COVER STORY
fairways, relentless breezes, more than 1,000 bunkers(!) and a walking-only policy, this is Ireland—or maybe Ireland on steroids, given the Straits’ gargantuan back tee length of 7,790 yards. As with any heralded Scottish or Irish
tournament links, calm, warm conditions can yield low scores at Whistling Straits. Witness Jason Day’s remarkable duel with Jordan Spieth at the 2015 PGA Championship, when Day’s 20-under-par 268 nipped Spieth by three. On the other hand, when the wind blows, it can play as tough as Carnoustie. Just look at Tom Watson, who blew up to a back-nine 43 to lose the 2007 U.S. Senior Open there. Of course, the 2020 Ryder Cup will
be contested as match play, so disasters will only cost competitors a loss of hole, not the entire tournament. Still, in late September, when the Ryder Cup will take place, anything can happen, especially with the fearsome lineup of holes that will greet players. For fans and sponsors as well as the players, this could be the greatest Ryder Cup stage in history. “We are essentially constructing a small city at Whistling Straits,” said Willis. “The natural drama of the course and the land on which it sits will add up to an unparalleled Ryder Cup experience for competitors, spectators and TV fans. This excitement is palpable with our initial 30-person corporate hospitality offering and recently announced expanded offerings. We are humbled with the response.” So consistently strong and scenic
are Nos. 1 through 18 that it’s tough to pick a standout hole. Yet, one can’t help but hope that many matches reach the par-3 17th
. Maxing out at 249 yards, the
hole features massive sand dunes and bunkers submerged 20 feet below the green. Yank it left and you might find Lake Michigan. Fade it short or right and more tangled grass and dunes will gobble up your ball. Hit it pure—or else. With your Tour-level caddie alongside, your round on the Straits will be thrilling, no matter what you score. Having said that, you can’t miss Kohler’s other three courses. The Straits’ on-site sibling is the
Irish course, completed by Dye in 2000. It, too, shares Top 100 public- course honors, but even with its name, it’s quite different from its older,
20 | AZ GOLF Insider | PREVIEW 2019
brawnier brother. In some ways, with its heaving inland terrain studded with scary bunkers and towering sand hills, it conjures up Emerald Isle classics such as Waterville and Ballybunion. In other ways, it’s hand-of-man, made-in- the-U.S.A. modern golf, with multiple carries over creeks and ponds. Situated adjacent to The American
Club, Blackwolf Run’s River course was crafted from glacially carved hills and valleys. It’s well-wooded without being claustrophobic and is slashed with streams and a twisting arm of the Sheboygan River. Holes 1-4 and holes 14-18 were part of the original Blackwolf Run spread, but it’s the newer holes over more dramatic terrain that you’ll remember most, notably the 337-yard, par-4 ninth, with its myriad options. The ligament-snapping rough and Dye’s familiar, intimidating railroad ties shoring up lakes and bunkers add to the challenge. Nine holes of Kohler’s original
Blackwolf Run were siphoned off to form holes 10-18 on the Meadow Valleys course—and they’re marvelous. They’re also used when big events come to town, such as the 1998 and 2012 U.S. Women’s Open, as part of the tournament layout. Potential scorecard wreckers such as the 423-yard, par-4 14th
, with
its daunting approach above the river and the 227-yard, all-carry, par-3 15th would be all-stars at any property. There aren’t many poker hands
that beat four-of-a-kind. Likewise, there aren’t many public-access course complexes that can top Destination Kohler. Toss in The American Club hotel and a dazzling array of amenities and attractions, and you have resort golf’s version of a royal flush. And the top card in the deck is that upcoming Ryder Cup. “We are incredibly proud to be bringing one of the world’s largest sporting events, and likely the largest Wisconsin has ever seen, to the State,” said Willis. “All eyes around the world will be on Whistling Straits and Wisconsin—we know that we’ll show the world an incredible Ryder Cup.” n
Joe Passov is the 2019 Donald Ross Award winner as presented by the American Society of Golf Course Architects. His lives in Cave Creek.
www.azgolf.org
WISCONSIN
Whistling Straits Golf Course
Balckwolf Run Golf Course
Lake Michigan Sheboygan
MILWAUKEE
Whether it’s five-star dining (right) or a world-class spa (below), Destination Kohler provides everything you need for a great buddies’ trip. That includes four fabulous golf courses in the Straits and Irish courses at Whistling Straits, and the River and Meadow Valleys courses at Blackwolf Run.
COURTESY OF KOHLER CO.
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