stoneridge

If I ever thought the threat of social media to the mental health of teenagers was overblown…I now get it. I now know that feeling of being shunned by someone only to see them living it up on Insta. Insert sad face emoji here. 

Fortunately, I’m in my forties (late forties), and I’ve learned to brush off social media snubs. I’m not so sure my 15 year old self would have been able to do that. Despite my perfect maturation as an adult, my feelings can still get dented here and there. Even by someone I’ve never even met. 

But, for our most recent round, Twig lined up a guest after he started interaction with some of our social media posts. Twig reached out to the gentleman to invite him to our next round at StoneRidge in Stillwater, and a free round there is nothing to sneeze at. 

He was in! We were thrilled because, without giving away too much, Twig used to pretend he was this guy while playing backyard football with his Edina buddies (that’s the only hint you’ll get). 

Later in the week, Twig got the text that his boyhood hero could no longer play because he couldn’t find anyone to cover his shift at work. Granted, it was a Sunday, but I get it. Life happens and I certainly have had to back out of golf rounds in my life. Although, I don’t think anyone pretends to be me in their backyard, unless they are trying to emulate a world class dog poop picker upper. 

Here’s where the problem lies. A few hours after finishing our round, the would-be-guest-in-question posted a picture of him and his buddies with the caption, “beautiful day on the course!” or something to that effect. I really want to link to this post but I just don’t think I can do that at this point.

So, we got snubbed. And not just once, but twice. 

We went to another local celebrity/personality, who gave us a yes, and then backed out at 6 in the morning, either due to a headache or the fact there was a little bit of drizzle outside. We will take him at his word and go with headache as his official injury designation. And say this for him, he didn’t post a picture of himself playing somewhere else that day. 

As Twig says, this is where you test your friendships. At 6:15 AM, he reached out to his bestie and Episode 3 Golf Loons Guest, Matt “Bertie” Bertam. At 6:30, Bertie responded with “I’m in.”

Friendship test = aced. 

Bertie joined the Loons, and Loons sponsor, spotter, emotional supporter, deaf and hard of hearing liaison and all around great guy, John “JP” Peterson of Yellowbird coffee. The four of us took on the challenge that is StoneRidge.

I had played this course twice before in years gone by, and did not have a lot of memories of it. The ones I did have were not fond, probably due to playing in driving rain or 50 mile per hour winds.

I’ve since played more golf, and while I wouldn’t say I tamed the Ridge, I did enjoy myself a lot more (no rain or wind). And now I truly appreciate the amazing course that this place is. 

They got a lot right with this one, and not just the spectacular setting and pristine conditions. There’s a great variety of holes with varying distances, difficulty and quirks. But you can comfortably launch driver on every non Par 3 and I always enjoy that. Granted, I put three tee shots out of bounds, but that wasn’t because of unfair landing areas. Just ineptitude. 

I’ve made no secret of my preference to have all golf courses name all their holes (see my Mystic Lake blog for my thoughts on this). It’s just classy and fun at the same time. Like chicken and waffles. 

Stoneridge takes this to the next level and puts those names on each pin flag. That is chef’s kiss and absolutely needs to be replicated. Again, I proffer my services to any course looking for someone to help in this capacity. 

They also have one of the best logos around, and if Manitou Ridge wasn’t fresh in my mind, I’d rank the logo number one of all the courses we played. Instead, it sits comfortably at number two currently, and this will definitely be the subject of an offseason blog. And you’re actually dreading winter?

When you’ve got a logo like that, and you’ve got names for all your holes, you absolutely get them on the pin flags. Well done StoneRidge!

The carts are as top of the line as you can get, with GPS maps that are on the nose with yardages (take note Troy Burne/Wisconsin). Seats so cushy that even Twig refrained from talking too much about preferring to walk. 

Now, let’s talk about the iconic 11th hole barn. Both Twig and I have made no secret of our love for barns on courses. We’ve seen some great ones this year at Minnesota National and Pioneer Creek (yes, well aware of Baker National but we haven’t played there yet this year). StoneRidge’s barn is right up there with them and easily makes the 11th hole the course’s signature. But in the words of Roger Lemke, the Three-time Two Diamond award-winner from Brown Star Insurance, “I do have one gripe for ya boss.” 

“I do got one gripe for ya boss…put something cool in the Barn!”

This particular barn has a large opening on each side, which makes hitting an errant drive into the barn a distinct possibility. In fact, I witnessed Twig do this several years ago and thought it was one of the coolest things ever (I don’t get out much). He even had a decent lie and played his ball out of there. 

But here’s the thing. The inside of the barn is just…lame. My constructive feedback for the next investment for StoneRidge is to spruce it up in there and make this a marquis spot to check out whenever you’re playing the hole. And no, I’m not talking about an interactive museum with animated golf statues (that will slow up play) or livestock (that would be fun but smelly). But if not a little snack and drink bar, let’s put some plaques or paintings in there. Give it some life! I’m sure there are other places you can dump bags of fertilizer and lawn care equipment. 

Just my two cents in addition to the $165 I paid for the round, cart, ham sandwich and round of drinks.

That one gripe aside, StoneRidge is a fantastic place. 

The last takeaway from StoneRidge that we will carry with us from now on at every course…going “around the horn” and tossing the ball to each guy in the group after a birdie. We will not claim to have come up with this idea on our own. We did see it on social media, and a hat tip goes to the guys who thought of this. 

We had a lot of opportunities to pull off the round the horn because JP was a birdie machine, including a sweet hole out from about 90 yards on 13 (Tease). But we didn’t think of it until I holed a 10 footer for birdie on 16 (Punchbowl), and then the tosses began. So fun!

And we got to do it again on 17 (Wynstone) when JP put another circle on the card. 

It’ll easily become the best part of the round, even if it’s not your birdie. It makes you feel like you were a part of it. Despite your double bogey, you can still save face by making a cool spin on your toss. Of course, it’s impossible to be a part of it if you cancel on the Golf Loons and play with a more lame group of friends and post about it on social media! 

We put this group up against anyone when it comes to going “Round the horn.”