Whistling Straits (Straits) – Played May 2019
- Rankings: Golf Digest #16, Golf Digest Public #2, Golf Magazine #28, Golf Magazine Public #4
- Location: N8501 Lakeshore Road, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- Year: 1998
- Architect: Pete Dye
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 7,790 yards, Par 72, 77.2 Rating/152 Slope
- Blue: 7,142 yards, Par 72, 74.2 Rating/145 Slope
- Green: 6,663 yards, Par 72, 71.9 Rating/141 Slope (Men’s), 79.4 Rating/143 Slope (Women’s)
- White: 6,360 yards, Par 72, 70.4 Rating/137 Slope (Men’s), 76.9 Rating/137 Slope (Women’s)
- White/Red: 5,922 yards, Par 72, 68.4 Rating/132 Slope (Men’s), 74.7 Rating/133 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 5,564 yards, Par 72, 66.4 Rating/129 Slope (Men’s), 72.7 Rating/129 Slope (Women’s)
Next up on the Wisconsin tour was arguably the most recognizable course in the region. The Straits Course at Whistling Straits has hosted all kinds of major events including the PGA Championship (2004, 2010, and 2015) and US Senior Open (2007). It is set to host the 2020 Ryder Cup as evidenced by the display below they have prominently featured.
The course enjoys a fabulous setting on Lake Michigan and Pete Dye tried to maximize that advantage. You get plenty of lake views but don’t get distracted because the holes are very difficult and demand your full attention.
I was lucky enough to get a tour of the property from the superintendent. He informed me of some of the changes they are making for the Ryder Cup and all the infrastructure work that goes into that. He also touched on some of the things done to build the courses. It was all really fascinating.
The rest of the Straits history is largely part of the public domain so I won’t rehash it here. Doug, who joined me at Erin Hills, was along for this round as well. Additionally, I was joined by Jill who was down from Canada. In her junior days she played in the North & South Amateur Championship, a prestigious tournament staged at Pinehurst. She still had some serious game! Completing our group was Jill’s mom and my wife who would be walking along with us and our caddies.
Doug and I played the green tees. All yardages will reflect those markers.
Hole 1 – 370 yards – Par 4 – Outward Bound
You get a relatively easy beginning to your round with this tee shot. The main goal is to avoid the grouping of bunkers on the left side.
As you progress down the hole the green comes into focus. It sits at an angle to the fairway and is on the smaller side. You don’t want to miss short and left due to sand and a drop-off.
You can see what I meant about the green size in the photo below.
Hole 2 – 521 yards – Par 5 – Cross Country
Sorry for the blurry picture but it helps you get the idea of the hole. It sits along the lake and moves right to start before heading back left towards the green.
This hole sets up perfectly for drawers on the approach shot. Left is dead and having to hit a fade here must be nervy.
Doug and I got a great view of the lakeside setting of this green. You can also see the contouring within the putting surface.
Hole 3 – 166 yards – Par 3 – O’ Man
The third is likely the first of the holes you’ve seen many photographs of in the media. From an elevated tee, you get a great view of the lake and numerous bunkers. Bunkers are a constant on this course, which you’ll continue to see as we go through the tour.
You cannot miss left here, obviously, but the green has quite a bit of slope to add to the challenge. Below, you can see the false front.
The photo below shows just how long the putting surface stretches.
Hole 4 – 414 yards – Par 4 – Glory
As someone who misses left, the course has fully gotten my attention to this point. There is more room here than it seems in the photo below.
During firm conditions, there is an alley to run your ball onto the green on the right side. Be careful not to go too far right or you may be where I was in the following photo.
Hole 5 – 543 yards – Par 5 – Snake
Of all the holes on the course, this one didn’t seem to fit. It goes directly right and then left to the green with the pond you can see and then one on the other side of the hole that continues to the green. I didn’t love it.
The green is a very shallow target that is nearly impossible to hold with a long second shot. The trees and hazard sit very close behind the green.
Hole 6 – 360 yards – Par 4 – Gremlin’s Ear
First of all, great name for this hole! The bunkers are meant to be a visual distraction. A focused drive up the left side of this fairway leaves you plenty of landing area. The approach shot plays slightly downhill.
You can see on the right side just how far below the green this area is. That’s Doug’s head past me. It’s jail down there, trust me.
This green can play wildly different depending on the pin position. I wouldn’t want to be in the wrong section putting through the narrow neck.
Hole 7 – 185 yards – Par 3 – Shipwreck
This may be the most famous par three. My main memory is John Daly helicoptering his club into the lake after a poor shot! Google it if you haven’t seen it.
A strip of fairway left provides a small bailout area. As you can see, this hole is in close proximity to Lake Michigan. The vibe here was really cool.
Hole 8 – 429 yards – Par 4 – On The Rocks
You might be thinking that there is no fairway here. That was my first thought when I saw this view from the tips. The fairway is raised to the left in a somewhat unconventional design. The shorter tees provide a better view of the fairway.
Short is about the only place to miss this green. The way it sits, you get the look of an infinity green.
A look back up the hole gives a different perspective of this unique design.
Hole 9 – 384 yards – Par 4 – Down and Dirty
There are no tricks on this hole. Hit good, solid shots and don’t miss right on your approach or you’ll be wet.
The setting here is pretty cool with the clubhouse and other buildings watching over the green. You can see 18 green in the background.
Hole 10 – 334 yards – Par 4 – Voyageur
Depending on your length, you have options on this tee. Whatever you hit, it must go past the middle fairway bunker to avoid rolling back down the hill leaving a longer second shot.
The approach plays back uphill where we got a favorable pin position on the right side of the green.
Hole 11 – 544 yards – Par 5 – Sand Box
Just a little bit of sand on this hole, yikes! The hole bends to the right overall. It’s really beneficial to focus on hitting two good shots to the fairway to set up a shot at birdie.
Dye included his trademark railroad ties into the front of this green. It might take a few swings to get out of this greenside bunker.
Hole 12 – 118 yards – Par 3 – Pop Up
I liked this short hole. It shouldn’t be difficult but with the wind whipping club selection can be difficult. The green is wacky with an extension back to the right. I can’t imagine pins back there!
Hole 13 – 364 yards – Par 4 – Cliff Hanger
This hole is a slightly softer version of the one we saw earlier. Bunkers and lake right with a generous fairway should allow you to hit the short stuff. The approach can be a little dicey with deep bunkers left and a smallish target.
You can’t really see these slopes from the fairway. There is plenty of movement in this green. Mainly it slopes left to right which you can see in the photo below.
Hole 14 – 346 yards – Par 4 – Widow’s Watch
Keep it between the dunes on this tee. The hole doglegs to the left.
The rippling green is not to be missed right. The second photo below showcases a good view of the green site.
Hole 15 – 429 yards – Par 4 – Grand Strand
This is another properly labeled hole. It is a straight strand from tee to green. There are bunkers on each side as well as a large cross bunker but two solid shots negate all of those distractions.
Below is a closer look at the green.
Hole 16 – 535 yards – Par 5 – Endless Bite
This hole hearkens back to the early holes with the lake on the left. It plays straight away and we got it into the wind. Three full shots were a requirement in our round.
Hole 17 – 197 yards – Par 3 – Pinched Nerve
I’ll remember the shot I hit here for a long time. Playing dead into the fan, I hit a three-wood directly in the screws that ended up about four feet from the back left flag. It was a tense shot with so much wind and trouble lurking left.
I can’t imagine having to hit this green with a major tournament on the line.
Hole 18 – 424 yards – Par 4 – Dyeabolical
There have been mixed reviews on the finishing hole. Don’t get me wrong, it is tremendously difficult and the tee shot can be a bit awkward with the large hazard. Overall though, I don’t mind the hole.
The view from the top of the hill is pretty sweet.
While the hole is difficult, the setting is serene with the understated clubhouse overlooking the green.
I had a long putt!
This green is quite massive befitting the hole’s length.
The photo below provides a clearer vision of the entire hole and how the hazard comes into play.
Whistling Straits on a calm day is a difficult test. But on a cooler, windier day it can be a real brute. I can definitely see why this course has hosted major championships. It demands good shots all the way around.
Apparently, the conditions here can be dramatically difficult than the Irish course which is not far away. This microclimate can make you feel like you’re in your own world. Take a chance to appreciate the feeling!
The caddie requirement is a good one, especially for first-timers. I’d have been lost without him. The 2020 Ryder Cup is going to be even more fun to watch having played the holes. I recommend you get to Whistling Straits to experience the beast that will challenge the pros.
