Central: 9-Hole Gems

West Central East

 


Ah, the college years, spent in the Central portion of the country. Attending school in the late 60’s and early 70’s, if I played golf then, I don’t recall the details. Everything is kind of fuzzy. I’m starting fresh here. Let’s explore this great area of the country together. The Central include: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Mississippi, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Ohio.

We are traveling across country from Colorado to Illinois (and back). We are frugal travelers on this trip, so the two men and one woman will be sharing a room. My question again, “who sleeps with Sally?” Since we are siblings, I hope the answer is NOBODY!

Three of the Springfield “kids”, Scott, Sally, and Steve are headed to a College Homecoming. Back in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s we somehow all ended up at Aurora College in Aurora, IL.

The last time we traveled this far and this close together was in 1960 in our 1956 Ford station wagon, which also included Mom, Dad, and our older sister Sue. Mom and Dad would have been proud as we completed this 2,000 mile journey still talking to one another.

The two states between Colorado and Illinois along I-70 are Missouri and Kansas. So now we had to find the perfect spots for me to stop and pee; Sally to get something to eat; and Steve to embarrass us with the locals. And yes, find a couple of 9-hole golf courses.

In Ballwin, MO we found a fun course and played with a couple of super guys. In Monroe City, MO, they must have heard we were coming because nobody was home…we played anyway. In Russell, KS, we just stopped because we were so close to the geographical center of the United States (and I had to pee, Sally had to eat, & Steve had to be a jokester).

Ballwin Golf Club – Ballwin, MO
Mosswood Meadows Golf Course – Monroe City, MO
Russell Golf Course – Russell, KS

P.S. I want to make it perfectly clear, the correct answer is NOBODY!

***

Four men, who have know each other since the late ‘50’s gathered in Michigan to share a longtime bond in a time of sorrow, as one of these men had just lost a loved one.
One day was filled with eating, drinking, and watching classic cars parade during the Woodward Dream Cruise. It was also a day of remembrance and sharing tales of our youth.
Another day continued to take us back to the ‘60’s as we visited Detroit and the songs of our teenage years – Motown.

We ended our trip by visiting two local 9-hole courses and a venture across the border to play a 9-holer in Canada.

Copper Creek Golf Course – Farmington Hills, MI
Water’s Edge Golf Course – Grosse Ile, MI
Talbot Trail Golf Club – Wheatley, ON, Canada