Name Your WI top 10

[Stuge]

[quote name='RightHandRough ' timestamp='1319209239' post='3701095']
I agree with the above sentiments. Turtleback is my home course, so I'm biased. I'd say Turtleback used to be top 10 now more like top 15 with additions at the Straights etc. Big Fish, to me at least, is too drastic a change. Even though its a Pete Dye and its well maintained, I'd call it a top 15 as well.
[/quote]


I hope this doesn't sound critical of Turtleback, because I like it very much, but I don't believe it belongs in the same category as Big Fish. At nearly $60 to walk on the weekend, it is also overpriced. It's an excellent golf course and the conditions are always superb, but if you're trying to decide between Big Fish or even Wild Ridge, I would opt for those over Turtleback anytime. I personally don't care about the differences between the two nines at Big Fish. The holes are terrific and, even if it's a bit unconventional, I can't think of one reason those differences should be viewed as a negative or should downgrade it any way.

[RightHandRough]

Totally agree about pricing Stuge. It was earlier in the season I played Big Fish, and I just know a lot of people around the area that prefer Hayward Golf and Tennis over Big Fish for value. I criticize Turtleback all the time for driving out people with their prices. Although fall rates right now are great, and the yearly membership is pretty competitive.

[wigolffan]

1 Sraights
2 Erin Hills
3. Lawsonia Links
4. University Ridge
5. The Bull
6. Sentrey World
7. Irish Course
8. Lawsonina Woodlands
9. Brown Deer
10. The Bog

I only picked from courses that I have played, I am not sure when I will get to play the other 2 courses at Kohler but I am going to play Big fish, and Teal Wing this july and from every thing I have been told sounds like Big fish makes the 10 based on the back 9 and if the front was as good it would be a contender for 1? ANy one confermin this?

[run0036]

Have an opportunity to play lake Geneva resort course(the more difficult resort course). Is it worth the cost? Greens fees are approx 140

[tysingleton34]

[quote name='run0036' timestamp='1340333353' post='5146184']
Have an opportunity to play lake Geneva resort course(the more difficult resort course). Is it worth the cost? Greens fees are approx 140
[/quote]

Which one are you talking about? Grand geneva (Highlands or Brute) or Geneva National (Palmer, Player, or Trevino). I would recommend you stopping out at Hawks View Golf Club. If you go at the right time you can get on for $50-$60 bucks and in my opinion it is just as nice as a course.

[Jeembo]

Troy Burne and White Eagle are probably the only two I've played that would sniff the top 10. I wasn't impressed with Big Fish in the least. And there were freaking SNAKES everywhere when I played it. I've made repeat trips to St Croix National, Turtleback, Cumberland, Kilkarney, Clifton Highlands, River Falls, and Hudson - all of which I'd recommend but wouldn't fawn over like I would Troy Burne or White Eagle.

[rlheiman]

Big Fish is nice, but so different between the 2 nines, it feels weird.

Troy Burne is great!

White Eagle is solid, but a little bit too much. Another really solid track is Wild Ridge in Eau Claire. Maybe not quite top 10, but probably top 20.

[run0036]

Brute is course I was referring to. Thoughts?

[tysingleton34]

[quote name='run0036' timestamp='1340425769' post='5153106']
Brute is course I was referring to. Thoughts?
[/quote]

I have never personally played the Brute (Highlands only). I have heard decent things about it from locals, but in my opinion everything is overpriced at Grand Geneva. It is definitely a solid track though

[tysingleton34]

[quote name='rlheiman' timestamp='1340398090' post='5150908']
Big Fish is nice, but so different between the 2 nines, it feels weird.

Troy Burne is great!

White Eagle is solid, but a little bit too much. Another really solid track is Wild Ridge in Eau Claire. Maybe not quite top 10, but probably top 20.
[/quote]

Went to school up at UW EC last year and played Wild Ridge. Real fun course. Tight fairways, but a really cool layout. Lost a lot of balls ha

[wldchld22]

[quote name='tysingleton34' timestamp='1340425894' post='5153120']
[quote name='run0036' timestamp='1340425769' post='5153106']
Brute is course I was referring to. Thoughts?
[/quote]

I have never personally played the Brute (Highlands only). I have heard decent things about it from locals, but in my opinion everything is overpriced at Grand Geneva. It is definitely a solid track though
[/quote]

I've played both all the courses at Grand Geneva and Geneva National.

I think you get a prettier course at the Geneva National for much less money. Semi-Private club. I recommend the Player course if you like something more open. Palmer has a great charm to it. Palmer was named a 10 best by Golf Week. Player was top 10 by them in 07 and '10.

[dkbunk]

1. Black wolf - river
2. Erin hills
3. Straights - Irish ( except that dumb blind hole par 3)
4. Washington county
5. Bog - been 12 years and actually don't remember it, but it must have been nice.
6. U ridge
7. Lawsonia - running out of courses now....actually don't understand why it is rated so high..
8. nag
9...I'm out...rest are "normal"....

[Czervik n Smails]

Of the courses I've played in Wisconsin:

1. Lawsonia - such pure architecture; firm and fast; very few trees; love this course!!
2. Whistling Straits
3. Erin Hills
4. Brown Deer
5. Geneva

Lots of good golf in Wisconsin.

[Pure716]

Living in Wisconsin all my life I'll put my input in:
[list=1]
[*]Whistling Straits (Striats)
[*]Black Wolf Run (LPGA Championship course)
[*]Troy Burne
[*]Erin Hills
[*]Black Wolf Run (River)
[*]Whistling Straits (Irish)
[*]Black Wolf Run (Meadow Valley)
[*]University Ridge
[*]Strawberry Creek
[*]Kenosha Country Club
[/list]
Lawsonia would be up there since I'm very partial to links courses; however, I've never played it.

[rlheiman]

You need to play the Links course at Lawsonia. Every time I play it I can't wait to get back. Such a great design and awesome setting. Great value too.

[Pure716]

[quote name='rlheiman' timestamp='1371487404' post='7263966']
You need to play the Links course at Lawsonia. Every time I play it I can't wait to get back. Such a great design and awesome setting. Great value too.
[/quote]

That's what I've heard. Unfortunately, being two hours from my house, I'm having a hard time convincing my dad to go up there for a day. I would love to play both, but 36 and four hours in the car might be too much for him.

[rlheiman]

[quote name='Kingofthecourse' timestamp='1371489253' post='7264276']
[quote name='rlheiman' timestamp='1371487404' post='7263966']
You need to play the Links course at Lawsonia. Every time I play it I can't wait to get back. Such a great design and awesome setting. Great value too.
[/quote]

That's what I've heard. Unfortunately, being two hours from my house, I'm having a hard time convincing my dad to go up there for a day. I would love to play both, but 36 and four hours in the car might be too much for him.
[/quote]

It is worth it. That really isn't that bad. Get a morning start and home after supper. It is a great day at Lawsonia.

[Hershey27]

I played the Bog and Brown Deer last year during our annual golf trip. I enjoyed the Bog. Course was in great shape. Brown Deer was decent.

[atn86]

How hard is it to get on Strawberry Creek? I played it a few times when it opened, prior to the club going private. I can't imagine that they have a thriving membership.

[Pure716]

[quote name='atn86' timestamp='1372261524' post='7327776']
How hard is it to get on Strawberry Creek? I played it a few times when it opened, prior to the club going private. I can't imagine that they have a thriving membership.
[/quote]

I've played it a couple times in tournaments. Besides that, on Mondays it is open to employees only; so, that would be your best way. If you know someone that works there, they can bring you for the day. However, based on what you've said it doesn't appear you know any members. I guess you could try to call them, maybe they would let you pay to play on a Monday?

[HighSpeedScene]

I must be the only guy in the world that didn't care for Erin hills. I was meh for me. Long? Check. Hard? Check. Fair? Ehhhhh, not in my opinion. Fun - not for a second. Didn't require much strategy or offer much in the way of shot values for me. Scratch player, for reference. All of the kohler courses are superior, in my opinion.

Also, love lawsonia - course, we have a house up in green lake, so I'm biased.

[jdhallissey]

High speed i am with you. I didnt care for erin hills. It was not even hard it was just long and boring. Could of done so much more with that golf course. Kohler is outstanding and so is the bull

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

Kind of surprising to not see Pine Hills in Sheboygan on here. Wonderful track. These lists are too subjective.

My Top 5

Bluemound
Tuckaway
Pine Hills
Buttes de Mortes
Erin Hills

[Pure716]

[quote name='jdhallissey' timestamp='1373074821' post='7395686']
High speed i am with you. I didnt care for erin hills. It was not even hard it was just long and boring. Could of done so much more with that golf course. Kohler is outstanding and so is the bull
[/quote]

I have to disagree with the difficulty of Erin Hills. It may not be the hardest course when your playing with your friends; but under tournament pressure, it is a train wreck on every hole. I played in a tournament there Wednesday, 6,900 yards only 11 people broke 80 in a field that required a handicap of 6 or less. Granted the winner shot 69 (-3), Erin Hills plays much harder when the nerves are there. The fescue in some areas was nothing worse than the fairway; and in others, you couldn't advance it 10 feet with a full swing. Mix that kind of rough with the undulation on those greens running 12, and you got a mean golf course.

I can accept not liking Erin Hills because everyone has their own opinions, but to say it's not hard is just shocking to me.

[jdhallissey]

I played it in the pub linxs qual at 75xx and if it wasnt for my first hole blunder/spotter never seeing my ball i would of most likely qualified for the publinx last year. Then again i hit the ball damn straight so i dont run into the issues most of you do

[HighSpeedScene]

Shot my highest competitive round ever in the publinx qualifier t Erin hills this year. First round took 7 hours.

Will never go back. Missed a green by 2 feet, not more than 30 feet from the pin, nearly hitting a spotter. We never found it. Definitely hard.

[jdhallissey]

I played Irish course today in the wind/rain sideways action. Wow what a course. Shot for shot i feel it is better then straits course. Irish was a thinking mans course, straits is just pound away. Playing the tips on irish in a 3 club wind/ rain sideways was a blast.

[HighSpeedScene]

[quote name='jdhallissey' timestamp='1375071562' post='7559008']
I played Irish course today in the wind/rain sideways action. Wow what a course. Shot for shot i feel it is better then straits course. Irish was a thinking mans course, straits is just pound away. Playing the tips on irish in a 3 club wind/ rain sideways was a blast.
[/quote]

Another agreement - Irish is a more interesting course to me than straights. Like both tho.

[ckostrewa]

Throwing my top 10 list up on here (that I've played):
1. Erin Hills
2. The Bull
3. The Bog
4. Brown Deer Park
5. Lake Arrowhead Pines
6. Lake Arrowhead Lakes
7. Wild Rock
8. Wisconsin Club
9. Legend at Bristlecone
10. Chenequa CC

[ode1]

Forgot I posted in this thread, it was so long ago. I have played a ton of golf since that time; updated list=

1-River
2-Irish
3-Sentry World
4-Straits
5-Lawsonia Woodlands
6-Meadow Valley
7-The Bull
8-Lawsonia Links
9-Brown County
10-Washington County

Honorable Mention--

Brown Deer
Trappers Turn
Royal St. Patricks--for those who haven't played it, it's links style and in immaculate condition; love this course, best bang for your buck!
Glen Erin--links style and a real treat to play, as long as in good condition.