Selecting the 10 best golf courses in Wisconsin is a mighty challenge, as with a choice of over 500 courses to play it is almost an unbelievable selection.
How do you make the decision on where to play? This could be the biggest problem.
This task has been eased with a collaboration with TheGrint, our favorite mobile app that helps golfers track their handicap and stats. They have collected golf course reviews from millions of real golf rounds from real golfers.
Ranking in order 1 to 10
- Erin Hills
- Sand Valley Golf Resort | Mammoth Dunes
- Whistling Straits Golf Course | Straits Course
- Blackwolf Run Golf Course | River
- The Legend At Bristlecone
- Sand Valley Golf Resort | Sand Valley
- Sentryworld Sports Center
- Whistling Straits Golf Course | Irish Course
- Blackwolf Run | Meadow Valleys
- Horseshoe Bay Golf Club
1. Erin Hills
- Site Link
- Location: Erin, Wisconsin.
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,130 meters off the Tips and 5,173 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
6 tees options available.
Signature Hole – The 151-meter par 3 9th is the signature hole.
A shortish hole requiring accuracy and distance control to hit the raised green.
It plays slightly downhill from the tee to the dome-shaped green, surrounded by fescue and bunkers.
A big number lurks for mis-hits!
An inland links course on rolling natural terrain.
A walking course that enhances the experience.
Widish fairways play to good-sized contoured greens.
Greens and fairways are hard and fast allowing golfers to use the slopes when the wind blows.
The back 9 presents more challenging holes and a few blind-shots.
2. Sand Valley Golf Resort | Mammoth Dunes
- Site Link
- Location: Nekoosa, Wisconsin.
- Par: 73
- Length: 6,339 meters off the Tips and 3,730 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
9 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 297-meter par 4 is the signature hole.
It plays from an elevated tee to a wide fairway with a bunker in the center, just short of the green.
The big-hitters will attack the green from the tee.
Miss the bunker and a birdie looms.
A fantastic setting amongst the tall dunes surrounding the valley.
The layout winds through wide fairways with large greens.
The constant presence of sand enhances the fun but also increases the challenge.
When walking the course it feels like patches of grass strategically placed in a desert.
If sand-shots, long and short, are not in your armory, expect to get beaten up.
A must-play.
3. Whistling Straits Golf Course | Straits Course
- Site Link
- Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,121 meters off the Tips and 5,086 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 228-meter par 3 17th is the signature hole.
It plays with the coastline down the left and a mound filled with bunkers on the right.
More bunkers lie below the left drop-off and make for an extremely difficult up-and-down.
If the wind blows, good luck!
If you don’t like bunkers then this course should be missed.
Bunkers dominate the entire course.
The setting with holes playing along the coastline is a distraction but extremely challenging and beautiful.
The par 3’s are difficult but fun to play.
A few par 5’s and the par 4 13th will test the skill of the best.
The wind either blows with you or into you and neither makes the layout easier.
A must-play track, but be prepared to be mauled!
4. Blackwolf Run Golf Course | River
- Site Link
- Location: Kohler, Wisconsin.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,768 meters off the Tips and 4,676 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 486-meter par 5 is the signature hole.
It plays downhill through an avenue of trees to a sharp dogleg right.
An uphill 2nd to a split fairway offers a choice of route to the green.
An accurate approach to a raised green sees par accomplished.
Set in natural rolling terrain the course runs through tall trees and several holes play alongside the Sheboygan River.
Risk and reward tee shots and a selection of difficult shots can make or break the card.
Genuine par 5’s, water, sloping fairways and strategically placed trees make for a challenging but enjoyable round.
Got to play this one!
5. The Legend At Bristlecone
- Site Link
- Location: Hartland, Wisconsin.
- Par: 71
- Length: 6,408 meters off the Tips and 4,627 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
5 tee options available.
Signature Hole – My choice of the signature hole is the 367-meter par 4 18th.
A do or die finishing hole with very little margin for error.
Hitting the fairway off the tee is a must.
The approach is an exciting shot to finish the round.
A bunker short left, water on the right, and OB at the back.
Great hole to finish a match!
A Jack Nicklaus designed layout that has it all.
Water comes into play extensively on the course and the traditional Nicklaus-style bunkering is a feature.
Doglegs on the gently rolling terrain with sloped fairways increase the difficulty of shot-making.
Risk and reward abound through the layout for the adventurous golfer.
A thinking golfer’s track, but execute the plan or pay the price.
Got to play here!
6. Sand Valley Golf Resort | Sand Valley
- Site Link
- Location: Nekoosa, Wisconsin.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,546 meters off the Tips and 3,566 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
10 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 279-meter par 4 9th is the signature hole.
An interesting downhill tee shot to a fairway that narrows in the landing area.
The big-hitter will take on the green from the tee for sheer exhilaration.
The green complex is surrounded by well-shaped traps.
Sand Valley plays like an inland links with only one water hazard.
Varying lengths, shapes, and routing create an attractive layout that keeps up the challenge.
The generally narrowish undulating fairways, playing uphill and downhill, require some precision during the round.
Small greens are the shot-makers delight and skill is rewarded.
A course that beckons a second round.
7. Sentryworld Sports Center
- Site Link
- Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,531 meters off the Tips and 5,075 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
7 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 161-meter par 3 16th is the signature hole.
Known as the “flower hole” it is a stunning sight from the tee.
4 bunkers surround the green which is framed by the kaleidoscope of flowers.
A straightforward hole if you can keep the concentration.
A parkland layout that is easily walked.
The flat terrain and generous fairways will be enjoyed by all skill levels.
Bunkers and water hazards lurk throughout the course and add teeth to the track.
A public course that is easy on the eye and challenging enough to bring the best out of your game.
8. Whistling Straits Golf Course | Irish Course
- Site Link
- Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,582 meters off the Tips and 4,670 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 510-meter par 5 18th is the signature hole.
It plays off the tee over water to a dogleg right protected by a bunker on the inside corner.
The hole then climbs up the hill to a bunker less-green.
Contours and slopes on the putting surface are testing.
The Irish course is deemed the easier of the 2 courses.
Fewer bunkers and protection from the wind off Lake Michigan are a big factor.
Generous fairways and landing areas open the course up and water comes into play as the round progresses.
The back 9 is more difficult and a stretch of holes that will excite some and demoralize others.
A few are punishing and are scorecard wreckers.
Elevation changes and blind-shots add to the challenge.
9. Blackwolf Run | Meadow Valleys
- Site Link
- Location: Kohler, Wisconsin.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,627 meters off the Tips and 4,630 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 207-meter par 3 15th is the signature hole.
Aptly named “mercy” it is a forced carry off the tee.
Anything short falls into Weeden Creek valley.
It plays to the largest green on the layout with a deep swale in the middle.
A card-breaker.
The subtle features throughout the course are one of the dangerous elements in scoring well here.
Twisting narrow fairways, with grass mounds and brilliant bunker configurations, require accuracy over length.
The course meanders through meadows and plays across natural ravines during the round.
A great challenge for the accomplished player, but forward tees allow for all skill levels to appreciate and enjoy this track.
Don’t expect many flat lies.
10. Horseshoe Bay Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Egg Harbor, Wisconsin.
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,491 meters off the Tips and 4,923 meters off the Front.
PLAYER RATING
6 tee options available.
Signature Hole – The 549-meter par 5 18th is the signature hole.
A genuine 3-shotter for most, each shot requires placement.
The dogleg right has bunkers scattered through the hole.
Tall trees frame the 3-tiered green, which requires a steady nerve to avoid a 3-putt.
Green Bay lies below this exciting last hole.
This is a man’s golf course of note and requires strategy and control.
The options available on practically every shot on every hole is an outstanding feature.
Split undulating fairways, doglegs, risk and reward, blind shots and 3-tiered greens will keep golfers of all levels entranced.
Tough green complexes are scorecard destroyers if not played well.
Playing the last 6-hole stretch will test the mettle of all golfers.
A layout where bad decisions will cost plenty of shots.
Other courses outside the top 10
1. The Bull At Pinehurst Farms | Bull
- Site Link
- Location: Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.
PLAYER RATING
A Jack Nicklaus signature course is always an attraction to all skill levels.
The elevation changes and length create some difficult holes to conquer.
His bunker design specialty is always a challenge,
2. Troy Burne Golf Club
- Site Link
- Location: Hudson, Wisconsin.
PLAYER RATING
Troy Burne Golf Course is one of the top-rated public courses in the USA.
With over 120 bunkers to negotiate protecting the fairways and greens,
accuracy will win the day.
Maybe keep the driver in the bag!
3. Ridge Golf Course
- Site Link
- Location: Verona, Wisconsin.
PLAYER RATING
The course plays through gently rolling terrain with mounds and bunkers throughout the track.
Raised, well-shaped greens with contours require a deft touch with the putter to keep a neat card.
Final Thoughts
The quality and variety of golf courses in Wisconsin should satisfy any golf-nut!
Whilst the well-known courses are difficult for the social golfer, there are plenty that can be enjoyed by all skill levels.
Make it happen!
Final Thoughts
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
