Best Golf Courses in Wisconsin (TOP 5 Ranked)

Looking to play the best golf courses in Wisconsin? GolfReviewsGuide.com picks out the top courses to play in Wisconsin.

Home to two of the United States’ best golf courses in Whistling Straits and Erin Hills, two major hosts, Wisconsin is something of an underrated destination for golf.

From the shores of Lake Michigan to the Nekoosa region, we’ve assessed the best golf courses in Wisconsin and come up with our top five.

You can also soon try Top Golf Monona when it opens at the first Wisconsin venue.

Whistling Straits (Straits Course)

Whistling Straits’ Straits Course, crafted by Pete Dye and opened in 1998, is Wisconsin’s most iconic and visually stunning course.

Situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, it plays 7,790 yards from the tips with a par of 72, and is known for rugged beauty paired with strategic demands.

Modeled after the great seaside links of Ireland and Scotland, it features over 1,000 bunkers, windswept fescue, and elevation changes rarely found in American golf.

Its championship pedigree is unparalleled – hosting the PGA Championship in 2004, 2010 and 2015, and most notably the 2021 Ryder Cup, where Team USA claimed a dominant victory.

Signature holes like the par-3 17th “Pinched Nerve,” played along steep cliffs, and the challenging par-4 18th “Dyeabolical” are a true test of nerves and precision.

The ever-present lake winds, sprawling bunkers, and tight sightlines make it a world-class challenge for professionals and amateurs alike.

Erin Hills Golf Course

Erin Hills, located about 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee, offers a pure, minimalist golfing experience inspired by links-style designs – and is one of the best public access courses.

A relatively new course having opened in 2006, Erin Hills is a purist’s course that relies heavily on the natural landscape with the course spanning 7,731 yards and playing to a par of 72.

Designed by Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry, and Ron Whitten, the layout capitalizes on glacially carved terrain with rolling hills, wide corridors and natural bunkering.

The course rose to fame as the host of the 2017 U.S. Open, where Brooks Koepka claimed his first major title. In 2025, it welcome the US Women’s Open, reinforcing its status as a championship venue.

Wind is a constant factor on this treeless, open layout. The undulating fairways reward strategy and distance control, while green complexes are subtle and require imagination on approach shots.

Signature holes include the par-3 9th, with a dramatic drop, and the long par-5 18th, which plays toward the distinctive clubhouse.

Blackwolf Run (River Course)

Blackwolf Run’s River Course is a dramatic, tournament-level layout situated along the Sheboygan River in Kohler, not too far from Whistling Straits.

Designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1988, the course measures 7,404 yards from the tips with a par of 72 and weaves through rolling terrain and woodlands.

The river and its tributaries come into play on 14 of the 18 holes, creating a course that is as beautiful as it is formidable. It is considered one of Pete Dye’s finest inland courses and a must-play for serious golfers.

The River Course is known for its exacting demands with tight landing areas, strategically placed hazards and small, elevated greens test all facets of a golfer’s game.

The course co-hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 1998 and again in 2012 with highlights including the 9th hole, a long par-4 playing along the river with water right and a sloped fairway, and the picturesque par-3 13th.

Sand Valley Golf Resort

The Sand Valley Course is a bold and captivating design by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw that was opened for play in 2017.

Located in central Wisconsin’s Nekoosa region, it is built on prehistoric sand dunes and offers firm, fast fairways, wide corridors and natural fescue grasses.

Playing to 7,152 yards and a par of 72, Sand Valley embraces minimalism with no water hazards and rugged and organic bunkering shaped by the natural terrain.

Signature holes include the drivable par-4 6th, which tempts aggressive lines over vast sandy waste areas, and the long par-3 17th that challenges club selection with elevation change and wind exposure.

Lawsonia Links Course

Lawsonia’s Links Course in Green Lake is a timeless classic that has stood the test of time. Designed in 1930 by William Langford and Theodore Moreau, it plays 6,853 yards with a par of 72.

The course is renowned for its bold features, including elevated square greens, deep bunkers and dramatic land contouring.

Originally built on the grounds of a grand estate, the course has been preserved and partially restored to reflect its golden-age roots.

Recent restoration efforts have uncovered original sightlines, green complexes, and even expanded bunkering, all contributing to a renewed appreciation of its historical significance.

Fairways are wide, but greens are perched and require precise approaches, and standout holes include the famous “Boxcar” par-3 7th, with a green built atop a buried railway car, and the closing par-4 18th.