Peninsula State Park Golf Course

February 8, 2022 admin

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

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Larry Packard, Local Value, Northeast 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.