North Dakota? Trust me, they've got great golf!

Tell me what you know about North Dakota. Fargo floods a lot. Its home to 'Home on the Range.' They drill for oil there.

When I kept telling friends I was going on a golf trip to North Dakota the inevitable question always came next: "Why are you going there?" Fair question, I suppose. But after taking on the state's 'Triple Challenge' I thought it was necessary to explain why any serious golfer in the Midwest should hit the links of this sparsely populated state.

I admit it - the six-hour drive to Bismarck had me re-asking the abovementioned question. The first course we hit was called Hawktree. Known for its black sand bunkers, the 'Hawk' was a fun and formidable challenge that was far from ordinary or boring.

Set among some sizeable hills, the views were outstanding and each and every hole gave you some options. Local legend and designer Jim Engh routes you up and down the rolling prairies but navigating the terrain is only half the challenge. The wind can really keep you guessing, plus a creek winds its way throughout the course. The rolling hills didn't look real from the clubhouse; but they were indeed quite natural, making for one memorable, roller-coaster round.

And I thought Hawktree felt like it was in the middle of nowhere.

Bully Pulpit was the second course on the challenge, not far from the actual 'Home on the Range' in the far southwestern corner of the state.

Wow. The course not only sits along the Little Missouri River, it's also smack dab in the middle of the Badlands. The front nine was fun and challenging but it didn't hold a candle to the back. On the front, you can see the giant badlands all around you. On the back, you play IN (and/or through) the Badlands. The hills are where they put the tee boxes and the fairways were cut into the valleys between.

The 15th hole is perhaps 'coolest' looking par 3 I've ever played. Golf Digest's lead architecture writer shared that opinion. Standing way above the hole, looking down at all the surrounding scenery and then trying to focus on the tiny green within, well, that was something I won't soon forget. Holes 16 and 17 were also fun with incredible views of the beauty of the badlands from elevated tees.

The third and final course on the list was called the Links of North Dakota, tucked into the Northwest corner, not far from Montana and Canada. We took several dirt roads to get there, took the second left by the big rock... you get the drift. Pulling up, bout' the only thing you see is a Lincoln-log-looking clubhouse with an old, rusty iron gate allowing us into the parking lot.

Then we hit the first tee, got onto the second green... every hole had a view of breath-taking Lake Sakakawea. I can honestly say I've never played any course like this. But then again, I've never played a seaside course in Scotland or Ireland. The rumpled fairways played along hills that turned out to be both gentle and undulating at the same time. Pictures don't do it justice and I can't pick out one great golf hole; I'd have to replay at least 12 of them for you.

The Links of ND may very well be the quietist place in the country. I can't believe a golf course architect ever found this place. I don't know if it was a throwback to the birthplace of golf but the flag sticks were only about waist-high. The par 3's here were excellent, the par 4's memorable, and the par 5's thought-provoking. If ever there was a place where golf was supposed to be played...

My brother in law and I put a lot of miles on the car but it was worth it. We spent a fair chunk of change on gas, but then made up for it when paying for the golf. The triple challenge is a punch card; you pay $140 to play all three courses. All you have to do is pay for a cart (which you must, it is not an option with all those hills).

Why would you choose North Dakota for a golf trip? Google it, and make sure you look at the pictures.

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