Kris Halsrud is a talented writer, golfer and IT professional. Like me, he has blogged about golf for years, and over the past five or so years we’ve built a friendship through our golf writing and love of the game.

While most of my writing revolves around the Wisconsin golf scene, Kris’s is more focused on Minnesota with his Kristazio on Golf blog.

When I went remote for my sales job back in July of last year, I turned what was my second bedroom in to my office and have been working on getting some cool artwork including photographs and paintings (ie: This caricature by Gene Haas), and have always wanted something big and impressive for the corner accent wall.

Kris, who is a Systems Engineer in the Twin Cities area, has always had a passion for painting and artwork. While he does not sell his work professionally, his artwork is amazing and he has made quite a few pieces over the years for charity auctions and other events.

After playing the Straits course in perfect weather last August, I finally had a scene I wanted to have done for the coveted accent wall in my office:

While the above picture shows my friend, Kyle (I took it), he was able to work with other pictures found on my blog to paint me in to the setting.

The 17th on the Straits course is one of the most famous par three holes in the world, and is every bit as beautiful as it is treacherous. Be short and find trouble; be right and find some of the most ridiculous bunkers in the world; be left and you’re in Lake Michigan.

And who would raise up a huge berm front-right on a 200-plus yard par three just to have an awkward-shaped bunker that will leave a blind shot downhill toward the lake? Only Pete Dye.

The story is that with every course Pete Dye designs, his wife (Alice) is given artistic integrity on one par three. This was Alice’s par three on the Straits course, and she must have been in a real bad mood that day!

Kris did an incredible job on the painting, even matching the frame’s finish to other artwork in my office, and this beautiful 36 x 24 oil painting now hangs proudly on the pavement gray accent wall that I see a hundred times or more per day:

What’s a trip to Wisconsin without playing some great golf, though? We were fortunate to have unbelievable weather while Kris was in town, and took full advantage of it playing both the River course at Blackwolf Run on Saturday morning and then my home course of North Hills Country Club in the afternoon.

The River course’s grandeur was on full display for our perfect Wisconsin Fall morning, complete with magnificently colored trees and running salmon.

Here are a few of my photos from the round, all panoramic.

WiscoGolfAddict: Review of Blackwolf Run, River Course

For more images from our round on the River course at Blackwolf Run on Saturday, October 10, as well as Kris’s opinions and course review, please visit the following links:

Kristazio on Golf: Blackwolf Run, The River Course (Introduction)

Kristazio on Golf: Blackwolf Run, The River Course (Holes 1-3)

Kristazio on Golf: Blackwolf Run, The River Course (Holes 4-6)

Kristazio on Golf: Blackwolf Run, The River Course (Holes 7-9)

Kristazio on Golf: Blackwolf Run, The River Course (Holes 10-12)

Kristazio on Golf: Blackwolf Run, The River Course (Holes 13-15)

Kristazio on Golf: Blackwolf Run, The River Course (Holes 16-18)

“Blackwolf Run’s The River Course in Kohler, Wisconsin is the finest example of a resort style parkland course I have ever played.”  – Kris Halsrud

Blackwolf Run, River Course Website

Following our round at Blackwolf Run, we made our way back to Menomonee Falls for an afternoon round at North Hills Country Club with my friend, Ross, and a couple of his buddies.

After getting beaten up pretty badly at the River, it was great to play a course with a little less water and less intimidating tee shots!

WiscoGolfAddict: Review of North Hills Country Club

Overall, it was a tremendous golf weekend and I am incredibly happy with how well Kris’s painting turned out. It will surely be a fixture in my office, and someday in my man cave, for many years to come!