Pick a Tee, any Tee.
Here's a liTTle example of how Terrible iT can be To pick the wrong Tee.
IT’s obvious To everybody and iT cosTs everbody Time, noT to menTion iT's irriTaTing. 

O.k enough of that.

Mr. Kircher (our founder) was a big proponent of keeping the game enjoyable and quick for all levels of play. He drove purists (snobs) crazy with his demands for more forward tees. Twenty-plus years later and the world is still catching up with him.

Today BOYNE has five sets of tees colored (back to front) Brown, Purple, Orange, Green and Silver. 

No red tees?  That’s right. Pick the ones that fit. Leave the stigmas at home.

Decisions, Decisions…
Not everybody has a good frame of reference for rating and slope. You don’t want to decide based on total distance of the course. It isn’t a very good indicator of what you’re in for.  Doglegs, forced carries and elevation changes can have a big impact without adding length. (Crooked Tree is a great example of this.)

HINT: If you’re on the fence between two sets, look at the lengths of the par 3’s.  Which set fits in the range you can comfortably hit?  Answer honestly and you’ll have more fun and MIGHT shoot a better score-provided, of course, that your putter is a friend.

When in doubt, ask the Pro or starter, but don't be surprised if they ask you to repeat the question.  They have been waiting for somebody to ask them that their entire career.

-JJ

The picture to the right is Boyne Highlands Arthur Hills #4 towards the front. Picture below is the same hole further back. The differnce isn't staggering, but it could make all difference in your day.
What are you up for?
  

I HATE looking for golf balls.
I hate it so much that I have made it policy to offer people in my group a free drop AND one of my golf balls just so we can keep things moving. (local rules)

“Please. I insist. I really should have kept a bead on it.  If I had, you wouldn’t have lost your ball, so it’s really my fault anyway. If you were playing on tour the entire gallery would be pointing to it somewhere here in the rough.”

This weekend I stumbled into something that has changed my thoughts about roaming around the woods staring downward. While hiking at the Mountain I nearly tripped over a couple Morels.   We were probably 200 yards from the Monument golf course.  It wouldn't be out of the question to see golf balls here, but here were a couple proud little mushrooms right out in the open.

They were staring up at me saying,
“Please take one.  Your first fix is free.”

I'm new to this, so I just plucked the heads. I thought leaving the stems might lead to more shrooms later...rookie.

Per pound these little puppies are more valuable than finding mint Pro-V’s...and a lot tastier too.

Now I’m hooked.  The rest of the hike I was constantly scanning the forest floor looking for more of the ugly little things.  It’s a good thing Morel season is short.  Hiking won’t be the same till it’s over and it will be embarrassing when people offer to buy me Shitakes just so we can get done before nightfall.

-JJ

As a golfer, I can appreciate Mel Brooks’ definition of Tragedy and Comedy

“Tragedy is when I cut my finger.  Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die.”

A little harsh, but then again, you’ve never played golf with my friends.

My experience Saturday on the Alpine is either really funny or really tragic, depending on your perspective. I've decided it’s best for me to just think of it as a Cinderella story. More...

Somewhere in a past post I mentioned that the Cuff Links at Boyne Highlands will be offering night golf under the lights- free to resort guests Fridays and Saturdays in June.  It sounds like a good opportunity to really turn the screws on buddies after a long day of doing the same. Might be a fun way for families to enjoy the game together too.  It may even be fun date material…
Whatever the pretext, I can’t wait.

The only other time I have played night golf- other than stretching a twilight round too far- was at Big Sky Resort a couple summers ago.  I was out there for a week of doing something workish during the days and then spending afternoons and a weekend really eating up a Montana August.

The saying out there is “I came out for the winters and stayed for the summers.” If you’ve been there you’re nodding your head right now in agreement.  If you haven’t, get crackin! Summer in Big Sky country is as fleeting and sweet as a wild berry.

The hiking, biking, fishing, rafting and sight seeing are all of the sensory overload variety.  Couple that with a golf course approximately 7,000 feet above see level and you have the makings of an extremely heady experience. (Note the "heady experience" for later.) More...