Howard’s Bar ✅ (but no Your Smith sightings); Candyland & Lift Bridge. Also drove across the new bridge for the first time (in both directions)
Number 12 tee @ The Wilderness at Fortune Bay. Rained on about 15 of the 18 holes, then the sun came out…
The courses are both still beautiful, but the pace of play (and the management of the pace of play) was the worst I’ve seen up here
Just not on babies: stupid White Orchid paid me two $50+ line hits on 40 cent bets @ Fortune Bay Resort Casino. The “good fortune” win was a rather lame $6 line hit…
The Sunset Steakhouse has changed a lot since it opened, but that tender filet plus blue cheese remains as good as ever
Better overall condition this season compared to last year (hole four on top, hole three on the bottom)
It’s Called Royale with Cheese (plain), awesome corn ribs (corn on the cob, wedged and deep fried then tossed in cilantro lime mayo, tajin and cotija) and a Gitch @ the new Burger Paradox in Duluth
As I’ve been watching the U.S. Open today at Los Angeles Country Club, it reminded me of the latest Golf Digest rankings that I linked to recently. LACC’s North course is ranked #16 and hasn’t really been seen by many people until this week. Turns out it was just a few blocks away from my last visit to L.A. and I didn’t even know it.
Going back to the rankings (Top 100 and Next 100), I went through again and found the ones I’ve played:
- #84 Interlachen (pictured)
- #96 Pasatiempo
- #127 Streamsong Red
- #138 Hazeltine
- #148 Atlanta Athletic Club Highlands
- #151 Streamsong Blue
Six out of 200 isn’t a very good ratio, but I don’t really see it changing much anytime soon. Cypress Point Club (#3) is my biggest dream course, but Southern Highlands (#161) and Streamsong Black (#178) probably have the highest likelihood of happening. Oh, would still like to hit Shadow Creek (#27) too…
We don’t often play new courses – this was a nice 100-year-old traditional track across from the lake (good conditions and very good value). Shot an 89 from the tips ⛳️
The Star Tribune had a story today about this YouTube series by PBS North (the former WDSE-WRPT) hosted by UMD alumni Hailey Eidenschink (who gives me strong Megan Steil vibes). Season one has six short episodes (under ten minutes each), while the new season will have eight (five are online now).
With a heavy focus on the Northland, but I found all of them to be super fun to watch. From agates to shipwrecks, there are lots of great topics covered. I found it difficult to track them on YouTube, so here are direct links to all of the current episodes:
- S1E1 – Duluth’s Doomed Olympics Bid
- S1E2 – The Legend of St Urho
- S1E3 – Superior Shipwrecks
- S1E4 – The Root Beer Lady
- S1E5 – Hunting for Ancient Agates
- S1E6 – The Chief Buffalo Memorial Project
- S2E1 – The Legend of John Beargrease
- S2E2 – Minnesota’s Tourist Traps
- S2E3 – Mr. Magoo the Mongoose and Other Animals in Wrong Places
- S2E4 – The Magic of Smelting
- S2E5 – Boomtown!
- S2E6 – The Ope Files
I will update this post as the others are released…
Nicely done, History Nerd!
Coming soon: the Duluth Grill people are opening a new burger joint in the old Mitch’s Bar spot at 2113 W Superior Street (a few blocks down from OMC Smokehouse)
No swimming, Kitchi Gammi Park, seagulls like donuts, flowers for the graduate, celebration dinner @ At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe
Fun drive up: Donut Hut, Gordy’s, Duluth Farmer’s Market, William Irvin, Canal Park
This converted church in Perham served up a huge burger (the single would’ve been plenty) and delicious church chips
