Wisconsin has some of the finest golf courses in the country. Wide fairways, deep bunkers, and scenic views make it a top destination for golfers. Some courses test even the best players, while others offer a relaxing round for casual golfers.
Every course has its own character. Some sit along vast lakes, others wind through thick forests, and a few stand on rolling sand dunes. Course conditions, layouts, and challenges vary, making each round a new experience.
Plenty of great courses are worth playing. Some have hosted championships, others offer pure fun, and a few remain hidden gems. Let’s check out the best golf courses in Wisconsin for 2025.
The Lido
| Location | 1697 Leopold Way, Nekoosa, WI 54457 |
|---|---|
| Architects | Tom Doak and Brian Schneider |
| Year Opened | 2023 |
| Type | Resort |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,387 yards |
The Lido brings back a lost legend. Originally built in 1917 by C.B. Macdonald on Long Island, the course was destroyed during World War II. Many considered it one of the greatest ever designed. Now, it has been rebuilt in Wisconsin with stunning accuracy. Every fairway contour, bunker placement, and green shape matches the original.
Standing on the first tee feels like entering a different world. The rolling dunes and strategic layout demand precise shots. Greens are massive and deceptive, rewarding skill and punishing mistakes. Every hole tells a story, making each round unforgettable.
Whistling Straits – Straits Course
| Location | N8501 Lakeshore Road, Sheboygan, WI 53083 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Pete Dye |
| Year Opened | 1998 |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,790 yards |
Whistling Straits is brutal, beautiful, and unforgettable. Pete Dye took a flat piece of land and sculpted it into a windswept masterpiece. The course hugs the Lake Michigan shoreline, creating a links-style experience with deep bunkers, rolling fairways, and unpredictable winds.
Major championships, including the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup, have pushed the best golfers to their limits here. Every hole presents a challenge, but none more than the par-3 17th, known as “Pinched Nerve.” A tiny green sits surrounded by trouble, making it one of the most nerve-wracking shots in golf.
The experience at Whistling Straits is as much about the scenery as the golf. Lake views stretch for miles, and the rugged terrain creates a setting that feels like Ireland, not Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Country Club
| Location | 8000 N Range Line Rd, River Hills, WI 53217 |
|---|---|
| Architect | C.H. Alison |
| Year Opened | 1929 |
| Type | Private |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,097 yards |
Milwaukee Country Club is as classic as golf gets. Built in 1929 by C.H. Alison, the course remains untouched by time. It follows the natural curves of the Milwaukee River, using elevation changes and deep bunkers to test accuracy.
Fairways are tree-lined and narrow. Greens are lightning fast and heavily guarded. Every hole demands a smart approach, making it a true shot-maker’s course. The 12th and 13th holes, which play across the river, provide some of the most scenic and challenging moments on the course.
Few get the chance to play here. Milwaukee Country Club is one of the most exclusive clubs in the Midwest, with a membership that values tradition and privacy.
Lawsonia – Links Course
| Location | W2615 S. Valley View Drive, Green Lake, WI 54941 |
|---|---|
| Architects | William Langford and Theodore Moreau |
| Year Opened | 1930 |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 6,853 yards |
Lawsonia’s Links Course stands as a testament to classic golf architecture. Designed by William Langford and Theodore Moreau in 1930, the course offers a unique blend of strategic design and natural beauty.
Golfers navigate deep bunkers, wide fairways, and large, undulating greens that challenge even the most seasoned players. The signature 7th hole, known as the “Boxcar Hole,” features a green rumored to be built atop a buried train boxcar, adding to its mystique.
Sand Valley – Sand Valley Course
| Location | 1697 Leopold Way, Nekoosa, WI 54457 |
|---|---|
| Architects | Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw |
| Year Opened | 2017 |
| Type | Resort |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,152 yards |
Nestled in the prehistoric sand dunes of central Wisconsin, the Sand Valley Course offers a golfing experience reminiscent of coastal links courses. Designed by the renowned duo Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the course features wide fairways, strategic bunkering, and expansive greens that demand thoughtful play.
The natural, rolling terrain provides both challenges and breathtaking vistas, making each round a memorable adventure.
Erin Hills
| Location | 7169 County Road O, Hartford, WI 53027 |
|---|---|
| Architects | Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, and Ron Whitten |
| Year Opened | 2006 |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,731 yards |
Erin Hills, sprawling across the glacial terrains of Wisconsin, offers a pure and challenging golf experience. Crafted by architects Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, and Ron Whitten, the course seamlessly integrates with the natural landscape, featuring undulating fairways, strategic bunkers, and fescue-covered mounds. Its design emphasizes shot-making and strategy, rewarding precision over power.
Notably, Erin Hills hosted the 2017 U.S. Open, where its formidable layout tested the mettle of the world’s best golfers.
Pine Hills Country Club
| Location | 4914 Superior Ave, Sheboygan, WI 53083 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Harry Smead |
| Year Opened | 1928 |
| Type | Private |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 6,481 yards |
Pine Hills Country Club is a hidden treasure in Wisconsin golf. The course follows the natural shape of the land, creating elevation changes that demand accurate shot-making. Fairways move with the terrain, forcing players to adjust for uphill and downhill lies. Greens are fast and unforgiving, making approach shots critical.
The first hole sets the tone, requiring precision off the tee to avoid trouble. The par-3 fifth hole climbs to a raised green, making club selection tricky. The back nine brings even more elevation shifts, with the 18th finishing next to a deep ravine.
Pine Hills has stayed true to its classic design. The course does not rely on modern tricks or artificial hazards. Its challenge comes from smart layout decisions and punishing mistakes.
The views alone make Mammoth Dunes worth visiting.
Blackwolf Run – River Course
| Location | 1111 W Riverside Dr, Kohler, WI 53044 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Pete Dye |
| Year Opened | 1988 |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,404 yards |
Blackwolf Run’s River Course is one of Pete Dye’s finest inland designs. Built along the Sheboygan River, the course uses water and elevation to create some of the most striking holes in Wisconsin.
The front nine plays through forests and rolling hills, with fairways narrowing between tree lines. The back nine moves closer to the river, adding water hazards that demand smart shot choices. The par-5 11th, shaped like a boomerang around the river, forces players to decide how much risk they want to take.
Greens are challenging but fair. They require careful approaches to avoid difficult putts. The closing hole, a long par-4 with a forced carry over water, makes sure every round ends with pressure.
Blue Mound Golf & Country Club
| Location | 10122 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Seth Raynor |
| Year Opened | 1926 |
| Type | Private |
| Par | 70 |
| Course Length | 6,666 yards |
Blue Mound Golf & Country Club is a classic course with deep roots in golf history. Designed by Seth Raynor, it features his signature template holes, including a Redan, a Biarritz, and a Punchbowl. The layout is simple but strategic, with firm, fast greens that demand precision.
Fairways are generous, but the real challenge begins on approach shots. Raynor’s green complexes punish anything less than perfect, leaving players scrambling to recover. The par-3 13th, a Redan, forces players to aim well left and let the slope guide the ball to the pin. The 18th, a short par-4, requires a smart tee shot to set up a good look at birdie.
The course has hosted major events, including the 1933 PGA Championship. It remains one of the best-preserved examples of Raynor’s work.
SentryWorld
| Location | 601 Michigan Ave N, Stevens Point, WI 54481 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Robert Trent Jones Jr. |
| Year Opened | 1982 (Renovated 2013) |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,237 yards |
SentryWorld is known for two things: pristine course conditions and the famous Flower Hole. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course blends beauty with challenge, featuring wide fairways, deep bunkers, and greens that require careful shot placement.
The par-3 16th, known as the Flower Hole, is one of the most photographed holes in golf. Thousands of flowers surround the green, creating a breathtaking backdrop. The hole may look inviting, but missing the green leaves a tough up-and-down.
SentryWorld underwent a major renovation in 2013, improving drainage, reshaping bunkers, and making the course even more enjoyable. It hosted the 2023 U.S. Senior Open.
Whistling Straits – Irish Course
| Location | N8501 Lakeshore Rd, Sheboygan, WI 53083 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Pete Dye |
| Year Opened | 2000 |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,201 yards |
The Irish Course at Whistling Straits offers a rugged, links-style experience with rolling dunes, deep bunkers, and unpredictable winds. While its famous sister course, the Straits, gets most of the attention, the Irish Course provides just as much excitement at a lower price.
Dye designed the course to be both fun and challenging. The fairways are more forgiving than the Straits, but they still demand smart positioning. The par-3 13th is unique, playing blind over a dune to a hidden green surrounded by trouble.
The Bull at Pinehurst Farms
| Location | One Long Drive, Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Jack Nicklaus |
| Year Opened | 2003 |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,354 yards |
The Bull at Pinehurst Farms is a beast of a course. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, it is one of the toughest public courses in Wisconsin. Narrow fairways, thick rough, and water hazards put pressure on every swing.
The course moves through a mix of open meadows and dense woodlands. The par-5 5th hole, nicknamed “Double Trouble,” forces players to hit two precise shots to have any chance at reaching the green. The par-4 14th, a dogleg left around a pond, tempts players to cut the corner but punishes anything short.
University Ridge Golf Course
| Location | 9002 County Road PD, Verona, WI 53593 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Robert Trent Jones Jr. |
| Year Opened | 1991 |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,289 yards |
University Ridge serves as the home course for the University of Wisconsin golf teams, but it is far from a typical college course. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., it offers a mix of open prairie holes and tight tree-lined fairways.
The front nine gives golfers room to attack, while the back nine demands accuracy. Elevation changes play a big role, with the par-3 16th requiring a precise downhill shot to a tricky green. The finishing hole climbs sharply uphill, making for a tough closing challenge.
Troy Burne Golf Club
| Location | 295 Lindsay Rd, Hudson, WI 54016 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Tom Lehman, Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry |
| Year Opened | 1999 |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 71 |
| Course Length | 7,003 yards |
Troy Burne is one of the finest public courses in western Wisconsin. Designed with input from PGA Tour pro Tom Lehman, it features wide fairways, strategic bunkering, and greens that test even the best putters.
Rolling hills and fescue-lined holes give the course a links-style feel. Water hazards come into play on multiple holes, especially on the back nine. The par-5 11th offers a risk-reward approach, tempting players to go for the green in two.
The Bog
| Location | 3121 County Road I, Saukville, WI 53080 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Arnold Palmer |
| Year Opened | 1995 |
| Type | Public |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,221 yards |
The Bog is pure Arnold Palmer golf. Designed to test all aspects of a player’s game, it features tight fairways, water hazards, and tricky greens that demand accuracy.
The layout takes full advantage of the natural wetlands, creating a course that is as scenic as it is challenging. The par-5 9th hole, a double dogleg with water in play, requires three precise shots to reach the green safely. The par-3 17th, with its island green, is one of the most exciting tee shots in Wisconsin.
Green Bay Country Club
| Location | 2400 Klondike Rd, Green Bay, WI 54311 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Dick Nugent |
| Year Opened | 1995 |
| Type | Private |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 7,097 yards |
Green Bay Country Club flies under the radar, but those who play it know just how special it is. The course blends natural beauty with a strategic design, making every hole interesting.
Tree-lined fairways demand accurate driving, while undulating greens make approach shots critical. Water comes into play on several holes, adding to the challenge. The signature hole, the par-5 18th, forces golfers to navigate a tight landing area before an approach over water to a sloping green.
Westmoor Country Club
| Location | 400 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005 |
|---|---|
| Architect | Leonard Macomber |
| Year Opened | 1926 |
| Type | Private |
| Par | 72 |
| Course Length | 6,804 yards |
Westmoor Country Club is a traditional private course with a layout that rewards smart play. Built in 1926, it has retained its classic feel while making small updates to keep up with modern play.
The front nine allows for scoring opportunities, but the back nine tightens up. Tree-lined fairways and well-placed bunkers put an emphasis on accuracy. The greens are quick and subtle, punishing aggressive putts.
Bottom Line
Wisconsin stands out as one of the best golf destinations in the country. The variety of courses ensures that every golfer, regardless of skill level, can find a challenge that suits them. Some courses demand precision, while others provide wide fairways and creative shot-making opportunities.
Championship venues like Whistling Straits and Erin Hills test the best players in the world, while hidden gems like Lawsonia Links and The Bull offer unforgettable rounds without breaking the bank.