Straits Golf Course at Whistling Straits

The Straits course is by far the toughest golf course I have ever played in 60 + years of playing golf.
You need to be half Billy goat to climb up and down the steep hills. Lots of blind shots. A local caddie
would help that. But you are talking more $$$. Very nice layout. Premium $$$.
I would go back.

If I could give Whistling Straits 6 stars on here I’d go for 7! Everything at this place is spectacular! I have spent some time at a few major golf resorts around the country and the Kohler experience is hands down the best!

Since we had a 4 day package everything was pre-arranged for all of our tee-times including caddies. All we had to do was show up for the rounds. Everything ran seamlessly as we enjoyed all four Kohler 18 hole courses during the trip.

On Whistling Straits day of our trip (day 3) we had a prime 940am (or so) tee time and could not have enjoyed better weather. I know it can get gusty out there, but there was not a breath of wind for the entire round. Our caddy, Ray, was a perfect addition to the round. He was informative, knowledgeable, and had a great sense of humor! Could not have asked for a better caddy for the Straits. He had our clubs pretty well dialed in by the 4th hole and he had the right selection pulled for me on every shot going forward.

The conditions of all of the courses at Kohler are some of the best I have ever seen. The fairways were lush and the greens were fast and smooth, which you should expect for such a premium price.

The layout of this course had me gasping on almost every hole. I never felt like we played a boring hole and the surrounding scenery is unbelievable. After each hole I had to catch my bearings, I lost all sense of direction and time out there. It was like being on a different planet. The architect set up several sections where the hole would feel isolated from the rest of the course, I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s super cool!

We played the course from the Green tees (6600 yards) which was 2 up from the tips. That was plenty long for our twosome and the other twosome we played with. It was cool seeing the plaques in the ground indicating what the PGA tour distances would be, can’t imagine playing from those tees! It’s fun to think about the big hitters like DJ, Bryson, Rory, and Brooks all out there bombing the ball on this monster.

It’s hard to believe that the whole area was flat before Pete Dye came in and built this masterpiece. There are tons of undulating sections and of course thousands of bunkers. All 4 of the par 3s are right on Lake Michigan and offer 4 dramatic tee shots, and the 18th is truly one of the great closers in the game with so many options off the tee and a natural amphitheater backdrop just below the impressive clubhouse.

My favorite hole is the par 4 13th. You can see the green from the tee looking like it is floating in the lake. Such an amazing look!

Make sure you spend some time exploring the clubhouse before or after your round, it is a great building! The restaurant at Whistling Straits is top notch and I would definitely recommend hanging around for dinner on the patio enjoying some great food and fantastic cocktails (One of the best margaritas I have ever had) while you watch the rest of the games make their way in on 18.

My only regret for the trip is we only played Whistling Straits once, I cannot wait to go back. The other 54 holes at Kohler are also pretty darn good, but nothing is like the Straits course!

It's a testament to the genius of Pete Dye that even though it's one of the hardest golf courses you will ever play, Whistling Straits remains fun, even in winds that gust over 30 mph at times. In general I'm not a big fan of beat-you-up golf, but I'm glad to make an exception here because of the sheer audacity and execution of Dye's vision.

Peering up and down the coast at the edges of the property gives a golfer an idea of just what an engineering achievement it was to turn Lake Michigan coastline into a surrealist impression of Ireland. The bunker-pockmarked hillsides above and below practically every hole add tremendous texture, and the sinewy fairways can be elusive even in calm conditions. The par 3s are sensational, serving as well-placed milestones throughout the round, while the par 5s provide some chances to regain a bit of ground. Then there's 18, which is simply one of the hardest golf holes on the planet, where even after a perfect drive, a heroic shot is required to even be able to play your next shot. The complimentary bratwurst on offer at the snack bar is well-earned.

I loved Whistling Straits except for the fact the hotel is 15 minutes from the golf course. The range is 100 yards long in hitting spots. The chipping area is only 40 yards long. Their are 2 putting greens that are large. The clubhouse is really cool especially the back room that has a fireplace that kind of feels like the place where a tournament winner is interviewed. The Pro shop had a ton of stuff but I played it the year of the Ryder Cup and half the stuff was Ryder cup and I got stuff and preferred the whistling straits logo because you can find the Ryder cup stuff online anywhere. The food was very good, the Wisconsin blt was so good I had it 2 days in arrow and I don’t even like tomato and it made the tomato taste good. The golf course is amazing and is my second favorite golf course directly behind Oakland Hills South because whistling straits has 1,000 bunkers and the sand is hard and you have to hit right on the ball; the sand closer to the lake is dry and hard like concrete. Other than that it is unbelievably spectacular. Amazing views and it is very hard because of the wind, deep bunkers, where to place tee shots, and fairways are a must because you would either be in fescue, a bunker or in the fescue in towards Lake Michigan at the bottom of a cliff. My favorite holes were 1,2,3,9,15.

Oh the Straits course what an amazing test of mental toughness throughout a round. This is a course that at some point and time you are going to end up in a horrible spot and just have to take your medicine. From the drive in, to the range, to the wonderful staff, to the golf course. This place is just a great experience that avoid golfers need to experience. This was my 2nd time (first time in Oct so a bit different) and I continue to love this place.

To me the best thing about this place is you can get your self in to trouble spots and have some tough lies but 9 times out of 10 your always be able to find your ball and have some kind of shot. The fairways are lush, the greens are true as true can be, and views are out of this world. The holes along the water where the green looks like it is in the middle of Lake Michigan are just amazing. The way Pete Dye messes with your brain has bunkers and mounds that make you think and think about but in reality they are nothing but everything is just so well placed.

Favorite holes for me have to the Par 3 7th that just hangs out over the water. There looks like there is room around the green but there is very little. I was on the hill side and had to baseball style a wedge to the green. Par 4 9th is just so scenic down the hill back towards the clubhouse with the creek along side it. Then you get to your scoring holes 10-14 make your birdies here because coming back 16-17-18 are a true test. 17 is an awesome par 3 along the lake with HUGE mound in front guarding the hole. 3 is a great score. Finally hole 18 is a tough par 4. If you can hit a big ball you can go down the left and have a little wedge in (my caddie talked me into that..didnt work so well) or the safe route hit right to the end of the fairway and have a long iron in to a well guarded green. Get your 2 putts and get out of the there.

The Straits is amazing and continues to stay in my top 3 courses ive played. If you get the chance go play.

The greens were perfect and layout very challenging, but you really need to be playing your best to take this course on. The bunkers were perfect, but playing out of some them was nearly impossible. The fescue comes into play on even well hit shots with the rolling hills taking shots further than expected. It is a long walk up and down hills and very exhausting, so bring snacks to keep your energy up. The course is beautifully set along lake Michigan and is really worth the cost. Can't wait for the 2020 Ryder cup!

Went for my brothers 30th, played Straights, Irish and Blackwolf River course. Straights is a must cause it’s the straights, but make sure you play Blackwolf River too.

Straights: 15-20 mph winds and rain and 45-50 degrees we got the true experience. Was hitting stingers all day, and it worked.

For the 1k traps that are on the course, i didn’t find myself in them as much as I would have thought.

Greens: Greens rolled true, and rolled well. They weren’t super fast but they weren’t slow either. Probably rolling to an 11 on the stint.

Tee boxes: Play the tee box assigned to your handicap!! Or one down if it’s your first time playing the course. For expose my handicap would have dictated to play blue, but with the 20 mph wind and first time playing the course we opted for green.

In the words of Phil, hit bombs, attack pins and drain putts. Enjoy the Straights!

This place is a golf powerhouse with multiple courses which are all very popular. I opted for the big boy, the Straits course. Clubhouse is incredible, make some time just to explore the whole building. The front doors alone put most clubhouses to shame. Pro shop is stocked with items, and with the Ryder Cup coming in 2020, they have a lot of Ryder Cup gear as well. Only pro shop I have been in with a fireplace, and it was lit, that was a neat touch. This course is no where near cheap, it is very expensive. So, enjoy it as you don't shell out that kind of money on a round every day. Driving range was nice, free tees, bug spray, many targets to aim for, all around a great range. Also had a chipping area which was nice. They also had a few practice putting greens which were very nice. This is a walking course, there are no golf carts. This adds a new dynamic to the course and it is an awesome touch. I loved how everyone had to walk and I enjoyed the walk as well. They have caddies, use them. They add to the experience and help a lot. We had Berry and PJ, both were knowledgable and fun caddies. They helped immensely and really brought some fun to our group. The course is tough, with 1100 bunkers, you need to accurate. Most of the bunkers serve a cosmetic role, unless you are a very wild shot. You need to be accurate here, if you are not, you will not enjoy the scorecard. Your driver has to be dialed in or you may want to opt for a different club, if you are not in the fairway off the tee you will be fighting for par, if not bogey. Its an awesome course, extremely pretty and maintained very well. They have 6 tees, 7790 from the Blacks down to 5564 from the Reds. I played the Blues at 7142 and found it to be very fun and challenging. Play the right tee though, I felt like the Blues were just fine for me, and it made it very enjoyable. The course has multiple holes that run along Lake Michigan, its incredible and the most memorable set of holes I have played. The lake is great and really adds to the beauty of the course. Greens were true, they rolled well and were fairly quick. Not as fast as I was thinking they would be but they were still nice. My favorite hole was 7, named Shipwreck, 205 par 3. This is a once in a lifetime type course, absolutely a bucket list member. Playing here is a treat and no matter how you play or what the scorecard looks like, you will enjoy it immensely. One of my favorites I have played and I absolutely recommend playing here.

Visually Stunning, unbelievable layout. Course is challenging, but surprisingly not as challenging as anticipated. Obviously need to play the right tees. The $500 is a hard pill to swallow, but I'd recommend it once. Probably would not spend it again, but definitely worth it to check it off the bucket list. It's an amazing experience and a fair test if you can keep the ball in play, etc.

Always love visiting Kohler and Whistling Straits. The Straits course is extremely difficult but great fun when you are striking the ball well. Which I was this day. The routing is wonderful and Dye always has you feeling like you are on Lake Michigan or at least making your way back to the lake when playing the inland holes. Clubhouse is great and sitting outside overlooking the 18th hole with a cocktail is always a highlight of the day.

Well this is it isn't it? The gem in the Wisconsin golf crown? Host of tons of golf history situated on the shore of a great lake? Indeed.

Visually, this course is just what you'd expect based on TV. It's beautiful, and just a little scary. OK... A LOT scary!

This is a walking only course and you have to take a caddie. You'll want one. Fortunately, the walk is very reasonable, just a touch over 6 miles and not too hilly. Pace of play is a bit sluggish. One of the marshals told me average is a touch over 5 hours.

No sugar coating... this course is hard. Like, maybe the hardest course I've ever played. There is trouble everywhere, at all times. Bunkers, lakes, taller bunkers, deeper bunkers, cliffs, fescue. Bring your best golf swing. Certainly if it's windy, don't hesitate to move up a tee box or two.

The par 3s are the real show stealers here. Each nestled along the lake with fantastic hills, bunkers, and cliffs. They are breathtaking to look at and leave you lightheaded when you have to take a shot.

Normally I'd highlight some holes I really liked, but it's tough here. It was so tough it was hard to take in the holes... too focused on just battling to get a score. I will say that 13 was one of the craziest holes. It's a midlength par 4 that runs down towards the lake. The whole green runs away from the fairway, creating an insanely difficult 2nd shot. Looking back, I almost wish I'd just putted a hybrid for my second shot from 110. 18 is a real stunner of a hole. Very cool tee shot and intimidating approach.

Overall, this course is incredible. It's quite obvious why this is a great venue for a major championship. If I'm honest though, I'd rather watch someone else play this course. It's difficult to the point I just don't think I'm good enough. I have a hard time imagining a 15-20+ handicap player enjoying themselves, but it's STILL worth it because it's WHISTLING STRAITS!

This is the second time I've played the Straits Course, and I feel the same way about it as I did before: It's beautiful and difficult, but not as difficult as one would think. In other words, it's visually intimidating, but there really is ample room to hit the ball, especially off the tee. And I say this having not played it nearly as well as I did the first time. With that said, if your handicap is over 20, you'll have a difficult time out here. Despite its links look, you're not going to run many shots up to the greens. And you definitely want to try to avoid the bunkers (some are more reasonable than others). Most of all, though, the Straits Course is one of the most unique golf courses in the world. It's contrived, but so what? It's a visual feast from the first tee to the 18th hole. The par 3s are spectacular. And if you didn't know better, you'd think you were on the ocean. Yes, it's expensive to play, but they charge that because they can get it.

This is the hardest golf course I’ve ever played, and as a Top 100 list chaser, I’ve played some brutes. The Straits course, however, humbled me.

My experience was no doubt influenced by my struggle to find the fairway off the tee. I didn’t bring my best stuff with my driver, and that put me a half-shot per hole behind all round long. This is a first-shot golf course in my opinion. Pete, as Pete will do, makes fairways and landing areas visibly hard to discern from the tee, which will aggravate many players. Other times, you see only a ribbon, which can gnaw at your confidence. If you don’t hit fairways here, you are either in a craggy, often bathtub-size bunker, or the first-cut of rough that was highly unpredictable to judge how balls would would come off the clubface. The knee-high hay that borders holes, is nearly impossible to escape. Wedge it out. Trust me.

The second key to this course is trusting your caddy. When he or she gives you a line, commit to it. That is the best advice I can give you.

It was windy today - 15 mph - meaning some par 4s are going to play like 4 1/2’s. The wind also greatly affects putts, particularly on the lake-bordering holes.

Surprisingly, it is difficult to lose a ball on this course, especially if you have an experienced caddie. Despite all of the bunkers that litter the course and the cliff-like grass slopes that run toward the lake, most balls are playable. Yet, it is hard to advance the ball very far because of the severe sidehill lies.

Another key to successfully scoring here, or at least not wrecking your card, is to accept bogey when bogey is probably the best you can do. Hero shots don’t fare well here. You will likely be exhausted after a round here, and not physically. It isn’t a bad walk. Mentally, however, the Straits is draining.

Despite a horrifically higher score than I am accustomed to, I appreciated the round. This is the type of course that separates the best players from the rest. I have a tremendous appreciation for what Jason Day and Jordan Spieth did here several years ago in the epic duel.

In summary, bring your A-tee game or you will be scrambling for bogies all day. Don’t set any scoring expectations. You will likely shoot higher, and in some cases much higher, scores than usual, so don’t let that detract from the experience of playing one of the U.S.’s most difficult golf courses. And finally, trust your caddy.

Saved this course for last on Dye-abolical package. Wind was up all day to make it tougher but it was not unfair. PLAY AN APPROPRIATE TEE. They tell you this at the beginning, so listen. Just stand on the first 2 teeboxes where the pros hit from and mosey on up to the green or white tees. Scott Flowers was our caddy again and he is a phenomenal green reader and just all around great guy to walk with for 5+ hours. It takes awhile. Enjoy it. Hands down, prettiest course I have ever played. A top 3 for me. Pony up the dough and do it.

This place words can hardly describe. I have played great courses like Bethpage Black and Erin Hills and this place takes the cake. The conditions were top notch the service was amazing and the sites are breath taking. We got in what they call the Kohler fall challenge so you get to play both the Straits and the River in a Best Ball format. Those 7 or so holes that run along Lake an so cool they look like they are floating out there. The other 11 are terrifically designed. There isnt a bad or even average hole on this course. A plus plus in my book. A bucket list course for sure.

This was a bucket list course for my daughter and I and what a great place. All the staff were just awesome. We didn't get a caddy due to our tee time at 3:40 so we carried, what a mistake, wow tough track to walk much less carrying your own bag. Much respect to the caddies here. The course was mind blowing. The landscape was unreal, loved it. Only issue I have is it's a little tough to pick a line your first time around and trust it, insert caddy help here. Regardless it was a great experience one we won't forget.

Yes its famous, yes its got some truly memorable holes, yes the lake views are special.

But seriously, its $1,000 for a twosome, with caddie and tip.

And IMO links golf in 90 degree direct sun with no trees anywhere is not that appealing.

Caddie (Oscar) was outstanding, though ... definitely assisted our play and made the experience more fun, plus he does an awesome Borat impersonation.

Oh, and btw it is ridiculously hard, especially with 20 MPH wind all day.

Glad I got it off the bucket list, but I think River is the better course.

I can't say enough great things about the course! Great practice area, friendly staff and really challenging course. The course was in great shape. Walking the course with your caddy was a lot of fun too! My caddy was Gilberto and he was fantastic. Great personality and really knowledgeable about the course. Jason was the other caddy in our group and was excellent as well. I didn't play well but it was probably the best golf experience of my life.

Prince recently died and one of my favorite Prince's songs is "I would die 4 u." The Straits course is designed by world famous Pete Dye and I'd die here while I watch my T-shot going straight into the hole in par 3s. Then, I hope that my golf buddies bury my body under one of 1,1000 bunkers.

Yes, the course is so beautiful and the scenery along Michigan lake is surreal as if I'm walking on another planet. Caddies in white uniform sing "fore" like angels and the wind whistles in harmony. This course is a grave yard for your precious balls yet a perfect place to bury your favorite golf memories.

So, this is an expensive course -- $390 rack rate w/ about $120 total for caddie. But it is the site of PGA Championships and the 2020 Ryder Cup. So...Bucket List. It's wild and jagged, and is admittedly contrived to look like a dunesy links. But it is FUN. If the wind is not blowing too hard, it's a perfectly fair course that is relatively straightforward to play if you're not too wild off the tee. Get the ball in play, and enjoy the scenery. I played the entire round with one ball -- caddie only saved the day once. Nearly all but the greenside bunkers are eye candy, designed to freak you out and play with depth perception. 18 is the hardest hole on the course, and for purists, it'll be a bit of a "clown's nose" sort of hole, but hit a career approach, andy you will never forget it!