Jim, does it get any better than this?
Actually, I think it does...
Besides my old refrain that Wild Horse's story of a community effort to construct arguably the best/modest golf course/memberclub in the country, there is another story right in my area of Wisconsin that I really have not written about.
http://www.wandersprings.com/course_information/http://www.wandersprings.com/rates/Here is the back story (as I know it)
About 1983-5ish, a local entrepreneur in Reedsville WI named Bob Brandt got an idea to develop a golf course in his community. He owned or had a line to buy this parcel of land that is quite charming. He also owned the school bus company and a few other small businesses in the town and was widely known and liked. He first hired my old neighbor from Madison who I was friends with (GCA Art Johnson) to evaluate his land. They settled on a very modest routing and plan of design for 9 holes. That became the first 9 or "Springs 9". But, Brandt was a bit of a do-it-yourself adventurer, and took Art's plans and Brandt and his sons went about leasing equipment - teaching themselves how to operate the machinery, and with some local landscapers and dozer operators, figured out how to scratch out a golf course. They did modified greens similar to pushed up California style, and planted all blue FWs, They constructed a quaint CH and they were off and running with aid of a young greenskeeper also sort of learning as he went. It became a popular local place, despite the first 9 being quite 'unremarkable design'.
The began to understand the issues and ideas of golf design, and devised a plan to expand to 18 with a much more elaborate effort, mostly with more ideas for gardens and circulating stream, and more understanding of principles of golf design and desired golf strategy. So, they used the same do-it-yourself process (with some local operators, landscapers and craftsman) to expand to their second 9 called the 'Garden 9). That went on for about a dozen years, with a simple front 9 and a rather sporty and charmingly landscaped back 9. All in all, a fun little round of golf. Also, they had a very adequate practice range and practice putting green.
Mr. Brandt aged and sons/family lost interest in day-to-day ops, and another local human interest story entered. Tommy Theisen was a horribly burned firefighter from a Manitowoc grainery fire on the ship dock, back in about 1977. His face was literally burned off. He ultimately received a huge settlement due to great negligence in the failure to follow OSHA codes and regs by the entity where the fire occurred. But, Tommy was so horribly scarred that he became something of a recluse. He underwent decades of surgeries and such to reconstruct some features of his face and body (though not ever approaching what one would say was successful) Brandt was his friend, and with the great amount of cash Mr. Theisen was sitting on with no interest or logical place to invest it or enjoy it, it dawned on them that the course would be a great investment, and could also be a place that Theisen could go (a few country road miles from his secluded in the woods home). So, with Theisen's staged buy-out and input of more money, they designed the third (and best) 9 holes called "the River 9".
I played it recently, and it is really in great shape, has interesting holes, and with the Garden 9, was a wonderful day of golf, solid designed holes and greens, and I really can't say anything critical as to the design being 'wrong minded' or 'poor ideas', etc. They have done even more with the elaborate gardens and circulating babbling brook and pond system (for the pretty gardens crowd) and in this case does not distract or cause a decidedly extra cost due to maintenance of such, as you can see by the link to rates.
It is so good, I would be pleased to take any GCA.com participant to see this local community effort, because I think even a credentialled GCA would have to say, it is a very good job.
Let's face it. If you can give the public this kind of rate structure, and a beautiful place to play, and a decent test of golf, with good food and beverage service in the CH: what more could be fairer?
