I just returned from a nice, extended golf road trip from Ohio to Utah and back. I played 18 new golf courses over 16 days and discovered that I REALLY like golfing out West! I only had 16 days for traveling, driving was my preferred mode of travel and my wife insisted on "some" sightseeing along the way, so Sand Hills and Prairie Club were ruled out and saved for another time without her. My top 5 courses played were Redlands Mesa (CO), Pinon Hills (NM), Links de Santa Fe (NM), Paako Ridge (NM), Wild Horse (NE) and Devil's Thumb (CO) was a close 6th. Some of these rounds were added on the fly, only because the courses were nearby our hotels and I could sneak more golf in. A few of these turned out to be pretty cool courses as well. My least favorite course, not arranged by me (by wife's friend in OKC) was the GC of Edmond. Nothing to like about that course at all. Moab GC in Utah was also a letdown for sure. Great spot for a course, but 60's old and boring with basic, round greens. With no other golf courses around for MILES, this would make for a great renovation/re-do. I was not able to squeeze in 2 of the courses that I wanted to play, Awarii Dunes and Swope in Kansas City. It was a very good, overall selection of golf courses and I saw a lot along the way. I also skipped Black Mesa because a local told me it was in terrible condition. Still bummed about that. I am bummed that I missed out on Swope as Mr. Kavanaugh highly recommended it, but he will be very happy to know that I paid for every single round of golf on this trip (the wife's too!). Devil's Thumb offered me a free round after my first 18 due to painfully slow play, but we were on our way to Denver after that round, or I would have played the front 9 again. We lucked out with perfect weather with the exception of a torrential downpour halfway through the 9th hole at Paako Ridge where we had a 30 minute rain delay. Enjoy the pictures!
These are the courses that I played:
Gateway National (IL) pics posted
Fort Leonard Wood (MO) pics posted
LaFortune Park GC (OK) pics posted
GC of Edmond (NE) pics posted
Commanche Trail (TX) pics posted
NM Military Institute (NM) pics posted
Links de Santa Fe (NM) pics posted
Paako Ridge GC (NM) pics posted
Pinon Hills (NM) pics posted
Hideout GC (UT) pics posted
Moab GC (UT) pics posted
Redlands Mesa GC (CO) pics posted
Cedaredge GC (CO)pics posted
Devil's Thumb (CO) pics posted
Battlement Mesa (CO) pics posted
Rifle Creek (CO) pics posted
Fossil Trace (CO) pics posted
Wild Horse (NE) pics posted
Gateway National Links (IL)Fort Leonard Wood, Mo AKA Piney Valley GC (this course was super fun, played nothing like it looked from the street and had great zoysia fairways)
LaFortune Park GC - Tulsa, OK no tee time, we just stopped downtown and played 9 here on a whim. A bit overpriced for a muni and NO 9 hole rate at all, but a nice walkable golf course.
GC Of Edmond - Edmond, OK This was the worst course that I played out of the 18. It was recently a private course called Fairfax CC I think. From an architectural perspective, there was nothing to like here IMO.
Commanche Trail - Tomahawk Course - Amarillo, TX Having never played in Texas, I was expecting a dried out muni. Not so here, very lush, flat and GREEN.
New Mexico Military Institute - Roswell, NMLinks de Santa Fe (AKA Marty Sanchez) This course should get MORE love, I really liked it.
Paako Ridge GC - Sandia, NMPinon Hills - Farmington, NM
The Hideout - Monticello, UTMoab GC - Moab, UTRedlands Mesa - Grand Junction, COI really liked this golf course, I could play here every day and never tire of it.
Cedaredge GC - Cedaredge, Colorado. I played this as a quick 9 as it was close to where we stayed. I played the back 9 which was quirky, and tough. Great views and some really narrow, and tight playing corridors on the back. They sent me off the back for the views and my guess is that the front 9 was nothing special. However, I am glad I got to see it.
Devil's Thumb GC - Delta, Colorado: I really liked (most) of this course. There were 8-9 holes that were pretty flat and boring that offered absolutely nothing to the overall design. More creative bunkering as simple as the bunkers on Wildhorse would do the trick. The backdrops here around the Devil's Thumb itself really make the course. Would love to play here a lot more.
Battlement Mesa GC - Parachute, CORifle Creek GC - Rifle, COFossil Trace GC - Golden, COWildhorse GC - Gothenburg, NE