Whistling Straits

Golf Course

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

A completely contrived masterpiece on Lake Michigan.

Book Tee Time
đź“· golfchannel.com
đź“· golfchannel.com

Hard

Expensive

Modern

Long

Seaside

Scenic

Some masterpieces are uncovered (See: Valley, Sand). Others, far less often, are created, springing forth from the minds of their designers like Athena from the head of Zeus. Whistling Straits is absolutely the later. Not that many years ago, this was a pancake flat piece of land — a former military base. Now, it is one of the foremost seaside golf courses in North America. It’s both fantastically beautiful, and fantastically hard (over a thousand bunkers!). This is Pete Dye course, designer of Sawgrasss, after all. But don’t think this brute is a slog. It’s more akin to a hot pepper — it burns, but leaves you wanting to go back for more (after the pain has worn off, of course).

Expert Reviews


There is little doubt that Whistling Straits is a must play for any golfer. It is rare to find a public course that is as highly acclaimed as the Straits course and you won’t find a better setting.

Golf Course Gurus

Pete Dye transformed a dead flat abandoned army air base along a two-mile stretch of Lake Michigan into an imitation Ballybunion at Whistling Straits, peppering his rugged fairways and windswept greens with 1,012 (at last count) bunkers. Golf Digest

Super long, narrow and exposed to strong winds, this is one of the toughest par 72s anywhere in golf, and although fun to play, it isn’t recommended for golfers in a hurry nor for those in a fragile emotional state. Planet Golf

What makes Whistling Straits aesthetically interesting is the contrast between the serene beauty of the lake and the wild elevation and manic bunkering on the land.

Plugged In Golf

Whistling Straits delivers a level of mystique and as soon as you step on the property…you feel its presence looming. Golf Wisely

Over 800,000 cubic yards of local sand and dirt were moved in the construction of the course, transitioning it from what was in the 1950’s “Camp Haven” (an anti-aircraft training facility complete with missile silos and an airfield) in to the present day pinnacle of the Kohler golf mecca. Wisco Golf Addict

Whistling Straits is completely artificial, but you wouldn’t know it because of the superior job the architect and shapers did in recreating a wild Irish links, complete with massive sand hills and bunkers that looked like they had merely evolved, rather been sculpted at the hand of man. Golf Magazine

..the layout is extremely well-balanced and utilises the natural elements to full effect There are far too many good and interesting holes to mention here. We’ll just close by saying that Whistling Straits is an architectural engineering work of art and it’s and absolute must-play course. Top 100 Golf Courses

Truth is the Straits Course appears more difficult than it really is, especially if it’s not too windy and you play the right set of tees.

Golf Advisor

The wind, firmness of turf, and various hole locations on the large greens conspire to make Whistling Straits play drastically different day to day and even hour to hour. However, unlike many links that rely on wind to enhance their challenge, the inherent design quality of the individual holes at Whistling Straits means it remains an engaging test even on a rare calm day. Golf Club Atlas

Definitely one of the finest public golf courses in America; the challenge of each shot is put right in the face of the golfer, whether it be deep bunkers, greens nestled next to the lake or strategic shot making choices and the lineup of great holes is unrelenting, with memorable shots at every turn. The greens are relatively negotiable, if the player can just get on the putting surface as quickly as possible. Golf Top 18

Because at its heart, for all its vision and audacious beauty, the Straits Course is essentially a prototypical Pete Dye target golf course.

Feed the Ball

With 8 holes on the water and a few more that feel close to the water, it really makes excellent use of the lake shore. Independent Golf Reviews

I’ve played a good number of challenging courses, but I’m not I’ve played many that have made me feel more on my heels throughout the round. Missed shots are punished, and punished severely. The Golf Bucket List

The Straits Course attempts to pay homage to links-style courses in Scotland and Ireland, but ultimately is unlike any other course in the world with its insane bunkering and breathtaking setting on Lake Michigan. With views of the Lake on every single hole, the Straits Course is arguably the most visually appealing course in America. World Golfer

At first glance it appears Whistling Straits is as much sand as it is grass. With more than 1,000 bunkers, the first-time player will wonder where to aim. Noted architecture critic Ron Whitten commented that the bunkers are “scattered about like laundry in the aftermath of a tornado.” The A Position

So is the course worth the nearly $500 you’ll pay to play it (once caddy fees/tips are paid)? I’m glad I got a chance to play it. The views are spectacular. The service, practice facilities, and dining options are all as good as it gets. The whole place is luxurious but it doesn’t feel pretentious.

Digital Fairways

I’ve had a few people ask me if Whistling Straits was worth the money. The answer? Absolutely. Yes it’s anything but cheap, but it’s a fun course and is one of those rounds that you’ll talk about for the rest of your life? Breaking Eighty

The course, for as rugged as it looks, is manicured perfectly. The fairways play firm and fast and have natural fescue grass that makes the ball sit up nicely. The sand base under the fescue keeps the ground feeling firm. Shut Face Golf

Rankings

World

#49

Golf Magazine

 

#63

Top 100 Golf Courses

 

#97

Planet Golf

United States

#3 (Public Courses)

Golf Digest

 

#21

Golf Digest

 

#28

Top 100 Golf Courses

 

#28

Golf Magazine

 

#37

Planet Golf

Wisconsin

#1

Golf Digest

 

#1

Top 100 Golf Courses

 

#1 (Public Courses)

Golf Magazine

 

#1 (Public Courses)

Golf Week

đź“· breakingeighty.com
đź“· breakingeighty.com

Course Photos

whistling straits
whistling straits
whistling straits
whistling straits
whistling straits
whistling straits
whistling straits digital fairways
whistling straits
whistling straits

Course Layout

Course Flyover

What To Know

Yardage & Tees

When to Play

Whistling Straits is open from late April through October.

Temperatures should be pleasant any month Whistling Straits is open, possibly getting a bit steamy June-August. October will be a little chillier than other months. Rainfall is pretty low the months Whistling Straits is open.

Any time Whistling Straits is open should be a good time to play, with May, June and September being your best months. 

Temperature

Precipitation

 

Wind

 

Greens Fees
Whistling Straits doesn’t post their greens fees, but rest assured, they’re not cheap. For rates, reach out to Whistling Straits.
Visitor Tee Times

Visitors may play Whistling Straits seven days a week.

Book a tee time.

Rentals & Caddies

Caddies are $65 plus gratuity ($50 is recommended). Caddies typically carry two bags and are required.

Forecaddies are $35 per person plus gratuity ($30 is recommended).

Clubs are available for $90. Callaways and Titleists are available. Rental clubs come with two sleeves of golf balls.

Golf carts are not available.

Pull carts are available for $15.

 

Getting There

Address:

N8501 Lakeshore Road, Sheboygan, WI 53083

Nearest Airport:

Milwaukee – General Mitchell International (71 miles / 1 hour 15 minutes)

Other Airports:

Chicago – O’Hare (140 miles / 2 hours 15 minutes)

Chicago – Midway (162 miles / 2 hours 45 minutes)

Practice Facilities

Whistling Straits has a driving range and multiple practice greens.

Other Things To Know

Course Website (FYI: Whistling Straits probably has the worst website of any golf course I’ve come across, so goooood luck…)

Year built: 1998

Architects: Pete & Alice Dye

Lodging: Whistling Straits offers on-site lodging. Learn more about here.

Course tour: Check out Whistling Straits’ course tour here.

Explore more courses in

Scotland
Explore

Explore more courses in

Ireland

Explore

Explore more courses in

Pacific Northwest

Explore