Long Live the Post-Round Burger

August 27, 2014

Few things are more American than getting in 18 holes and then heading to the clubhouse for a burger. In honor of National Burger Day, here’s a list of five of our favorite courses to grab a mouthwatering beef tower.

Fox Hills National Golf Club (Mishicot, Wisc.) – Located southeast of Green Bay might seem an out-of-the-way place, but nearby Seymour has the reputation of being the place where the hamburger was born. Resident Charlie Nagreen of Seymour, Wisc., began calling ground beef patties in a bun “hamburgers” in 1885.

Fox Hills is a Scottish-layout with vast open areas and deep mounds and contours spaced around large sand pits. It seems congruous to play bump-and-run in Wisconsin, but that just makes the burger that much better. The Benchwarmer’s Sports Bar can make that happen.

 

The Shoals (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) – Located in the northeast corner of Alabama, The Shoals has two courses: the Fighting Joe named after a famous Confederate general (and memorable because from the back tees it’s more than 8,000 yards), and The Schoolmaster, named after President Woodrow Wilson. Both are demanding, compelling and draining.

What better way to celebrate a hard-fought round than at the nearby Swamper’s Bar with its burger, which harks to the region’s rich music tradition. The Muscle Shoals recording studio is where the Rolling Stones wrote “Brown Sugar,” and Lynyrd Skynyrd mentions it in “Sweet Home Alabama.”

The Payne Stewart Golf Club (Branson, Mo.) – When we think of Payne Stewart, we think of colorful Plus-4s, dramatic putts and a big smile. Payne was easy to like and admirable in every way. The Payne Stewart Golf Club in Branson was built in tribute to his personality. Each hole is meant to reflect on Payne’s character and high ideals. Water falls, stunning rock outcroppings and creeks come into play. Afterward, a classic cheeseburger in the sports bar is a good tribute to this iconic American.

 

Ventana Canyon Resort (Tucson, Ariz.) – What makes a golf experience memorable can come from a variety of sources, but the Ventana Canyon resort northeast of central Tucson ranks as one of Arizona’s best-designed, maintained and beautiful courses.

The Canyon’s back nine offers compelling shot values and stunning visuals. To cap it off, a “Ventana Canyon LifeStyle Plate” and its grilled, marinated, four-ounce Angus burger served with cottage cheese and fresh fruit is the perfect post-resort round healthy meal.

Silverado Country Club & Resort (Napa, Calif.) – Golf aficionados in Northern California know about the famous burgers at San Francisco’s Olympic Club. The same family runs the on-course food operation at the Silverado Resort, whose North course this year will hold the Fry’s Open on the PGA Tour. The South course for years served as host to the Transamerica Open on the Senior Tour.

Both courses are memorable, but the burgers – served on a hot dog bun with a secret, unique combination of spices and red relish – often rank as golfers’ most lasting memory. It’s not uncommon for golfers to make two stops during a round.

Where’s the best burger you’ve ever had after a round of golf?