Tag: Local Destination

Washington County Golf Course

February 11, 2022 admin

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

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Arthur Hills, Local Destination, Southeast WI

Royal St. Patricks Golf Links

January 15, 2022 admin

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

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Local Destination, Northeast WI, Richard G. Robbins

Eagle Springs Golf Resort

November 22, 2021 admin

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

Categories: Reviews

Tags: A.G. Spaulding, Local Destination, Southeast WI

Glen Erin Golf Course

July 1, 2021 admin

Hole #7 with #9 and Celtic House in background

Location: Janesville
Yardage: 6,849 yards
Tees: Orange, White, Green, Burgundy
Holes: 18 (Par 71)
Opened: 2003
Architect: Greg Martin
Category: Local Destination
Weekday Rate: $45
Favorite Hole: #15

Glen Erin is a refreshing break from the typical golf course in Wisconsin. Opened in 2003, this course is one of the newest in the area, but still has an old-school feel. Located right next to the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, Glen Erin has charm to it while planes fly over to provide a unique experience. The course truly has an Irish links feel, since it was built into the landscape with rolling hills and natural valleys. Glen Erin has four sets of tees so golfers can choose between 6,849 and 5,021 yards. The course rating from the tips (orange) is 72.4 with a slope of 126. There are three par 5’s on the course, which makes the par of the course 71. Hole 8 is a great hole with a fairly open and straightforward tee shot, but a narrow gap for an approach into an inviting green with bunkers short and right. Holes 10 and 18 bookend the back 9 with par 5’s and are very different from each other, other than the yardage (590 yards). Three of the four par 3’s are over 180 yards from the tips, and the greens have multiple tiers so club choice is very important. Most of the course carries true links characteristics with fescue and large undulated greens. There are also pot bunkers and waste areas. The front nine is very open, so players can attack the course at any angle they choose, as long as they avoid the fairway bunkers. Most days at Glen Erin are windy, so the front nine is much more exposed. The back nine has a couple holes that are open, but most of them including #12 and #15 that are very tight and require a very accurate tee shot. There are well-designed fairways on #4, #10, and #17 that reminisce Erin Hills, given the blind tee shot and slope you have to walk up to reach them. Grabbing a pint in their Irish pub after the round is essential! Glen Erin is a very well-designed course cut into the landscape surrounding the Rock River and provides golfers a glimpse of the origins of golf across the pond.