Imagine walking up to a rubble stone clubhouse that looks like a large impressive version of a Scottish country home with a long string of caddies dressed in pristine white coveralls milling about.
Surrounding the clubhouse are two rugged, windswept courses, one perched on the edge of an expansive coast. Fescue flows in the ever present wind and the bountiful, natural and daunting bunkers haunt your swing thoughts.
The 17th Hole At Whistling Straits Golf Course In Kohler, Wisconsin – Nicknamed ‘Pinched Nerve’ – All Images Credit Destination Kohler Unless Otherwise Indicated
As you stand on a tee box you can see black-faced sheep grazing in the rough and the endless mounds and undulations have you praying your ball simply stays in play when you strike it.
Now you know you are at Whistling Straits.
Whistling Straits is tucked away in rural Wisconsin. It is an hour drive from major airports in Green Bay and Milwaukee and a 2-hour drive from Chicago, but it’s worth every second of the trip.
It is part of four 18-hole championship courses owned by Destination Kohler and features the American Club Resort located in the Village of Kohler, named after the kitchen, bath and interiors giant Kohler Company.
The American Club Resort is a 5 star, 5 diamond hotel. It is luxury at its finest. The American Club was originally built as a dormitory for immigrant workers in 1918 for employees of Kohler.
The American Club Resort Has An Early-American Feel To It To This Day With Oak Paneling And Country Elegance Design
It was a central hub for workers to grow and build a sense of community and love for their new country. In 1981 it was converted into a hotel that soon became known for the highest of standards.
The hotel has an early-American feel to it to this day with oak paneling and country elegance design. Every guest room is named for a famous American such as Mary Pickford, Ernest Hemingway and Lou Gehrig.
Each room has a plaque on the outside representing the honored individual and features portraits and memorabilia of their contribution to American culture. The rooms are beautifully appointed with a historical feel to them.
The American Club also offers modern contemporary accommodations on site at the Carriage House with all 55 rooms being recently renovated and boasts a new entrance and an expanded lobby. Located in the Carriage House is the Kohler Waters Spa, one of only 48 five star spas around the world.
Kohler Waters Spa is a decadent treat that cannot be missed on your trip. There is an opulent, warm relaxation pool to soak in after a round and quiet, soothing lounging areas pre and post treatment.
Kohler Waters Spa Warm Relaxation Pool
A multitude of services are offered including hydrotherapy, massage, energy therapy and facials to name just a few. Many of the male guests book the “Golfer’s Pre-Round Treatment” & “Golfers Foot Renewal”, all to prepare for the world class golf to be experienced.
There are four 18-hole championship courses as part of Destination Kohler, all designed by renowned course architect Pete Dye. Blackwolf Run, the River and the Meadow Valleys, were the first two courses on property.
The first 18 holes were opened in 1988 followed by an additional nine in 1989 and the final nine in 1990 to make the 36 holes complete.
The Scottish Country Home-Style Clubhouse At Whistling Straits
The courses are the perfect combination of playability and challenge. There are impressive elevation changes and the courses wind and weave through a lush, treed river valley. A combination of the two tracks hosted the 1998 and 2012 U.S. Women’s Open Championship.
The other two courses that make up the final 72 holes are Whistling Straits, the Straits course and the Irish. Dye was given the challenge by Herb Kohler to create courses that looked like you were in Ireland.
That was a seemingly insurmountable challenge as the land for the courses was a former army air base along a 2 mile stretch on Lake Michigan that was flat as a board.
Image Credit Lisa Vlooswyk
Between 900 And 1,200 Bunkers Await You At Whistling Straits
The Irish opened for play in 2000 and is set inland. It offers views of Lake Michigan on four holes (2, 11, 12 & 13). Some 2,000 trees were planted along with the construction of a massive lake on the back nine that serves not only for beautification purposes but also for the added challenge as it comes into play on holes 16, 17 and 18.
It was designed as a walking course but guests may take a cart. There are over 500 bunkers and it served as the venue for the 2005 Palmer Cup.
The gem of the property is the Straits course. This is truly one of the world’s most spectacular courses and needs to rise to the top of your bucket list.
This is links golf at its finest, but don’t expect to shoot a career low score. It’s hard…really hard, and even good shots can get punished. If you only play it once, this is a course you need to focus on making good golf shots and throw away the score card.
The Sixth Hole At Whistling Straits Is Called ‘Gremlin’s Ear’
In the fashion of true traditional golf it is a walking only course and you must take a caddie. It opened in 1998 and has since hosted the 2004 PGA Championship, 2007 U.S. Senior Open and the 2010 PGA Championship (best known for the infamous grounding of the club on the 18th hole by Dustin Johnson, eliminating him from the playoff).
Lake Michigan is visible from all 18 holes and 8 of them directly boarder its rugged coastline. One of the greatest challenges is the seemingly endless number of bunkers.
Over 7,000 truckloads of sand were brought in to the property and reports peg the actual number of bunkers somewhere between 900 and 1,200.
Every hole winds, weaves, dips and heaves with mounds, dunes, bunkers, and fescue, all ready to trap your ball.
There are 22 acres of fairway as opposed to a whopping 150 acres of rough, but at no point do you not eagerly anticipate your next shot.
Every hole is like a signature hole. The large, fast undulating greens make you focus on every putt.
The ‘Bunker’ Where Dustin Johnson Grounded His Club In 2010 Costing Him A Chance At A Playoff For The PGA Championship – Image Credit Lisa Vlooswyk
The ‘Bunker’ Where Dustin Johnson Grounded His Club In 2010 Costing Him A Chance At A Playoff For The PGA Championship – Image Credit Lisa Vlooswyk
The site of black-faced sheep roaming the property doesn’t even faze you, as you sometimes forget you aren’t actually in Ireland.
When you finally come to the 18th hole named “Dyeabolical”, in homage to its creator, your mouth simply drops.
There are bunkers everywhere and there doesn’t appear to be any flat lies out there from the tee box. Surely, one of the best finishing holes in golf.
The 2015 PGA Championship will be hosted once again at Whistling Straits.
The last two times at this venue it ended in a playoff in epic fashion. This course can make or break a major champion.
The Straits will also host the 2020 Ryder Cup, which could make the European players feel right at home.
It doesn’t matter if you have to run, bike, fly or walk to this course, you have to play it to believe it.
