Birchwood, Wisconsin · Est. 2019

Duffy'sInvitational

Golf by day. Degeneracy by night. Named for a bar that would not survive a health inspection — and a godfather who'd be proud it's still standing.

2026 Field Guide — ten holes of history below
1HOLE
Par 5 · The Backstory

How it started

The Duffy's Invitational began the way all great traditions do: a group of friends looking for an excuse to spend a weekend together. What started as a casual outing in Birchwood, Wisconsin has grown into an annual gathering of childhood friends, college buddies, and a steadily expanding roster of "strays" who somehow became family. The name comes from a well-known dive that the lucky members of this tournament have had the privilege of visiting — and our godfather Ron would be glad to know his bar lives on through a group of degenerate gamblers, borderline AA members, and good-timers.

Over the years the event has become about far more than golf. The scorecards, wagers, and bragging rights still matter — but the real purpose is reconnecting with the people who shaped our lives. Each summer the field makes the pilgrimage back to Birchwood to relive old stories, make new ones, and prove that no lead is safe and no putt is guaranteed. Some players arrive as guests and leave as permanent members of the fraternity.

"Remember to take your medicine!"
— Nick Wieland, from the archives
Duffy's, the bar
Duffy's. The namesake.
2HOLE
This Year's Course

2026 Field Guide

This year the Invitational hits the road — two Northwoods heavyweights, back to back.

Friday · August 21

Big Fish Golf Club

Hayward, Wisconsin
Par72
Yardage (tips)7,231 yds
DesignerPete Dye
Rating / Slope74.0 / 136

Links-style front nine into a heavily wooded back nine — one of the most respected public tracks in the state. Bring extra sleeves; the back nine has a way of finding water.

Big Fish afterglow
The afterglow.
Saturday · August 22

Turtleback

Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Par71
Yardage (tips)6,646 yds
DesignerTodd Severud
Rating / Slope72.2 / 136

Named for its undulating, "turtle-backed" greens and mounded terrain through the woods. Two bars on site — including an upstairs "infinity room" overlooking the 9th and 18th — for immediate postmortems.

The crew at Turtleback
The crew, last time out.
3HOLE
Lines Close At Tee Time

The Prop Shop

Quick bets for the weekend. Set by the Committee. No cash value, allegedly.

Justin falls asleep in a chairNot really a bet, more of a certainty
N/A
One of the Morrisette's has a gout flare-up
−120
First hole-in-one of the weekend
600/1
Balls in the water on 9Turtleback
O/U 6.5
Someone sells a Buick before getting on the busSaturday
−240
Length of the national anthem
O/U 1:19
Someone makes it the whole weekend without learning Jack's Buddy's first name
+300

Lines subject to change without notice. Payouts settled in cash, dignity, or both.

4HOLE
The Clubhouse Board

Hall of Champions

The trophy
The hardware, out in the wild.
2019
Nick Wieland, Hunter Halonen, Mike Fandler, Josh TismerThe inaugural. Every trophy has to start somewhere.
2020
Nick Wieland, Andrew Baker, Joe Nasvik, John BjorklundDeclared co-champs after the other team refused a tiebreak drinking contest — on account of being asleep. At 4pm.
2021
Nick Wieland, Michael Jordan, Graham Kaun, Josh Tismer, Joe Nasvik & Joey Hess, Mitch Morrisette, Peter Deppert, Hunter HalonenThe tie heard around the world — settled by a single spin of the roulette wheel, all the riches or none of the riches. They got rich.
2022
Jack Morrisette, Justin Henigin, Josh Tismer, Sam Wade
2023
Sam Wade, Josh Bartness, Nick Wieland, Riley Anderson
2024
Jack Morrisette, Mitch Morrisette, Sam Wade, Josh TismerWade's third straight title — the three-peat, completed.
2025
Justin Henigin, Josh Bartness, Eric Hilgren, Shane ShusterDEFENDING
5HOLE
Official Performance Guide

The Scouting Matrix

Ranked by handicap, low to high. Draft accordingly.

Official Handicaps
01

Justin Henigin

HCP 2.4

The definition of "short and sweet." Not the long drive — pinpoint accuracy, drains putts. Sleeps in chairs.

02

Nick Wieland

HCP 6.1

One of the prettiest swings you'll see. Not many holes in this guy's game. Good things come in small packages.

03

Joey Hess

HCP 6.2

Director of Sport. Absolute weapon off the tee and around the greens — look for him in the first round.

04

Mike Fandler

HCP 9.5

Loves taint. Great mustache.

05

Jack Morrisette

HCP 10.2

COO. Sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit.

06

Riley Anderson

HCP 11.0

Human golden retriever.

07

Shane Shuster

HCP 11.1

Play well to My Chemical Romance or Fall Out Boy at max volume? This is your guy. Voice of an angel. Ken the Barbie doll's cousin.

08

Ryan Phillips

HCP 11.2

They don't call him Philly Tall Grass for nothin'.

09

Mitch Morrisette

HCP 12.0

Rocks a mixed bag of junior clubs, men's clubs, and a putter from 1969. Harness his emotions and he's a valuable asset.

10

Andrew Baker

HCP 12.5

The Chairman. A leader, both on and off the course.

11

Michael Dragger

HCP 13.0

Scouting report: pending.

12

Erik Hilgren

HCP 14.0

Jack's buddy.

12

Josh Tismer

HCP 14.0

Word on the street: he's been putting in the work. Lowest handicap to date, poised to make a run at another title.

14

Joe Nasvik

HCP 14.7

Has been known to get golf balls and/or himself stuck in trees.

15

Josh Bartness

HCP 17.7

CEO. Once won this tournament in a dress. Strong mental toughness — still chasing the game he had at the Air Force Academy in 2016.

The Immeasurables

Peter Deppert

HCP: Chilean women

Bi-lingual. Checks out.

Hans Gorowsky

HCP: Doesn't know his dominant hand

Might play better for your team if you just hand him a left-handed club.

Brandon Baker

HCP: Has Died

The Chairman's cousin.

Ted Krueger

HCP: Latina women

Making his first ever appearance at the Invitational. Everyone say hi, Ted.

Graham Kaun

HCP: Titos

Sustained major head trauma at a past event; his game hasn't been impacted as a result.

6HOLE
Career Titles: Zero

The Snub List

Notable names still missing from a winning team. Draft carefully.

0
Titles

Ryan Phillips

0
Titles

Brandon Baker

0
Titles

Hans Gorowsky

0
Titles

Spencer Close

7HOLE
Local Rules Apply

Ground Under Repair

The highlights reel. Some of these are still under investigation.

Inspecting the jeep
Assessing the damage.
Tito's aftermath
Caught rubberneckin'
8HOLE
Gone From The Field · Not Forgotten

Out of Bounds

A moment to recognize those not with us this year. All persons named are, to the committee's knowledge, alive and well — simply having chosen brunch, their own children, or a work trip over the Invitational.

Jackson Hein

One legendary appearance, then quietly removed from the list entirely.

Carson Tomsche

Passion, energy, and freestyle raps. Return expected in years to come.

Spencer Close

His first year missing in tournament history — still chasing that first shot of glory.

Zac Houle

Legend of the bonfire, speaks in cursive. Benched for the foreseeable future.

Sam Wade

Fresh off completing the three-peat, no-showed his bid for a fourth straight — for a "work trip" that was actually the state fair.

Joe Davis

AKA Joe Daniels, AKA Blow Davis. Remains benched despite repeated, threatening complaints to the committee.

Bradee Thompson

AKA Joe's Caretaker. Benched by association — eligible to return once Joe matures.

John Bjorklund

Benched after refusing to wrestle Philly during Wrestlemania 2022.

Michael Jordan (the white one)

Status unclear. Got us dope hats though.

9HOLE
From The Vault

The Archive

A few from the road, over the years.

The field, somewhere in Birchwood
The field, somewhere in Birchwood.
Golden hour
Golden hour, mid-trip.
Clubhouse crew
Clubhouse crew.
Post-round, sunny
Post-round, before the scores were official.
10HOLE
Clubhouse

The 19th Hole

Chairman
Andrew Baker
CEO
Josh Bartness
COO
Nick Wieland & Jack Morrisette
Director of Sport
Joey Hess
First Timer · Two Truths & A Lie

Ted Krueger

  1. He has two dogs.
  2. He has anger issues.
  3. He's a good golfer.

See you in the Northwoods

BIG FISH · HAYWARD, WI · FRI AUG 21  —  TURTLEBACK · RICE LAKE, WI · SAT AUG 22