Last weekend, we returned to course that I really love, but had avoided for a year due to slow play and the owner’s policy of letting fivesomes play on weekend mornings. The Ridges at Sand Creek is a beautiful Joel Goldstrand course that opened in 2000 just outside Jordan, Minnesota. I understand getting behind a slow group every now and then, but it happened several times in a row. After receiving no response from owner and general manager Mike Malone, we decided to go elsewhere for a year. This is a shame, as the course itself is wonderful (although the design does contribute to slow play).

Our return started off ominously: the starter said the 6:00 tee time was late and didn’t start until 6:30, so they were behind schedule (we had a 6:59 tee time). Why one group showing up late should be our problem escapes me, but things improved after we teed off. In fact, I complimented two of the rangers I talked to about how vastly improved the pace of weekend play had become. One ranger told me they now try to keep all weekend rounds under four hours. Hooray! Ridges is back on the approved list…