Wisconsin Golf Trip

[DBake]

Erin Hills and Sand Valley

 

or

 

Whistling Straits and Blackwolf

[jerebear21]

Erin hills and sand valley. Add lawsonia links. Easy call here.

[jvincent]

How long do you have?

 

I haven't played Sand Valley (yet) but all 4 of the Kohler courses are excellent. Straits gets all the press, the but the other three are really good too.

 

Erin Hills is also excellent and is only 90 minutes-ish from Kohler so depending on where you are staying you could hit Erin Hills and all the Kohler courses in one trip.

[exgolfpro]

Boy, what a tough call. My favorite course on the planet is Erin Hills, so of your choices, I would say Erin Hills and Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes). But like a previous post said, Erin is actually pretty close to Kohler, so can hit Erin, BWR and Straits. Plus if you play one American Club course, you can get a reduced rate on any other American Club course if played the same day.

[DavePelz4]

This is like asking Kate Upton or Priyanka Chopra. You just can't go wrong.

 

With that said, playing something inland and then the Straits course is a great combination of scenery.

[dcmidnight]

On my EH/WS trip, Erin Hills was far and away my favorite. Its definitely an easy drive though, so you could hit those on the same trip with no problems.

 

I still want to get out to Sand Valley at some point soon though.

[jerebear21]

You go to whistling for the views. She’s sure hot. Just zero brains and substance.

[DavePelz4]

You go to whistling for the views. She's sure hot. Just zero brains and substance.

 

Wow...tough crowd!

[Lefty96]

I'd go with sand valley/Erin Hills. Play both courses at sand valley. They are both amazing in their own ways. Make sure to play the par 3 course. It is an absolute blast. However, it is a 2.5 hour drive from sand valley to Erin Hills.. Its less than 90 minutes from whistling.. Just a thought to keep in mind.

[jerebear21]

You go to whistling for the views. She's sure hot. Just zero brains and substance.

 

Wow...tough crowd!

 

Ok ok. 17 and 18 at the straits are world class. I’ll give you that. =)

[mci711]

Erin Hills is the best course in Wisconsin in my opinion. I would play Erin Hills and Whistling straits like someone else mentioned. Best of both worlds. But if you can't do that then hit Sand Valley. Haven't played mammoth yet, but looks unreal.

 

I could make the argument that Erin Hills is the best public course I have ever played.

[thechief16]

On my EH/WS trip, Erin Hills was far and away my favorite. Its definitely an easy drive though, so you could hit those on the same trip with no problems.

 

I still want to get out to Sand Valley at some point soon though.

 

Same/same.

 

Let's put it this way: I'm in no rush to get back WS/BWR. But I really want to get to SV and there is no way I will ever go through Milwaukee and not play EH.

[jerebear21]

Erin Hills is the best course in Wisconsin in my opinion. I would play Erin Hills and Whistling straits like someone else mentioned. Best of both worlds. But if you can't do that then hit Sand Valley. Haven't played mammoth yet, but looks unreal.

 

I could make the argument that Erin Hills is the best public course I have ever played.

 

We finally agree on something!

 

Erin Hills is the hot chick with all the substances. But from a value point of view lawsonia is the best bang for the buck in all the land. Bethpage would probably be king of value but those 6 hour rounds can be dreadful.

[Waterball6]

Can't go wrong with either. They are basically totally different but amazing in their own ways.

 

If you're looking for exclusively golf and nothing else, I'd do SV/EH.

 

Kohler has a little bit more to do besides golf.

[DBake]

Thanks guys, having been Bandon dunes I think the Erin Hills/Sand Valley is going to be the ticket. The two par 3's, punch bowl and pub make the trip all come together, from what I can tell the EH/SV would feel the same.

[Roadking2003]

Erin Hills and Sand Valley

 

or

 

Whistling Straits and Blackwolf

 

Erin Hills and Whistling Straits. Hands down.

 

EH and WS are in a totally different league. Sand Valley is fun, but not even close to the quality of WS and EH.

[Roadking2003]

Boy, what a tough call. My favorite course on the planet is Erin Hills, so of your choices, I would say Erin Hills and Sand Valley (Mammoth Dunes). But like a previous post said, Erin is actually pretty close to Kohler, so can hit Erin, BWR and Straits. Plus if you play one American Club course, you can get a reduced rate on any other American Club course if played the same day.

 

Mammoth Dunes wouldn't make my top 10 in Wis.

 

EH and WS are clearly in a league of their own and way above Sand Valley.

[Billy__Baroo]

I'd definitely do Erin Hills and Sand Valley. If you're looking for a few extra rounds, and depending on where you're coming from, Sentryworld or Lawsonia would be great additions as well. I'm assuming you're not doing Kohler and Erin due to the cost, but if that's not an issue, EH and all of the Kohler courses would be an awesome trip! Could toss The Bull in there as well.

[duffer987]

The Straits is an awesome course. The River course is a good change up. Irish is quality as well. Can play Lawsonia still.

EH is one repetitive hole after the other, you'll think you just played 6 holes three times each and Sand Valley is like hitting shots on a football field, with all the equivalent stress (ie none) on the shots.

 

Those may be over-simplified views.

[PureGolf313]

I have said it before and will say it again, there are two excellent courses in the lake arrowhead community right outside the gate of sand valley if you are looking for some afternoon rounds. If you have any questions about the Rome WI area I have a lakehouse five minutes away from Sand Valley in Lake Arrowhead so I know the area well. https://www.lakearrowheadgolf.com/

[vallygolf]

Serenity, off the beaten path man vs nature vs golf experience.... EH and Sand Valley

 

Best of modern earth moving commercialized touristy great golf with an eyepopping price tag....WS and BWR

 

 

Having taken both trips if I had ten trips I would do 7 trips EH and Sand Valley, 3 trips EH/BWR....Yes I will skip WS on future visits. Too contrived. Not my cup of tea, but enjoyed my round. Liked BWR River better.

[duffer987]

^I always forget how incredibly affordable EH is. It's like my local muni, at city rates :-p

[jerebear21]

The Straits is an awesome course. The River course is a good change up. Irish is quality as well. Can play Lawsonia still.

EH is one repetitive hole after the other, you'll think you just played 6 holes three times each and Sand Valley is like hitting shots on a football field, with all the equivalent stress (ie none) on the shots.

 

Those may be over-simplified views.

 

I was waiting for you to come in and defend that landmine you call a great course. =p

[duffer987]

The Straits is an awesome course. The River course is a good change up. Irish is quality as well. Can play Lawsonia still.

EH is one repetitive hole after the other, you'll think you just played 6 holes three times each and Sand Valley is like hitting shots on a football field, with all the equivalent stress (ie none) on the shots.

 

Those may be over-simplified views.

 

I was waiting for you to come in and defend that landmine you call a great course. =p

Speaking of landmines (OK those were battleship shells), I've been to Pointe du Hoc and there is a resemblance between the two ;-)

[DoubleorQuits]

I would go Erin Hills and WS. The Sand Valley courses are great, but the reality is you can play these courses in OR, Canada, FL, NE and other places, while EH and Kohler are unique it WI.

 

Traveling to every C&C, Doad, Kidd resort is like eating at Hard Rock Cafe in every city you visit.

[mci711]

I would go Erin Hills and WS. The Sand Valley courses are great, but the reality is you can play these courses in OR, Canada, FL, NE and other places, while EH and Kohler are unique it WI.

 

Traveling to every C&C, Doad, Kidd resort is like eating at Hard Rock Cafe in every city you visit.

 

I get what you are saying... But no one is going to pass up playing Bandon because Cabot and Streamsong (which I'm assuming are the resorts you are referring to) exist and vice versa. It is more like eating at every top steakhouse in said city, quite the difference. I guess the same argument could be made about Straits - play one Dye-obilical Dye course you've played them all? I don't believe that, but that is along the lines of your argument.

[Lefty96]

I think possibly the most impressive thing about the sand valley resort is that it is in the middle of central wisconsin. Once you enter that gate it feels like you just got off a plane in another part of the country. I would choose the sand valley trip because I think the courses are more fun to play. However, you should make sure to do both trips at least once because the Kohler courses are truly amazing as well. (Also make sure to play the arrowhead courses if you have the time because they are both kept in amazing shape and are quality layouts)

[rich_s2]

I live here and still don't know which to pick. There is not a course in WI that has better view than WS. Its absolutely breath taking. If I could only play one course for the rest of my life it would be WS no question.

[mci711]

I honestly don't get the hate for Whistling Straits. Like I said before, I prefer Erin Hills, but WS is one of the best public courses in the country. It is overly penal for hackers, with bunkers and trouble in places that will only punish them, I get that. But it is a great walk, and the only hole that i feel doesn't belong is #6. People that hate on it would never turn down a round though.

[jerebear21]

there's no hate; the OP stated what the options were. If those options were presented at the same time then you pick one over the other. It's an easy call to pick EH/SV over WS.