Long known by tourists for its lakes, streams, woodlands and pastures, Wisconsin is fast becoming better known throughout the world for its fairways and greens. Despite a relatively short playing season, the state offers quality golf on courses designed by the likes of Jones, Dye, Hills, Nicklaus, Palmer, Player and Trevino.

The international renown of the courses of Kohler (Whistling Straits along Lake Michigan and Blackwolf Run) clearly put Wisconsin in forefront of the sport, but fantastic golf is available in nearly every part of the state. (Click here to read the article in full)

by Ronald S. Montesano of www.buffalogolfer.com

If there were a way to combine the Norman Rockwell-look of a Kohler winter with the golf of a Kohler summer, I believe that I would truly be in an American sort of heaven. As it is, you’ll have to be satisfied with one or the other. Since this is a column about golf, we’ll pass on the snow, roasting chestnuts and Clydesdales and focus on fairways and greens (and other places, as you’ll soon learn.)

Mr. Herb Kohler, current overseer of the Kohler Kitchen and Bath Fixture company, made plans to build a remarkable resort in the factory’s hometown of Kohler, Wisconsin. Golf was to be of central importance, to the extent that the top architect of the day, Pete Dye, was retained to create four golf courses. Land slightly to the west of town was reserved for the Blackwolf Run complex. Named for a native chief, Blackwolf Run became the site of two, uniquely American, inland courses. Half of the River course was the site of the 1998 USGA Women’s Open championship, and is recognized as one of the top ten public access courses in America by many experts. The River follows the course of the Sheboygan River, at times surging uphill, at others, cascading downward. Like all courses at Kohler, please choose the correct tee decks. If you give in to pride, you’re in for a long and forgettable (not to mention painful) day. Trust me, play it shorter than you think best, and you might approach your handicap! (Click here to read the article in full)

Courses 50 miles from downtown - Some of the best golf just a short drive
By JERRY SLASKE
KEY Milwaukee Golf Editor

In most large cities, traveling that distance, particularly for someone who doesn’t know the area, might seem a bit daunting. But everything seems a bit more manageable in Milwaukee and many of these courses are outstanding opportunities, so don’t rule anything out.

Last month, I compiled a list of courses 30 miles from downtown. What you see here is an addition to those. We have added Web sites to this listing, because they should help in finding these courses.

When you add the two lists together, there are 63 courses. If you can’t find one that suits your game from that many courses, perhaps you should take up tennis!

Key:
Best=Interesting layout; good to impeccable conditions; also good pace of play; generally most expensive.

OK= Good test with some challenging holes and generally decent conditions; less expensive than “Best.”

Think twice= Could be a good enough layout with some decent holes, but either conditions or pace of play make the game less than enjoyable. In fact, in some cases, playing could be like having a tooth pulled. Generally least expensive.

North of downtown Milwaukee

Best (by far, but expect to pay big!)
Blackwolf Run – Meadow Valleys 800-344-2838 (www.destinationkohler.com)
Blackwolf Run – River 800-344-2838 (www.destinationkohler.com)
The Bull at Pinehurst Farms (800-584-3285) www.golfthebull.com
The Irish 800-344-2838 (www.destinationkohler.com)
Whistling Straits 800-344-2838 (www.destinationkohler.com

Think twice
Hon-E-Kor 262-626-2520 (www.hon-e-kor.com)

Northwest of downtown Milwaukee

Best
Camelot 920-269-4949 (www.golfcamelot.com)
Old Hickory 920-887-7179 (www.oldhickorycc.com)
Rock River Hills (a real gem that’s inexpensive, but it’s the hardest in the group to get to) 920-485-4990 (www.rockriverhills.com)

OK
Mayville 920-387-2999 (www.mayvillegolfcourse.com)

West of downtown Milwaukee

OK
Meadow Springs 920-674-6858 (www.madisongolf.com)

Southwest of downtown Milwaukee

Best
Evergreen 262-723-4722 (www.evergreengolf.com)
Geneva National -3 courses 262-245-7000 (www.genevanationalresort.com)
Order of preference
Trevino
Palmer
Player
Grand Geneva (2 courses) 888-392-8000 (www.grandgeneva.com)
Order of preference
The Brute
Highlands
Hawk’s View 877-429-5788 (www.hawksviewgolfclub.com)

OK
Lake Lawn 800-338-5253 (www.lakelawnresort.com)
Rivermoor 262-534-2500 (www.rivermoorcc.com)

South of downtown Milwaukee

Best
Strawberry Creek 262-857-8400 (www.strawberrycreekclub.com)

OK
Bristol Oaks 262-857-2302 (www.bristoloaks.com)

For more information about these or any golf course in Wisconsin, the best Web site without a doubt is www.GolfWisconsin.com.

Milwaukee County Parks Just a Short Drive from Great Golf

KeyMilwaukee.com Golf Editor

Whether you’re an experienced golfer or simply want to take up a new hobby, the Milwaukee County Park System has a golf course suited for your game. Fifteen golf course are operated by Milwaukee County Parks and each is categorized based on the difficulty of the playing conditions.

Premium
Brown Deer Park Golf Course 7835 N. Green Bay Road

Many golfers around the country know of Brown Deer Park Golf Course. Home of the PGA Tour’s US Bank Championship of Milwaukee, Brown Deer is the premiere golf course of the Milwaukee County Park System. Established in 1929, Brown Deer features mature tree- lined fairways, water winding throughout the course and large colorful flowerbeds beautifying the landscape. While Brown Deer is not necessarily long, measuring just over 6,700 yards from the championship tees, narrow, bent grass fairways require accuracy off the tee. Brown Deer is designed for experienced golfers who want to test their skills on a PGA Tour Championship layout.

Gold
Dretzka Park Golf Course 12020 W. Bradley Road
Oakwood Park Golf Course 3600 W. Oakwood Road
Whitnall Park Golf Course 5879 S. 92nd Street

With fast greens and narrow fairways, these sculptured courses are designed for the low handicap golfer and all host various local tournaments throughout the season. Each course has unique features that set itself apart from the rest. Dretzka Park is set upon rolling terrain that provides difficult lies even in the fairways. Oakwood Park is the longest of all the Milwaukee County Park golf courses, measuring at 6,972 yards from the championship tees. Built in 1971, it is not as mature as the other gold courses but still serves a tough test to area golfers. Whitnall Park is carved out of the woods and is especially scenic in the fall. Loaded with doglegs, it requires precise shot selection to score effectively.

Silver
Currie Park Golf Course 3535 N. Mayfair Rd.
Grant Park Golf Course 100 E. Hawthorne Ave.
Greenfield Park Golf Course 12100 W. Greenfield Ave.
Lincoln Park Golf Course 1000 W. Hampton Ave.

Designed for the middle handicap golfer, Silver Courses offer wide fairways, low roughs and while the greens provide a true roll, they are not as fast as the other championship courses. Silver Courses provide just the right blend of challenge and relaxation for golfers of all ability. In fact, of all the Milwaukee County Courses, Currie, Grant and Greenfield received the most amount of play.

Bronze
Hansen Park Golf Course 9800 Underwood Creek Parkway
Warnimont Park Golf Course 5400 S. Lake Drive

The Bronze Courses are Par-3 courses, however they shouldn’t be taken lightly. Holes measuring up to 200 yards require long irons and even woods to reach the greens in regulation. The course settings contrast each other significantly. Hansen is located among stately trees with water traversing through much of the layout. Warnimont, located on the bluffs of Lake Michigan, is open with winds off the Lake creating unique challenges.

Oak
Doyne Park Golf Course 5300 W. Wells St.
Lake Park Golf Course 3233 E. Kenwood Boulevard
Madison Park Golf Course 9800 W. Glendale Ave.
Noyes Park Golf Course 8235 W. Good Hope Rd.
Zablocki Park Golf Course 3717 W. Howard Ave.

These six courses are perfect for beginners or for those that want to sharpen their short game. These are pitch and putt courses and require basic fundamentals to play well. It is interesting to note that Lake Park Golf Course is the oldest course of all 16 within the Milwaukee County Park System. Established in 1903, golfers had to contend with picnickers and other casual users of the park as they wound their way around its original six-hole layout. Lake Park now consists of 18 par-3 holes.

Greens Fees
Greens fees vary depending on the course classification, whether you play on a weekend or weekday, and if you are a senior or junior golfer. The Standard rates, established by the County Board of Supervisors each year as part of the budget process, are competitive and often lower than other daily fee courses in the area.

Discount Card
Golfers can enjoy discounted greens fees by purchasing the Milwaukee County Parks Golf Discount Card. Available for both residents and non-residents of Milwaukee County, the Discount Card saves you up to 40% of the standard fee of golf. The Card also enrolls you in the automated tee time reservation system that allows you to make tee times up to seven days in advance. Golfers can purchase the Discount Card for one, two or three year terms.

Golf Lessons
Personal instruction by PGA members is available at any of the Gold or Premium golf courses. There are also group lessons available for those that want a less intimidating environment. Group lessons can help alleviate the focus on only you and make lessons much more enjoyable. For either kind, simply ask the Head pro at the course of your choice.

Golf Office (414) 257-8024
Automated Tee Time: (414) 475-6222