Good Good embarked on an ambitious 50-states-in-50-days golf trip, working their way south from Wyoming as they set out to play golf and see the sights in every state.
The group aimed to play a team-based match in each state, battling the elements, the road, the emotions of life on the bus, and each other as they competed in different formats to win each state’s respective coin.
For those interested in following in Good Good’s footsteps on their 50-state journey, or for golfers looking to play somewhere the group visited, this is a comprehensive list of the next five courses they played, along with a few highlights from their journey.
Game formats and teams changed at each stop, with additional Good Good members and a few fans joining in the competition.
Episode 11 — Minnesota: Stoneridge Golf Club ($130)
After spending much of their time in smaller towns throughout the Midwest, the Good Good group found itself in its first major metropolitan area since Washington state. Their trip to Minnesota brought them to Minneapolis and the metro area’s largest tourist attraction: the Mall of America.
Before their arrival, the pranks began, with Mullen hiding a walkie-talkie in one of the bedrooms and blasting various meme noises from the main room of the RV.
“Back in the day, this was a Mullen family vacation staple,” Mullen said of the mall. “I was telling the boys that the roller coaster here used to be called the Pepsi Whipsaw, and I finally worked up the courage to ride it but ended up peeing on myself.”
Clark was ecstatic about the indoor roller coaster at the Mall of America and rode it alongside a reluctant Castaneda. Meanwhile, Mullen showed Ghetti and Scharff the original home plate from the Minnesota Twins’ stadium that previously occupied the land where the mall now stands.
When it came to golf, the group played a three-versus-three scramble from the front tees at Stoneridge Golf Club, with Clark, Bubbie, and Mullen teaming up against Castaneda, Ghetti, and Scharff. The greens proved treacherous and put up a strong defense against both teams.
“Wow, that was a scary start, but what I’m starting to realize is that you want to be just off the green to make it stop,” Castaneda said of the putt on their first hole. “We have a four-foot putt, and they have a 50-foot putt.”
The match came down to a playoff on the 19th hole: an unofficial par three played from a large barn positioned between holes 10 and 11. Players hit from a mat inside the barn, sending their shots through the doorway toward the 10th green. After three playoff holes from the barn, Clark, Bubbie, and Mullen claimed victory.
“I went 92. I literally had the time of my life at the Mall of America,” Clark said. “Why is that so crazy? I had the time of my life at the Mall of America. The course was sick, and the match was amazing.”
Rating: 85
Episode 12 — Wisconsin: Trappers Turn Golf Club ($89)
The boys finally got out of the bus and into their own beds at the Kalahari Resort, where they enjoyed their first proper five-star sit-down dinner of the trip. The group woke up visibly rested for the first time in 12 days.
“I currently have more coins than showers,” Mullen said. “If I was stinking it up, I hope you guys would tell me.”
As shocking as Mullen’s shower schedule was after 12 days on the road, the introduction of Sean Walsh was another notable development. Walsh, a member of Good Good Pros, flew in to join the group for two days.
With the outdoor water parks closed for the season, the group opted for zip-lining and a mountain roller coaster before heading to Trappers Turn, a golf facility associated with the Kalahari Resort. Walsh took on the gauntlet, needing to beat each member of the Good Good team consecutively in a hole to advance. He could win only by working his way through the entire group within 12 holes.
Walsh dispatched Castaneda, Bubbie, and Scharff in one hole each. Mullen won his first hole against Walsh but lost the second. Walsh then chipped close against Clark, making a birdie to beat Clark’s par. Ghetti pushed Walsh through the next six holes before losing on the final hole in regulation.
“My score for Wisconsin, and I have nothing to compare it to, is a 94,” Walsh said. “The people are so fantastic and nice, and everybody from Kalahari Resort to Trappers Turn, to all the other amenities. Go Pack Go!”
Rating: 91.7
Episode 13 — Michigan: Harbor Shores ($121)
Walsh joined the group on the RV for the drive from Wisconsin Dells through Chicago to Benton Harbor, Michigan. Upon arriving at Harbor Shores, they found the lights on at the putting course and Johnny McCarthy and Ashton DiBlasi of JnA Golf waiting for them.
The group left the RV and settled into the on-site cabins for the night. Although they played golf before the day’s other activities, the episode showed the afternoon’s events first. The group spent the afternoon on a beach beside Lake Michigan, playing touch football, with Clark showing off his less-than-impressive arm at quarterback.
“Redemption, the one word that kills me,” Scharff said after scoring the winning touchdown. “That was genuinely some of the most fun I have had on the trip playing football.”
Harbor Shores has hosted multiple Senior PGA Championships and is known for a notable 130-foot putt made by course designer Jack Nicklaus, who came out of the stands to demonstrate to fans that the putt was, in fact, makeable.
Captains Garrett, Sean, and Ghetti were determined through a closest-to-the-pin knockout on the practice green at 1:30 a.m. before they selected their teams. The format was a three-versus-three-versus-three alternate-shot match. Despite the larger-than-normal cups, the major-championship course proved a formidable test.
Scharff, Walsh, and DiBlasi made one bogey and three consecutive birdies to pull clear, while the other two teams were six over par through three holes. Walsh hit the final tee shot on the ninth hole before leaving his winning team to catch a flight, watching as Scharff sank a seven-foot par putt to seal the victory.
“We are down Sean. Sean had an Uber and a flight to catch, but shout-out to Sean for coming on the channel once again,” Scharff said. “Absolutely love you, Sean. Thank you for helping us get this W. We had one bogey and three birdies in a row.”
Rating: 79.3
Episode 14 — Indiana: Innsbrook Country Club (Private)
From southwestern Michigan, Good Good made a short drive into northwestern Indiana. The guys went from the beaches of Lake Michigan to the dunes, where they attempted to sled down the sand.
“We are now crossing the border from Michigan into Indiana. We are headed to my hometown,” Ghetti said. “We are going to stop at Indiana Dunes. It’s a really cool state park. It’s right on Lake Michigan, and maybe we’ll try to sled down. Matt Scharff actually lived here, too.”
The group purchased a few sleds, a table, a Segway scooter, a Frisbee, footballs, baseball gloves and balls, and popper fireworks for their outdoor adventure. Castaneda set off on his scooter for the two-mile trip to the dunes. Scharff showed off his backflips, while Bubbie demonstrated his speed by sprinting down the dunes.
Two members of the Good Good Girls, Marrisa Wenzler and Alexis Mietowski, joined the group at Innsbrook Country Club. Ghetti holds both course records at his home club: a 62 from the black tees and a 60 from the blue tees.
“It’s an older course. It used to be a Langford design,” Ghetti said. “The greens are super undulating, but they dumbed them down a little bit in the ‘70s. They’re trying to get them back to how they used to be.”
Scharff and Castaneda were selected as captains. With his first overall pick, Scharff chose Ghetti for his course knowledge and history at the club. The format was a four-versus-four alternate-shot match. Each team was divided into pairs to play alternate shot, with the best shot selected from each pair’s turn before the team continued.
Ghetti selected a variety of holes as the group moved around the course to complete the match. The contest came down to the final hole, where Mullen, playing on Team Scharff, made the winning putt. Despite the steeply sloped greens, Mullen seemed to make every putt he looked at throughout the round.
“It was good to be home,” Ghetti said. “My parents came out, and I got to play the course that I played every single day. I spent a lot of time out there. It was a little piece of home on the road.”
Rating: 87.5
Episode 15 — Ohio: Jason Day’s Backyard Course (Priceless)
The episode began with a delivery. A package arrived containing letters from family, friends, and fans, leaving Bubbie and Scharff near tears as they read them aloud to the group on the RV.
The group stopped at a dive bar on their way to Ohio, where Scharff showed off his pool skills. His team won after Ghetti sank a shot on the eight ball. Ghetti and Mullen then had to sing karaoke.
After completing the drive, Good Good arrived at Jason Day’s home to play on his backyard par-three practice facility.
“Never had a hole-in-one here,” Day said of his backyard course. “But for some reason, you guys, Good Good has a knack for holing out, especially for the next guy that’s teeing off.”
Several shots came close to finding the hole on Jason Day’s diabolical pin locations, but one finally dropped. On his second hole of the round, from approximately 122 yards, Scharff pulled his tee shot slightly, landing it on the top of a large ridge just inches from going the wrong way. The ball spun right and followed the slope toward the hole. With just enough pace, it struck the pin and dropped for a hole-in-one.
“We have never had a hole-in-one here. No one’s been even close,” Day said. “Second hole, and he holes out.”
Scharff sprinted down the fairway with the rest of the group in tow, everyone cheering him on along the way. The celebration continued around the green, with plenty of hugs as the group celebrated the remarkable shot.
“Last time, I took half the course with me,” Scharff said, referring to the large divots he took the last time they played there. “This time, I’m leaving a little bit here.”
Rating: 92
This article was originally published on Forbes.com