A TOUR OF DESIGNER GOLF COURSES IN THE MIDWEST
The Midwest may be fly-over country for some golfers, but by traveling only to warm-weather locations in search of golfing venues, they’re missing out on some of the best golf this side of the Atlantic. While the scenic Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.—located about an hour outside of Milwaukee—might be the best example of a local golf course to be treasured, it’s certainly not the only one.
By Jeff Mayers
In fact, Milwaukee’s American Club at Kohler (destinationkohler. com) boasts a quartet of Pete Dye-designed courses, two at adjoining Whistling Straits. You can’t go wrong at any of the courses, but the walking-only Straits course, which hosted a men’s PGA championship in 2004 won by Vijay Singh, offers outstanding golf and spectacular views. Caddies, sheep and an Irish manor-like clubhouse add to this genuine links experience. It may be expensive, but think of the airfare you save flying into Milwaukee instead of Edinburgh.
In addition to the devilish Dye designs for Kohler, other top Midwest courses mapped out by famous designers are within easy driving distance of three of Midwest Airlines’ major destinations. So, if you’re flying to Milwaukee, Kansas City or Omaha, make sure to pack your clubs and experience the kind of premier golf you may have thought was only available in warmer climates.
Milwaukee
WHILE GOLFERS MAY BE drawn to the Kohler courses because of what they’ve seen on TV, it would do them well to consider the city’s other courses designed by top golf names.
Just 40 minutes north of General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), you’ll find The Bog (golfthebog.com) in Saukville, Wis., designed by Arnold Palmer. The Bog, which opened in 1995 and borders the Cedarburg Bog, is made up of 1,700 acres of peat and often rated as one of the best courses in the state.
Another 30 minutes north will bring you to The Bull at Pinehurst Farms (www.golfthebull. com), designed by Jack Nicklaus. The Bull became Wisconsin’s first Nicklaus signature course when it was built in 2002. The course rivals nearby Dye-designed Blackwolf Run (800-344-2838).
A little more than 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee sits Lake Geneva, where you’ll find Geneva National (www.genevanationalresort. com). This resort features 54 holes of golf designed by a familiar trio—Palmer, Lee Trevino and Gary Player. Palmer’s course is the most notable, but the Trevino and Player courses are worth playing as well.
If you want to make a week of it, nearby Grand Geneva Resort & Spa (www.grandgeneva.com) has two terrific courses—The Brute, designed by Robert Bruce Harris, and the Scottish-style Highlands course, originally designed by Dye and Nicklaus, and recently updated by Bob Lohmann.
To the northwest of Milwaukee is Erin Hills (www.erinhills.com), a new course in Erin, Wis. Golf magazine recently rated it the “Best New Course of the Year,” and for good reason. The course is nestled in a lush landscape, crafted mostly by Mother Nature with assistance from design team Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry. And just 10 minutes to the north in Hartford, Wis., is the Arthur Hills-designed beauty, Washington County Golf Course (www.golfwcgc.com).
Omaha
STEAKS MIGHT BE THE first thing that come to mind when you think of Omaha, but golfers should sink their teeth into the Players Club at Deer Creek (www.playersclubomaha. com) before it turns private. This Arnold Palmer-designed facility will allow public play until it signs up 350 members. Nine new holes were due to be added this year to a fine tract that opened in 2000. The initial 18 holes, covering more than 7,000 yards, has a par of 71 and is characterized by wetlands and open water on the back nine.
Lee Trevino had a hand in the Tiburon Golf Club facility (www.tiburongolf.com). The semi-private club, located 20 minutes from downtown Omaha, features 27 holes. The original layout was designed by Dave Bennett, with Trevino serving as a design consultant “in the very early stages,” according to the course.
You can also play a Robert Trent Jones, Sr., design at Willow Lakes (402-292-1680), next to the Offut Air Force Base about 25 minutes outside of town. Golfers remember the small greens, the many lakes and the trees on this course, which dates back to 1963.
Kansas City
THERE IS MORE TO ENJOY in Kansas City than just barbecue and jazz. You got it: Golf. And we’re talking both in Missouri and in Kansas. Fly into Kansas City International Airport in Missouri, rent yourself a car and prepare to explore both cities.
Start at the National Golf Club of Kansas City (thenationalgolfclub. com), designed by Missouri-native Tom Watson. Although this venue is reserved for members only, Watson also laid out another Kansas City, Mo., course: the three-hole junior course at Blue River (816-513-8940).
Before Watson came the legendary architect A.W. Tillinghast, who designed the top-rated Kansas City course at the Kansas City Country Club facility (913-236-2122) in Shawnee Mission, Kan. It’s a feat to gain entry to the KCCC, but you can play Tillinghast’s 1934 design just 20 minutes away at Swope Memorial (www.swopememorialgolfcourse.com) in Kansas City, Mo. Short by today’s standards at 6,274 yards, this par-72 course remains tough with small, undulating greens that challenged legends Ben Hogan and Sam Snead at the Kansas City Open in the ’40s.
Robert Trent Jones, Jr., designed two courses of note. One is Deer Creek Golf Club (www.deercreekgc.com) in Overland Park, Kan., 30 minutes south of Kansas City. This course features an abundance of trees, while Tiffany Greens Golf Club (www.tiffanygreensgolf.com) in Kansas City, Mo., boasts plenty of water and sand.
Michael Hurdzan, of the aforementioned Hurdzan-Fry design team, laid out Drumm Farm Golf Club (www.drummfarmgolfclub.com) in Independence, Mo., about 30 minutes southeast of Kansas City. This course runs through land characterized by creeks and old oaks.
So fly to, not over, these cities for great Midwest golf by some of the game’s master designers. May your drives always find the fairways of your imagination.
