Let’s Play Wisconsin

By Bill Hogan, Premier Golf’s International Travel Consultant

With over 30 years experience planning golf vacations around the world, Hogan has teed it up seemingly everywhere on the planet–in nearly 60 countries. He recently visited Wisconsin, which has quietly evolved into a superb golf destination.

Hogan highlights his preferred itinerary:

Looking for a great late summer or early fall trip?

For most of us it’s an easy flight to Milwaukee where you can pick up a rental car, or for a group, arrange a bus transfer, and drive 50 minutes to Erin Hills Resort where I suggest at least one night and two rounds of golf.

One of the rounds might be on the innovative short five hole Kettle Loop as a warm up, but I encourage people to play the headliner course twice, which was site of the 2017 US Open won by Brooks Koepka.  Erin Hills is one of those courses that you’ll almost inevitably say: “I wish I could play that again” and know the lines off the tee and the green contours.

A night at Erin Hills would not be complete without a great American menu dinner in the Clubhouse Terrace overlooking the 1st and 18^th and washing it down with a Spotted Cow local brew or two.

Your next stop should be Sand Valley Golf Resort, the new “Bandon Dunes” style experience with two-and-a-half great courses and like Erin Hills, a walking-only facility. The Coore-Crenshaw original course, Sand Valley, is big and bold and a fabulous walk.  The newer Mammoth Dunes GC, a David Kidd design, presents as much fun as you can have in American golf. I’ve told people it’s a combination of North Berwick and Cruden Bay with Old MacDonald sprinkled over the top.  Pure joy!

Then, I suggest you round off your trip with a few nights at the iconic American Club in Kohler with rounds on Whistling Straits (site of the 2020 Ryder Cup), Blackwolf Run and The Irish at Whistling Straits.  Everything at Kohler is top notch, from the rooms, spa and restaurants to the fantastic golf.

This superb Wisconsin trio of small resorts has enough quality golf and memorable experiences to live up to any expectations.  Plus, Spotted Cow cannot be purchased outside of Wisconsin so that’s enough reason to plan your next trip to The Dairy State.