Friday, October 10, 2025

Thursday, October 9th: Aholt Sets Record (+11, 68)!

NOTE:   Closest to the holes for October are #7 & #14.

Individual Winners:  Aholt swept the front (+5), back (+6) and total (+11).  Terry is preparing a 1099 for Dave$$$

Even/Plus Points Club: Aholt (+11), Hall (5) and Clark, Eichelberger & Moosman (€).

75 & Below Score Club:  Aholt (68), Clark (71) and Eichelberger & Hall (€).

Closest to the Hole:  Eichelberger won #7 and Johnson won #14.

Quota Increases:  Aholt (+2) and Hall (+1).

Quota Decreases:  All (-1):  Blackwell, Coleman, Fortner & Johnson.

Quotas: Aholt 31 * Alferman 34 * Baer 29 * Blackwell 31 * Breid 23 * Clark 36 * Coleman 35 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curran 30 * Curtis 31 (White Tees) * Denbow 30 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 28 * Eckelkamp 35 * Eggert 30 * Eichelberger 32 (White Tees) * Elcan 28 (Blue Tees) * Fortner 23 (Blue Tees) * Gildehaus 31 * Hall 28 * Herrick 24 * Hoemann 33 * Horstkamp 25 *Johnson 30 * Kavanaugh 28 * Kossmann 29 * Lindhoff 31 * Loyd 23 * Marquart 27 * Miller 23 (Gold Tees) * Mitchell 27 * Moosman 29 * Morris 25  * Meyer 28 * Nealis 22 * Palumbo 31 *  Parmentier 32 * Purschke 20 * Scheer 20 * Scheidegger 33 * Schrader 33 * Sharma 27 * Stapp 33 * Stoehner 25 * Tiefenbrunn 24 (Black Tees) * Triplett 30 * Viox 27 * Voss, Chas 26 * Voss, Colby 32 * Voss, Dean 34 * Zastrow, Owen 28 * Zastrow, Josh 35

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Tuesday, October 7th: Aholt, Coleman & Kossman (+4)!

NOTE:   Closest to the holes for October are #7 & #14.

Individual Winners:  Dunlavy won the front (+3).  Miller won the back (+5). Aholt, Coleman & Kossman tied the total (+4).

Even/Plus Points Club: Aholt, Kossmann & Miller (+4).  Coleman, Dister & Dunlavy (+2).  Hall (€).

75 & Below Score Club:  Coleman (69), Eichelberger (73), Aholt (74) and Kossmann (75).

Closest to the Hole:  Coleman won #7 and Dister won #14.

Quota Increases:  All (+1):  Dister, Eichelberger, Kossmann & Miller

Quota Decreases:  All (-1):  Hall

Quotas: Aholt 29 * Alferman 34 * Baer 29 * Blackwell 32 * Breid 23 * Clark 36 * Coleman 36 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curran 30 * Curtis 31 (White Tees) * Denbow 30 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 28 * Eckelkamp 35 * Eggert 30 * Eichelberger 32 (White Tees) * Elcan 28 (Blue Tees) * Fortner 24 (Blue Tees) * Gildehaus 31 * Hall 27 * Herrick 24 * Hoemann 33 * Horstkamp 25 *Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 28 * Kossmann 29 * Lindhoff 31 * Loyd 23 * Marquart 27 * Miller 23 (Gold Tees) * Mitchell 27 * Moosman 29 * Morris 25  * Meyer 28 * Nealis 22 * Palumbo 31 *  Parmentier 32 * Purschke 20 * Scheer 20 * Scheidegger 33 * Schrader 33 * Sharma 27 * Stapp 33 * Stoehner 25 * Tiefenbrunn 24 (Black Tees) * Triplett 30 * Viox 27 * Voss, Chas 26 * Voss, Colby 32 * Voss, Dean 34 * Zastrow, Owen 28 * Zastrow, Josh 35 

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Thursday, October 2nd: Eichelberger & Miller (+2)!

NOTE:   Closest to the holes for October are #7 & #14.

Individual Winners:  Eggert won the front (+2). Eichelberger & Miller tied the back (+2) and total (+2).

Even/Plus Points Club: Eichelberger & Miller (+ 2) and Eggert (+1).

75 & Below Score Club:  Coleman & Crow (73) and Clark & Eichelberger (74).

Closest to the Hole:  Johnson won #7 and Eichelberger won #14.

Quota Increases:  All (+1):  Scheidegger (+1)

Quota Decreases:  All (-1):  Crow, Dunlavy, Koosmann & Moosman

Quotas: Aholt 29 * Alferman 34 * Baer 29 * Blackwell 32 * Breid 23 * Clark 36 * Coleman 36 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curran 30 * Curtis 31 (White Tees) * Denbow 30 * Dister 29 * Dunlavy 28 * Eckelkamp 35 * Eggert 30 * Eichelberger 31 (White Tees) * Elcan 28 (Blue Tees) * Fortner 24 (Blue Tees) * Gildehaus 31 * Hall 28 * Herrick 24 * Hoemann 33 * Horstkamp 25 *Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 28 * Kossmann 28 * Lindhoff 31 * Loyd 23 * Marquart 27 * Miller 22 (Gold Tees) * Mitchell 27 * Moosman 29 * Morris 25  * Meyer 28 * Nealis 22 * Palumbo 31 *  Parmentier 32 * Purschke 20 * Scheer 20 * Scheidegger 33 * Schrader 33 * Sharma 27 * Stapp 33 * Stoehner 25 * Tiefenbrunn 24 (Black Tees) * Triplett 30 * Viox 27 * Voss, Chas 26 * Voss, Colby 32 * Voss, Dean 34 * Zastrow, Owen 28 * Zastrow, Josh 35 

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Tuesday, September 30th: Johnson is Strong (+4, 73)!

NOTE:   Closest to the holes for October are #7 & #14.

Individual Winners:  Johnson won the front (+4) and total (+4).  Hall won the back (+1).

Even/Plus Points Club: Johnson (+4) and Eggert & Kossmann (€).

75 & Below Score Club:  Johnson (73).

Closest to the Hole:  Moosman won #5 and Johnson won #11.

Quota Increases:  All (+1):  Eggert & Johnson (+1)

Quota Decreases:  All (-1):  Hall

Quotas:  Aholt 29 * Alferman 34 * Baer 29 * Blackwell 32 * Breid 23 * Clark 36 * Coleman 36 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 36 * Curran 30 * Curtis 31 (White Tees) * Denbow 30 * Dister 29 * Dunlavy 29 * Eckelkamp 35 * Eggert 30 * Eichelberger 28 (Blue Tees) * Elcan 28 (Blue Tees) * Fortner 24 (Blue Tees) * Gildehaus 31 * Hall 28 * Herrick 24 * Hoemann 33 * Horstkamp 25 *Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 28 * Kossmann 29 * Lindhoff 31 * Loyd 23 * Marquart 27 * Miller 22 (Gold Tees) * Mitchell 27 * Moosman 30 * Morris 25  * Meyer 28 * Nealis 22 * Palumbo 31 *  Parmentier 32 * Purschke 20 * Scheer 20 * Scheidegger 32 * Schrader 33 * Sharma 27 * Stapp 33 * Stoehner 25 * Tiefenbrunn 24 (Black Tees) * Triplett 30 * Viox 27 * Voss, Chas 26 * Voss, Colby 32 * Voss, Dean 34 * Zastrow, Owen 28 * Zastrow, Josh 35

Monday, September 29, 2025

Thursday, September 25th: Elcan Can (+5, 75)!

NOTE:   Closest to the holes for September are #5 & #11.

Individual Winners:  Eichelberger & Elcan tied the front (+5), Kossmann won the back (+3) and Elcan won the total (+5).

Even/Plus Points Club: Elcan (+5), Coleman (+4), Moosman (3), Dunlavy & Kossmann (+2).

75 & Below Score Club:  Coleman (68), Elcan (75) & Moosman (75).

Closest to the Hole:  Fortner won #5 and  Johnson won #11.

Quota Increases:  All (+1):  Coleman, Dunlavy, Eichelberger, Elcan, Kossmann and Moosman.

Quota Decreases:  All (-1):  Eggert

Quotas:  Aholt 29 * Alferman 34 * Baer 29 * Blackwell 32 * Breid 23 * Clark 36 * Coleman 36 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 36 * Curran 30 * Curtis 31 (White Tees) * Denbow 30 * Dister 29 * Dunlavy 29 * Eckelkamp 35 * Eggert 29 * Eichelberger 28 (Blue Tees) * Elcan 28 (Blue Tees) * Fortner 24 (Blue Tees) * Gildehaus 31 * Hall 29 * Herrick 24 * Hoemann 33 * Horstkamp 25 *Johnson 30 * Kavanaugh 28 * Kossmann 29 * Lindhoff 31 * Loyd 23 * Marquart 27 * Miller 22 (Gold Tees) * Mitchell 27 * Moosman 30 * Morris 25  * Meyer 28 * Nealis 22 * Palumbo 31 *  Parmentier 32 * Purschke 20 * Scheer 20 * Scheidegger 32 * Schrader 33 * Sharma 27 * Stapp 33 * Stoehner 25 * Tiefenbrunn 24 (Black Tees) * Triplett 30 * Viox 27 * Voss, Chas 26 * Voss, Colby 32 * Voss, Dean 34 * Zastrow, Owen 28 * Zastrow, Josh 35

Mike Clark in Scotland - Final Day

Well my Highland Scotland adventure has come to a close and it’s been a very memorable experience. I have seen and played all varieties of courses in the highlands including links, heathland and parkland. This area of Scotland has some of the most beautiful venues in which to play the game in the world.

Courses I have played while here include (in no particular order and many on this list I’ve played multiple times as most days I played 36 holes)


Tain Golf Links

Portmahomack Links

Strathpeffer Spa Golf  Club

Royal Dornoch Championship Links

Royal Dornoch Struie Links

Bonnar Bridge Golf Club

Alness Golf Club

Boat of Garten Golf Club

Abernathy Golf Club

Nairn Championship Links

Nairn Dunbar Links

Hopeman Golf Links

Covesea Golf Links

Links of Old Moray both Old and New Courses 

Helmsdale Golf Club

Lybster Golf Club

Brora Golf Links

Golspie Golf Links

Wick Golf Links

Ullapool Golf Links

Reay Golf Links

Thurso Golf Club

Durness Golf Links 

Invergordon Golf Club

Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Links


If walked in a straight line tee to green that’s about 268,420 yards or 152.5 miles covered putting one foot in front of the other chasing the white ball in hopes of making pars and birdies.

 

Most difficult courses:

Tain and Royal Dornoch Championship,

Most Beautiful links courses:

Durness, Reay and Royal Dornoch Championship

Most scenic Heathland:

Strathpeffer Golf club


Traveling solo is not for everyone but it offered me no agenda and the freedom to make a decision on the course or courses I wanted to play based on weather and location to enjoy the best experience possible on any given day. Golf can be just as satisfying pushing your trolly on a links course by yourself taking in the sights and testing your skills against the course designer and the elements. 


Many, many times bogey is a very good score.

 

My best advice for anyone traveling abroad…. Talk less and listen more. Take a genuine interest in other people and their lives and you will quickly be welcomed. While here I have met some wonderful local people and others on their own personal adventures. 


Now I'm ready to get home and see my friends and continue my quest to try and get better every day at the jewel of the Midwest... Franklin County CC.


Sometimes you just nee to sit and take it in

Map of courses played.


Time to head home.


Last round at Tain

Last round at Tain


Last round at Tain


Last round at Tain


Last round at Tain


Last round at Tain


Last round at Tain


Bonar Bridge Golf club views yesterday.

Last round at Tain


Last round at Tain


Last round at Tain


Last round at Tain


Saturday, September 27, 2025

Mike Clark in Scotland - Day 26-27

The last couple days have been filled with some good golf courses and nice weather. Thursday I had an afternoon tee time at Royal Dornoch and went prepared to play after some morning range time and then short-game work. The day was not nearly as windy as it has been recently and I had hoped to play well. I started off nearly driving the first after a downwind tee shot and a ball that rolled like it was hit down an airplane runway ended 10 yards short of the green. However on the second hole, a par 3 of 167 yards, my well struck 9 iron landed 20 yards short, ricocheted up onto the green after a couple well directed bounces and I watched in dismay as it rolled past the pin and continued rolling off the left side of the putting surface. Now faced with a vertical pitch off of hardpan to a tightly cut pin, my wedge bounces off the near asphalt turf and sends the ball past the pin and off the other side. After 2 attempted 7 iron bump and runs that end up back at my feet, I get the next onto the surface and 2 putt for a 7. I also added another couple bogeys to round out the front. Game over for a decent score. I did play the back 9 remarkably well and needed a par on the last to shoot -1 on that side but alas it was not to be either.


My honest take on Royal Dornoch is that it’s a tremendous links golf course, perhaps one of the best in the world, but I feel it’s tricked up for visitors. Every surface around the green is shaved tight, the fairways are very firm, and the greens themselves are so firm and fast that it’s nearly impossible to land the ball on the green and expect it to stay. Couple that with wind that blows all the time and sometimes really hard and it’s an extremely difficult test. I can’t imagine that it was ever intended to play this way.


Yesterday I was back in the car to drive an hour and 1/2 to the west coast of the highlands to play Ullapool Golf Club. This is another remarkable sea side links of only 9 holes but with 2 sets of tees. Fabulous conditions, beautiful weather and a challenging course made for a great day. 


I had the place mostly to myself and I enjoyed every bit of it including the scenic drive to and from. Today I played the Autumn Open at Tain. Similar to Dornoch, it was like the Superintendent’s revenge. Green speeds blazing and the already very firm conditions made much more difficult by winds gusting to 38 mph. At times the ball was blown off its mark before you could putt. I was the only member of my group of single digit handicap players to complete every hole and not lose a ball. Final score for me….84

Golf here is just different than back home. It’s no wonder that Europe is tough in the Ryder Cup. As I write this, the pub just erupts in cheers after Hoveland cans the putt on 17 to preserve a 1 up advantage in his match with Scheffler and Henley. 

Drive to Ullapool
Drive to Ullapool

Dornoch

Dornoch

Dornoch

Dornoch

Dornoch

Dornoch

Dornoch

Ullapool

Below:  Scenes from Ullapool




















Thursday, September 25, 2025

Mike Clark in Scotland - Day 25

Yesterday I made the run some 80 miles north to the tiny village of Durness and the Durness Golf Club. Although only 80 or so miles to travel, it’s on mostly single track road thru some of the most pristine and breathtaking scenery I have ever seen. The road winds thru lush spruce and evergreen covered hills, which change to purple heather as the elevation gets higher. Much of the road runs adjacent to crystal clear rivers or lakes dotted with salmon and trout fishing lodges.

Durness is a tiny town of less than 500 people but their golf course gets recognition from all over Scotland. It’s the number 1 rated 9 hole course in the country 20 plus years running as voted on by the Scottish Board of Tourism. The course plays from 2 sets of tees from different locations so that there is an 18 hole feel. Upon arriving at the club I was greeted by Lucy, who has a reputation of being a “tough old bird” as warned to me by the staff at Tain, but I found her to be genuinely nice and we soon became great friends. She keeps an eye on the shop and makes sure things run smoothly, but because this area is near the northern most point of the North Coast 500 tourist route, she’s protective of the course and general tourists who want to walk around taking sea side pictures and not playing. Thus the course has an air of exclusivity about it. 


I’m certainly glad I made the drive and on this day I was one of 4 players to play the course. The weather was spectacular with sunshine and low winds which just enhanced the experience. There is a mix of seaside holes as well as holes that wind thru the dunes all ending with what Open Champion Paul Laurie calls the best par three in Scotland, the 9th. Playing today at 165 yards to a back pin, your tee shot must carry a seaside rocky cove to a green that sits out on an elevated peninsula. Pretty spectacular on this day but I can only imagine how difficult it would be when the wind is howling. Par would be a fantastic score. I truly enjoyed my experience here and between Reay golf club and Durness it would be worth staying in this area just to play both. This afternoon I’m taking another shot at the mighty Royal Dornoch on a sunny and calmer day. Should be a great challenge and alot of fun.


View from the drive to Durness

The drive to Durness

Durness


Durness

My new friend Lucy

#9 at Durness

#9 at Durness

Approach to 8 green after a blind tee shot over a dune

Sheep in the fairway

Sheep in the fairway

Perfect turf for play

Durness

Durness

Durness

Durness

Durness