Golfing the Bluff

Christmas 2007 changed my father's life forever. My brothers and I feel that one of our biggest impacts on his life — short of being born — happened that Christmas. That was the year we bought him a set of golf clubs. That little gift eight years ago led to this post.

I recently had the pleasure of playing a round of golf with my father while he was in town visiting. We hit several of my favorite La Crosse spots, but I want to talk about Forest Hills.

Forest Hills Golf Course sits at the foot of Grandad Bluff where La Crosse Street meets Route 16, nestled in a valley — a coulée, to the locals — giving the course incredibly majestic views. The course began a significant renovation project this summer, adding new holes and a new driving range. It looks fantastic.

The natural surroundings are what make this course special. The older trees give it real character. The bluffs towering overhead make you feel small in the best possible way. Several tee boxes are elevated and offer commanding views of the course. There's something very odd, but deeply satisfying, about standing on a green while the bluffs silently judge your short game.

I'll miss the old driving range. It was a fun, peculiar place — hit your ball more than 50 yards and your drive crossed a railroad track. Alas, that's gone now. Balls will now fly toward nearby woods. The charm of those railroad tracks was one of a kind.

Speaking of railroads: there's a train that runs through this course. Not exactly through it, but to reach the first hole you walk under a tunnel with train tracks above your head. During our round, several trains came through. The 9th fairway runs right alongside the tracks — I ended up putting with a locomotive 20 feet away. Loud, but genuinely awesome. I could blame my score on the noise, but that seems unfair.

Since I'm already talking about how lousy my game was — Forest Hills has a large putting green and a good chipping area with practice sand traps. Fair warning: those sand traps aren't great right after rain. They might as well be dirt.

Golf has been a strong part of my life since my first set of clubs in 2008. It's an activity I regularly enjoy with my dad and brothers. Getting away with phones muted for a few hours is something most of us could benefit from, and Forest Hills is a great place to do it on the east end of La Crosse.

I love this course. It's beautiful, easy to navigate, and full of views that won't disappoint. The people are friendly and the prices are reasonable. Next time I have a few hours free, I'll be here.

For more information on rates and hours, visit Forest Hills Golf Course.