Munich, 1998. A beer hall the size of an aircraft hangar, a brass band, a man in lederhosen who insisted, at great length, that I was holding my pretzel wrong. I have thought about that pretzel for most of my adult life.
I thought about it again on a gray October afternoon, on the 9th green at PopStroke Hamlin, staring down a sidehill putt that broke a full foot and then, out of pure spite, broke back.
I left it short. My brother-in-law said nothing, which is worse than saying something.
So at the turn I steered us to the patio and ordered Pretzel Bites & Queso. Soft pretzel bites, little Bavarian-style pretzels, golden brown and burnished, lightly salted, the salt catching the light like frost on a green. Soft and pillowy inside, a gentle chew on the outside. And beside them, a cup of warm queso dipping sauce, smooth and molten, the color of a harvest moon.
You dip. You eat. You dip again. Nobody holds them wrong. There is no wrong way.
My brother-in-law reached for one. Then three more. By the 12th we were speaking again. By the 14th he was asking my advice on reading grain.
I sank a twelve-footer on the 17th, uphill, dead center. I raised a pretzel bite to the sky, a small salute to a stern man in lederhosen, wherever he is tonight.
More shareables
Play through
the menu
Grilled Wings
Jumbo brined wings, available in homemade BBQ, mild, hot, garlic parmesan, mango habanero, sweet heat, hot BBQ, honey-roasted garlic, or Nashville hot dry rub. Served with your choice of blue cheese or ranch.
$18.50
Nachos
Crispy corn tortillas topped with pico de gallo, jalapenos, queso, avocado lime crema, and guacamole. Add chicken or seasoned beef for $4
$14
Ahi Tuna Nachos
Fresh ahi tuna* atop crisp wonton chips, sweet sriracha aioli, and a medley of avocado, cucumber, mango, and jalapenos. Finished with sesame seeds, onion relish, cilantro, and carrots. * Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.
$20