Stan,

It's because they now call it the Upper Penninsula of Michigan.

Joe

p.s. Can't help with ya with the cigar, but the way you phrased the question I bet Bill Clinton could be of some help.

Whitman & Mingay's Blackhawk in Edmonton is exceptionally good, opening a few years ago. The site is quite spectacular, and features 3 distinct landscapes which add a lot of character to the course. The opening seven holes play over rolling land at the top of the escarpment, while the next four holes play over severe terrain and serve as the transition to the riverside closers.

TK

Andrew.  Thanks, but as a Canuk I'll take our American friends over our Cuban 'friends' anytime and on the rare occasion I smoke a cigar (usually fishing/never golf) I think the ones from Costa Rica, Dominican, and Jamaica are just fine.

Trent and I built a course in Jamaica a long time ago, we found this great local guy to roll cigars for us. They were so good that I recommended the club install a phone on the course so you could order cigars from the guy and pick them up after your round was complete.

There are good courses built after '49 -- Blackhawk, Eagles Nest, Bigwin Island, Paintbrush...

I think Whitman has talent and Blackhawk wouldn't be out of place in your roster of courses, Stan.

I think this question would be better posed about 10-15 years down the road.  Apart from The National, the best courses in Canada since 1949 have been built in the past few years, or will be built in the next few years.

Banff, Jasper, St. George's, Capilano, Highlands, are in rarified air...great sites, great design.

Courses (post 1949) that I've played which may possibly approach Thompson's best include...

Eagle's Nest
Devil's Paintbrush
The National
Redtail
Osprey Heathland and Hoot

Cottage country courses such as Bigwin, Grandview, Rocky Crest, Lake Joe, Wildfire, Taboo, etc. are excellent and unique in their landscape.  I know there are more up there, too.

It does seem the US has been more successful in getting more GREAT courses built in the last 50 years.  We can't deny the obvious fact that a main reason for this is the architects that have been working in each country.  Would have loved to have seen Doak, C&C, etc. get a few of the recent projects up here on very good sites...just for comparison sake.

I don't know Gerry, Redtail in many respects is better than 99% of the courses built in Canada in recent times.

It is not overshaped, superb set of par 3's, great short 4's, interesting greens.  If nothing else, the look and feel of it is unique and it is a 'pure' golf club.