Recommendations sought for EPIC spring road trip. CA to MI via Route 66

Hello everyone! I am lucky enough to be totally absorbed in planning mode for a truly epic road trip that I am undertaking this April/May. I will be bookending this road trip with TWO Fried Egg Events. On April 25^th I will be in Ojai, CA at the Spring Festival enjoying some California sun after a winter in the Idaho Mountains. Fast forward to late May, where you will find me joining the crew for the SW Michigan Trip at Lost Dunes and The Dunes Club. In between I will be travelling the Mother Road, historic Route 66 in my van. Yes, there will be golf along the way, a LOT of golf!

Which brings me to the reason behind this post, I am looking for some help in picking out the courses that I will visit over the course of 20 days or so along the way. I have never played golf in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, or Indiana, so this is the main area I am seeking some assistance. Below are the courses that I am considering for this adventure, some of which are courses that I have never seen before but know I must on this trip. I am open to suggestions and hope that I get a chance to tee it up with some of you along the way.

Course Names in bold are spots I won’t miss for any reason.

SoCal

• Soule Park

• Rustic Canyon

• Goat Hill Park

• Furnace Creek (who can pass up the chance to play the lowest elevation course in the country)

• Torrey Pines North and Rams Hill are potentials

Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas

• Laughlin Ranch

• Somewhere in Flagstaff Area. I have played everywhere in the Sedona area, but I may detour down to play an old favorite, Oak Creek CC and see some friends.

• UNM Championship Course is another favorite that I simply can’t miss. I have played extensively in New Mexico so the usual suspects have already been hit, and I will be exploring a few new spots.

• Mary Sanchez Golf Links

• Los Alamos GC

• Twin Warriors and Santa Ana

• Ross Rogers – Wild Horse Course. I may detour for a few days to hit up the Rawls Course and Rockwind Community Links again, but time dependent.

• Childress Hall…A man can dream!!!

Kansas Detour

• I simply will not miss Buffalo Dunes on this trip, so a detour is planned for western Kansas. Southwind is just up the road so it’s probably in as well.

Oklahoma

This is where I really need help, I want to see as much Perry Maxwell as possible, recommendations will be taken seriously!

• Dornick Hills is a must for me. Letter has been written and sent!

• Shawnee Elks, Buffalo Rock, and Muskogee GC. How much Maxwell still exist at these spots?

• Jimmy Austin Golf Club and Cherokee Hills look like places I would enjoy.

Missouri

• Carthage GC

• Neosho GC

• Branson Hills GC. I will be skipping Big Cedar and everything there, don’t need a big destination spot on this trip.

• Old Kinderhook

• St. Louis area courses Persimmon Woods GC, Far Oaks, and Annbriar hold some appeal to me.

Illinois and Indiana

I will most likely bypass The Chicago Area in favor of some sweet small-town stops. I would like some recommendations for the Springfield and Champaign area.

• Kankakee Elks

• Harrison Hills

• Culver Academy

• Warren Course

• Rock Hollow GC

Michigan

I have played extensively north of Grand Rapids so this trip will not venture up north. I still have a 2000 mile drive home!

• Lost Dunes

• Dunes Club

• The Mines

• Diamond Springs

• Point o’ Woods

A little more about this trip. I will be travelling in my Ford Transit van that is fully self-contained. I am open to great camp spots along the way. I am a walking golfer 99% of the time and just love seeing new places. Thanks in advance for any recommendations or help that this group can provide me with. Hopefully I will meet a few of you out on the road!

Course Names in bold are spots I won’t miss for any reason