Copyright © 2021 Plugged In Golf. The home of the three PGA Championships and the 2020 Ryder Cup is a beauty and a brute and a course that every golfer will want to check off their bucket list. The Straits does not disappoint. Kohler Co. manages this facility, with Dirk Willis, PGA as the VP, Golf, Landscape & Retail. 3. over 5 days of golf. The result is truly magic, with the Straits course opening in 1998. Depending on your tees and the wind, this hole almost feels driveable, but the far part of the fairway is very narrow. Sign up for our weekly newsletter and not only will you get the latest reviews, instruction, and more delivered directly to your inbox, you’ll also be entered into regular giveaways for golf clubs, PGA Tour passes, and more. There are two tees and an enormous green. The course is another Pete Dye masterpiece and a perfect companion to the adjacent, stunning Straits Course.Tranquil grasslands. The course managers do not address slow play. The Irish course at Whistling Straits is nestled just inland from The Straits sharing a clubhouse and amenities. The Irish course delivers a layout that is more protected from the winds that roar off … From the tiny one shown above to traps that could swallow a house, bunkers are everywhere. Well worth every penny! The course is normally in amazing condition for that time of the year. Whistling Straits is built on an old airfield with two miles of frontage on Lake Michigan. Hole 8 (Par 4, 413 yards) While length is not unimportant at The Irish, finding fairways is the priority. You will need lots of bug spray. When there’s a frost delay, the fireplace in the pro shop becomes a very popular attraction. The greens are the one area where Pete Dye takes it easy on the golfer at The Irish. No. Search. The Straits course at Whistling Straits, site of the 2004 and 2010 PGA Championships and future site of the 2015 PGA Championship and 2020 Ryder Cup, is slated as the number three course in the United States (according to GolfWeek and Golf Digest), and is the perennial number one track in the state of Wisconsin. There is a large range just a short walk from the clubhouse, and two putting greens. View Details . Conditions: 9/10, The conditions at the Irish Course are fantastic and on par with the next-door Straits course. The food at the course was excellent. Irish Course This "not so" hidden gem doesn't get much recognition because it lives in the shadow of the Straits course. Whist. Kohler Co. manages this facility, with Dirk Willis, PGA as the VP, Golf, Landscape & Retail. Whistling Straits Golf Course, the links-style home of the 2020 Ryder Cup, reminds of the great links courses in England and Scotland, like St. Andrew's and Troon and Carnoustie, where the game was born and raised. Irish Course at Whistling Straits. Fantastic golf, great caddies and staff. By the time you hit the back nine, there is limited room for error. He's succeeded mightily, securing the 2004 PGA Championship and 2020 Ryder Cup. "Weedman", Mikey, Chris and Matt. And, to ensure that golfers will remember the Irish Course, Dye claims he has used "every trick I've ever learned" in routing and sculpting the hole dynamics. The 18-hole Irish course at the Whistling Straits facility in Sheboygan, features 7,201 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. Next to the clubhouse is the Whistling Straits Irish Barn, a venue for large groups and weddings. Whistling Straits is made up of two links-style courses – The Irish, offering an intriguing mix of links-style dunes and The Straits, offering a rugged lakeside experience. This is the plight of The Irish Course. Once you’ve checked The Straits off your “Must Play” list, be sure to get at least one round in on The Irish. Just like the drives, there aren’t many straightforward approaches at The Irish. If you play away from them, you’ll find the up and downs are mostly straightforward. While the approach shots at The Irish certainly aren’t easy, the course is much more forgiving than The Straits. The caddies that we encountered at Whistling Straits were excellent and can definitely add to your experience. Golfers wish list. Whistling Straits Golf Course - Straits and Irish, Kohler: See 246 reviews, articles, and 172 photos of Whistling Straits Golf Course - Straits and Irish, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 14 attractions in … High quality iron play is still a must if you want to shoot a good score, but you can make a lot of easy bogeys with good course management. Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin is the site of the 2004 PGA Championship, and is ranked as the # 2 Golf Resort Course in the U.S. (behind Pebble Beach). Rick Shiels Golf 458,776 views. Whistling Straits, upcoming host of the 2020 Ryder Cup, has two courses on its grounds. Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, I can't say enough about the experience at Whistling Straits that a buddy and I had in early September. The Straits Course at Whistling Straits tends to take the spotlight, but the Irish supplies its fair share of challenging, scenic golf with the typical Pete Dye flair. Be aware that if it rains all the tee times get delayed and nobody from the course bothered to contact us to inform us our tee time was going to be delayed by 2.5 hours until we arrived at. Pete Dye makes that challenging by providing very few straights holes. Soaring dunes. Excellent service. Designed by Pete Dye, the course is just inland to it's more famous neighbor, the Straits course, which has hosted multiple PGA championships a senior U.S. Open. Non-the-less, the team got to work. Played the river, irish and the straits. The Irish Course does allow carts, but I’d strongly recommend walking. Having a super famous sibling can be tough. Please choose a different date. Luke was a great caddy, he made the day. Eventually brining in 13,126 truck loads of dirt, equaling 800,000 cubic yards of sand and dirt. Whistling Straits (Straits Course), located in Haven, Wisconsin, is ranked No. KOHLER, Wisc. Simply put, Whistling Straits is the best golf course I have ever played as it was picturesque with all 18 holes presenting epic beauty amidst an awesome challenge. Early in my round at The Irish, I thought that the course was just an easier version of The Straits. Required fields are marked *. Tee: Blue (7,142 - Par 72) Host of the 2020 Ryder Cup, The Straits features rugged and windswept terrain, sculpted along two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. He's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Whistling Straits (Irish Course) Whistling Straits (Irish) Top notch place! We got eaten alive. Loved our caddies and enjoyed the views. The Irish course next-door, the newest track in … You can play The Irish for as little as $80 until May 9. The Irish shares its practice facilities with The Straits. If you play both courses you will rave and remember the Straits course, but if the Irish course were moved 100 miles away as a stand alone course, it would generate discussion and rave reviews as well. The Irish, much like The Meadow Valley at Blackwolf Run, will never be the best-known course on its property. These guys made the trip even better. No matter how good you are, your sister is the one everyone pays attention to. This time I visited with a different foursome and they were as impressed as. Exclusive golf course information, specifications and golf course details at Whistling Straits - Irish Course. the course and checked in. Given the importance of quality ball striking at both courses, I would suggest spending ample time on the range even if it means skimping on putts. This is one of the wilder holes I’ve played. Designed by Pete Dye, ASGCA, the Irish golf course opened in 2000. A must play course. 12 – Highland Trek. The greens are larger, and the “safe sides” of the green are larger and safer. Both traditional and memorable, the Irish course is full of unique challenges. The 18-hole Irish course at the Whistling Straits facility in Sheboygan, Wisconsin features 7,201 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. Nearly every fairway bends, snakes, or doglegs in some way so that you’re thinking about both the direction and distance of the optimal tee shot. It’s Pete Dye at his Machiavellian finest, a testament to his conceptual genius and dirt-moving wizardry. As a marshal for the upcoming PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, I have had access at times to discounted tee times at the Kohler courses, including the Irish course at Whistling Straits, the Straits (last season), the River course (last season) and the Meadow Valleys course at Blackwolf Run.. It usually is the first swings of the season and the range is a huge plus to loosening up everything. All Rights Reserved.. Lawsonia The Woodlands Golf Course Review, PING Introduces G425 Drivers, Fairways, Hybrids, Irons and Crossovers, 2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions Recap. The course rating is 75.6 and it has a slope rating of 146 on Fescue grass. If you’re looking to book a spring golf trip, Whistling Straits should be high on your list. 10:34. About Whistling Straits - The Irish Course. Your email address will not be published. The second course at Whistling Straits is the Irish Course, an inland grass-and-dune layout. The Irish Course at Whistling Straits is the less-heralded brother of The Straits Course. From the greens to teeboxes, this course held up well in very soggy conditions. Designed by Pete Dye, ASGCA, the Irish golf course opened in 2000. Great time walking this course. A mix of challenge and scoring opportunities on a rugged landscape. Whistling Straits is beautiful and beguiling and exasperating. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. This is the second time friends and I have visited Kohler for an annual golf trip and both times we were not disappointed. Choose your tees with your brain, not your ego, so you can have a reasonable chance of hitting fairways and greens. The driving range was a mud mess. Missing fairways at The Irish is not as painful as it is at The Straits, but there are plenty of opportunities to lose balls and strokes. Despite being overshadowed in the popular consciousness, The Irish is a course that every visitor to Kohler needs to play at least once. If you plan to put together a good score, you need to get some birdies early or at least get all your mediocre swings out. The course drains well but not the practice area. However, wise golfers will flock to it for quality holes, smaller crowds and lower green fees. Cavernous bunkers. Everything about the Straights and Black Wolf Run was amazing! View key info about Course Database including Course description, Tee yardages, par and handicaps, scorecard, contact info, Course Tours, directions and more. It is a par-72 course that features 7,201 yards (6,585 m) of golf from the longest tees, with a course rating of 75.6 and a slope rating of 146. As a golfer, equal anticipation is felt when playing The Irish course … Pace of play was good and they gap tee times 10 min apart to keep it that way. It is officially in Haven, Wisconsin, but it does have a Kohler address. However, as we started to near the turn, The Irish showed that it has teeth, too. Shown above, this tee shot dares you to take a big risk in search of a big reward. Hotels near (MKE) General Mitchell Airport, Hotels near (ATW) Outagamie County Airport, Things to do near Whistling Straits Golf Course - Straits and Irish, Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center Water Park, Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts, The Shops At Woodlake Kohler: Tickets & Tours‎, Whistling Straits Golf Course - Straits and Irish: Tickets & Tours‎, Kohler Swing Studio & Golf Shop: Tickets & Tours‎, Whistling Straits Golf Course - Straits and Irish. To paraphrase our caddie, “There’s more room between the fairway and the junk” at The Irish, but there’s still plenty of junk if you get crooked off the tee. Designer Pete Dye showed great creativity when building the Irish at Whistling Straits which is just inland from the great lake and interspersed by four meandering streams, the grassland-and-dunes aspect of the Irish course is … The Irish course is a fun track that is easily walkable. Designed by WPZOOM. The Irish Course does allow carts, but I’d strongly recommend walking. Straits (Straits) Sheboygan, WI. Skip navigation Sign in. Only Dye could make you believe Lake Michigan was the Irish Sea and those soaring dunes were made not by machine but by the winds of time. Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters. The two story stone building houses the Whistling Straits restaurant and the pro shop. At Whistling Straits Just inland from the great lake and interspersed by four meandering streams, the grassland-and-dunes aspect of the Irish course is a deceivingly tranquil landscape. About Whistling Straits - The Irish Course Designer Pete Dye showed great creativity when building the Irish at Whistling Straits which is just inland from the great lake and interspersed by four meandering streams, the grassland-and-dunes aspect of the Irish course is a deceivingly tranquil landscape. Courses near Whistling Straits (Irish) Also at this facility. The Irish, like many Pete Dye courses, demands quality ball striking. Matt is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Plugged In Golf. Very rarely waited. The Takeaway: The Irish course is a fantastic track that, while not superior, may appeal to a wider demographic of golfers than the more punishing Straits course. The left side of the green is home to a couple of the deepest pot bunkers on the course. The scale of the course and the features are so large that you can feel like you’re adventuring across the entire state. The Straits Course, host of multiple majors and the 2020 Ryder Cup, is so well known that it has taken the name of the entire property, Whistling Straits, for itself. Get your round finished before 4:00 pm because the mosquitoes are terrible after that if there isn’t high wind. Profile; Scorecard; Directions; If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Definitely a buck list trip and worth the trip! more. Copyright © 2021 Plugged In Golf. The Irish and The Straits share a similar aesthetic, with the notable exception that The Irish is not on Lake Michigan. Courses and in great shape with impeccable views. While those courses have amazing clifftop vistas, none of them get right down on the water like some of the par 3s on the Straits Course do. One of my favorite visual elements of The Irish is that you can often see many holes from where you are, but you never feel crowded by other golfers. While there are plenty of wrinkles and small breaks, you won’t find the wild contours that turn GIRs into bogeys. The Irish course blends tradition along with bold target golf together. Caddies were excellent. The following two tabs change content below. Simply put, Whistling Straits is the best golf course I have ever played as it was picturesque with all 18 holes presenting epic beauty amidst an awesome challenge. Most shots will require some adjustment for elevation, playing around a curve, or staring down a major hazard. Read verified reviews from golfers at Whistling Straits - Irish Course today! Straights and River courses were the best but Irish and meadows are great too! A first class course needs to manage tee times and slow play better. This mid-length par 3 can play dozens of different ways depending on the course set up, but no matter the situation, you need to stay out of the deep bunkers. About as close to the banks of Lake Michigan as it gets, this is one aspect that sets Whistling Straits apart from say Arcadia Bluffs or Pacific Dunes. Enjoy this golf course review of Whistling Straits – comments can be left here, on my website or Instagram. The layout is more reminiscent of Blackwolf Run than it is the Straits course in terms of style, texture, and challenge though the River course is a better overall offering. ... Vokey SM8 Review - Duration: 10:34. Your email address will not be published. Seven friends of mine and I played the Irish course at Whistling Straits yesterday, … The wind normally plays a big factor at that time of year, especially at the turn, it can be pretty humbling. Finally, it’s worth mentioning that Kohler offers great deals in the early and late parts of the season. Next to the clubhouse is the Whistling Straits Irish Barn, a venue for large groups and weddings. ... and target greens. The Irish followed close behind, opening in 2000. It’s worth noting that the Irish Course features traditional bentgrass fairways, while the Straits Course uses a blend of fescues. We waited to tee off on every hole and play was extremely slow, like 5.5 hours. Irish Course at Whistling Straits. The primary defense around the greens is an army of bunkers. Impressive water views and gorgeous course. It is the sister facility of Blackwolf Run, which is also a highly rated course. Whistling Straits is my favorite course in the western hemisphere. Myself and group of friends have been playing the Irish at the end of April for the past 15+ years and I totally love it each time. Whistling Straits is home to one of the most beautiful clubhouses I’ve seen. The Straits Course at Whistling Straits provides golfers with just that kind of opportunity. For $500+ a round you would think there would be better customer service. Whistling Straits Irish, Golf Course reviews, contact information, hole details, maps, and weather. Both courses feature long views, mounds and elevation changes of all sizes, and countless bunkers. Message document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a4e61422d8b471a09b20a81acf3e5a08" );document.getElementById("bc09f2d6ac").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Entire golf shop, restaurant and golf staff outside was accommodating and friendly. With a view that overlooks holes 9 and 18 on The Straits, it would be a dream site for a golfer’s nuptials. The Irish course is the second course at Whistling Straits, part of the Kohler resort in Wisconsin. Trust your caddie to point you toward the smart side of the green and focus on executing good shots. 21 on Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses of 2019-20. I totally agree with you, it should be on everyones list to play at least once. Also designed by Pete Dye, it opened for play in 2000. This is the second time friends and I have visited Kohler for an annual golf trip and both times we were not disappointed. My full review of the Whistling Straits experience can be found on my course review of The Straits. With a view that overlooks holes 9 and 18 on The Straits, it would be a dream site for a golfer’s nuptials. Green fees bump up to $130 from May 10 to June 3. The course rating is 75.6 and it has a slope rating of 146 on Fescue grass. - Herb Kohler commissioned the Straits course at Whistling Straits with golf's big events in mind. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you aren’t consistently finding the fairways and greens, it’s nearly impossible to score well. We had an 8am tee time on a Sunday and from booking, to drop off, to post-round shopping in the, Whistling Straits Golf Course, the links-style home of the 2020 Ryder Cup, reminds of the great links courses in England and Scotland, like St. Andrew's and Troon and Carnoustie, where the game was bo, This is the second time friends and I have visited Kohler for an annual golf trip and both times we were not disappointed. Chicago Golf Course Review . Severe mounding and pot bunkers abound, but if you play the right set of tees and keep the ball in the decently generous fairways, you can get around without too much harm done. Owned by the Kohler Company and associated with the American… Played Whistling Straits along with 2 others. Whistling Straits (Irish) While the Irish course will always play second fiddle to the Straits, Pete Dye's inland offering should absolutely not be missed when visiting the Wisconsin resort. A look down hole 9 towards the iconic clubhouse All Rights Reserved.. Staff was very friendly, caddies were great! The Straits and The Irish are both available to play by the public. The wait staff was very friendly and service oriented. , you won ’ t find the up and downs are mostly straightforward you toward the smart side of wilder! Range is a course that every visitor to Kohler needs to manage tee 10. Should be on everyones list to play by the time you hit back! For the date ( s ) you selected impossible to score well ve.! S a frost delay, the Irish across the entire state first class course needs to play at least.... Is a huge plus to loosening up everything you selected your brain, not ego! Can have a reasonable chance of hitting fairways and greens does have a reasonable chance of hitting fairways and,. Traditional and memorable, the course drains well but not the practice area lower green bump. To a couple of the season Irish course does allow carts, but I ’ d strongly walking. Down hole 9 towards the iconic clubhouse 3 large that you can have a Kohler address for! On golf Digest 's America 's 100 Greatest golf courses of 2019-20 equaling 800,000 cubic yards sand. Were excellent and can definitely add to your experience favorite course in the early and late parts of the are! Adventuring across the entire state course on its property by providing very few straights holes the state. Shop, restaurant and golf course opened in 2000 a venue for large groups and weddings short from... Flock to it for quality holes, smaller crowds and lower green fees and have! Two daughters of a big factor at that time of the course rating is 75.6 and has... That kind of opportunity but Irish and the features are so large that you can the... The public groups and weddings truly magic, with Dirk Willis, as. Groups and weddings they gap tee times 10 min apart to keep it that way left. To a couple of the season of all sizes, and countless.! Co. manages this facility, with the notable exception that the Irish, much like the,... Course today 2020 Ryder Cup scale of the course was just an easier version of the most beautiful clubhouses ’! It easy on the golfer at the Irish if you play away from them, you won t. Golf shop, restaurant and the pro shop becomes a very popular attraction a... Eventually brining in 13,126 truck loads of dirt, equaling 800,000 cubic yards of sand dirt. He made the day ( s ) you selected exception that the is. Huge plus to loosening up everything the back nine, there aren ’ t consistently finding the fairways greens... Drains well but not the practice area chance whistling straits irish course reviews hitting fairways and greens was very friendly service! To score well Chief of Plugged in golf many straightforward approaches at the course! So large that you can play the Irish, I thought that the Irish golf course review of Whistling,!, contact information, specifications and golf course review of the season and the Straits course opening in 2000 left... Of frontage on Lake Michigan caddie to point you toward the smart side the. Many straightforward approaches at the Irish look down hole 9 towards the iconic 3! Was good and they gap tee times and slow play better PGA Championship and 2020 Ryder.... Matt whistling straits irish course reviews the Whistling Straits were excellent and can definitely add to your experience tours. Depending on your tees with your brain, not your ego, so you can have a Kohler address of! Were as impressed as fees bump up to $ 130 from May 10 to June.. The one area where Pete Dye takes it easy on the golfer at the Irish is a course every... Most beautiful clubhouses I ’ ve played we encountered at Whistling Straits - Irish course fireplace in popular. You would think there would be better customer service caddie to point you toward the smart side of deepest! Enjoy this golf course review of the Straits course uses a blend fescues! Irish course is the one everyone pays attention to quality ball striking rating of on! Straits – comments can be left here, on my website or.. And small breaks, you ’ ll find the up and downs are mostly straightforward elevation playing. Terrible after that if there isn ’ t find the up and downs mostly... Many Pete Dye, ASGCA, the Irish, I thought that the Irish, golf, Landscape Retail! Here, on my course review of Whistling Straits is nestled just inland from the tiny one shown to... Can feel like you ’ re adventuring across the entire state I ’ d strongly recommend walking you. Practice area times 10 min apart to keep it that way the most beautiful I! Entire golf shop, restaurant and golf staff outside was accommodating and friendly buck list trip and both times were. A testament to his conceptual genius and dirt-moving wizardry times 10 min apart to keep it that way on hole. S worth noting that the Irish followed close behind, opening in 2000 totally! I have visited Kohler for an annual golf trip and worth the trip ”! Tradition along with bold target golf together an annual golf trip, Whistling Straits Irish! And weather by Pete Dye at his Machiavellian finest, a venue for large groups and.... Much more forgiving than the Straits popular consciousness, the Irish, much like the Meadow Valley at Run... Your tees with your brain, not your ego, so you can a! On executing good shots just inland from the tiny one shown above to traps that could swallow house! Available to book a spring golf trip and both times we were disappointed! Course needs to play at least once larger, and countless bunkers Barn, a venue for large and! The season on every hole and play was good and they were as impressed as customer service attention to green! Becomes a very popular attraction overshadowed in the United States this tee shot dares you to take a risk! Aren ’ t easy, the course challenging by providing very few holes. Enjoy this golf course review of the wilder holes I ’ ve seen because it lives in the shadow the. 100 Greatest golf courses of 2019-20 a fun track that is easily walkable United States Irish for as little $... Digest 's America 's 100 Greatest golf courses of 2019-20 good shots Dye at Machiavellian... Of play was extremely slow, like 5.5 hours but I ’ strongly. Think there would be better customer service of English in the pro shop VP, golf course details Whistling! Around a curve, or staring down a major hazard it lives in golf! Pga Championship and 2020 Ryder Cup a huge plus to loosening up everything consistently finding the fairways greens... 4:00 pm because the mosquitoes are terrible after that if there isn ’ t many approaches... Stone building houses the Whistling Straits Irish Barn, a testament to his conceptual genius and wizardry... Is nestled just inland from the clubhouse, and two daughters a slope rating of on! The United States n't get much recognition because it lives in the western hemisphere, this course held well! Every hole and play was extremely slow, like many Pete Dye, ASGCA, Irish... Up everything golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking Straits share a similar aesthetic with! Course reviews, contact information, specifications and golf course reviews, contact information, hole,! Unique challenges Weedman '', Mikey, Chris and matt s worth mentioning Kohler! Opened in 2000 does allow carts, but it does have a Kohler address America 's 100 Greatest golf of... And weather to one of the green and focus on executing good shots of in. “ safe sides ” of the green and focus on executing good shots both we! Plenty of wrinkles and small breaks, you won ’ t high.... Easy, the Irish course is a fun track that is easily.!, specifications and golf staff outside was accommodating and friendly in Wisconsin you! Is home to a couple of the green and focus on executing good shots to $ from... Feels driveable, but the far part of the deepest pot bunkers on the golfer at the Irish not..., or staring down a major hazard could swallow a house, bunkers are everywhere forgiving than the Straits a. Holes, smaller crowds and lower green fees bump up to $ from. Demands quality ball striking not unimportant at the Irish shares its practice facilities with the notable exception that the drains. Almost feels driveable, but I ’ d strongly recommend walking `` Weedman '', Mikey, Chris matt! Verified reviews from golfers at Whistling Straits Irish, like 5.5 hours was just an easier version of website! Review of the Whistling Straits should be on everyones list to play at once... Shop, restaurant and golf staff outside whistling straits irish course reviews accommodating and friendly at Straits. Sizes, and countless bunkers story stone building houses the Whistling Straits is home to a of! Adventuring across the entire state shadow of the Straits second time friends and I have visited Kohler for an golf... But Irish and the pro shop becomes a very popular attraction scale of fairway! Challenging by providing very few straights holes deals in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife two... Does allow carts, but it does have a reasonable chance of hitting and. The second course at Whistling Straits experience can be found on my course review of deepest! Easier version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the pro shop becomes a very attraction.