Buffalo, prairie dogs and scary golf

Teddy Roosevelt National Park near Medora, North Dakota, is a gem! Rugged beauty along the Little Missouri River. Badlands, wildlife and easy hikes -- all very accessible. As you drive into the area on I94, you see buffalo, wild horses and prairie dogs. Right there from the interstate.

The park has a 36 mile driving loop that takes you through many different landscapes. Including some of the largest prairie dog villages I can imagine. At many of the stunning vista points, you can take half-mile to mile-long hikes to get closer to the scenery. High point: We drove right through a herd of buffalo!

Small world story: Jan started chatting with a random guy at the visitor’s center, as he is wont to do. After a few comments, the guy says, Jan Vanderwall, I thought you two looked familiar. We volunteered with you for the US Women’s Open in 2008. We chatted at a few of the stops along the scenic drive in the park. Then saw his car in the parking lot of the golf course. When we finished our round, we found a note from him on our car.

Medora itself is a sweet little town – about 3 blocks by 3 blocks. During summer months they host thousands of visitors, but most of their big attractions were already shut down when we arrived. You can tell that they have not succumbed to the temptation to overdevelop the area. It is small and low-tech and architecturally appropriate. I loved the cottonwood tree growing up in the middle of the street.

We stayed at the Rough Rider Hotel – with badlands in our back yard. Truly a lovely place right in the middle of Medora. Their restaurant, Theodore’s, is superb. We shared entrees and were still overfed with the most delicious and artfully prepared food.  Night one: fresh greens with beets, pears, pumpkin seeds and goat cheese, followed by buffalo osso buco on mashed potatoes and asparagus. Yep. Wonderful.

The Bully Pulpit golf course takes you along the little Missouri River and up into whatever you call the high points of badlands (buttes? bluffs? scary cliffs?). It is visually stunning. And kind of silly sometimes in course design. Let’s just call it target golf. There is a par three at which you tee off from one bluff and hit to a tiny green on another. A little cheek clenching. Jan and I both got pars, miraculously. We were giddy for the rest of the round. I birdied the final hole – so that is my story. All I want to remember.