Classic at Madden's - Brainerd

My favorite course to play is the Classic at Madden's. That's where I shot my first par round from the tips. It's very challenging, and it's a very pretty course, too. I can find a great shot anywhere I point the camera, but my favorite is the 16th hole. Photographing from the 17th, I can get a great angle of the beautiful covered bridge that goes over the pond to the green. And there are lots of trees that make nice frames for my photographs on other holes. I just love being out here.

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The Legend at Giants Ridge - Biwabik

In my opinion, this is a tough championship course. It's up in the wilderness, and you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. All you hear is balls hitting trees and an occasional splash–no traffic noise, no airplanes, no homes with dogs barking. You and your buddies are out there by yourselves. I like to photograph the clear blue water early in the morning when the light is low and the steam is coming up. The tall trees and boulders are beautiful, too. After you're done golfing, the surrounding area is great for hiking, fishing and all kinds other activities.

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Dacotah Ridge Golf Club - Morton

The course at Dacotah Ridge is a beautiful place to play. Built on the prairie so few trees come into play, but it's a test of your golf skills if it's windy. Rees Jones designed the course. He's great. He's called the "Open Doctor" because he's redone many of the U.S. Open courses to get them ready for tournament play. Wabasha Creek winds through about half the course, and the multi-tiered greens can be difficult.

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The Wilderness at Fortune Bay - Tower

Another course that reflects the beauty of the Northwood's is the Wilderness at Fortune Bay. It was designed by Jeffery Brauer, the same architect who designed the courses at Giants Ridge, but it's totally different. There are lots of red and white pines, and it plays long. It's done in the new style of courses, with crowned greens with shaved sides. If you can't place your ball, it will run right off the side!

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Legends Golf Club - Prior Lake

I like the Legends course because it's quite challenging. It was named 2006 Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association. There are some elevation changes, lots of water hazards, and just lots of variety. It has four of the toughest par threes around. Two are over water, and you're always shooting into the wind or sideways. One short par three is also tricky. If you decelerate, you're in the junk. The course is just south of the Twin Cities, and it's like a dream outside the busy part of the city.

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The Pines/Grand View Lodge - Nisswa

The Pines is the granddaddy of resort courses. This course started it all because it was one of the first. There are three nine-hole combinations–Marsh, Lakes and Woods. I like the elevation changes and natural hazards on the course. They're pretty and challenging. On the fifth and seventh holes on the Lakes course, you have to make shots over water to the green. There are giant trees at every hole, and the tall trunks make a great frame for a shot of the hole.

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Chaska Town Course - Chaska

The Chaska Town Course hosted two rounds of U.S. Amateur Championships in 2006. It's a beautiful course to play. There are oaks, prairie and marshland all around. The prairie adds beautiful color to my photographs. The bunkers on the holes add some shade contrast and bring out the greens.

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Legacy at Cragun's - Brainerd

The Legacy courses at Cragun's have earned the Audubon International Signature Sanctuary designation, so they have an environmentally friendly atmosphere. The two 18-hole courses are around a lake and waterfall. One course is actually 19 holes–the Bobby's Legacy course has a Gambler's Hole at the end.

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Willingers Golf Club - Northfield

Willinger's is a great course. It's always in good shape, and you can play it as tough as you want. It's over 7,400 yards at the tips. You'd better be accurate! On the 18th hole, there's a water hazard near the green surrounded by a sand bunker. It looks like a little beach. There are challenging bunkers, water hazards and elevation changes that come into play throughout most of the course.

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The Quarry at Giants Ridge - Biwabik

The Quarry is the other championship course at Giants Ridge. Even though it's in the same place as the Legend, it couldn't be more different. The course was designed over a sand quarry, so it's very visually intimidating. There are also lots of elevation changes. Both the Quarry and the Legend are an easy drive from the Twin Cities–around three hours. And when you're done golfing, there's actually a great Caribbean restaurant nearby in Gilbert called the Whistling Bird.

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The Wilds Golf Club - Prior Lake

You need to be long at the Wilds. One of the challenging holes is number 9, a par four uphill. The course was designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf, and it's beautiful and natural. There are several wonderful stands of pines and wetlands. There is water in play on at least half the holes. The wetlands are interesting to photograph because of the blue water with natural branches and trees poking out of the surface. They have a great Sunday brunch, too!

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Deacon's Lodge - Breezy Point

Deacon's Lodge, designed by Arnold Palmer, is one of three courses at Grand View Lodge. The course is a little ways out from the lodge, but there are cabins on the course where you can stay. It's nice because it seems like you're in the middle of nowhere. It's a beautiful course to photograph early in the morning when the first beams of sunlight start to reach the trees.

Superior National - Lutsen

There are nice views of Lake Superior on many holes at Superior National. I like the view from the top of the hill on the 8th hole on the Canyon course. You can see the lake flat out. The drive to the course on Highway 61 is very scenic. It runs right along Lake Superior. You can stop at the Temperance River at an overlook called the Palisade Head. There's no guardrail, and you can walk right up to the edge and look out over the rocky beaches. It makes a day of golf even better.

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Prestwick Golf Club - Woodbury

The National Audubon Society has recognized the Prestwick Golf Club for its environmentally friendly design. Trees and lakes on the holes of this course make many of the shots quite difficult, especially on the 16th hole. They just redesigned the clubhouse. It's full service, with a wonderful restaurant called Axel's.

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Territory Golf Club - St. Cloud

The front and back nine are completely different at Territory Golf Club. The front nine is links style. And the back nine is through the woods. It's a nice place to golf because the grounds are always in good shape. It's about an hours drive from the Twin Cities which makes a good stop on the way up North. You can book a Thursday afternoon tee time at the Territory on the way to Brainerd for a great weekend of golf.

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Mississippi National - Red Wing

Mississippi National is where I learned how to play golf. It's very pretty. The Lowlands course has the more traditional rolling greens, while the Highlands course has very challenging elevation changes. One of the holes has a 150-foot drop from tee to green. There's no way to walk the Highlands course!

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Rush Creek Golf Club - Maple Grove

The prairie and marshes on the Rush Creek course give me wonderful panoramic photographs. The course layout is very natural–it flows along with several creeks and lakes. The toughest hole is 14. It's 440 yards uphill over a marsh. If you hit a good drive, you're still 220. I hate it! Rush Creek hosted the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 2004, and it also hosts the Trent Tucker Celebrity Tournament every year. The clubhouse is beautiful, too.

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