A year ago, I did my first photography shoot at Midland Hills and the results were glorious. A year later, I am back for some video work and a fresh set of photographs of the golf course. The restoration has settled in and the course has matured another year. The fairways are crispy and the fescue is bold and beautiful.
Because September, the 9th month, is the best month on the calendar, I have chosen my 9 favorite photographs from the photo shoot. More importantly, I have decided to include a flair of musical appreciation into this list. I have used my exquisite taste in song to create a list worthy of Seth Raynor himself. Please enjoy the list below of my nine favorite photographs with their accompanying musical works.
Photograph #9 - Bump de Hump Doop Bop
The first thing that the golfer notices when they walk up to Midland Hills are these humps. They seperate the putting green from the first tee. They are covered with golden fescue and provide just the right amount of coverage to separate practice from the real thing. It’s a cool and unique feature that immediately grabs your attention. The photograph’s name is a derivative of the lyrics from the Red Hot Chili Peppers song, Hump De Bump.
Photograph #8 - With Liberty and Justice for All
The land around the 3rd hole and 4th holes at Midland Hills is some of the most photogenic on the property. It was dramatic during my first visit, but with he golden fescue popping off this year, the results are spectacular. Look for these holes to dominate the rankings in 2026. As I am quickly becoming an expert at naming my photographs, it is no surprise that I crushed this one. Most Americans will recognize these lines from the Pledge of Allegiance.
Photograph #7: Wrapped Up in Mystery
What hole is that? That is the mystery. The practice facility at Midland is extremely convenient and occupies some great land in between the 18th and 1st holes. Most importantly, it also gets some of the finest evening light as the sun dips behind the city skyline of Minneapolis. This photograph isn’t a hole at Midland but a target on the range. Somehow it manages to rock just as hard as Def Leppard. The band’s song Photograph is the lyrical inspiration for photograph #6.
Photograph #6: Just a Feather in Bad Weather
There is something quite special about taking off in the morning for a solo round of golf at your favorite course. This photograph, taken just off of the first tee, embodies that feeling. You can’t really see where your ball ends up, but you are going there regardless. Into the ether we go. This name is inspired by lyrics from Oblivion, one of my favorite songs from the English rock duo, Royal Blood. I certainly wish I was walking into this Oblivion with my head phones on.
Photograph #5 - Eleven Times Busted
Inspired by the hit song Double Trouble from Lynyrd Skynyrd, we have a tie for 5th place. Once again, we find the spectacular grounds surrounding the 3rd and 4th holes responsible for another finish inside of the top 10. The mixture of late afternoon sun, fescue and immaculately maintained playing surfaces is a truly delicious sight. The view is equally good from the front and from the back.
Photograph #4 - Swaying to the Symphony
The early morning mood on the first tee at Midland Hills feels calm and serene. One by one, golfers tee off and begin the march down the first fairway. The view in between the practice green and the tee box is only slightly obscured by the three large fescue mounds featured in our 9th place photograph. The visual is a glorious mixture of tranquility and aggression with the driver. I can think of no better song to encapsulate this vibe than Megadeath’s Symphony of Destruction.
Photograph #3 - Many is a Word that Leaves you Guessing
The grounds around the 3rd and 4th holes have done it again. However, they are only responsible for the foreground in this picture. Over the Hills and Far Away, we find the beautiful 8th green in the distance. The Knoll hole thrills with it’s volcanic like elevation. It’s a visual treat as well as a truly fun golf hole to play. You can almost hear the infamous Led Zeppelin lyrics emanating from the sky.
Photograph #2 - Lightness Has a Call That's Hard to Hear
No matter how good the golf course photograph is, the results are never quite good enough for me. I consistently pursue the immaculate sky mixed with perfect low light. I chase the shadows and I hunt for the absolute perfect composition. Nothing but the perfect mixture of impossible conditions will satisfy my hunger. The results are often quite good and exciting, but never truly fully satiating. I am pretty sure that’s what the Indigo Girls were singing about in the their 1989 hit, Closer to Fine.
Photograph #1 - She's all I Want and I've Waited For so Long
One of my favorite templates is the redan. There is nothing quite as popular and familiar as the redan. By most accounts, it is the most frequently replicated and admired golf hole in existence. The reasons are obvious… it is fun, beautiful and a challenge to conquer. All of these characteristics remind me of the 1990’s most sought after woman. Yes, we are talking about Stacy’s Mom. The 16th hole at Midland Hills has simply “got it going on.”
