Brown Deer Park Golf Course

Born in 1934, this historic golf course was the site of the Greater Milwaukee Open, and later the US Bank Championship, and was the site of Tiger Woods’ first PGA Tour event. With much pageantry, Brown Deer is the Cadillac of Milwaukee’s county courses, and the primary reason any golf enthusiast in the Milwaukee area should own a county golf card.

Not a Milwaukee County resident? Make sure to visit their booth at the annual Journal Sentinel Golf Expo, and pick up the non-resident card for $50. It will cost you $150 after the Expo. $50 might sound steep, but it brings the rate for Brown Deer down from $102.50 (walking) to $43. It is very well worth the investment.

Brown Deer Park starts with probably the hardest opening hole in the state: A 461-yard beast of a par four that doglegs right and is well guarded by trees, a large pond on the left side of the fairway, and deep sand traps all around the green. Score a par or bogey on this hole, and consider your round off to a great start.

Hole 1: Par 4 (461/447)

Brown Deer is a classic, meticulously well-kept course with mature oaks and willows, and very fast greens, which stimp at an average of 11. The rough is kept long – not Trapper’s Turn long, but famously long for the Milwaukee area, nonetheless. Tee shots are narrow but not unfair, and most tree lines have little enough underbrush that errant tee shots are often found. Take your medicine and find the fairway again to avoid blow-up holes on this course.Play the blue tee boxes and tee it up like the pros, including a lengthy 557-yard par five closing hole, which requires 220-plus yards to clear the fairway stream. Miraculously, all three of us found the fairway safely today.

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Hole 18: Par 5 (557/477)

Brown Deer Park Golf Course is an oasis set in the midst of the plight of Milwaukee’s north side. This golfer’s paradise is a fantastic challenge for any player’s complete game, requiring length, precision and a sound short game.