Taking A Trip In The Golf Time Machine

We shop around for golf deals all season long. Gary, my league golf partner for 14 years, and I like to try new courses from time to time.

Recently, we went up to hit a course that I haven't played in probably 40 years, High Cliff Golf Course. Located near High Cliff State Park, it's mailing address is listed a Sherwood. Nearby are the Fox Valley cities Neenah, Menasha and Appleton.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the Fox Valley, my home for several years. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, spent over 15 years cutting my journalistic teeth at the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, lived in Neenah-Menasha for eight years. Still have great memories (dominating the pool table "Jitter's Bar" for example) and friends there.

High Cliff was a course that, for many years, I played three or four times a year. Then, it had been expanded for a nine hole course to 18, and the back nine was surrounded by fields of corn, soy and alfalfa.

When I saw a deal for the course pop through last spring, I thought it was a great opportunity to head up and show Gary what a neat course it is. Driving up 151 from the Oregon area, we headed to Fond du Lac and up the east side of Lake Winnebago, breaking off 151 and staying on 55. Pretty drive, and not all that long.

But my, oh, my how the High Cliff area has changed. Standing in place of those fields are dozens and dozens of gorgeous (and, I'm sure, pricey) homes. But the course is still great, and challenging. Big, undulating greens. Water. Lots of trees. The place was packed the day we played. So much so that we ended up finding two clubs (both pitching wedges) laying near greens, forgotten by their owners. These found their way to the pro shop, and hopefully to their rightful owners.

Rolled through a little unincorporated burg on Highway 55. Pipe is just north of Brothertown. They were setting up for a Brat Feed to benefit the Pipe Fishing Club, and on our way back things were in full swing. Not a sign of social distancing or masks, but probably plenty of brats 'n brew. Must have been a fishing tournament as well, cuz there were a LOT of pricey bass boats on trailers parked all around the venue.