety out on the internet is the incredible amount of support that I have received. Messages from fellow recovering alcoholics and supporters came flowing in to congratulate me. I even received several messages from those struggling with alcohol and looking for some assistance in changing their lives. This was inspiring stuff for me. Embarking on a sober lifestyle will always be the most important decision that I have made in my life.

I celebrated 14 years of sobriety today with an eagle and some cheesecake. @tobianogolf pic.twitter.com/epG2N0lM9k
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) June 20, 2019

Winds are a common occurrence at Tobiano and when it blows, you are guaranteed to have your hands full. Our group had 30-40 mph breezes and the course played just about as difficult as it can. We embraced the challenge on the head winds and hit some huge drives downwind.

“I couldn’t tell you the signature hole—because there are 18 of them.”

— Bob Weeks - SCOREGolf

While I can certainly identify with Bob’s quote above, I would have to disagree. The 7th hole at Tobiano takes the signature title for me. Ranging from 109 to 197 yards, the green is perched on top of a large mountainous swale. It’s high stakes on the 7th, especially with the wind, come up short or long and it’s game over. On one of the most scenic pieces of the property, it is wildly exciting to watch your golf ball land on the green.

The 7th hole at Tobiano thrills and delights the golfer soul.

After the sun set on another beautiful day in Kamloops, I had time remaining for another 36 holes of golf. First up was another local favorite called Eagle Point Golf Course. On the heels of a golf tournament, we had the entire golf course to ourselves. Eagle Point was designed by Robert Heaslip who is best known for building straight-forward, affordable golf courses throughout Canada. Eagle Point is exactly that.

The 9th hole at Kamloops Golf & Country Club

The final round of my Golf Kamloops adventure was at Kamloops Golf & Country Club. Conveniently located right next to the Kamloops airport, Kamloops Golf & Country Club is another place that anyone can play. The course has a high quality country club vibe and is a classic round of golf. Afterwards I took the 5 minute drive to the airport and the 10 minute walk through airport security. As I am often stuck in security and dealing with long lines at the airport, the Kamloops airport was a big breath of fresh Canadian air.

Overall, I was very impressed with Kamloops as a golf destination. The highlight are the two marquee golf courses in the area with Tobiano leading the charge and Talking Rock backing it up. When you pair those two up with the other four local golf courses in the area, you have a very affordable lineup of some good golf. If you are interesting in putting together your own golf adventure in Kamloops, the journey starts here.

Hawaii 5.0.

Unlike the 1968 TV series, no criminals would be apprehended on this trip to Hawaii. The state would be the same, but our crew was looking to play 5.0 of the best public golf courses that the island of Kauai has to offer. Known as the garden island, Kauai has a much different vibe than the other Hawaiian islands. Friendly, chill, or laid back would be words that could describe the next 5 days. We would golf those 5.0 courses and enjoy every single one of them.

We kicked the journey of with a bang at the renowned Makai Course at Princeville. Rated as one of the country’s best public golf courses, the views and serenity of the golf course are some of the best that I have encountered. With 4 greens on the ocean, the course ebbs and flows nicely between seaside and inland holes.

The Makai course is so stunning that it even has an appeal to non-golfers as well. Every evening the staff leads a Sunset Cart Tour for those looking to explore the golf course. You will be treated to beverages, tales of Puff The Magic Dragon, and views for days. As one might expect, the sunset cart tour also features a stunning sunset.

Opening for play in 1971, the Makai Course at Princeville was Robert Trent Jones Jr’s’ first ever solo design and has since undergone an extensive renovation that was completed in 2010. The design successfully launched a storied career for Mr Trent Jones Jr.. I did some research and the odds of a first time architect being handed such an amazing oceanfront property for their first solo effort in 2019 is 5 billion to 1.

Our group had the pleasure of playing with the Sales Manager at Princeville Makai, Lindsay Waller. Lindsay is new to the game of golf and is on a personal mission to break 100. We figured that our visit was just the catalyst that she needed to reach her goal. We went live on Instagram to document the progress. Unfortunately, Lindsay’s A game would not show up and she shot a 108. Probably just the pressure of playing with an A list celebrity. If you are looking to book a group be sure to get in touch with Waller, she can tell you all about the 10 she made on hole #2 as she sets you up with first class accommodations.

For someone who has not broken 100, Waller excels out of the sand.

The 6th hole is your first view of the ocean at the Makai course.

The Resort at Princeville is also an amazing place to stay. Well, only if you like waking up and looking out your window to rainbow views. I seriously woke up, saw this, and took a picture as I stretched my arms to prepare for another busy day of golfing hard.

Even though there are several albatross nests on the golf course, our group found zero albatrosses.

Early bird gets the worm, and I get the picture of the bird getting the worm.

The next day our group headed just down the street to the local municipal golf course for course 2.0. Now, not many muni courses in the United States can pack the ocean front views quite like Wailua. The course starts out right along the ocean on holes #1 and #2 and returns to the sea for the finish on hole #17. Although the course is worth playing just for the 17th hole alone, you will find challenging green sites and a lot of fun inland golf holes.

Wailua also loads up heavily on the municipal charm and I loved every bit of it. An old shop dog greeted us as we checked in and we warmed up by hitting balls off of mats in range stalls. The Par Aide ball washers oozed with an extra dose of muni goodness and the 160 yard tree signs had me squealing with golf joy. But the sign in the window of the pro shop had me super excited… BUSTED!

Wailua golf course is easily one of the best value courses that I have seen in a while. If you are a non resident, you can play Wailua for only $48 and the residents play for just $15! On the .gov website for Wailua you can find the course’s mission statement. That mission statement… “To provide a great golf experience.” Mission achieved.

Spotted in the window of Wailua Municipal Golf Course. This guy is super BUSTED. #GolfThief @GoGolfKauai pic.twitter.com/a8CPS44ZIf
— Patrick Koenig (@PatrickjKoenig) June 13, 2019

I have always wondered… Par Aide? What if I want to make some birdies?

Tha range at Wailua Municipal Golf Course

Wailua features a heavy dose of roosters.

Captain Rob gets up and down from the sand on 16.

Hot restaurant tip: The Bistro in Kilauea. Our group was slated for a special seven course meal. Due to the deliciousness of the cuisine, we were unable to control ourselves and only made it through 4/7 courses.

That evening after golf and dinner we loaded up into the golf bus and headed out to the Kilauea Lighthouse to watch the sunset. As far as sunsets and lighthouses go, Hawaii really shows off. I like to imagine that the little island out there is a tee box and the lighthouse is the flagstick. Probably a pretty good carry on that par 3. You hang glide over to the green after your tee shot.

Course number 3.0 on the Hawaiian agenda was another Robert Trent Jones Jr design called Poipu Bay Golf Course. From 1994-2006, the course hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. The event was a 36 hole stroke play tournament between the winners of the previous year’s 4 majors. Not surprisingly, Tiger Woods won the event 7 times. 1997 was the only year that Woods would fail to win the event after qualifying. Ernie Els beat him by 3 shots.

They had alternates join the competition when Woods won multiple majors in that year. My favorite swap was In 1990 when Mike Ditka replaced Curtis Strange due to an illness. Strange out… Ditka in!

Mike Bailey sends one screaming into the 15th hole at Poipu Bay.

The 2nd hole at Poipu Bay Golf Course is a reachable par 5.

“Man it looks like Jurassic Park out here!” That statement is not only common but it is also surprisingly accurate when visiting the Na Pali Coast. Several of the scenes from the 1993 blockbuster film were shot here. If there is one thing outside of golf that I would recommend to a golfer visiting Kauai, it would be the Na Pali Coast.

Our group took a catamaran tour with Holo-Holo Charters. They offer a sunset tour of the coastline with drinks and a Mexican fare dinner on your way back. We explored sea caves, secluded beaches, and the impressive cliffs. It’s clear why they refer to the Na Pali coast as the jewel of Hawaii and the 8th wonder of the world.

I figured by now the internet would have grown tired of my unnecessary male modeling poses. However, the people of the digital world can’t get enough of it. It’s a constant struggle to weave through the offers from folks like Vogue, Elle, and Time, politely reminding them that I have retired from the world of professional male modeling. “No, Better Homes & Gardens, I won’t do a special spread for your ‘Antique Roses of Fall’ issue.” This male has no interest in giving up his male model amateur status for a second time.

The sunset on the sunset cruise from Holo-Holo Charters.

The Hawaii golf party rolled onto course 4.0 at Puakea Golf Course. An unassuming start eventually whips its way deep into the jungle and we were having a jungle golf party before we knew what was going on. We golfed our balls with joy amongst the large volcanic cliffs, gaping ravines, and lush tropical surroundings.

Designed by Robert Nelson, the course was originally just nine holes built on top of an old sugar plantation. In 2003, the remaining holes were added to provide the golfer with a full 18 hole experience.

Puakea is also another serious island bargain. Ranging from $59-$85 for the visiting golfer, it’s another one of those courses that anyone can, and should, play.

The 5th hole at Puakea is a short par 4.

Puakea really digs into the tropics on the back nine.

The 6th hole at Puakea is when the jungle golf really gets going.

For the final and 5.0 round of golf we were scheduled to take on Hokuala’s Ocean Course. This Jack Nicklaus signature design is nestled right around Timber’s Kaua’i Resort. The good news is that we were scheduled to stay at Timbers for the remainder of our trip. Trust me, you want to stay at Timbers Kaua’i. Although technically it is a resort, it felt more like we were staying at one of our rich friend’s condos on the ocean. The only difference is that I don’t have any rich friends that live on the ocean in Hawaii.

With all of the amenities that you could ever want, the only real struggle was deciding if you were going to swim in the multi level waterfall pool or go for the infinity option. I couldn’t decide so I did both.

The Ocean Course itself was one of my favorites on the trip. They were probably all my favorites, but the Ocean Course boasts some of the most dramatic ocean views. The course starts slowly, but when you reach the 13th hole, it’s all systems go. Ocean carries and straight up fun golf shots await you at every corner.

The 16th hole was probably my favorite of the bunch. It’s only about 300 yards from the back tees and is potentially drivable. The problem with the driver is that it must be struck exactly perfect to fit through that little gap. This predicament is a wildly fun one to consider and even a layup still leaves you with an exciting approach into the course’s most unique green.

The tee on the 16th hole has never looked this good.

The Ocean Course has GolfBoards available for rent. When at Hokuala, be sure to surf The Ocean Course.

The 17th hole is the 5th in a dramatic finishing stretch of 6 holes.

The 16th hole is a potentially drivable par 4.

As with all of my Hawaiian adventures, I like to end the trip with a little male modeling. This time I recruited some of my model friends for a quick little session at the Timber’s infinity pool. These fellas were a little camera shy, but you can tell that there is a great deal of potential lurking below the surface of that water.

I, on the other hand, was not shy at all and hammed it up hard for the camera. I would rank the photos below as some of the finest water action shots in my portfolio. Tom was nervous behind the lens, but captured the final photos from Hawaii with perfection.

Pool models from left to right: Rob Myers, Mike Bailey, and Tom Mackin.

Golf tan feet add some pop to the picture. Photograph: Tom Mackin

Water action sequence modeling. Photograph: Tom Mackin

BONUS FUN FACT: The background in the logo from Adam Sandler’s production company, Happy Madison Productions, is actually the 15th hole at Hokuala’s Ocean Course.