Central Wisconsin Trip Report 2018

I'm taking a little circle tour of central Wisconsin. I played the Thornberry Creek Legend course today, and I'll be playing the two Sand Valley courses tomorrow, Sentry World on Saturday, and Whispering Springs on Sunday. I'll be post reviews throughout the trip, and photos when I get back home.

I started the trip at Thornberry Creek. The course hosts an LPGA tournament in July, and I wanted to see the course up close. It's a hybrid parkland/prairie style layout. A number of holes are tree lined, but the middle of the course is more prairie, with water and wetlands on numerous holes. The 1st and 18th have elevation change, but otherwise it's generally flat. I liked the bunkering on the course. Just enough to be penal without being overly punishing. For the most part the greens are fairly benign. There are a handful with some undulation, but otherwise they're rather uninteresting. I thought there was a good mix of long and short par 4s. The short ones were either doglegs, or had bunkers that challenged you off the tee.

The course was very wet. I believe they got over 5 inches of rain this week. There was very little roll out in the fairways. However, the greens were extremely receptive. They rolled nicely with moderate speed. I was pleasantly surprised by the bunkers given the amount of rain. They were very playable.

Decent day off the tee hitting 12 fairways. Unfortunately the irons had a case of the lefts. I only managed 9 greens. Two birdies and 4 scrambles kept the score reasonable, but I certainly could have capitalized on my drives.

Overall I was very pleased with the course. It's not a Top 10 in state, but it's worthy of a visit if you're in the area.

Two fun rounds at Sand Valley today. I started on Mammoth Dunes, and finished on Sand Valley. What a wonderful piece of property, and a first class resort. Words don't do it justice. While I feel the courses at Bandon Dunes are tougher, the two courses here are visual treat. Mammoth is very wide off the tee. I'm guessing it's catering to a more casual golfer. While SV has some very generous fairways, it has more trouble off the tee, and is the harder of the two. Mammoth's greens are massive. I believe the 18th's is over 120 feet at its widest point. Hitting a green in regulation is no guarantee of an easy two putt. Both courses have enough elevation changes to give them character, but they're not extremely difficult walks. The front 9 of SV is the toughest walk. That said, I found very few flat lies on the courses.

Both courses have a good mix of short and long holes, and the short holes are by no means easy. The par 3's are a great mix, too, playing from as short as 115 yds (uphill) to over 200 yds (from the orange tees).

Course conditions were excellent. They got over 5 inches of rain here this week, and there were absolutely no signs of it. Fairways were firm and fast, and the greens firm to the point where there were very few ball marks to fix.

I had a great round on Mammoth. With the generous fairways, I was able to hit 13 fairways. My irons were more cooperative today, and I hit 13 greens. Only one birdie, but a respectable 5 over. I ran out of gas on SV lugging my clubs with a ricshaw. I found a few too many fairway bunkers, and only managed 9 greens. A couple of of nice scrambles helped keep it somewhat respectable.

Overall it's a definite must play. Honestly, at this point I couldn't decide if I liked Streamsong or Sand Valley better. Both have a lot of similarities, but they each have their own unique look.

Sand Valley 10th

Overall it's a definite must play. Honestly, at this point I couldn't decide if I liked Streamsong or Sand Valley better. Both have a lot of similarities, but they each have their own unique look.

How was the walk/using a push cart? The first time I played Streamsong I took a push cart and it was a massive mistake and much easier to just carry. I should be going to SV in a couple weeks.

I used the two wheel ricshaw instead of my three wheel ClicGear. The big wheels on the ricshaw are much easier to pull through the sandy areas. My playing partner used his push cart, and mentioned that it was tough in some areas.

Even with the ricshaw it was a lot of work. A big reason was simply that I was running out of gas on the second round. I think if you're capable of carrying, I'd do so. On Sand Valley the 10th tee is near the 1st tee, so you could always pick up a ricshaw on the back nine if carrying didn't work for the front.

Today's round was at Sentry World. What a great layout. It's the total opposite of Sand Valley. Pristine conditioning with few blades of grass out of place. The parkland layout has water on a handful of holes, and wonderful bunkering. The greens are large, and undulating. Tough but fair. There's a good mix of long and short holes. Two of the par 5s are short, and provide a good risk reward opportunity if you care to bite off a big piece off the tee. The par 3s were fun, including the 12th that looked a bit like the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, and the signature 16th with the flower beds.

Conditioning was amazing. I couldn't believe that the course has consumed over 6 inches of rain this week. There were practically no wet spots, and the bunkers, while a bit wet, were very playable.

Solid day ballstriking with 10 fairways and 12 greens. I stumbled out of the gate with five bogies on the front, but turned it around on the back with 3 birdies on 11, 12, and 17.

The course is a definite must play. I can see why it's a Top 100 course. If you're going to play Sand Valley, there's no reason to skip this one.

Sentry World's signature hole, the par 3 16th.

I used the two wheel ricshaw instead of my three wheel ClicGear. The big wheels on the ricshaw are much easier to pull through the sandy areas. My playing partner used his push cart, and mentioned that it was tough in some areas.

 

Even with the ricshaw it was a lot of work. A big reason was simply that I was running out of gas on the second round. I think if you're capable of carrying, I'd do so. On Sand Valley the 10th tee is near the 1st tee, so you could always pick up a ricshaw on the back nine if carrying didn't work for the front.

Sentry World's signature hole, the par 3 16th.

 

Thanks for the info.

This place looks awesome. I think I may have to make a longer trip out of my SV trip and add Sentry World.

Yes, Sentry World is definitely worth the extra 40 minutes of drive time.

I'm on my way to Fond du Lac. I drove past Lawsonia Links, and was very tempted to stop in and try to play 18 on the links. Alas, my poor back couldn't handle another round today. I played both courses at Lawsonia a few years ago, and it's definitely a wonderful place. Maybe next time.

Sentryworld was the brain child of Sentry Insurance CEO John Joanis and was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. back in the 1980's before Whistling Straits and the Kohler compound were even a twinkle in Herb Kohler's eye. While not long by today's standards, I think the deep dream may have been to build a PGA worthy facility. Given that it is owned and operated by Sentry Insurance it does not need to turn a profit, hence very reasonable greens fees, immaculate conditions and a "quaint" throw back parkland course. The recent face lift (2016?) has kept the course current without sacrificing it's charm. Erin Hills, Sand Valley and Kohler get the press, but Sentryworld is a hidden gem. I am happy you enjoyed your round Arg.

Phred

Yes, Sentry World is definitely worth the extra 40 minutes of drive time.

 

I'm on my way to Fond du Lac. I drove past Lawsonia Links, and was very tempted to stop in and try to play 18 on the links. Alas, my poor back couldn't handle another round today. I played both courses at Lawsonia a few years ago, and it's definitely a wonderful place. Maybe next time.

 

Which do you prefer? Lawsonia Links or Sentry?

Two different animals. Lawsonia Links is probably the more challenging of the two, and holes 6,7 & 8 are probably three of my favorite back-to-back-to-back holes in Wisconsin. Sentry is a more straight forward immaculately curated round. Love 'em both. Arg?

Yes, Sentry World is definitely worth the extra 40 minutes of drive time.

 

I'm on my way to Fond du Lac. I drove past Lawsonia Links, and was very tempted to stop in and try to play 18 on the links. Alas, my poor back couldn't handle another round today. I played both courses at Lawsonia a few years ago, and it's definitely a wonderful place. Maybe next time.

 

Sounds like a great little trip, thanks for the write-up.

I haven't played Sentry World since the renovation.

That's the 13th?

really want to play Sand Valley and Lawsonia

Yes, Sentry World is definitely worth the extra 40 minutes of drive time.

 

I'm on my way to Fond du Lac. I drove past Lawsonia Links, and was very tempted to stop in and try to play 18 on the links. Alas, my poor back couldn't handle another round today. I played both courses at Lawsonia a few years ago, and it's definitely a wonderful place. Maybe next time.

 

damm Arg, I wish you stopped by. i was there eating dinner at 6. I played Whispering Springs a few years ago, it's a nice course in really nice shape. Watch out for the many springs/streams that wander in and out of holes.

Honestly, I think you should skip WS and come join me at Lawsonia. I've got a 7:30 tee time on the Links. WS is a nice course, but Lawsonia is Lawsonia. Took in 8 inches of rain Wednesday night and 3 tornadoes touched down in the county, but course is in great shape. Greens a little slower than usual due to all the rain.

Arg, tried sending you a PM, but it wouldn't go through. Send me one if you're interested in switching up plans and joining me at Lawsonia. I can get you on for guest rate, think it's $50.

Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm going to give Whispering Springs a go. Gotta run up the course count as I approach #500.

I believe that pic is the par 3 12th.

I'd pick Lawsonia over Sentry World. Lawsonia is definitely the tougher course.

If anyone is looking for a nice circle tour out of Chicago that doesn't include Kohler or Erin Hills, I'd recommend University Ridge, Wild Rock, Sand Valley, Mammoth, Sentry World, Lawsonia Links, and The Bull.

If anyone is looking for a nice circle tour out of Chicago that doesn't include Kohler or Erin Hills, I'd recommend University Ridge, Wild Rock, Sand Valley, Mammoth, Sentry World, Lawsonia Links, and The Bull.

I’d personally make one change to that circle tour, which would improve the driving route anyways, and toss the Bull in favor of Washington County. But part of that is simply personal preference...either way, it’s a great lineup especially considering that you’re excluding the two biggest name destinations in the state (for now...Sand Valley will soon be in that conversation if not at the top of it all...).

I finished the trip with an early morning round at Whispering Springs. The course is a very nice prairie/parkland layout. The front is more prairie with a creek running through many holes, and native grasses. Holes 12 through 18 are more traditional parkland. While relatively flat, there is some mounding that can give a few uneven lies. There are a few short par 4s, but for the most part they all play pretty much the same length. The par 3s were so-so. Fairways were generous with a few bunkers coming into play. Green sizes varied from small to fairly large, and had moderate undulations.

Course conditions were extremely wet. The turf was saturated after the heavy rains this week. The greens were soft, but rolled nicely with moderate speed. The bunkers were washed out with standing water in many of them.

Decent round ballstriking with 10 fairways and 12 greens. I had a nice birdie on the par 5 18th after sticking a 9 iron to 5 ft, but otherwise I didn't give myself too much many looks at birdie.

I thought it was a decent layout. The front is much better than the back. There are homes on the back, and the holes are fairly uninteresting. It's certainly not a destination course, but it's worth a visit if you're looking for something to fill out a trip.

I was considering adding Washington County to the schedule, but my lower back is saying stop. The winds are starting to pick up, and I think it would be a bit of a grind at this point.

I'll post pics tomorrow.

If you’re near Elkhart lake, and want an easy round, take a cart and play the glacial 9 at quit qui oc

Thornberry Creek Legends (Front 9)

#1

The par 3 2nd

The par 5 3rd

#4

#6

#7

The par 3 8th

The par 5 9th

Thornberry Creek Legends (Back 9)

#10

#11

The par 3 12th

The par 5 13th

#14

The par 5 15th

#16

#18

Mammoth Dunes (Front 9)

#1

#2

A look back at the 2nd

The par 5 3rd

The par 3 4th

A look over at the 4th

#5

#6

The par 5 7th

The par 3 8th

#9

Mammoth Dunes (Back 9)

#10

The par 5 11th

#12

The par 3 13th, aka Don't Be Short and Left

The driveable par 4 14th

The par 5 15th

The par 3 16th

#17

The par 5 18th

Sand Valley (Front 9)

#1

#2

A look over at the 4th

The par 3 3rd

The par 5 4th

A look back at the false front

The par 3 5th

A look at the 6th

#6

The par 5 7th

The short, uphill par 3 8th

The driveable par 4 9th

Overlooking Mammoth Dunes

Sand Valley (Back 9)

The par 5 10th

#11

#12

The par 3 14th

#15

#16

The long par 3 17th

The par 5 18th

A look back at the tee

If you frequent WI, big fish in hayward is worth the trip. Very interesting course.

Sentry World (Front 9)

#1

#2

The par 3 3rd

#4

The par 5 5th

Looking back at the 4th's green

#6

The par 3 7th

#8

The par 5 9th

Sentry World (Back 9)

The par 5 19th

#11

The par 3 12th

#13

The par 5 14th

#15

The signature par 3 16th

#17

#18