17 replies to this topic

[bwb]

I just got back from a trip with my Dad to Pinehurst.  It was an early 40^th birthday present from him to me.  It was great.   While we were there he told me that when he retired there were two courses that he wanted to play.  One was Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic, the other was Whistling Straits.  Well he has been retired over 10 years and is not going to go to either with out a bit of a push, so I am going to take him next year.  I just can not swing a trip for two to the Dominican Republic, but I think I can pull off a trip to Kohler.



I am interested in any info on staying and playing Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, on the cheap so to speak.  I do not mind paying for the golf, but I can not swing the American Club, or even the Inn on Woodlake. I could do a cheap hotel in the area, but should I be concerned about being able to get tee times.  Does anyone have experience getting tee times at either of these places without staying at one of the Kohler properties?



The Straits course is the focus, but I would want to play others as well.  I have heard a lot of good things about Lawsonia and Erin Hills.  I was thinking of a trip like:



Day 1 – Fly to Milwaukee, play Erin Hills in the afternoon and drive to Green Lake to spend the night.

Day 2 – 36 at Lawsonia Links/Woodlands drive to Sheboygan to spend the night.

Day 3 – Play Whistling Straits in the morning then fly out of Milwaukee in the late afternoon.



Alternatively, we could do The River and Meadow at Blackwolf Run on Day 2 and not make the drive to Green Lake, it just adds a lot to the cost.



And/or we could skip Erin Hills and play the Irish course on Day 1.



We would be looking at late Sep 2012.



Any thoughts, suggestions, changes, or advice would be great.

Edited by bwb, 29 September 2011 - 11:51 AM.

[luxman]

Just keep in mind that late September can be very chilly.  My parents are there right now and the high for tomorrow is in the low 50's with winds between 25 and 35 mph.  On the lake figure that's more like mid 40's with winds over 45 mph.  Any chance you could move that trip to earlier in September?

[Frohlich]

luxman, on 29 September 2011 - 12:04 PM, said:

Just keep in mind that late September can be very chilly.  My parents are there right now and the high for tomorrow is in the low 50's with winds between 25 and 35 mph.  On the lake figure that's more like mid 40's with winds over 45 mph.  Any chance you could move that trip to earlier in September?

Pretty sure the OP stated this trip he was planning to Kohler was for next year (not this year).  He just came back from Pinehurst, which was the trip this year.

[jdhallissey]

Make sure you go in the summer. I would play, The bull blackwolf or irish then whistling the last day but I would not fly out that same day. Fly out the next. It is no fun being on a golf course thinking are we going to make the 5pm flight. Been there done that don't want to do it again lol. Enjoy it up there. Just remember that all said and done that 4 days of golf is probably going to run you around 2000 bucks. Your going to be at almost or at 1000 for 2 at whistling. Blackwolf is 250 Irish is 185. So prepare to drop 4000 after a hotel room too. Again like my dad we went to Ireland and I spent a ton of money but it was a ton of fun and couldn't think of anybody else to spend it with then my dad out playing some golf!

[luxman]

Frohlich, on 29 September 2011 - 12:29 PM, said:

luxman, on 29 September 2011 - 12:04 PM, said:

Just keep in mind that late September can be very chilly.  My parents are there right now and the high for tomorrow is in the low 50's with winds between 25 and 35 mph.  On the lake figure that's more like mid 40's with winds over 45 mph.  Any chance you could move that trip to earlier in September?

Pretty sure the OP stated this trip he was planning to Kohler was for next year (not this year).  He just came back from Pinehurst, which was the trip this year.

Yes, i saw that his trip is next year. I was merely pointing out what the weather could be in late September based on a current experience.

Besides, why would I ask the op if he could move the trip to earlier in september when today is the 29th?

[jdhallissey]

I have played whistling and trust me you do not want to play when it is 45 degrees and blowing 25 off the lake in oct. I did that once ( we got comped the round due to knowing people lol) I would not pay for that torture haha. Play it when it is warm out and enjoy

[luxman]

jdhallissey, on 29 September 2011 - 09:44 PM, said:

I have played whistling and trust me you do not want to play when it is 45 degrees and blowing 25 off the lake in oct. I did that once ( we got comped the round due to knowing people lol) I would not pay for that torture haha. Play it when it is warm out and enjoy

Agree with you 100%.  The one time I played Kohler was the Monday of Memorial Day weekend.  The day before it was 70 and sunny with virtually no wind, but a front came through that night and dropped the temperature by 25 degree and kicked up the wind with gusts over 40 mph. Absolutely the toughest conditions I have ever played in.

[bwb]

Thanks for all the input on the weather.  We will look at the timing of the trip and see what we can work out.


It appears from the website that non-hotel guest can make tee times 14 day in advance at the Straits or River course and any time on the Irish and Meadow Valley.  Anyone have any experience getting times on short notice as a non-hotel guest?    



jdhallissey,
Thanks for the tip on not playing the day we fly out, while I am not sure we can work that, it does change how I think about the schedule.  We may need to put the Irish or Meadow Valley that morning.  

[Taylormade_Phenom]

i dont know what your budget... but if you can play the River Course at Blackwolf! Its every bit as good as the straits, imo. irish is good, but it will obviously not be the highlight of the trip. havent played erin, so i cant comment on that. the bull is always in good shape and very difficult. no matter which ones you choose you will have a great trip!

[jabrch]

Call up Kohler - look into package deals.  They had a good deal last year around this time - unlimited play each day (got 36 in 2 days, and 45 on the third) with a room at the Inn and it was fairly affordable....

[murph9095]

If you go to sheboygon, I would go to the straights course and the blackwolf run river. And another amazing course is The Bull which is only 100 dollars and is only like a 15 minute drive from the straights. I would not spend your money on the irish because it is not that great, also the blackwolf run meadow valley is nice, but If I were you would go straight to erin hills than drive play whistling straights and the bull in one day and then play blackwolf run river the next day than fly out. Go in the summer DO NOT go any time where the weather could be iffy.

[luxman]

murph9095, on 20 November 2011 - 11:44 AM, said:

If you go to sheboygon, I would go to the straights course and the blackwolf run river. And another amazing course is The Bull which is only 100 dollars and is only like a 15 minute drive from the straights. I would not spend your money on the irish because it is not that great, also the blackwolf run meadow valley is nice, but If I were you would go straight to erin hills than drive play whistling straights and the bull in one day and then play blackwolf run river the next day than fly out. Go in the summer DO NOT go any time where the weather could be iffy.

I played the Bull and did enjoy it.  Very nice track.

As for the Irish, I think holes 1-17 are very good and 18 is dreadful.

[future dvm]

I, too would recommend The Bull as a course for you to check out.  It is 3X less than Whistling and just as stern a test of golf, if not harder.  Here's a quick overview I wrote about The Bull

http://ahintz2golf.b...urst-farms.html

And if you want something a little more upscale for a hotel check out The Osthoff in Elkhart Lake, or Blue Harbor in Sheboygan.  Both are great hotels.  This is my neck of the woods and I have played all the courses listed except The Straits multiple times.

[sabram]

Here are links to photo tours of Whisting Straits and Balckwolf Run

Whistling Straits Photos



Blackwolf Run Photos

[bwb]

Thanks guys for all the continued input.  I have talked with the folks at the American Club and they will not be releasing package pricing for 2012 until Feb, but we do have tee times on all 4 courses at the resort.  I am still considering trying to go over and play at Lawsonia, but not sure I can make it work with our schedule.

I will post more as details get firmed up.

[cbehan]

One suggestion to consider if you have the time in Kohler:

You can hop on a ferry about 20 minutes north of Kohler and arrive in Michigan only about 30 minutes from Arcadia Bluffs.     Yes, it's a 4 hour boat ride each way and costs money, but the savings on playing Arcadia Bluffs vs. The Straits makes up for it.

Then you have a trip where you play Erin Hills (US Open host, eventual top 25 US public), Whistling Straits (GD #3 public), Blackwolf Run (GD #15 public), and Arcadia Bluffs (GD #10 public)

The only way you can top that in the US is Bandon.

Edited by cbehan, 13 December 2011 - 01:28 PM.

[Skeeterfire]

Looks like we have been on the same path...I played Pinehurst 2,4, and 8 in May of 2010, and played Straits course at Kohler last Sept.  Well worth it in my opinion, and I will go back.  River course looked great, and I would like to play the Irish too.

Couple things I was impressed with.... If you want a nice meal, eat Dinner at Blackwolf Run.  Want something casual, hit up the Horse and Plow.  Stay at American Club, it is worth it.  Also check out the Kohler Design Center if you have a half hour to kill...pretty cool.

Pinehurst was amazing when I went, but Kohler is a nice Midwest destination.

[scratchmike]

bwb, on 08 December 2011 - 02:17 PM, said:

Thanks guys for all the continued input.  I have talked with the folks at the American Club and they will not be releasing package pricing for 2012 until Feb, but we do have tee times on all 4 courses at the resort.  I am still considering trying to go over and play at Lawsonia, but not sure I can make it work with our schedule.

I will post more as details get firmed up.

Is there a reason why you want to play Lawsonia specifically?  It's a hike and I think you'd be more happy with the Bull.  It is 10 times the course Lawsonia is.  Not knocking Lawsonia but most of it's appeal is it is old.  It isn't inline with the quality of the other courses you are playing.  Save yourself a drive and substitute the Bull.