This trip was covered as it happened in the Forum section of this website. It is located under Vacation & Resort reviews, under “ The Clark and Saceagawea Expedition”. I want to do a small review here so these great courses get listed and indexed. In other words, let’s keep Ron busy this winter.

I will list the courses in the order that I liked them. I included the designer, year, price, and my hole by hole design rating.

1. The Harvester – Des Moines, Iowa . Designed by Keith Foster and opened in 2000 . We paid $ 85 and I gave it 7 excellent and 11 good holes.

3. Running Y Ranch – Klamath Falls, Oregon. Designed by Arnold Palmer in 1998. We paid $46 for 17 holes at a normally $80 course. 6 excellent and 12 good holes.

5. Ghost Creek @ Pumpkin Ridge – Portland, Oregon. Designed by Bob Cupp 1992. We paid too much at $150 and it got 6 excellent and 12 good holes.

6. Bully Pulpit – Medora, North Dakota. Designed by Michael Hurdzan in 2004. We paid $57 with our N. D. discount and it got 4 excellent and 14 good holes.

7. Harbour Pointe – Mulkilteo, Washington. Designed by Arthur Hills in 1991. We paid $80 on a Sunday and it got 3 excellent and 15 good holes.

8. Wingpointe G. C. – In the Salt Lake City airport. Designed by Art Hills in 1989. We paid $40 on a Sunday, and it got 5 excellent and 13 good holes.

9. Quarry Oaks – Ashland, Nebraska. Designed by John LaFoy in 1997. We paid $58, and I gave it 4 excellent and 14 good holes.

10. Legends G. C. – Prior Lake, Minnesota. By Garrett Gill and Paul Miller in 2002. We paid $90 and it got 4 excellent, 13 good, and 1 poor hole ( # 10 ).

11. Old Works – Anaconda, Montana. Designed by Jack Nicklaus in 1997. We paid $52, and I gave it 4 excellent and 14 good holes for design.

12. Columbia Point – Richland, Washington. Early work of Jim Engh in 1997. We paid $48 at this Muni and it got 4 excellent, 11 good, and 3 OK holes.

13. The Links of North Dakota – Ray, North Dakota. Designed by Stephan Kay - 1995. We paid $47 and Moe Shot 74!! 1 excellent, 14 good and 3 OK holes

14. Wild Horse G. C. – Gothenburg, Nebraska. Designed by Dan Proctor in 1999. We paid $47 and it got 17 good holes and 1 OK.

After reading the list, you might note that the two at the bottom are both on somebody’s top 100 in America list, which means Moe put together some nice courses for this trip. I think it also means that Art Hills and Jim Engh always do good work. You could also notice that it’s not in order by what they cost. Ghost Creek wasn’t worth $150 and Bully Pulpit was a real bargain.

And here’s the real kicker. I have given both Lassing Pointe and Old Silo 8 excellent, and 10 good holes for design! Does that mean they should both be in the top 100 in America, or that I’m tougher with my ratings on the road? Perhaps this winter I'll write down my criteria and thought processes as I rate a hole, and you can point out my obvious bias toward trees and water. I’m ready to defend water and trees on golf courses. Numbers 13 and 14 on that list above had none of either.

Now I’m on to planning next year’s trips. Arizona here we come!