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.

Traveling south from Kohler, the Nicklaus-designed Bull at Pinehurst Farms in Sheboygan Falls represents a challenge for many visitors. Approaching the Milwaukee area from the north, The Bog and Fire Ridge provide outstanding experiences. (www.golfwisconsin.com)

Milwaukee also is home to wonderful publicly owned courses, offering experiences for every level of player. Milwaukee County’s Brown Deer course is one of only a few public courses in the U.S. to annually host a PGA stop (US Bank Championship).

Throughout the Milwaukee metro are challenging and scenic courses, including Golf Magazine’s Best New Course of 2007 – Erin Hills - in the rolling hills northwest of the city. Travel southwest from Milwaukee and you will find Morningstar and Muskego Lakes before reaching Lake Geneva, long a magnet for golfers from throughout the Midwest. Among the fine courses there are the Brute and Highlands courses at the Grand Geneva Resort; the Trevino, Palmer and Player courses at Geneva National; Evergreen, and Hawk’s View.

West toward Madison are Bristlecone Pines; Ironwood; The Broadlands; Nagawaukee, an outstanding Waukesha County-owned course; Western Lakes, and The Oaks. University Ridge in Madison and SentryWorld in central Wisconsin are other world-class courses, but whichever way you turn, there are high-quality courses, often not far from resort areas once known only as fishing, hunting or camping destinations.

The development of the Midwest’s first high-speed ferry, crossing Lake Michigan from Milwaukee to Muskegon, Michigan, gives visitors a chance to play in the fine courses in both Michigan and Wisconsin. Taking only two and a half hours to cross the lake, the Lake Express allows you arrive relaxed, refreshed and ready to tee it up.