July 2026 – I typically format the Golf Scrapbook course review pages to start out with a nice picture of the course I’m reviewing, but let’s face it, if you’re coming out to western South Dakota/Rapid City, you’re almost certainly coming to cast your gaze upon Gutzon Borglum’s Mount Rushmore. And, while I will talk a little bit more on the area as a golf trip destination, I would build the visit around Rushmore et al rather than building it around looking for a haven of outstanding golf.
Red Rock is currently the third ranked course in the state by Golf Digest. For most states, number three in the state means courses like Los Angeles CC (North), Fishers Island, or Calusa Pines to name three. In fact, I am quite certain Red Rock wouldn’t make the top 20 in like 75% of the other states (except outpost states like Alaska, ND, Iowa, etc.). Now I’m not crapping on Red Rock mind you, it was a perfectly fine course, but just trying to demonstrate the lack of truly great courses in the state.
Okay right to my nonsense, I have a lot to talk about here.
- The Mount Rushmore of Golf Course Architects.
- Adding SD to my secondary goal of playing in all 50 states (#45).
- Blogs/Course Review sites I read – update.
- The Black Hills as a Golf Destination (and who was Rocky Raccoon).
- The course review.
- A super quick review of Elkhorn Ridge in Spearfish, SD.
The Mount Rushmore of Golf Course Architects
So magazines, sports talk shows, dudes at bars, etc. always come up with a Mount Rushmore of this, that or the other thing which ranks the top four for any particular topic. So since this is a golf-related site, I will rank the top four golf course architects in my oh so humble and unprofessional opinion.
The way I thought this through was to pick what I thought were the four main good golf design eras: Original, Golden Age, Modern, and Post-Modern. Then I picked the best architect(s) from each era. If I just picked four architects, they might all be from the Golden Age and that doesn’t seem representative. Plus it’s my fucking list so there’s that. Of course also, this is based only on the courses from these guys I’ve played. There is also a huge U.S. bias here because, well I’m from the U.S. and most of the courses I’ve played are here. To the list.
Old Tom Morris (Original Era): First question, was there a Young Tom Morris? Yes Virginia, there was indeed a Young Tom Morris. He was the son of legendary golfer Old Tom Morris and was a great golfer in his own right but tragically died at age 24.
Ol’ Tommy gets credit for the most iconic of iconic courses: St. Andrews Old Course, Royal County Down, and Prestwick (of just those I’ve played). Putting a Mount Rushmore of golf architects together without OTM would be like putting together a Mount Rushmore of Rock Music without the Beatles. Clunkers: None I’ve played but according to Google AI: Askernish Golf Club: Originally laid out in 1891, some modern visitors note that its severe, unyielding machair rough causes an overwhelming number of lost balls, making it frustrating for casual play. Era honorable mention(s): James Braid who designed several courses with Old Tom and of his own that I’ve played Tenby and Royal Troon.
Donald Ross (Golden Age): When golf leapt the pond from the British links, the Golden Age of golf course design was born. Nearly a third of my top 100 courses were from this era and there are so many great architects who contributed. However for tonnage and quality reasons, the Rushmore inclusion has to be Donald Ross. Ross is classic American golf. Others in the era had more great international courses than Ross, but holy shit was this guy a machine – Oakland Hills, Pinehurst #2, Aronimink and Plainfield to name just those in my personal top 100. Clunkers: Jeffersonville GC (outside Philly): OK, Ross’ name was on so many courses who knows if he even did this one but it was a piss poor muni until a recent upgrade and even now it’s just ok. Delray Beach CC in FL is not much better. Era honorable mention(s): So many to include here: Harry Colt who’s kind of early Golden Age but has his name on Pine Valley, and to a greater degree, Sea Island, & Royal Portrush; Alister MacKenzie who many regard as tops of the era thanks to Cyprus (never played) and New South Wales (one of my top ten). Among others; Seth Raynor, Tilly, CBM, and Wille Park Jr. (Young Willie Park?).
Tom Fazio (Modern Era): Around World War II and post through the 80’s, golf course design and construction went to shit. I call it the dark era. Courses were cookie cutter, many of the residential ilk, or were just blah. It was Tom Fazio (and earlier and only slightly less influential, RTJ and Pete Dye) who introduced some of the greatest work that pulled golf course design out of the dark era. I think (and don’t quote me on this), Fazio has the most Golf Digest top 100 credits to his name. For me it’s Estancia, GC of Tennessee, and Shadow Creek to just name a few in my personal top 100. Clunkers: Oak Creek (CA): And even then this is not of the “way horrible ranking” just an average to slightly below average public course. Era honorable mentions: RTJ (Bellerive/RTJ GC/Spyglass), Pete Dye (Kiawah Ocean/Whistling Straits), and Jack Nicklaus (Manele/Sherwood/Concession).
Coore/Crenshaw (Post Modern Era): The post modern (or current) era is all about building great golf courses on big ass parcels of remote land with no need to design around homes, office buildings or within restricted acreage. Sure there are post modern courses that do this but they suck for the most part. Also this was the toughest group to pick out just one designer. Tom Doak from this era designed my favorite course, Cape Kidnappers and Gil Hanse, Weiskopf/Morrish and David McLay Kidd all have multiple courses in my top 100 but the nod goes to Coore/Crenshaw who have as many courses in my top 100 (6) as Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and A.W. Tillinghast. My faves? Cabot Cliffs and Kapalua to name just two. Clunkers: Talking Stick (and again it’s not really t-h-a-t bad). Era honorable mentions: Noted above.
Adding SD to my secondary goal of playing in all 50 states (#45)
Just last year I added Nebraska to my list of states in which I’ve golfed as mentioned in my GrayBull review. South Dakota is now #45. My buddy does filming for Tunnel-to-Towers and had an event out here at Mt. Rushmore so I packed up my clubs and daughter and shot out here to see Mount Rushmore and check off another state (#48) and golfing state box.
Blogs/Course Review sites I read update
I talk in my Cherokee review about some of the other blog/review sites I follow. Well in looking for info about Elkridge (briefly reviewed below), I came across 18 Holes & Counting. The site is authored by a couple (closer to bogey golfers like me) trekking across the U.S. and reviewing public golf courses. They too have a goal of playing in all 50 states. I’m kicking their ass BTW (45 to 32). Interesting read so give it a look if so inclined.
The Black Hills as a Golf Destination (and who was Rocky Raccoon)
The Black Hills (or the Badlands) is/are the moniker(s) for western South Dakota. Rapid City is the “big” city in this region but it’s hardly a big city. Of course I couldn’t get the song Rocky Raccoon out of my head the whole time I was out here:
Now somewhere in the black mining hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day, his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye
Rocky didn’t like that
He said, “I’m gonna get that boy”
So one day, he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon…
So I thought to myself, self I thought, who is that song about? I did a little research and will save you a couple of clicks and tell you. “Rocky Raccoon” by The Beatles is a tongue-in-cheek, comedic story-song about a young cowboy seeking revenge in the Old West, featuring themes of heartbreak, a failed duel, and a naive encounter with religion. Paul McCartney wrote the song as a lighthearted spoof of Bob Dylan’s talking-blues style and traditional American cowboy ballads.
As I revealed earlier, I wouldn’t necessarily plan a guys trip around the Black Hills. While I like Red Rock (and to a lesser degree Elkhorn Ridge), the area features no big resort ala Bandon or Sand Valley nor will you find an abundance of Top 200 golf courses (public or private). However, if you are trying to check a box (and see Mt. Rushmore), here is the to-do and to-eat list.
We stayed at the Clubhouse Inn (new) and right in the same parking lot is Wild Sage restaurant. It was okay and had a good bar. There was a decent wine-by-the glass list, my daughter got some specialty cocktails she liked, we noshed on some elk-stuffed mushrooms and I ordered Pedro’s Penne (chicken, shrimp, Italian sausage, roasted bell pepper, scallion, cholula cream, cotija). While not in my top 200 restaurants, it was pretty good and convenient to our hotel which was convenient to Red Rock, Rapid City and Mt. Rushmore (about 20 minutes away).
We drove up to Spearfish to play Elkhorn which was about 50-minutes away and passed quickly through Sturgis (for you Harley heads). After golf we took the back route to Mt. Rushmore and passed through Deadwood stopping at Saloon #10 which is where Wild Bill Hickok met his ultimate demise.
Funny enough, behind the bar there was an Ohio license plate “76ER” which we saw the day after LeBron signed with the 76ers. Not a fan of the floppin’ and league-wrecking dream team manipulation he does but it certainly put the 76ers back on the NBA map.
My daughter went caving at Wind Creek National Park and there was some other sight seeing you could do beyond Mt. Rushmore. In Rapid City we ate at Tandoor Bocado (which was a multi-Asian-country fusion restaurant) and Catrachos (Latin American primarily Honduran). My daughter made the restaurant selections so there was not a typical steak house stop, though I heard Dakotah is the best.
The town itself is known as they City of Presidents and it has statues on all of the main street crossings such as this one of my fave president (woke trigger alert).
If you are planning golf in the area, I’ll talk Red Rock and Elkhorn below. There are closer-by courses than Elkhorn but I didn’t play any so can’t comment. Hart Ranch has a stay-and-play package with The Clubhouse hotel where we stayed (which is odd as it further from the hotel than Red Rock). Meadowbrook and Arrowhead are in Rapid City proper. All publics. The closest “name brand” private course on Thousand Greens is CapRock Ranch which is over 3-1/2 hours away in Nebraska and Golf Club at Devils Tower in Wyoming, an Olive level private on TG over 1-1/2 hours away.
To the course:
(The) Golf Club at Red Rock
Overall I liked Red Rock. The layout was interesting and conditioning was generally good. Pace of play was awesome. We luckily got out as a two-some right before a big group of 12. There were quite a few blind drives. The greens were okay, the practice putting green put the fear of God in me but the course didn’t play as wild. The clubhouse had a great local/community bar vibe to it. Our bartender pre-round was a teacher in the winter months and was chatting it up with some locals about all things local. Post round our bartenders were two Ukies (Ukrainians) – and one had enormous hrudies (look it up). They liked my self-taught Ukranian curse words. There were too many houses dotting the course to my liking and a couple of the holes seemed a bit tricked up but for the most part this was a nice course and fun experience. Also, this was a tough course! We played the whites (6,232 yards/70.8/142 slope!) So I was happy with my score – an 89 but with a few generous gimmes given.
Me and my buddy Bill overlooking the first hole. It was a little breezy when we played and hot, though no humidity.
Hole #1 (329 yards/par four/#16 handicap): Downhill par four that left me the above as my approach. Couldn’t snap a photo off tee as we had to jump in line and quickly hit. Glad I hit a really good drive. Punched a wedge on and just long but a three putt stole my par chance.
Hole #2 (492 yards/par five/#8 handicap): Kind of confusing finding this. As soon as you get off the first, you come to the blue tees for two. So you go to the right but those are the whites for the sixth. So you go back around but come to the fifth green and then have to take a left to get to the sixth blue tee and beyond that finally the second whites. Par five. A meh drive left me by the trees you see to the right. Then I matriculated my way up the hole for a two-putt bogey.
Hole #3 (381 yards/par four/#4 handicap): Houses encroach a bit much here. Mid-length par four. That’s one of the houses you see on the hill in the distance. I would double here after losing my first (of only two) balls..
From my drop on three. Went into the garbage on my second shot. Drop three, on in four and two putt.
Hole #4 (361 yards/par four/#10 handicap): Houses, houses everywhere. For being in the middle of nowhere, Red Rock has a ton of homes surrounding it. Would finally put it together for a par.
From the green on four looking back.
Hole #5 (180 yards/par three/#14 handicap): Longish for me and hit my 5 wood a hair long but would sink the putt coming back for the bird! God twos are great on a scorecard.
Hole #6 (385 yards/par four/#2 handicap): Runs parallel to two as noted earlier. Pretty golf hole. Tough and would double. The ol’ PBFU.
Hole #7 (275 yards/par four/#18 handicap): A shorty. Good variety of distances on all the threes, fours and fives. I would get to within a 54 degree wedge and promptly put it in the sand. Bogey.
Hole #9 (489 yards/par five/#12 handicap): Missed the par three 7th – 178 yards and would bogey, and here’s the ninth. Played longer than the card and double blind. Would hit the 3 wood of my life after a meh drive and put my wedge on in regulation but alas a three putt.
From where my awesome three wood landed on nine.
Hole #10 (370 yards/par four/#5 handicap): In theory you don’t really go by the clubhouse after nine but there were no signs so we did and then it was a little weird trying to find the 10th. There are cart girls but we only saw them right after one and right before nine so not needed.. Hit a great drive but sand right as I was afraid of the water left. A bogey.
Hole #11 (345 yards/par four/#11 handicap): Another blindish drive with houses up the left and right. A par.
Hole #12 (132 yards/par three/#17 handicap): A short little par three but a crap ball off the tee, some skullduggery on the second setting up a down hill and long three putt five.
Hole #13 (371 yards/par four/#7 handicap): It shouldn’t be a tough carry but the ponderosa’s to the left kept me from aiming left and my fade took me into the garbage right. And another double.
Hole #14 (573 yards/par five/#1 handicap): Across Bethpage Dr. to this long-ass par five. I hate power lines along courses. As I’ve said elsewhere, why can’t they just bury those fuckers. I was in a three-doubles-in-a-row slump here.
From my drive on 14.
Hole #15 (178 yards/par three/#13 handicap): From behind the green looking back at the tee. Bogey to get off the double train.
Hole #16 (470 yards/par five/#15 handicap): When I post Red Rock on the Golf Scrapbook Facebook page, I will use this photo and it will be so misrepresentative of the course but what you would expect from South Dakota. Would birdie!
Hole #17 (335 yards/par four/#9 handicap): And yet another PBFU double. The final few holes are the prettiest on the course.
Hole #18 (388 yards/par four/#3 handicap): That building up on the hill is not the clubhouse. It’s not signed well at all so we took a dirt trail after holing out (a bogey to close with a 46) and that was a mistake. The course is not very well signed and we got turned around multiple times. Overall a good golf experience and if you’re out here, you might as well play it. Just don’t expect Fishers Island or LACC.
Elkhorn Ridge
Here’s Elkhorn. The course straddles I-90 and when I asked in the Pro Shop whether I could walk (and let my daughter use the cart), the pro literally laughed at me and said, “Oh no, you can’t walk Elkhorn.” He was right, It was across the highway to get to one and then across the other side of the course and up and around to get to ten. Overall it’s a less than average course based on the conditioning, some kooky golf hole designs and the fact that with like 50 million open acres in South Dakota on which to build a golf course they chose to build this one on I-90. I did like the ride here from Rapid City and as noted the back roads are pretty cool to get to Rushmore through Deadwood. Pace was good. Staff were nice and the bar area felt like a campground mess hall.
I’m just going to post photos without labeling or captions because I already spent hours on this write-up and wanna go watch the Phillies lose another game so here you go.
Golf Scrapbook 