On our way back from the Amethyst mine, we decided to make a stop at Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, located just west of Thunder Bay. I actually had this one confused with the middle falls on the Pigeon River, which is a much smaller, less dramatic falls. Kakabeka was very scenic and well worth the short drive out of our way back to the border. Plus the road to Kakabeka passes a Tim Hortons…

The PGA Champions Tour 3M Championship begins this week at the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine. Here is the daily schedule:

Monday: Ameriprise Pro-Am
Tuesday: Practice Rounds, Junior Skills Challenge, Junior Pro-Am, Pro Skills Challenge
Wednesday: Coldwell Banker Burnet Pro-Am
Thursday: Coldwell Banker Burnet Pro-Am, Old Dutch Foods Short Game Clinic and Contest
Friday: Championship First Round
Saturday: Greats of Golf Challenge, Championship Second Round
Sunday: Greats of Golf Challenge, Championship Final Round

Daily tickets are available starting at $15 (practice rounds) and can be purchased in advance at participating Twin City Co-Ops Federal Credit Union locations.

I always thought this was the very northeast tip of Minnesota, but Google seems to say otherwise…

On Friday, the girls and I drove to Canada to visit Amethyst Mine Panorama, located about 30 miles east of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

I visited this mine when I was a little boy and should have gone back sooner–it was a blast! The mine has a large open pit area with water hoses that you can use to create your own little mining sluice. Amethyst was everywhere, but it was like a little treasure hunt searching for that “perfect” find. After almost forty pounds of rock and tiny cuts on all my finger-tips, we headed back towards Thunder Bay.

Pictures available in both the private and the North Shore albums.

The 83rd Annual Birchmont Golf Tournament finished yesterday at Bemidji Town and Country Club. Here are the winners from the various divisions:

Men’s Champion: Johnny Larson, Clements, MN
Ladies Champion: Kristi Lucken, Fosston, MN
Executive Men’s Champion: Todd Schaefer, Grand Forks, ND
Senior Men’s Champion: Jack Seiberlich, Rush City, MN
Super Senior Men’s Champion: Blaine Grone, Clearbrook, MN
Junior Champion: Sam Mathew, Roseville, MN

Next year’s tournament will be held Monday-Saturday, July 28-August 2, 2008.

For additional information on the Birchmont, visit their wonderful data-rich website, designed by golf pro and web designer Paul Grovum.

Professional Kane Hanson from Detroit Country Club in Detroit Lakes won the 2007 Minnesota State Open today at Bunker Hills. His 71-66-69-206 (-10) was two shots better than Minneapolis Golf Club pro Joe O’Brien and earned Kane $9,000.

Top five finishers:
1, Kane Hanson (p), Detroit CC, 71-66-69-206 (-10)
2, Joe O’Brien (p), Minneapolis GC, 71-68-69-208 (-8)
3, Clayton Rask (a), Monticello CC, 71-68-70-209 (-7)
T4, Neil Johnson (p), Troy Burne GC, 69-68-73-210 (-6)
T4, David Tentis (p), Troy Burne GC, 72-66-72-210 (-6)

Other Notables: Don Berry (T9), Mike Barge (T11)

Last week I made a return visit to Mendakota Country Club in Mendota Heights. Thanks go out to Mendakota member Phil Keeney for hosting our foursome.

Mendakota is a club that always seems to be tweaking things on the course. Not much had changed since my last round there, but plans are being made for several new modifications, including changes to the par-5 thirteenth and the par-4 sixteenth holes. Fairway bunkers will be added to the former, while the latter will see a new green that will bring the lake more into play.

We played on a very hot and humid day and it was one of the rare times I was happy to have a power cart. The course was in good condition and the greens were very fast. The layout and design of this course present many interesting challenges, although it would be nice to lose the power lines that criss-cross several holes. The freeway and road noise are a little distracting also, but not much can be done about that.

I played well on the front nine, but got thrown off my game on the short 312 yard par-4 tenth hole. I think that mentally impacted the rest of the back nine, which is very scenic and should be relaxing. The par-3 seventeenth hole may be the prettiest on the course, although it is a stern test near the end of a round.

Looking forward to a return visit soon…

7MM Mendakota Photo Gallery