Golf Course Rankings

This is a list of the golf courses that I have played and my personal rankings of them:

My rankings are based upon playability, course conditions, shot making requirements, aesthetic qualities and architecture.

1) Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club

2) Prairie Club - Dunes Course

3) Erin Hills
4) Whistling Straits - Straits Course

5) Sand Hills 
6) Olde Stone

7) Prairie Club - Pines Course

8) Colorado Golf Club

9) Harbour Town Golf Links
10) Blackwolf Run - River Course

11) Country Club of Castle Pines

12) Bishop's Bay Country Club

13) Troy Burne
14) Prairie Club - Horse Course
15) Horseshoe Bay Golf Club

16) Bardmoor Golf and Country Club

17) Lawsonia Links

18) Wild Rock
19) Washington County Golf Course

20) Hawks Landing Golf Club

21) Maple Bluff Country Club

22) The Bergamont

23) Blackhawk Country Club

24) Peninsula State Park Golf Course
25) Tuckaway Country Club

26) Brown County Golf Course

27) Ozaukee Country Club

28) University Ridge Golf Course

29) Dismal River Club

30) Wild Ridge

31) Eagle River Country Club

32) The Orchards at Egg Harbor

33) Eagle Creek Golf Club

34) Northwood Golf Club

35) SentryWorld Golf Course

36) House on the Rock Resort - Original 18

37) Sterling Country Club

38) Lake Wisconsin Golf Club

39) Currie Park Golf Course

Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club - From 17 Tee

Erin Hills Golf Course - 9 Green

Top 25 Courses I Still Want to Play:


1) The Old Course at St. Andrews
2) Cypress Point
3) Augusta National
4) Old MacDonald
5) Cape Kidnappers
6) Lahinch
7) Ballybunion
8) Friars Head
9) Pine Valley
10) NGLA - National Golf Links of America
11) Pacific Dunes
12) Barnbougle Dunes
13) Shinnecock Hills
14) Sebonack
15) Sheep Ranch
16) Oakmont Country Club
17) The Kingsley Club
18) Rock Creek Cattle Company
19) Tetherow
20) Arcadia Bluffs
21) Torrey Pines (South)
22) Pebble Beach
23) Whistling Straits (Straits) (CHECK OFF 9/2/11)
24) The Dunes Club
25) Chicago Golf Club

I mean, come on. Cape Kidnappers just looks disgusting.

I will be continuing to add comments and golf courses to my list as time progresses. My top rated courses are by no means currently all the courses that I have played, but this is only the beginning. I hope to play every golf course in the world by the time all is said and done...seems potentially doubtful though. If you have suggestions about more great courses to experience, please feel free to email me at mitch.ehly@gmail.com. 

Go tee it up and live the dream.

Noah's Ark and Devil's Lake State Park

June 5th, 2011

There is nothing in the world that I love more than something free. Two other things that I thoroughly enjoy are exploring the world, and Noah's Ark Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells, WI. I have always had such an affinity for that place, spending as many days as possible enjoying the rides on site and always wetting a new spot on Sting Ray with Tyler. What is there that I could possibly ask for in life? How about free passes to Noah's Ark, free lunch at Noah's Ark, free admission to Devil's Lake State Park and an absolutely perfect day? I'll take it.

Heading out at about 9 am with my cousin Tyler, his girlfriend Whitney, my friend Kaylin, and Tyler's step brother and sister Aaron and Lexi, we were off to a day of fun. It's hard not to get excited on the way up to the Ark as it is clearly one of the most fun places for a group of friends in the area. The first ride hit was the new "Scorpion's Tail." This ride is the highest in the park and offers a new idea. "Scorpion's Tail" allows riders to step into a glass case and stand vertically for a few seconds until the floor falls out from underneath them. Quite the rush, I must say. I've never spent a day at Noah's Ark that we have been able to ride all the rides we really wanted to before lunch. Yesterday, that happened. We enjoyed our free lunch and decided to go on one more ride and hit the wave pool before we headed out for the next adventure.

Devil's Lake State Park was part of the Department of Natural Resources "Free Admission Day" for all State Parks in Wisconsin yesterday as well. So we figured we might as well go explore there as well. After the 30 minute drive, of which I slept the whole time, we arrived to the park. The girls decided that they wanted to just sit by the beach while us guys went to explore. Aaron decided to rock the sandals for the adventure. 1329 feet above sea level is almost unheard of in Wisconsin, and we trekked it all the way to the top. Although far from climbing a "14'er" out in the Rockies, it was a nice hike to finish the day.

This is what it looks like from the top. The rocks up there are beautiful. What's crazy though is how you can hear specifically hear what individual people are saying from all the way down on the beach. However, if we were to yell from the top, we figure there is no way they would be able to hear us. Also, due to the fact that the rock outcroppings heat up from the sun so much faster than the trees and soil do, they create a dramatic convection current. This current allows the birds of prey to swoop down toward the water and use the convection currents to rise themselves back up to higher elevations. Quite the sight to see.

Overall, I would say that yesterday was definitely the best day that I have ever had without spending a dollar. Not a very common thing but I sure will take it. I'm glad I got to spend such a fun day with a great group of people, while getting a great chance to explore previously unseen territory for myself. Welcome back, summer. You've been missed.

Remembering Uncle Russ

May 27th, 2011

Remembering Uncle Russ -

86 years this world was bettered by the presence of my great uncle Russ Marty. He was a farmer, a hunter, a fisherman, but most of all he was a family man. He loved his family more than anything, and spent his entire life on the Marty farm on Marty Road in Madison. This was the farm that I grew up hunting on and spent so much of my time on. My grandfather, Paul Marty, of course lived right next to Russ in the house next door.

Grandpa and Russ sure were something together. They were nearly identical in so many ways. Their dispositions were as similar as their builds. Seeing the pictures of them in Russ' wedding was comical. I recall my cousin Tyler saying that in that picture "Russ looked like a beefy version of Grandpa." And it was so true. Russ may have been a big man, but he sure was a gentle giant. He spent his entire life with his high school sweetheart Marge. Marge always has been one of the nicest people I have ever had the chance to know, and her and Russ were the perfect fit. One of the memories that sticks out the most from spending time with Russ was the ice fishing. Heading down to "The Pond" in my youth to go spend the day trying to catch a tiny little bluegill through the ice sure was fun.

Russ was always such a positive influence on everyone around him. There are so many memories that I have thanks to Russ Marty. I will never forget you Uncle Russ.