Off to Minnesota - Land of Lehman, Lumpy and Lunke

One decade, about 500-or-so golf courses, and some 60 FAM trips ago, I made my inaugural foray into the far reaches of the golf world - off I went to Minnesota. I was a 30-something cub reporter on that initial visit, and learned that the Land of 10,000 Lakes might well be rechristened the Land of 10,000 Links (well, nearly 500, anyway.) I discovered that Minnesota has more golfers per capita than any other state in the Union, and is the only state to have held all 13 of the official USGA championships (U.S. Open, Senior Open, U.S. Amateur, Mid-Am, Pub-Links, etc.) within it’s borders.

I also learned I eventually wanted to get back. And after five-dozen other adventures to varying points on the compass, I returned last week to the home of Lehman, Lumpy and Lunke (Tom, Tim Herron, and Hilary - surprise 2003 U.S. Women’s Open champion) respectively. Over the course of the next several blog entries, I’ll report the highlights of this encore visit to one of the best-kept secrets in summertime golf destinations - the ever-surprising state of Minnesota.