Warian Is Medalist & Gophers Are Team Champs at Highland Meadows
April 16, 2024
If you watched the final round of the PGA last month you might not have noticed that the professional who played with Rory McIlroy in the last group was an Austrian professional named Bernd Wiesberger. He is the most famous Austrian golfer among the 100,000 people who play golf in this European country of 8 million with the size of Maine.
Austria has approximately 160 golf courses and many of them are nine holes. When I played media events in Arizona over the last decade one of the golf writers I befriended was a 32-year old Austrian named Stephan Guertler. He writes golf and lives in Vienna; last January he asked if he and his father Wolfgang could stay with me a few days so they could play the celebrated courses in Minnesota and I wholeheartedly consented. Late last month they arrived.
Stephan is an enthusiastic golfer, avid traveler, and prolific writer who has played golf in 30 countries and on five continents. He has a mission to play the top 100 courses in the USA as compiled by GolfWeek magazine. So far he has played more than 60 and those include: Pine Valley GC, Cypress Point Club, Shinnecock Hills GC, Augusta National GC, Oakmont CC, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Merion Golf Club, Fishers Island GC, Seminole Golf Club, San Francisco Golf Club, Winged Foot GC, Riviera GC and the Olympic Club.
Besides being the former editor of Extra Golf in Vienna, Guertler was a golf course rater for GolfWeek magazine, a current contributor to the Golf Channel, and is an international member at Galloway National GC, located outside of Atlantic City, NJ.
Guertler said, “I love the USA as much as any American and come here as often as I can. I have been here more than 40 times, have visited 38 states, and know parts of Oregon, Scottsdale and Hilton Head better than parts of my hometown.” He elaborated, “I am an ambitious golfer but I’m way more of a passionate traveler. I always say I’d rather shoot 120 at a famed course than 65 on a cow pasture.”
What does he say about the courses he has played in Minnesota so far? Here are his assessments.
The Minikahda Club: A Donald Ross classic, great green complexes, beautiful clubhouse and historic.
Windsong Farm GC: a very nice course, great variety of holes, classic and timeless design.
Hazeltine National GC: a classic, bucket list course. I always wanted to play there, really challenging.
Interlachen CC: hands down my favorite course in Minnesota---old school—a classic. One of the most challenging and most demanding courses off the tee I have ever played. Outstanding green complexes, historic and beautiful clubhouse. Great over all experience. 5 Star rating!
Here are his comments on the public courses he played during his sojourn in Minnesota:
“I played great daily fee golf courses that presented a wonderful variety and really differed from one another. Most of them were in awesome shape. What they all have is great value. Giants Ridge (Biwabik) is a wonderful facility and The Quarry is the star of the show but I also relished the Legend course too.
Fortune Bay (Tower) is a beautiful course on rolling terrain through hardwoods and quite challenging for a resort course. Deacon’s Lodge at Breezy Point is among Arnold Palmer’s finest layouts---interesting and challenging holes that make use of the undulated terrain with breathtaking lake views.
The Classic in Brainerd was in outstanding shape, interesting holes, and a strategic design that incorporates a few lakes into the design. The Pines is a 27-hole facility with narrow fairways which are characterized by majestic trees.”
With his two-week stay in Minnesota completed, he still wants to come back and play ones he missed such as White Bear Golf & Yacht Club, Minneapolis Golf Club, Woodhill CC, Oak Ridge CC, Somerset CC, Spring Hill GC, and Northland CC in Duluth.
As he concluded, “Minnesota has some outstanding golf courses. The Gopher state can be proud of its 500 courses. My father and I hope to be back someday to play the classic ones we missed.” In the meantime they invited me to come to Vienna and play. My passport is ready.
GOLF NOTES:
The inaugural St. Cloud “Tee it up for the Troops” will be played at the St. Cloud CC on Monday, September 8, 2014. The 12:45 p.m. shotgun start scramble has a $150 entry fee. According to Bob Corley, Tournament Chairman, the tournaments around the country have raised more than $5 since its inception by a Minnesota businessman 10 years ago. For sponsorship information or to enter a team or as an individual contact Tom Olson, GM St. Cloud CC. His phone number is 320-253-1331 or tomo@stcloudcountryclub.com. As the tournament brochure stated, “Divots can be replaced, freedom cannot.” What a great event to help support the critical needs of military veterans and their families.
Pete Pratt informed me that the John Berling---SCSU Baseball Golf Classic will be contested at Wapicada Golf Club on Saturday, September 13. Entry fee is $100. This fee includes 18-holes of scramble golf, beverages and brats, door prizes and awards, husky baseball cap, and a post-round baseball dinner. To enter the event call Pete Pratt (320-309-7989) or Pat Dolan (320-333-3336).
Wapicada GC held its club championship and here are the champions:
Women’s Championship Flight = Samantha Sommers (144)
Women’s President’s Flight = Karen Zweiner (170)
Women’s First Flight = Karen Studer
Men’s Championship = Daryl Schomer (182)
Men’s President’s = Dan Peterka (159)
Men’s Senior Championship = Lynn McClintock (148)
Men’s Senior President’s = Ernie Bell (166)
Men’s Super-Senior = Roy Lommel (147)
Men’s Super-Senior President’s = Bill Nohner (163)
Here are the champions who were crowned at Koronis Hills GC in Paynesville:
Men’s Club Champion = Randy Beier
Men’s Senior Champion = Mike Atkinson
Women’s Club Champion = RaNae Martinson
The Albany Club Championship had the following winners:
Ladies Club Champion = Annette Brewer
Ladies First Flight = Lynette Gorman
Men’s Club Champion = Adam Utsch
First Flight = Chad Thesing
Second Flight = Pat LeClair
Third Flight = Bob Warzecha
Senior Champion = Steve Blattner
Boys’ Junior Champion = Camron Lemke
According to club manager Paul Wellenstein, the 6-6-6 tournament will be played on Sunday, August 31 and the rescheduled Red River Shortstop will be played on Sunday, September 7.
Jgl843@charter.net
April 9, 2024
Contact Us
Have a question about the Minnesota Golf Association, your MGA membership or the contents of this website? Let us help.