The Golf Courses of Lawsonia (Woodlands) – Played August 2023
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: W2615 S Valley View Drive, Green Lake, Wisconsin
- Year: 1983
- Architect: Rocky Roquemore
- Course Access: Public
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Blue: 6,419 yards, Par 72, 71.6 Rating/131 Slope
- White: 6,101 yards, Par 72, 70.2 Rating/128 Slope
- Gold: 5,747 yards, Par 72, 68.7 Rating/120 Slope (Men’s), 73.7 Rating/128 Slope (Women’s)
- Green: 4,956 yards, Par 71, 68.9 Rating/119 Slope
In just over a year, I made my return to Wisconsin to take part in a wonderful golf event put on by even better people. This journey took me back to Lawsonia, where I had played the Links in 2022. As part of this event, I’d get to see the Links again, but I’d also make my maiden loop around the Woodlands.
Lawsonia (Woodlands) has been around since the early 80s, but it underwent a renovation in 2021. They worked on bunkers, green surrounds, and tree removal. Finally, they moved the 18th green and used the old one for a short 19th hole.
Let’s get into the tour!
Hole 2 – 330 yards – Par 4
I was a little slow with the camera and missed the first hole, but here’s the second. The quarry past the fairway post is very much in play. On that line you don’t want to hit your tee shot more than 180 yards.
The hole doglegs left to reveal the quarry and a generous green for a short approach shot.
Hole 3 – 162 yards – Par 3
Hello drop shot par 3! Distance control is paramount here, but with the trees you can’t be too far offline either.
Hole 4 – 368 yards – Par 4
This is a straightforward dogleg left. A good drive will be up the right side to set up a short iron approach.
Hole 5 – 328 yards – Par 4
Long hitters can go up over the trees on the right to drive the green, which you can see from the tee. The rest of us can play sensibly to the fairway for a nice wedge shot.
Some nice houses sit behind this green.
Hole 6 – 152 yards – Par 3
Short is no good on this short par three.
Hole 7 – 500 yards – Par 5
The hazard is immediately on your mind as you prepare to hit this drive. Anything up the left side of the fairway is great.
Go or don’t go, the green is still quite undulating and difficult.
It might not look sloped but there is plenty of contour here.
Hole 8 – 353 yards – Par 4
Now is the time for that slinging draw. You can even bounce it off of the slope on the right side of the fairway.
Putts above the hole here are speedy.
Hole 9 – 375 yards – Par 4
Avoid the bunkers and rough on the left here at all costs. You can get some weird lies in there.
Hole 10 – 301 yards – Par 4
This hole doglegs hard left and allows you to take some provocative lines towards the green. The other option is two smart shots and trying to make a putt.
Hole 11 – 466 yards – Par 5
This pond was not in my preferred area! The landing area felt particularly pinched.
If you stay dry, this is the go zone.
We’ve got a very large green to accept second shots.
Hole 12 – 346 yards – Par 4
Overhanging trees on the right make a fade the favorable shot shape here. At this length, driver might not be necessary for you.
Not much in the way of trouble surrounds this green.
Hole 13 – 162 yards – Par 3
This shot plays slightly downhill. Long and left are bad news.
Hole 14 – 422 yards – Par 4
This is one of the tougher holes at Woodlands. Tee balls are going to bounce left and the further left you go the more trouble comes into play. It’s a great hole to play a fade.
Hole 15 – 371 yards – Par 4
Compared to the last one, this is a much more comfortable tee shot. The hole plays uphill all the way but didn’t seem to add too much distance.
Another very large green here.
Hole 16 – 161 yards – Par 3
Sixteen is one of the more picturesque on the course. Obviously, you cannot miss left, but a slope on the right provides a backboard to get creative.
Hole 17 – 354 yards – Par 4
I don’t recommend hitting the trees on the left. I did manage to make a crazy par, but it was harder than it needed to be!
From this spot you might as well take dead aim.
Hole 18 – 456 yards – Par 5
A short five serves as the finisher. With a good drive this is definitely a birdie chance.
As I mentioned, this green was moved from farther up and to the right. By all accounts, it was a good change.
It is the most sloped green on the course though, so no easy test.
Lawsonia (Woodlands) is a nice complement to the Links course. They are quite different and I can see people preferring one or the other, but when viewed as a package, they are an enjoyable experience.