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Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park

Posted July 31, 2007

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


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3M Championship Week

Posted July 30, 2007

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

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Tip of Minnesota

Posted July 30, 2007

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


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Amethyst Mine Panorama

Posted July 29, 2007

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.


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2007 Birchmont Complete

Posted July 29, 2007

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

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Kane Hanson Wins State Open

Posted July 29, 2007

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.

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Mendakota Course Notes

Posted July 29, 2007

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.

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Meadowbrook Course Update

Posted July 27, 2007

Meadowbrook Golf Course in Hopkins may have a more famous neighbor next door (Edina’s Interlachen Country Club is just beyond the fence behind the clubhouse), but it holds it’s own against the other Minneapolis city-owned courses.

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Quick Grand Marais Excursion

Posted July 26, 2007

Took a quick drive up to Grand Marais after returning from the west coast. The girls have been staying with my mom and dad at the cabin on the big lake while I was away, so it’s been great to see them.

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2007 Minnesota State Open

Posted July 26, 2007

Play begins today at the 2007 Minnesota State Open at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids, with the first groups starting at 7:30am.

Defending champion Mike Barge of Hazeltine returns to defend his title, teeing off Friday at 2pm.

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Keller Course Update

Posted July 26, 2007

I’m not sure if we just hit it on the right day, but it appears the days of six-hour rounds at Keller may be over. Our round went very fast and we never waited all day–even between the second and third holes that have always had a big back-up.

This time I played the blue tees for the first time, which makes the course a par-72 instead of a par 71 (the 16th hole plays as a par-five from the blues). It really made for a different experience on many of the holes.

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This Week on FORE! Minnesota

Posted July 26, 2007

FORE! Minnesota, on Saturday, July 28, 2007 (9 am on KSTC-45):

  • Course Tour: Hidden Creek GC (Owatonna, MN)
  • Great Moments in MN Golf: Genesis of Minnesota Golf (Town & Country CC)
  • Stories of Golf: Anthony “Tony” Hebert (Tribute to a Fallen Friend)
  • Tad Reeve’s Dream 18: White Bear YC #3 (White Bear Lake, MN)
  • Pro Strategies: Jack Baker – The Summit GC (Cannon Falls, MN)

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Island View Course Update

Posted July 24, 2007

Last week we paid a visit to Island View Golf Club in Waconia. The course was undergoing some course renovations, but remains open while the work is being completed. Several bunkers were being re-built on the 486-yard par 5 first hole and the entire area surrounding the 161-yard par 3 fourth hole was being re-worked. The rest of the course was in great shape, however, and the construction didn’t really impact our round.

Coming later this week: updates on Keller, Meadowbrook, Mendakota and Superior National.


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LA Wrap-Up

Posted July 24, 2007

Arrived back from LA yesterday on Sun Country. Flight was fine, but the airport experience was not pleasant. In addition to very long lines, I got the dreaded “SSSS” designation on my ticket (extra special screening). I’m sure it was because I was traveling alone on a one-way ticket, but don’t you think the system could be a little more intelligent?

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Studio 4 LA Office

Posted July 22, 2007


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IKEA Day and Hermosa Beach

Posted July 21, 2007

Today was IKEA day for me and the new office. People know me as an IKEA freak, but you just can’t beat the pricing and style–especially for small business and school offices. $1.50 for a hot dog and glass of lingonberry juice is pretty awesome too…

While Minnesota only has one IKEA, California has eight. I decided the Carson location was the closest and went over lunch. It was really different from the Bloomington store–smaller, one additional floor, not as much selection and no full buffet restaurant.

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Hanstad Wins 104th MGA Amateur Championship

Posted July 20, 2007

Alexandria High School graduate and Colorado State golfer Bryce Hanstad won the 104th MGA Amateur Championship Thursday at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska. He held off Gopher and first-round leader Clayton Rask, who finished four shots back.

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Southern California Long-Term Accomodations

Posted July 20, 2007

Today I got to visit the new Studio 4 SoCal accommodations for the coming school year–the Sea Spray Apartments in Redondo Beach. A steal at only $2K per month. Shesh.

The technology infrastructure project for HSRA-LA is coming along nicely. Today I finished configuring the network security cameras, but found one of them appears to have a dead network port. The wiring in the server closet isn’t finished yet, but it’s taking shape. Had to order two 19-inch server rack shelves after I found out the new Intel Xserve doesn’t have a two-post option.

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This Week on FORE! Minnesota

Posted July 19, 2007

FORE! Minnesota, on Saturday, July 21, 2007 (9 am on KSTC-45):

  • Course Tour: The Summit (Cannon Falls, MN)
  • Great Moments in MN Golf: 1996 (Tom Lehman – British Open)
  • Stories of Golf: Minnesota Thunder (Parkview GC)
  • Tad Reeve’s Dream 18: North Oaks #7 (North Oaks, MN)
  • Pro Strategies: Peter Kurvers (Dacotah Ridge GC – Morton, MN)

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Oh, Where Art Thou, Real Star Wars?

Posted July 17, 2007

The “original” Star Wars was on HBO Family tonight and I couldn’t help but watch it.

I so want to watch the version that I watched as an eight-year-old kid in 1977. Countless Star Wars nerds have described the changes made to the new version that make me so mad, so I won’t go over all that. Let’s just say that I hope I never meet George Lucas in person.

Maybe it’s time to get a replacement laser disc player on eBay…


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Golf Digest Ranks Minnesota Instructors

Posted July 17, 2007

The August 2007 issue of Golf Digest has a ranking of teaching professionals by state, as selected by their peers.

Mike Barge of Hazeltine National takes the top spot, followed by Peter Krause of Windsong Farm. None of the selected Minnesota teachers made it into the list of top 50 instructors in the country, which was led by Butch Harmon (Butch Harmon School of Golf at Rio Secco, Henderson, Nevada).

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HSRA Los Angeles Taking Shape

Posted July 17, 2007

Made it to Los Angeles today from Seattle, courtesy of Alaska Airlines. They had the lowest price and for the most part, it was an OK experience. I was ticked off, though, that I had to waste time in a line called “bag check” that wouldn’t let me check my bags until I stood in a different line to get a printed boarding pass. Oh well, at least they got the bags off the plane and into the baggage claim quickly.

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Former Gopher La’Cassie at John Deere

Posted July 17, 2007

Former Gopher standout Bronson La’Cassie received a sponsor’s exemption into last week’s John Deere Classic, played at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

He made the most of it, making the cut by shooting a second-round 66. His 71-66-74-70-281 (-3) was good enough for a T62 and a paycheck of $8,692.

This was not his first pro start, however. In June, he fired a 23-under-par 265 at the Buffalo Run Casino Classic on the Hooters Tour, where he tied for second and earned $13,762.


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Seattle Airport Hotels

Posted July 16, 2007

It took me about four trips, but I finally found a hotel near the Seattle airport that I liked. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites SeaTac Aiport at 19621 International Boulevard (just down the street from the airport) was easy to find, clean, relatively inexpensive and had nice “mini-suites” with high speed internet that was actually plug-and-play.

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Salty’s on Alki Beach – Seattle

Posted July 15, 2007

On the advice of the ever-helpful Chuck Goolsbee of Digital Forest (a great ISP and co-location facility, by the way), I headed up I-5 to the West Seattle Bridge and over to Harbor Avenue to check out Salty’s on Alki Beach. Chuck also recommended Ray’s Boathouse, but I’ve gone there the last two times I was in town. Not to say I don’t like Ray’s–quite the contrary. Just wanted to try something new.

Salty’s bills themselves as the “Best View of Seattle in Seattle®” and I have to say, it was pretty awesome. The weather was almost hot and way too sunny for rainy Seattle, so sunglasses were the name of the game on the outdoor patio today (they even would bring you some if you wanted).

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