1st Place: Hickory Hills
2nd Place: Wild Ridge
3rd Place: Mill Run

Golf is a sport of emotion – a sport where silent patience turns to severe anger and disgust in the swing of a club. When played recreationally, choice words and club throwing are allowed while golf cart racing is assumed but frowned upon (a friend and his dislocated shoulder can explain the “frowned upon” portion of said golf cart exploitation). The positive side of golf is that The Chippewa Valley is peppered with courses with contrasting difficulties and prices. Topping the list is Hickory Hills Golf Course (E4080 Hickory Road) located south of Eau Claire. This is a course for the active and recreational player where open fairways and very reasonable green fees greet you at the clubhouse. Rounding second is Wild Ridge Golf Course (3905 Kane Road). This championship style course is one of the more difficult courses in the Valley, but worth the struggle and the price. Coming in third is Wild Ridge’s sister course, Mill Run (3905 Kane Road). Built in a park like setting, Mill Run has the perfect combination of difficulty and playability that has made it a local love since it opened in 1981. – Mark Koenig

Really?: Action City, 2402 Lorch Ave., snuck into fourth place