Best Golf Courses in Wisconsin: A Golfer’s Guide to Top Greens

If you’re a golf lover, there’s one thing distinctly noticeable in Wisconsin other than its cheese, lakes, and Packers football: Wisconsin houses some of the best golf courses. From rough natural terrains to carefully manicured fairways encircled by rolling hills, best golf courses in wisconsin can offer a true golfer a multifaceted golfing experience ranging from beginner to professional levels.

From dreaming of swinging clubs on championship courses to seeking out a weekend tee time or even planning a golf trip, this guide to the top golf courses in Wisconsin is right for you. We’ll take you to the top destinations, give you insider details, and even give you a table to give you a summary of everything to compare them.

Table of Contents

Why Golfers Love Wisconsin

Before we jump into the courses, let’s learn why Wisconsin is a hidden gem for golf:

Natural beauty: Lush vegetation, forests in the distance, bluffs, rivers and lakes.
Seasonal variety: Golf in summer with clear skies and golf in the fall with amazing foliage.
Top-tier design: Courses designed by legends such as Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Doak.
Affordability: A shocking number of high-class public courses are affordable.
Prestige: It hosts big tournaments such as the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.

Now let’s get into the best golf courses in Wisconsin that every golf lover should experience.

Top 10 Best Golf Courses in Wisconsin

1. Whistling Straits (Straits Course)—Kohler, WI

This course needs no introduction. It is the host of the PGA championship and 2021 rider cup, whistling straits is a stunning Links type course beside Lake Michigan. The Straits course was designed by Pete Dye to be both aesthetically challenging and technically challenging.

Architect: Pete Dye
Style: Links
Notable: Host of major tournaments
Best for: A golf history buff & advanced player

2. Erin Hills—Erin, WI

Another masterpiece and the venue of the 2017 U.S. Open, Erin Hills has generous fairways, fescue grass, and valleys. The design is rustic and pure, set in a glacial landscape.

Architect: Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry & Ron Whitten
Style: Natural, walkable course
Best for: Golf enthusiasts of classic, outdoor golf

3. Sand Valley Golf Resort, Nekoosa, WI

Sand Valley is one of the newest superstars in Wisconsin’s golf and like its name, this is a true sand dunes experience, with two courses: Sand Valley and Mammoth Dunes. Constructed in minimalist philosophy, it embodies the wildness of Scottish links golf.

Architects: David McLay Kidd Coore & Crenshaw
Style: Links, minimalist
Best for: Golfers who enjoy the natural beauty that is not mutilated are……

4. The Bull at Pinehurst Farms Sheboygan Falls, WI

The Bull is Jack Nicklaus’ only signature course in Wisconsin and it provides a championship challenge of serious jumps in elevation, water hazards and deep bunkers.

Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Style: Championship parkland
Best for: Nicklaus design and layout aficionados

5. SentryWorld—Stevens Point, WI

In this course, it is known for its Flower Hole (#16), which has around more than 30,000 flowers planted around the green. Beyond beauty, SentryWorld provides a premium golf experience: great amenities and superior course conditioning.

Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Style: Parkland with floral flair
Best for: Scenic golfers and romantic outings

6. Lawsonia (Links Course)—Green Lake, WI

This is one of the forgotten gems—the Links Course at Lawsonia is old school and full of character. With high greens and daredevil bunkers, a throwback to early 20’s golf , it’s rugged in character.

Architect: William Langford & Theodore Moreau
Style: Classic link
Best for: History lovers and budget-conscious golfers

7. Blackwolf Run (River Course), Kohler, WI

A sister course to Whistling Straits, Blackwolf Run presents a woodland test with narrow fairways, clever application of water and brilliant sight lines. It has staged several U.S. Women’s Open Championships.

Architect: Pete Dye
Style: Forested target golf
Best for: Precision gamers and fans of Pete Dye

8. University Ridge—Madison, WI

This public course appeals to playability and quality thanks to being the home of the University of Wisconsin golf team. It caters to all levels of skill, and it’s packaged just as well.

Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Style: Parkland
Best for: Beginner to intermediate players

9. Brown Deer Park Golf Course—Milwaukee, WI

A municipal course at a reasonable cost, which once saw PGA Tour events, now offers the public championship playing conditions. It’s also where Tiger Woods made his first turn pro in 1996.

Architect: George Hansen
Style: Classic parkland
Best for: Budget players having a taste of history

10. The Club at Lac La Belle, Oconomowoc, WI

A historical course that retained its last small charm in relation to the 1890s, Lac La Belle was recently refurbished to be a modern championship-potential course with state-of-the-art facilities, fast greens and breathtaking holes.

Architect: Craig Haltom (renovation)
Style: Modern parkland
Best for: Those seeking a new-meets-old course are impressed