Milw. area:
Morningstar
The Broadlands
Madison area:
The Oaks
Maple Bluff CC
Haven't gotten to any of the Kohler courses or Erin Hills yet.
Come on Bro, time to break out the sheckles and play a man's course.
1. The Bog
2. Ironwood
Don't live in WI, so that makes it a little more difficult.
Overall favorite: Milwaukee Country Club...and it's not even close.
Favorite Public: Lawsonia Links.
To get all golf nerdy again, I'm a fan of what you might call classical or minimalist golf course architecture. So in general, places like Kohler don't really do a whole lot for me. In fact I despise the Irish course with a passion that some might say borders on insanity.
Quote from: bma725 on February 11, 2010, 10:08:40 PM
Overall favorite: Milwaukee Country Club...and it's not even close.
Favorite Public: Lawsonia Links.
To get all golf nerdy again, I'm a fan of what you might call classical or minimalist golf course architecture. So in general, places like Kohler don't really do a whole lot for me. In fact I despise the Irish course with a passion that some might say borders on insanity.
Blackwolf River
Whistling
Blackwolf Meadow
Mascoutin (Red/White)
Lawsonia Woodlands
The Bog
Lawsonia Links
And I'm automatic from 10 feet
I'll agree with you on MCC's back 9. I don't find the front to be anything out of the ordinary unless you're talking about the overall maintenance of the course. Bluemound is also very well maintained with several interesting holes.
For natural beauty, though, it's hard to beat the Straits. Not quite Pebble Beach, but it's the Midwest's version.
I'm working at keeping my putts under 22/round. Actually, maybe 25 at the Straits or Erin Hills. But, then I reach the greens at those courses in 2 on par 5's, so it evens out.
Blackwolf Run - River
Lawsonia - Woodlands
University Ridge
Whispering Springs
Tuscumbia
Waushara
Mascoutin
Lawsonia - Links
Brown Deer
In that order
The coolest thing is that we got to play every one of these courses besides Blackwolf Run for our high school golf team back in the day. Some amazing golf for free. The State Tournament at University Ridge was one of the coolest experiences in my life.
I can understand that sentiment, a lot of people prefer the back simply because of the river being in play on 11-15. But I find that the Par 3s on that side pale in comparison to those on the front, especially since they changed #8, and I think #9 is one of the best short par 4s in the game. Watching the US Mid-Am there back in 2008, it was literally comical to see how much that hole messed with the heads of some the best amateur players in the country, and forced them to make in some cases incredibly stupid decisions. To me, that's what makes the course great. It isn't just about the view or the scenery, it's about how you actually have to play the game. Whistling Straits has great views, but it's an overly long target golf course masquerading as links golf.
Hawks View - very scenic.
Sorry that I can't make this into a pissing contest, I usually play local courses and someone doesn't like paying a great deal of money to play golf.
Private Courses: North Hills Country Club, Milwaukee Country Club
Public Courses (that I like): Washington County Links, Grant (because of the lake) Dretzka, Kettle's Ponds/Hills, Silver Spring's Falls. Wanaki had some nice views too.
Again, nothing to spectacular with my list, but all were close enough to Milwaukee that I could get to once I was off of class on Friday's and still play 18.
When I worked in Germantown over in 2008, I played a bunch of courses. I could give you a good list of courses that aren't great/thrilling -or just plain suck like Songbird, Blackstone (formerly Lake something), River's Bend, Septic View...
However I did have the opportunity to play some of the Robert Trent Jones trail over spring break last year. my dad and I took a road trip and golfed in every state from southern Indiana to Northern Alabama.
I love the snarkiness.
I play Silver Spring the most, and I've played it for over 5 years.
I stand by my automatic from 10-15 feet. I know how ridiculous that looks on a message board, I don't really care.
Like Ari, I play mostly local courses because my friends and I aren't trying to shell out $150 each weekend when we golf. I'd rather play a course like Silver Spring, or even some of the county courses (when they are in decent shape) 2-3 times a week than go play Whistling and get worked over.
EDIT: I like to leave the course happy, not stewing over lost balls and 4 putts because the green breaks 100 different times.
#1 Whistling Straits, no doubt. Fantastic golf experience. I told my host that I would even consider paying my own way next time.
Undercovered gem: Rolling Hills in Oconomowoc, good golf for the price.
Ziggy: great call on The Oaks.
During my time at MU (graduated in 08), I only played Mee Kwon in Mequon. They had a deal where college students got a district card - $5 for 9, $10 for 18 during the week. You can't beat that. It was a fairly well kept course too.
County Courses (where money forces me to do most of my golf):
Grant
Greenfield
Whitnall
Some Others:
Brynwood
Kettle Hills
Songbird Hills
There is a country club near North Lake I believe, and it sits on the right hand side of the road if you are heading north/west. Anyone know the name of it?
Geneva National
Quote from: MU_B2002 on February 12, 2010, 09:28:52 AM
There is a country club near North Lake I believe, and it sits on the right hand side of the road if you are heading north/west. Anyone know the name of it?
Chenequa Country Club. Sits above Beaver Lake.
Quote from: MU_B2002 on February 12, 2010, 09:28:52 AM
There is a country club near North Lake I believe, and it sits on the right hand side of the road if you are heading north/west. Anyone know the name of it?
That's Chenequa. It's right on 83 pretty much across from North Lake.
It's one of the older clubs that used to be the getaway private club for those that had memberships in the city but were spending their summers at a lake house in that area.
Short by modern standards, but a great old course.
When I was a kid vacationing in Door County every year, I used to *love* to play Peninsula State Park Golf Course. Especially the Par 3, 69 yard hole off of a cliff.
Quote from: Sir Lawrence on February 12, 2010, 09:32:18 AM
Chenequa Country Club. Sits above Beaver Lake.
Yes, that is it. I have to play there before I die. Not that it looks like some amazing course, but I just need to play it.
Is anybody a member? ;)
Edit: grammar
Quote from: MU_B2002 on February 12, 2010, 09:43:57 AM
Yes, that is it. I have to play there before I die. Not that it looks like some amazing course, but I just need to play the it.
Is anybody a member? ;)
Good friend of mine is. Course was in immaculate shape when I played there this past summer. It's challenging as well. I had more than 22 putts that round ;)
Quote from: MU_B2002 on February 12, 2010, 09:43:57 AM
Yes, that is it. I have to play there before I die. Not that it looks like some amazing course, but I just need to play it.
Is anybody a member? ;)
I have a friend who lives just off the 15th green. He's in his early 40s and the youngest guy in the neighborhood by a good 20 years.
Quote from: MU_B2002 on February 12, 2010, 09:43:57 AM
Yes, that is it. I have to play there before I die. Not that it looks like some amazing course, but I just need to play it.
Is anybody a member? ;)
Edit: grammar
had the pleasure of eating there with my old boss and a few other people I won't name drop. It's good. Better than when I had lunch at MCC woth another old boss. But nothing beat the Friday staff food at the NHCC in high school
Quote from: Ari Gold on February 12, 2010, 10:05:05 AM
had the pleasure of eating there with my old boss and a few other people I won't name drop. It's good. Better than when I had lunch at MCC woth another old boss. But nothing beat the Friday staff food at the NHCC in high school
You ate at Beaver Lake?
Erin Hills has some of the best natural landscape/layout for any course in Wisconsin. Extremely difficult and long depending on what set of tees you play off of. They just re-did pretty much all of the holes last year to try to get the PGA there and should be in great shape this summer.
Whistling Straits. Got to go there on a work boondoggle. Blackwolf Run is great, but I've played several courses of similar quality. WS is so unique. Haven't made it to Erin Hills but would love to get there.
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on February 12, 2010, 11:25:22 AM
You ate at Beaver Lake?
Yep, it's a dead lake. Pretty sure there aren't any fish in there at all. Couldn't launch my boat in either, no public launch.
Quote from: Ari Gold on February 12, 2010, 02:43:47 PM
Yep, it's a dead lake. Pretty sure there aren't any fish in there at all. Couldn't launch my boat in either, no public launch.
They hid the launch from anyone named Ari Gold (or similar names)
Horseshoe Bay
The only course I ever played in Milwaukee while in college was Brown Deer. Except for a little par 3 course out by Miller valley, the name of which escapes me now. On this side of the lake, our version of Whistling Straits is Arcadia Bluffs. Played there twice. Amazing. Greens are always running 11 or better on the stimp, even in October. More bunkers than they can count. But you can drive around northern Michigan all summer and play a different phenomenal course every day, as long as you like elevation changes through old growth forests, or lake views.
Quote from: tower912 on February 12, 2010, 03:43:15 PM
Except for a little par 3 course out by Miller valley, the name of which escapes me now.
Doyne Park?!?!
have not played the Kohler courses -
love Erin Hills, like MorningStar, like SentryWorld, like the Oaks except the first 1 & 3 are like a shooting gallery the way they are laid out, love Bergamont, agree Rolling Hills is far under rated, Hawk's View was cool but pretty pricey, Bishop's Bay is very nice
Value courses in my rotation (good for the low money paid) - Nagawaukee, Ironwood, Kettle Moraine, Rolling Hills, Wanaki
For the money you can't beat Lawsonia and Mascoutin. Plus, now you can actually buy a beer at Lawsonia.
Quote from: wall2978 on February 13, 2010, 06:15:39 AM
For the money you can't beat Lawsonia and Mascoutin. Plus, now you can actually buy a beer at Lawsonia.
When did this happen!? Some of my best memories are sneaking beers in, trying to avoid the wrath of the Baptists.
You know if the Catholics had a golf course they would have wine (or PBR if it was run by Jesuits) at every hole in place of water coolers.
I think the recession is hurting the Baptists just like the rest of us.
merrill hills, hawks view, morningstar , the big fish(hayward)
Troy Burne is a great Tom Lehman designed course on the banks of the St. Croix.
Quote from: Ari Gold on February 12, 2010, 02:12:20 AM
When I worked in Germantown over in 2008, I played a bunch of courses. I could give you a good list of courses that aren't great/thrilling -or just plain suck like Songbird, Blackstone (formerly Lake something), River's Bend, Septic View...
Uggh, Lake Park. I played there 2-3 times a season during HS golf, what a piece. I just hated that place and never played well there. No better example of idiots in jean shorts hacking around for a couple hours and the subsequent toll on the course.
I worked at Milwaukee CC for a summer, played there a bunch of times, was on the course for various events/functions that summer...What a gorgeous course, laid out very well. It was my favorite place to play during Country Club district play when I was younger too. Close behind were Bluemound and North Shore CC, no coincidence both used to host the GMO. I also played SentryWorld when I was a sophmore in college. Very underrated course.
Northwood Golf Club in Rhinelander.
Oneida Country Club in Green Bay is a pretty nice course. Although I've only played as an employee, which is not perceived amongst the membership very differently than pool day in Caddyshack.
Very interesting question. It is easy to say all of the big name courses like Whistling Straits, Milwaukee CC or Blackwolf. The best courses flying under the national radar for me are Washington County, Nagawaukee and Fire Ridge. All of these are about half the cost of the big name courses and are a blast to play and in great shape.
Hidden Glen