Reviews
Here is a list of the course reviews that we have so far. They are categorized by the list on the right sidebar. Let us know what you think!
Erin Hills
Location: Erin
Yardage: 7,731 yards
Tees: Black, Blue, Green, White, Gold
Holes: 18 (Par 72)
Opened: 2006
Architect: Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, Ron Whitten
Category: Local Value
Peak Summer Rate: $330 (walking) plus caddie fee and tip
Favorite Hole: #15
One of the most spectacular, naturally designed golf courses the world has ever seen; Erin Hills has quickly jumped up to being one of the top golf destinations in the country. Since it was established back in 2006, Erin Hills has hosted a US Amateur, US Open and is set to host a Women’s US Open in 2025. Set in the heart of the state, Erin Hills is common destination for players traveling to and from Whistling Straits, Sand Valley, and Lawsonia. Tipping out at almost 7,800 yards with a slope of 145, Erin Hills can quickly show its teeth. Many of the holes are played through the crevices of glacial deposits that carved the land thousands of years ago. Erin is also known for having one of the longest Par 5’s in the world. In the 2017 US Open, hole #18 tipped out at 675, sometimes playing dead into the wind. Justin Thomas described hitting, “one of the best 3-woods of his life,” on that hole. Recently constructed, the course also has a putting course located next to the first tee. Many times, guests enjoy a cigar and cocktail on the putting course. It’s even open at night! One of the cool things Erin Hills has to offer is their on-site lodging. They are known for their private cottages, that can house up to 8 occupants. The cottages overlook the entire course and have some of the most breathtaking sunsets. On the other hand, the property also has a rustic, Irish-style lodge. This building sits right next to the first tee and really makes you feel like you are in another country.
When I played Erin Hills back in 2020, I remember it being an incredible experience. The service was exceptional and the course was in great shape. When there, it is a must to get a Fescue Rescue drink. It is Erin Hills staple cocktail that consists of Jameson, ginger beer and lemonade. If you are traveling from out of state, Erin should be a top destination for you to play.
Washington County Golf Course
Location: Hartford
- Yardage: 7,048 yards
- Tees: Black, Blue, White, Gold, Red
- Holes: 18 (Par 72)
- Opened: 1997
- Architect: Arthur Hills
- Category: Local Destination
- Weekday Rate: $43
- Favorite Hole: #17
Washington County has been ranked as one of the best muni courses in the state. A course that is truly playable for everyone, providing a challenge for the best players from the tips while allowing beginners and average golfers to keep their ball in play from the mens and forward tees. With large rolling fairways and only being 8.5 miles from Erin Hills, some of the features are similar but at a much smaller scale. The best thing about Washington County is the vale – weekday 18 with cart is $43. Another bonus is the practice facility, a large range, chipping/pitching green with bunkers, putting green, and a 3 hole practice course($8). The greens run quick most of the year and the conditions are much better than most munis, especially how smooth and true they are. The Par 3’s are between 183 and 222 yards from the tips with some downhill shots and some flat. The Par 5’s are between 535 and 570 yards, a good blend of reachable Par 5’s and others that are three-shot holes. #3 has a blind approach, which #7 requires a very accurate play into the green with water short and left. #13 is reachable and #17 is one of my favorites (below). Washington County features one of the best set of finishing holes with 16-18. #16 is an downhill Par 3 that plays 211 from the tips with a 30 foot drop from tee to green and guarded by a bunker short and left . #17 is a downhill Par 5 that has a gentle dogleg to the right as it follows the landscape to the green 555 yards away. A few strategic bunkers stand in the way off the tee and next to the green for players and the reachable 17th. #18 is an uphill Par 4 that is 405 yards from the tips. It requires that players carry the bunkers on the left-center of the fairway to a green that usually plays 5 yards longer that the number. Washington County can be a challenging course from the tips, but also accessible for all players from the appropriate tee box which is why it is one of our favorites and one of the best values in southeast Wisconsin.
***More pictures to come Summer 2022
Peninsula State Park Golf Course
Location: Ephraim
Yardage: 6,304 yards
Tees: Blue, White, Red, Gold
Holes: 18 (Par 71)
Opened: 1923
Architect: Larry Packard
Category: Local Value
Weekday Rate: $59
Favorite Hole: #11
Door County hosts one of the best getaway locations in the state and has one well-known public golf course that I’m sure many of you have played. Peninsula State Park has an 18 hole course and 6 hole short course on property and is located in Ephraim, designed by Larry Packard. He also designed Mascoutin, Brown County, and Glacier Wood GC for reference. There were 6 holes opened in 1917, 9 in 1923, and all 18 in 1931. They added the short course in 2014. Peninsula State Park Golf Course is a relatively straightforward parkland course with some awesome elevation changes and breathtaking views of the waters of Green Bay. Specifically #8 is a 69 yard par 3 (nice) with a 50 foot drop from tee to green. 17 is also a downhill par 3 but is much longer playing at 186 from the tips. There are some sneaky tough holes on the back 9 including dog legs on 10 and 11, while the front 9 is relatively straightforward. The greens are average size and fairways are cut like a typical muni. The green speed and conditions of the course are also muni-like, slow and in ok shape. The value of this course is decent considering it’s one of the few courses in the busy tourist area of Door County and the scenic views it hosts. A typical round with a cart is around $59, but it depends when you play. Peninsula State Park Golf Course is a good course that isn’t too difficult with great location and even better views.
#10 Par 4
Royal St. Patricks Golf Links
- Location: Wrightstown
- Yardage: 7,221 yards
- Tees: Black, Purple, White, Gray, Green
- Holes: 18 (Par 72)
- Opened: 2003
- Architect: Richard G. Robbins
- Category: Local Destination
- Weekday Rate: $52
- Favorite Hole: #3
Royal St Patricks Golf Links is very different what you’d expect for a course in rural Northeast Wisconsin. Built in 2000 in Wrightstown, (only 20 minutes from Lambeau Field) RSP is an American style links course, relatively flat, that has very wide fairways and large greens with some undulations. RSP is making annual improvements to improve the experience with adding mounds for a few blind approaches and redoing bunkers in the past few years. Royal St Patricks also has the Greg Norman Shark Experience in all of their carts, featuring xm-like radio on the cart as well as a course gps with yardages to any point you chose. Due to some of the drainage constraints of being in a low rural area, the course does not dry out as well as a true links course, also partly due to the land the course is built on, it is farm land thus it has no sand base to it. The fairways are soft and feel great to hit approach shots from when you hit the fairway. There are very few trees on the course which makes it even tougher when the winds are blowing hard in the spring/fall, not to mention water hazards on 15 out of the 18 holes. The finishing stretch at RSP is the most challenging finishing 4-5-4 from 439,536, and 452 yards respectively. There is water on the right of each of these holes, making it especially tough for golfers that play a fade. RSP also has a 19th hole- Halfe Pint between 90-120 yards, to settle any ties on the course. After your round, the Crosswind Grille can’t be beat. They have some of the most unique menu items like brisket rolls, sushi nachos, poke bowls, jambalaya, and shrimp tacos, as well as at least 15 craft beers on tap at any time. Royal St Patricks is unique and boasts a change of pace in the Fox River valley which mainly consists of parkland and tight tree-lined courses.
Social Media
Website: https://www.royalstpatricks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RSP2003/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royalstpatricksgolflinks/?hl=en
Eagle Springs Golf Resort
- Tees: White, Red
- Holes: 9 (Par 35)
- Opened: 1893
- Architect: A.G. Spaulding
- Category: Local Destination
- Weekday Rate: $20
- Favorite Hole:#1
The best hidden gem in Wisconsin can be found in the heart of the southeastern part of the state. Only a half hour from Lake Geneva and an hour from Milwaukee, Eagle Springs is a must see for all golfers founded in 1893 and being the oldest course in the state. The only course that A.G. Spaulding designed is very well preserved and maintained. The drive towards the clubhouse is a single lane road through a heavily wooded area passing modest homes, a natural spring, and a small lake. The clubhouse reminisces a family home built into the side of the hill sloping towards the lake, with a maintenance barn placed similarly next to it. The uniqueness of this property amazed me and I hadn’t even stepped on the first tee yet. To my surprise, the first tee (tips) is right outside the club house taking your first tee shot (blind) over the putting green. A marvelous first green with large mounding in front and a punch bowl on the right, precedes the most popular par 3 in the state – Volcano! It is a terrifying sight with an 9 iron in hand from 140 yards, and even scarier when you walk up and see the scale of the 30 foot mound and relatively small green that slopes back to front. The rest of the round is no sleeper either with strategic tee shots, unique green complexes, and deceiving bunkers/mounds helps this course to hold up in difficulty even though the game has drastically changed over the last 125 years. Eagle Springs is the best value in the state with a walking rate of $20 for 9 holes. Strongly recommend this course!
Being from Wisconsin, a fishing lure on the cart keychain is classic and was a nice touch for a course that is as modest as you’ll find.
#7 green – backstop shown
The Bog
- Location: Saukville
- Yardage: 7,221 yards
- Tees: Black, Blue, White, Gold Red
- Holes: 18 (Par 72)
- Opened: 1995
- Architect: Arnold Palmer Signature Course
- Category: Regional Destination
- Weekday Rate: $79
- Favorite Hole:#1
The Bog is a challenging course over 7,000 yards that requires specific golf shots, which has deterred some due to their desire for creativity and playability. It is an Arnold Palmer signature course opened in 1995 in Saukville, Wisconsin. Located next to the Cedarburg Bog, this course features elevation changes, demanding tee shots, and deceiving visuals. The Bog has hosted many WSGA events such as the Match Play and Amateur Championship, as well as the State Open Championship. The weekday rate is $79 which is fair and expected for being in the Regional Destination category (our second highest ranking), but I wouldn’t consider it a value course. The length of this course can be felt throughout most of your round, especially from the tips with a course rating of 75.3. There are five sets of tee boxes for all players, and most of the fairways are wide for most golfers to keep their ball in play. The defining features of the front nine are strategic/deceiving bunkers and wide fairways. The back nine requires more demanding tee shots with more narrow fairways and trouble nearby, as well as precise approach shots – especially on the par 3’s with forced carries. My favorite hole was #1 (which may seem cliché), but it features a blind approach and a downward sloping fairway into a front to back pitched green which chases balls toward the bunker behind the green. It is very difficult to stop a ball on the putting surface when trying to reach this green in two. #9 is a great risk-reward hole to finish the front nine. #12 also stood out to me, as the very shallow green and daunting water/rocks in front stared at me while hitting an uneasy, less than full wedge into the green. It is a challenging hole that requires a strategic tee shot and a precise approach, but I think they could’ve done better with #12, #16, and #17. The finishing holes are supposed to be exciting and can make or break your round. #16 and #17 are gimmicky and make you feel like you’re on a resort, where the dog legs and forced layups are the only thing that makes the hole difficult. #18 is a good finishing hole with elevated tees that lets you choose how aggressive you want to be with your tee shot. The green has multiple tiers and sits in front of the new event venue “The Barn” which was perfect for our group to watch the rounds conclude. My advice to anyone that hasn’t played The Bog yet is that you should definitely play it, but just know that the front nine is a better routing and you may be disappointed with the back nine. Overall, The Bog is a must see for all players throughout the state due to Arnold Palmer’s design especially the preservation and continual upkeep that The Bog has done to maintain pristine condition year after year.
Wild Rock Golf Course
- Location: Wisconsin Dells
- Yardage: 7,417 yards
- Tees: Black, Blue, White, Gold Red
- Holes: 18 (Par 72)
- Opened: 2008
- Architects: Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry
- Category: Regional Destination
- Weekday Rate: $99
- Favorite Hole:#10
Built just up the road from Lake Delton in the Wisconsin Dells and opened in 2008, Wild Rock Golf Course features many aspects that cannot be found at most courses throughout the state. Although Wild Rock is on the Wilderness Resort property and is a short drive from many other Resorts, this course is not what you would expect. The tips play at almost 7,500 yards with very wide fairways for the first 3/4 of the round. Wild Rock is one of the most playable for all skill levels due to 5 tee boxes, large inviting greens, and deceivingly small bunkers that may catch a ball or two during your round. The first four holes and last two are on one piece of the property, and the other 12 are across a road. You take a tunnel under the road to continue your round, which was pretty cool. With subtle uphill holes like #5 and #10, you need to be precise and factor in the slope with your approach shot. Hole #6 features the best view on the property and views for over 30 miles, shown in the cover photo above. Once you reach the 10th green, you also are at a high point and can see the rolling hills in the distance. There were many great holes in the middle of the course which keeps golfers on their toes. The tips are just as long as you would expect at almost 7,500 yards, and you can feel that on almost every tee shot between the long par 3’s and 4’s as well as the intermediate par 5’s.Wild Rock has many features such as a few table top greens, punchbowl pins, large rock quarries, forced carries over water, and many more. It was a treat to play Wild Rock during peak color in the fall, and I can’t wait to go back very soon.
#16 Par 4: 456 yards
Social Media
Website: https://www.wildrockgolf.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildRockGolf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildrockgolfclub/
Alpine Valley Golf Resort
- Location: Elkhorn
- Tees: Blue, White, Red
- Holes: 27
- Summit (Par 36) – 3,126 yards (34.7)
- Meadows (Par 36) – 2,981 yards (35.5)
- Sugar Creek (Par 35) – 2,892 yards (34.6)
- Opened: 1964
- Architect: Arthur Johnson
- Category: Local Value
- Weekday Rate: $47
- Favorite Hole: #8 Summit
Alpine Valley Golf Course is built into the rolling hills and valleys that are shadowed by the 388 foot summit of the ski hill. The resort also has an amphitheater, mountain biking trails, and many other amenities. They have hosted a wide range of artists such as Aerosmith, Grateful Dead, Coldplay, and of course Jimmy Buffet many times. The ski resort on property attracts skiers and snowboarders from across the Midwest every winter, since there is a hill for every skill level. The ski lodge and adjacent pro shop have a nordic ski lodge look, which provides a unique vibe. when you are golfing there in the summer. The three nines are very different, with elevation and landscape anomalies in each. The “Sugar Creek” nine follows the creek through the relatively flat area at the lowest point on property. With a course rating of 34.6 and par 35, this course has just enough water to make the 2900 yard length a little tougher. Since there are 27 holes at Alpine Valley, this course is the 9 hole course and the Summit/Meadows make up the 18. Arthur Johnson designed Alpine Valley, as well as many other resort courses throughout the state. The bunker styling and placement was surprising, as there were many intermediate bunkers that were not fairway or greenside. There are many great dogleg holes on the Summit course that can challenge a golfer of any skill level. Most notably is #8 which has a 40 foot drop from tee to fairway. An aggressive tee shot can leave you a wedge into the par 5, but your drive could get caught up in the tree line on the right, or roll through the fairway. The following hole is a 150 yard par 3 from the tips with another significant elevation change: 60 feet downhill. From the furthest back tee box, which was not in play when we visited, the tee shot is blind. The meadows course transitions between the summit and the sugar creek with holes along the woods and also in the valley. Alpine Valley Golf Course is not kept as well as most of the courses in Lake Geneva, but it is a must see in the area for the elevation changes and well-designed layout. One of our highlights was the Hacker’s Hut where we stopped for a snack. (Shown below)
Social Media
Website: https://www.alpinevalleyresort.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alpine-Valley-Resort-Wisconsin-240731292664440/
Majestic Oaks at Lake Lawn Resort
- Location: Delavan
- Yardage: 6,201 yards
- Tees: Blue, White, Red
- Holes: 18 (Par 70)
- Opened: 1921
- Architect: Dick Nugent, Tom Bendelow
- Category: Local Value
- Weekday Rate: $63 (Cart Required)
- Favorite Hole: #16
Built on the shores of Delavan Lake, Majestic Oaks at Lake Lawn Resort is a shorter, resort style course only 15 minutes away from Lake Geneva. The resort is settled on 2 miles of shoreline of Delavan Lake, while the entire shoreline is 13 miles. The resort has boat and watersport rentals, two restaurants, three pools, and many other amenities. Opened in 1921 and designed by Tom Bendelow, the length of this course from the tips (6,200 yards and course rating of 70.0) was typical in the early 20th century, but is short by today’s standards. It was redesigned in 1990 by Dick Nugent. Originally named Lake Lawn Golf Course, and renamed Majestic Oaks when the front nine and back nine were switched in 2014. Most popular by resort guests, Majestic Oaks provides golfers with challenging greens and narrow, tree-lined fairways. There are only three par 5’s and five par 3’s on the course making the par 70, but there is also a good mix of long par 3’s and driveable par 4’s. Many greens have multiple tiers and large slopes that make getting up and down difficult if you miss in the wrong spot. There are rolling fairways that follow the landscape leading down to the lake and up the hills, while 14 holes have a great look at Delavan Lake. Hole #12 is a 505 yard dogleg left par 5 that follows the shoreline and gives a very scenic view, one of my favorite holes out there. Carts are required on this course, so the rates are a bit higher compared to Delbrook Golf Course across town. Majestic Oaks is a pricier option in the area given the lakefront location and resort property, but is a fun course with scenic views of Delavan Lake that will test every part of your game.
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeLawn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LakeLawnResort/