7 Minute Miles Header

Berry Wins Minnesota PGA Professional Championship

Posted August 29, 2007

Don Berry of Edinburgh USA shot a final round 1-under par 71 for a 54-hole total of 6-under par 210 to win the 2007 Minnesota PGA Professional Championship at the TPC of the Twin Cities. Dave Tentis was two shots back, followed by Dale Jones of Mendakota.

The three day tournament was held at both the TPC and at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids (and home to the offices of the Minnesota PGA).

Read more…


flourish icon

2007 Minnesota State Fair

Posted August 29, 2007

My 38th consecutive Minnesota State Fair is in the books. Our family had a great time last Sunday–perfect weather, my oldest daughter and I ran our first Milk Run 5K (39:07), we ate great food and I left with money in my pocket.

Read more…


flourish icon

Indian Hills Course Notes

Posted August 28, 2007

Last weekend we used another silent auction certificate to play 18 holes at Indian Hills Golf Club in Stillwater. This Don Herfort course opened in 1970 and lies hidden just off of Highway 36.

A former co-host of the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am (along with Southview CC), I was anxious to finally see and play this course. Or entire group came away with a very favorable impression–lots of strong, memorable holes, good conditioning and a friendly staff.

Read more…


flourish icon

Marshfield Wisconsin

Posted August 24, 2007

How could I not eat here? Quick overnight trip to Marshfield, Wisconsin with the family (my wife had meetings at the Marshfield Clinic). Stayed at the Marshfield Holiday Inn and had a blast in their nice pool area with three-story water slide. Driving back this evening…


flourish icon

This Week on FORE! Minnesota

Posted August 24, 2007

The last FORE! Minnesota of the season airs Saturday, August 25, 2007 (9 am on KSTC-45):

  • Course Tour: Blackberry Ridge GC (Sartell, MN)
  • Great Moments in MN Golf: 1916 (US Open, Minikahda CC)
  • Stories of Golf: 2007 Tee It Up For The Troops Event (Mendakota CC)
  • Tad Reeve’s Dream 18: Somerset #12
  • Pro Strategies: Pete Hendrickson (Gopher Hills GC, Cannon Falls)

flourish icon

Bent Creek Course Notes

Posted August 23, 2007

A few weeks back we used a certificate from Don Berry’s Edinburgh USA Pro-Am silent auction for a foursome at Bent Creek Golf Club in Eden Prairie. The weather was hot, so we basically had the course to ourselves.

Read more…


flourish icon

Golf Magazine 2007 Top 100 Courses

Posted August 21, 2007

The September issue of Golf Magazine has their latest top 100 rankings for U.S. and world courses.

How did Minnesota courses do? Interlachen moved up from #96 on the U.S. list to #72, while Hazeltine dropped from #67 to #77.

Read more…


flourish icon

LA Wrap-Up Redux

Posted August 20, 2007

Arrived back from the latest trip to Los Angeles last week and felt totally exhausted. I’ve got one week to recover, then it’s back out there again.

A few notes from this trip:

Read more…


flourish icon

Golf Digest 2007 College Guide

Posted August 20, 2007

The September 2007 issue of Golf Digest magazine has a 20-page college golf guide section that has a picture of Gopher golfer Victor Almstrom at the NCAA Championship on the first page of the article.

They rank schools several ways (golf first, balanced and academics first), which are described on this page.

Read more…


flourish icon

This Week on FORE! Minnesota

Posted August 17, 2007

FORE! Minnesota, on Saturday, August 18, 2007 (9 am on KSTC-45):

  • Course Tour: Atikwa GC (Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria, MN)
  • Great Moments in MN Golf: 2002 PGA Championship (Hazeltine)
  • Stories of Golf: Ron Coomer (Twins Broadcaster)
  • Golf Shorts: Banana Bunch (Local Golf Artist)
  • Pro Strategies: Lisa Grimes (Geneva GC, Alexandria)

flourish icon

Showdown at Somerby Canceled

Posted August 17, 2007

The Rochester Post Bulletin reported last week that the Nationwide Tour’s 2007 Showdown at Somerby event was the last. This was the second year at the Byron course just outside of Rochester, but lack of sponsorship money forced the cancellation for at least the foreseeable future.

Read more…


flourish icon

Hawgs for Dogs Golf Tournament

Posted August 16, 2007

The 7th Annual Hawgs for Dogs John Massetti Memorial Golf Tournament was held this week at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Lakeville. Proceeds from the event benefit the Guide Dogs of America.

Read more…


flourish icon

Back in Cali

Posted August 16, 2007

Big gap in posting since Grand Marais because it seems like I haven’t stopped moving since then…

Here is a shot from the balcony of the HSRA Los Angeles program director’s home. And no, she doesn’t own the place (HSRA schools are not the place to make that kind of money). Very nice house and very nice dinner the first night we were in town. Thanks Jenn!

The L.A. school project is coming along, but there is still so much to do. One more return trip in the next few weeks will hopefully wrap it up.

I’ll upload some new pictures to the photo gallery tonight and will attempt to write more the next few days.


flourish icon

Women’s Tapemark Website Re-Launches

Posted August 12, 2007

The website for the 13th Annual Tapemark Charity Women’s Golf Event has re-launched this week at www.womenstapemark.org.

This year’s event will be held Monday, September 17, at Southview Country Club in West Saint Paul.

Read more…


flourish icon

Montgomery Course Notes

Posted August 11, 2007

This doesn’t look like your typical rural Minnesota farmland course, does it?

We visited Montgomery Golf Club this week to take advantage of their weekday early bird special ($20 walking before 9am). Montgomery is about a 40 minute drive south of the metro area (we took the route down I-35 that goes past the Willingers entrance in Northfield).

Read more…


flourish icon

This Week on FORE! Minnesota

Posted August 9, 2007

FORE! Minnesota, on Saturday, August 11, 2007 (9 am on KSTC-45):

  • Course Tour: Geneva GC (Alexandria, MN)
  • Great Moments in MN Golf: 1903 (Start of the MGA)
  • Stories of Golf: Paul Kamish (Golf Artist/Sculptor)
  • Tad Reeve’s Dream 18: Keller #4 (St. Paul)
  • Pro Strategies: Bryan Connelly, Creeksbend GC (New Prague)

flourish icon

Braemar Course Notes

Posted August 8, 2007

Last weekend we picked the only rainy day in weeks to play Braemar Golf Course in Edina. As long as there is no lightning, I don’t really mind playing in the rain. It also had the benefit of clearing out the crowds–something Braemar usually has plenty of on weekends.

Read more…


flourish icon

Boulder Pointe Course Notes

Posted August 7, 2007

Last week we played Boulder Pointe Golf Club in Elko. The 6,224 yard Kevin Norby design opened in August 2002 and was recently re-rated by the MGA to a 71.2 rating and 131 slope from the tips.

John Elasky took over as head professional recently and has continued to aggressively market the course. They utilize Kevin Unterreiner’s Golf Connect and Twincitiesgolf.com marketing services, which include website design and email mailing lists.

Read more…


flourish icon

Weibring Wins 2007 3M Championship

Posted August 5, 2007

John Harris must feel a little shell-shocked. The Minnesota native shot 65-69-66-200 (-16) and still tied for third.

Illinois native Donald Albert Weibring, Jr. (also known as D.A.), birdied his last three holes to win by one over Jay Haas and by two over Harris and Mitch Adams.

Read more…


flourish icon

Chez Jude Grand Marais

Posted August 4, 2007

Finally made it to one of my “7 in 07” restaurants–Chez Jude in Grand Marais. Or as my daughters called it, Chess Dude.

We started off with the Lake Superior whitefish cakes balsamico with lingonberry horseradish sauce appetizer, which I got almost everyone to try (our family is not known for experimenting much when it comes to food). My father order the fish & frites (cod), while my mother order the sandwich special–a wild rice burger.

Read more…


flourish icon

Black Bear Course Notes

Posted August 4, 2007

On the way back from Lutsen, we stopped in at Black Bear Golf Course at the Black Bear Casino and Hotel in Carlton.

There was lots of activity going on at the site. On the golf course side, they were hosting the Veterans on the Lake Resort Golf Tournament, which raises funds for disabled veterans.

Read more…


flourish icon

Bakken Wins 2007 Women’s State Open

Posted August 2, 2007

Professional Katie Bakken won her second Minnesota Womens State Open title today at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids. Bakken’s 70-74-144 (-2) was three shots better than amateur Mari Miezwa of Edinburgh USA and earned her the $750 first prize.

The defending champion, professional Lisa Grimes of Geneva Golf Club, finished tied for third with amateur Olivia Lansing of White Bear Yacht Club and professional Julie Hennessy of Lewiston Country Club at 150 (+4). Amateur Claudia Pilot was low senior with a two-day total of 157 (+11).

Read more…


flourish icon

Grand Marais Dragon Boat Races

Posted August 2, 2007

This was the first time I’ve been in Grand Marais for the Dragon Boat Races. We didn’t watch much of the actual competition, but it was fun seeing all the people practice.

Now in it’s fourth year, the event raises money for three local non-profit groups: North House Folk School, North Shore Health Care Foundation and WTIP Community Radio.


flourish icon

This Week on FORE! Minnesota

Posted August 2, 2007

FORE! Minnesota, on Saturday, August 4, 2007 (9 am on KSTC-45):

  • Course Tour: Creeksbend GC (New Prague, MN)
  • Great Moments in MN Golf: U.S. Women’s Open 2003 (Hilary Lunke)
  • Stories of Golf: Golf Cheap (Tips and Advice on Keeping Golf Affordable)
  • Tad Reeve’s Dream 18: Troy Burne #14 (Troy Burne GC, Hudson, WI)
  • Pro Strategies: John Jensen – Hidden Creek GC (Owatonna, MN)

flourish icon

Superior National Course Notes

Posted August 1, 2007

Last week we stopped in to visit Superior National in Lutsen. Not many course changes to report–the fourth tee on the River nine is being rebuilt and they posted the following aeration schedule for this fall:

  • Canyon Closed August 6-7
  • Mountain Closed August 20-21
  • River Closed September 4-5

The conditioning of the fairways on this course has always been an issue, mainly due to the climate and the rocky soil. I still saw some of this during the visit, but it seems that they have lowered prices and offer more discounts, so it’s not as big an issue. Plus, with views like this, it’s easy to overlook some minor turf flaws.


flourish icon