Tag: Southeast WI

Erin Hills

February 22, 2022 admin

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.

Erin Hills Beer made by MKE brewery City Lights

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Dana Fry, Michael Hurdzan, Ron Whitten, Southeast WI, Top Cheese

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

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

The Bog

November 8, 2021 admin

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.

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Arnold Palmer, Regional Destination, Southeast WI

Alpine Valley Golf Resort

August 3, 2021 admin

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/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alpinevalleyresortwi/

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Arthur Johnson, Local Value, Southeast WI

Majestic Oaks at Lake Lawn Resort

July 1, 2021 admin

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.

Hole #11: 165 Yard Par 3 overlooking Delavan Lake

Social Media

Website: https://www.lakelawnresort.com/golf/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwub-HBhCyARIsAPctr7zH_y2iLE491x_74P6RxVFGWMUTysXeUhTTqasVuPwyZTzsO1_gvXIaArrlEALw_wcB

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeLawn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LakeLawnResort/

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Local Value, Southeast WI, Tom Bendelow

Delbrook Golf Course

June 23, 2021 admin

Tees: Blue, White, Gold, Red
Holes: 27
- North (Par 35) – 3,183 Yards
- Middle (Par 35) – 3,376 Yards
- South (Par 35) – 3,266 Yards
Opened: 1928
Architect: Mark Mitchell
Category: Local Value
Walking Rate: $28
Favorite Hole: #8 Middle

Originally built as a private 18-hole club in 1928, Delbrook was purchased by the City of Delavan in 1945 and truly has the hometown-muni feel. Expanded to 27 holes in 2001, there is playability and availability for golfers of all skill levels to play here. Delbrook is about 20 minutes away from Lake Geneva and only 5 minutes north of Delavan Lake (a little smaller than half the size of Lake Geneva). During the week, you can ride 18 holes with a cart for only $36. The length of the course depends on which two 9’s you play, but the tips (blue) play to 6,642 yards and a course rating of 71.8, while each 9 has a par of 35. The “North” is shorter with more trouble, while the “Middle” and “South” follow the original design of the course with more length and demanding approach shots. The course has subtle slopes and a few elevated greens that are relatively small. Since there are original holes and ones added in 2001, there are different green textures as well as different styles from tee to green. There are a couple of sneaky long holes, which is not expected from a course that is only 6,642 yards long. Since there is only one par 5 on each nine, the length has to come from somewhere else i.e. South #1 and #4 both par 4’s at 478 yards and two other par 3’s at Delbrook that are 230 yards. The greens roll true, and at a good pace for a muni. Most of the year, they are not fast by any measure. A classic muni with a small-town feel and great value, Delbrook is not the nicest course in the area shadowed by Lake Geneva, but it has value and is very accessible.

North #8: Drivable Par 4 over the water (335 from Tips)

South #6: Uphill Par 4 (Original Hole #4)

Social Media

Website: https://www.delbrookgolfclub.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DelbrookGC/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delbrookgolfclub/?hl=en

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Local Value, Mark Mitchell, Southeast WI

Country Club Estates

June 21, 2021 admin

Location: Fontana
Yardage: 3011
Tees: Blue, White, Red
Holes: 9 (Par 35)
Opened: 1929
Architect: Tom Bendelow
Category: Local Value
Weekday Rate: $18 (9 holes)
Favorite Hole: #3

Country Club Estates opened in 1929 in Fontana and is located in the backyard of Big Foot Country Club. Similar to Big Foot CC, Country Club Estates was designed by Tom Bendelow. The original plans were for an 18 hole golf club, but only 9 holes were built before the Great Depression started in 1929. The land that was designated for the back 9 is still undeveloped, so this course may become 18 holes very far down the road. Since this course was built in 1929, the length is not too long by today’s standards at just over 3000 yards and par 35. The walking rate is $18 during the day and $12 for twilight. There are three tees options: blue, white, and red. The course rating from the blue tees (tips) at 34.7 and a slope of 122. Featuring blind tee shots and sloping fairways, this course is very well designed and a hidden gem in the golfer’s paradise of Lake Geneva. The greens roll fairly quick for their size and have more slope than expected. Overall, a great golf course in the heart of the resort area surrounding Lake Geneva with especially good value. A very short walk from the lake hides this quiet, low-key 9-hole signature Bendelow from the early 20^th century.

Caddie path on a muni? Yes please. Long Par 3 6th.

Website

https://www.countryclubestatesgolf.com/

Categories: Reviews

Tags: Local Value, Southeast WI, Tom Bendelow