Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
s abram
Sheboygan
2008-05-26
$301 (cart not included), played on Thursday, May 2008 at 6am
Creating this course was an amazing feat as the hundreds of bunkers and huge dunes are all man-made. However, they look as though they've been there for centuries. This beautiful rugged course, located on the shore of Lake Michigan, does evoke the look of an Irish or Scottish links and the wind, mist and overcast the morning we played added to that feel. However, the course does not really play like a links as the turf was not amenable to bump and runs on many holes. According to the staff, the course was about 4 weeks behind where it normally is at this time of year due to the harsh winter. Much of the fairway grass was still dormant brown. However, this only affected the look, not the playability of the course. The greens were in great shape but not super fast. The sister course (the "Irish", while not as scenic, was greener and had faster greens)The course is gorgeous and challenging. My caddie read the greens great and I had a career puttin day. Definitely worth the trip despite the price. The American Club and Lodge in Kohler had a decent package and of course besides the Straits and Irish courses, there are two great and very different courses at Blackwolf Run just a few minutes away. Here is a link to my photos of the Whistling Straits courses:
http://sports.webshots.com/album/563362146wpPzyH
Would travel: 120-300 Miles, Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again
Layout, Ambiance, No Houses on Course, Pace of Play
$301 (cart not included), played on Thursday, May 2008 at 6am
Creating this course was an amazing feat as the hundreds of bunkers and huge dunes are all man-made. However, they look as though they've been there for centuries. This beautiful rugged course, located on the shore of Lake Michigan, does evoke the look of an Irish or Scottish links and the wind, mist and overcast the morning we played added to that feel. However, the course does not really play like a links as the turf was not amenable to bump and runs on many holes. According to the staff, the course was about 4 weeks behind where it normally is at this time of year due to the harsh winter. Much of the fairway grass was still dormant brown. However, this only affected the look, not the playability of the course. The greens were in great shape but not super fast. The sister course (the "Irish", while not as scenic, was greener and had faster greens)The course is gorgeous and challenging. My caddie read the greens great and I had a career puttin day. Definitely worth the trip despite the price. The American Club and Lodge in Kohler had a decent package and of course besides the Straits and Irish courses, there are two great and very different courses at Blackwolf Run just a few minutes away. Here is a link to my photos of the Whistling Straits courses: http://sports.webshots.com/album/563362146wpPzyH