Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2009 - 8

(editor'sletter)
Golf Stimulus 101
L
ast summer, Wayzata Country Club
member Roger Miller purchased
a sporty convertible for his wife,
Lenore, and with her, set out to tour Minnesota's
22 scenic drives. Miller, who loves
travel (he owns a travel agency), and his wife
managed to complete 21 of those drives, no
doubt putting thousands of miles on the
odometer. An avid walker, Miller also burned
thousands of calories along the sidewalks of
the towns that link the scenic drives together
like charms on a bracelet.
" The places we traveled were spectacular, "
Miller says, adding, " Our state is stunning. "
He is right, and he could have added,
" Our state is incredibly varied. " The epiphany
that struck me while listening to Miller
was how often we overlook or forget to
recognize the beauty, the scenery and the
majesty of our state as we zoom through it
on our busy journeys. Taking in the places
and the people while touring Minnesota is
an awesome experience. And it's all only a
tank of gas away, more or less; it's all there
waiting to be lived on your own terms,
more or less.
The marketers haven't packaged Minnesota,
marked it up or dumbed it down
to reach the largest demographic with the
most disposable income. Rather, when you
make a trip through the state, you do it on
your own initiative-planning your drive,
picking places to stop for lunch, making
overnight arrangements or sleeping under
the stars ... your head resting comfortably
on your golf bag, perhaps?
Yep, don't leave home without your golf
clubs. There are small-town, nine-hole golf
layouts just waiting for you to discover their
charms. How about playing all of them?
Miller thought the idea was " neat, " and if
you've met him, you know that's a loaded
expression-Miller has enthusiasm enough
for a roomful of glass-half-full types.
If you're like me, you may not have the
stamina, bank balance, free time or sympathetic
spouse allowing such a gargantuan
Guinness World Records odyssey. But
that doesn't mean you can't stimulate your
game this season-and help stimulate the
local economy-by making a scenic trip
to play a small-town golf venue (they'd love
to have you).
Can't play all of the nine-holes across the
state? No problem. There are more than
45 short courses in the Twin Cities area
(where green fees average $10-$12 for kids
and seniors).
Can't afford a new set of golf clubs? Make
your old set feel new by getting it completely
re-gripped.
Got time on your hands? Revisit one of
your favorite 18-hole golf courses around
the metro, or around the state.
Need a resource to jumpstart your journey?
Take the map from this issue's Driving
Minnesota tour (see page 26), or re-read
any of the 36 Driving Minnesota tours featured
in Minnesota Golfer since 2000. Also
available in those issues: profi les of more
than 100 Great Drives holes.
No time for a weekend golf getaway?
Plan a day at your local golf course with the
whole family-some practice, some golf,
some food, plus fun and good memories to
last a lifetime. Whether your grip is overlapped
or interlocked, grab the golf experience
this summer.
See you on the tee.
W.P. Ryan, Editor-in-Chief
6
MINNESOTAGOLFER April/May 2009
www.mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2009
