Brown Deer Park Golf Course (picture/review)

[ramylson]

host of - US Bank Championship

In 1929, during the Golden Era of course design, George Hansen laid out a track that weaved itself through mature oak, maple, and elm trees. It was a simple time, with a fairly simple design, but holds an enduring quality that keeps it one of the best municipal tracks in the country. It also remains one of two municipal courses that holds a PGA event.

Since 1995 this track has seen some of the games best, as well as the birth of Tiger Woods professional career, in hosting a PGA regular season stop. Initially the Greater Milwaukee Open, it's now referred to as the US Bank Championship. Part of the reason for it's success is due to a $3.5 million remodeling project that started in 1987 and ran though 1994. In this remodeling, a new drainage and sprinkling system was added under the supervision of Andy North and Rodger Packard, as well as some updating of several green to add more slope and character.

With it's older design, most fairways are narrow and typically require you to work the ball into a position to score. With it's mature trees throughout the course, this can become a fairly difficult test if you're not hitting the ball well. Once off the fairways, more often than not you'll simply have to punch out in order to get a decent shot at the pin. While there's not a lot of slope and undulations, you can guarantee that the greens will be quick and smooth with the gradual pitches, making reading your putts all the more important.

It's a good play, and worth the trip if you're in the area, but it's hard to stack it up against a lot of the newer courses that have been built in Wisconsin (Erin Hills, The Kohler Courses, Lawsonia, and/or The Bull at Pinehurst Farms). But, if you're looking for a classic course with a classic design, this could very well be it..

Rating: 72.9
Slope: 133
Yards: 6759

Front: 3264/3078/2840
Back: 3495/3264/3021
Total: 6759/6342/5861

Par: 71 (70 when the PGA is in town)

#1 - 461/447/433 (par 4, hdcp 5):




#2 - 417/384/307 (par 4, hdcp 7):




#3 - 171/158/145 (par 3; hdcp 15):



#4 - 485/475/465 (par 5/PGA par 4; hcp 1):




#5 - 164/145/136 (par 3; hdcp 17):



#6 - 556/530/508 (par 5; hdcp 3):




#7 - 215/203/174 (par 3; hdcp 13):



#8 - 436/397/383 (par 4; hdcp 9):




#9 - 359/339/289 (par 4; hdcp 11):




#10 - 447/423/410 (par 4; hdcp 6):




#11 - 196/186/161 (par 3; hdcp 16):



#12 - 381/364/347 (par 4; hdcp 14):




#13 - 437/408/402 (par 4; hdcp 10):




#14 -188/172/159 (par 3; hdcp 18):




#15 - 531/513/503 (par 5; hdcp 2):




#16 - 371/351/341 (par 4; hdcp 12):




#17 - 387/370/345 (par 4; hdcp 8):




#18 - 557/477/353 (par 5; hdcp 4):




*pictures/review done immediately following the PGA event, although they had already started to cut down the rough..

[bunana3]

the course was looking this year. I can't believe that I only live a half hour away from there and have never played it.

[Tmiller72]

Beautiful course, nice pics!

[ramylson]

I can't believe that I only live a half hour away from there and have never played it.

 

Sounds like a cry for help. Next time I run over there, you're getting an IM..

[bma725]

I am in town for a trade show in Spetember. What is the non Milw. county rate for twilight?

 

Unfortunately there isn't one. They don't do twilight rates at Brown Deer. So you'd be looking at $79 to walk the course during the week as a non-resident, $86 to walk on the weekend.

 

They usually have monthly specials, but they won't publish the September one until the end of the month. You can check here for updates:

 

http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/router.asp?docid=10295

[bma725]

My cousin lives in Meno. Falls. Is there anywhere I should have him watch for the specials, like in the Journal or anywhere else.

 

Any specials Brown Deer has would be in the link I had before. They don't put anything in the JS or anywhere else. Milwaukee County does a terrible job of advertising their specials, occasionally you'll see something in the Sunday paper for one of the crappier courses, but never Brown Deer.

 

Also, just thought of this, but depending on when you'll be here in September you could be out of luck. Brown Deer is co-hosting the USGA Mid Amateur this year. Officially the tournament goes from September 6-11. But the practice rounds will start September 4th, and when I played there this weekend they were saying that the course will likely be closed to public play from September 1-13.