The River at Blackwolf Run: Kohler’s Dye-namic Parkland Playground

Parkland Perfection

It had been several years since the last time I played the River course at Blackwolf Run, but it had left an indelible memory as one of the most spectacular fall golf scenes I’d ever seen.

Nothing has changed about that. Whether on the River or Meadow Valleys course, you’d be hard pressed to find a more beautiful golf property in the country, and especially during autumn in Wisconsin.

It’s not just world-class scenery that makes the River course at Blackwolf Run memorable. The guest experience, impeccable turf conditioning and incredible Pete Dye architecture all contribute significantly to make it one of the Midwest and United States’ very best parkland golf courses.

From the very moment you step foot on the Blackwolf Run property you’re taken care of. The property has a relaxed vibe with great customer service and high-end amenities. The clubhouse, an expansive log cabin styled building with beautiful views from above the property’s finishing holes, is replete with great dining services, and the golf carts – similar to the ones on the Irish course at Whistling Straits and The Club at Lac La Belle – are luxurious with form-fitting, logoed leather seats and on-board GPS.

Refreshments are served in aluminum reusable cups, and there’s always a free hot dog or Johnsonville bratwurst for players making the turn.

The starters are proud to be there, and even when not playing on one of Blackwolf Run’s championship tracks there’s the incredible Baths par three course to enjoy, whether on its own or to fill a free hour and a half between rounds.

The Baths at Blackwolf Run

When on an epic golf trip, golf enthusiasts want to play as much golf as they can, and when the 18-hole championship tracks have been conquered there’s usually time left over. Rather than leaving the property, or spending excess hours in a bar or restaurant, The Baths and its two-acre putting course are the perfect amenity to allow players to keep playing the game they love while developing great bonus memories of time well-spent on property.

This is one of the top trends in golf course development today, and course architect Chris Lutzke in concert with the late Herb Kohler, Jr. did a fantastic job of making the experience shine at Blackwolf Run.

The par 3 layout, which abuts the left side of the Meadow Valleys’ opening hole, features exciting Golden Age architecture and greens complexes, template holes (including my favorite punch bowl, which made my rankings of The Top 33 Par 3 Holes in Wisconsin) and large, heavily contoured greens where finding the putting surface is just the start to players’ adventures.

The Baths is an easy walk (especially in bare feet), has a great feel and is one of, if not the most fun par three courses I’ve played.

The River Course

You’re here for the River course, though, so let’s talk about it.

There is not a more scenic golf course in Wisconsin, and maybe in the Midwest, than the River course at Blackwolf Run. While the Meadow Valleys has its share of scenic sections and holes, the River peacocks early and often.

For example, here are my five favorite views at Blackwolf Run. While number one goes to the 14th on the Meadow Valleys course (spoiler alert!), the other four are found on the River:

With a slope rating of 151 from the back tees, the River course is one of the most challenging golf courses in the United States. 155 is the highest, of course, and is shared by seven total courses including Pine Valley, Rich Harvest Farms, Castle Pines, Clear Creek, Promontory, Oak Tree National and TPC Sawgrass.

While 151 marks the River as one of the 25-30 hardest tracks in the country, it’s still the second most demanding in the Kohler portfolio. The Straits at nearby Whistling Straits boasts one point higher at 152.

It’s the general beauty of the property, great hole design and layouts and challenge that’s beckoned so many tournaments to this Pete Dye-designed gem. The Original Championship course, a combination of holes from the River and Meadow Valleys, was played regularly on the PGA Tour as the Andersen Consulting World Golf Championship from 1995-1997 (won by Mark McCumber, Greg Norman and Ernie Els, in order), and twice the property has played host to the US Women’s Open in 1998 (won by Se Ri Pak) and 2012 (won by Na Yeon Choi).

I, personally, would love to see the USGA return to this incredible golf property. Whether as a major championship or annual summer event, I’m sure the course and its 7,400-plus yard layout would still more than hold its own.

The River course hole-by-hole breakdown

I hate that I’ve gotten back into breaking down every single hole in my course reviews, but when you’re talking about a property like Blackwolf Run there aren’t many ways around it… So, here we go!

Hole 1: Snake
Par 5 (hcp 5, 610/564/526)

The River course opens with a tremendously challenging par five that’ll pucker you up out of the gates.

Fortunately, it’s the first hole so hit ’em ’til you’re happy. In my case, I drop-kicked a full sleeve of brand new Pro V1’s into the Sheboygan River before dropping one in the rough nearby and going on to shoot a nice, tidy 81 (excluding the first two breakfast balls).

The first hole bends slightly left to right along the river bank, and while the right side looks fairly open it’s not – the long fescue will swallow up anything wayward and have you recording a penalty shot before long.

The green on one is always trickier than I expect, running away and off toward the back-left. This was actually the first time I’ve avoided three-putting the opening hole on the River course!

Disclaimer: My photos of the 1st – 3rd holes were taken too early during the blue/golden hour and turned out a bit fuzzy. Please don’t judge on their blurriness!

Hole 2: Burial Mounds
Par 4 (hcp 13, 377/370/355)

Another tight driving zone, the second is a bit restrictive between the tree lines with huge “burial mounds” right of the fairway and leading toward fescue. This is a great little green, with everything funneling from the left side towards the middle and right.

Hole 3: Gotcha
Par 4 (hcp 1, 468/410/395)

One of the toughest holes on the entire course, the third tees off uphill and over a massive, depressed sand trap. Aim left of the trees to stay safe, but play over them for a chance at a short wedge in.

Hole 4: Swan Lake
Par 3 (hcp 15, 219/195/185)

This is where the River course gets truly special as the beauty of Blackwolf Run smacks players across the face with authority.

The two white swans roaming Swan Lake are ever-present, and always near the action. From what I hear you don’t want to mess with them. You also don’t want to mess with the water on four. It’s perfectly clear and clearly easy to hit if sliced at all off the tee.

While the left side of the green looks like it would carom balls inward, it does not. Take dead aim, and don’t go right if you want any chance at par on this beautiful par three.

Pro tip: The sun rises directly above Swan Lake from the pro shop/bag drop, so if you’ve got a morning tee time then arrive early with your camera phone and enjoy the scene!

Hole 5: Made in Heaven
Par 4 (hcp 3, 427/400/388)

Take a deep breath and the short, pleasant ride along the ensuing, winding cart path, through the tunnel and woods en route to five. When you arrive at the heavily wooded teeing areas I promise your mind will be blown.

This is one of the most spectacular views you will find on any golf course, anywhere.

Teeing off from high above the Sheboygan River and the fifth fairway, the driving zone is plenty wide to hit, so just get the river out of your head.

Beyond getting past its incredible view, the key challenge on five is the approach. With a volcano green risen significantly above the river valley, aim for the front-left side of the green and don’t be short.

Shots miss-hit short-right, especially, are likely to require recoveries from 20+ feet below the green complex. If you’re curious how dramatic the volcano is, just picture the Boxcar 7th at Lawsonia.

Hole 6: Jackknife
Par 4 (hcp 17, 388/361/333)

Driver is too much for many players on six, where the fairway runs out at the dogleg’s elbow and is sure to lead to a lost ball. Trust me.

Just under 200 yards off the tee is perfect here, leaving a mid-iron in to this raised green.

Hole 7: Glencary
Par 4 (hcp 7, 426/401/374)

The seventh features an intimidating first shot from elevated tees to a right-to-left fairway that bends around an expansive, depressed fairway bunker (which is also somehow in play off six if you’re as wild off the tee as I was). There’s more room to miss than it appears, but recovery on this par four can be a big challenge.

I lucked out during our recent round, hooking a tee shot left that somehow stayed halfway up the hill (almost completely vertical) with about 105 yards in. I hit a 56-degree wedge as hard as I could, watched it pop forever into the air and land on the left side of the green, then roll out close enough to the pin for a fairly easy bird. Lucky, for sure, but I’ll take it!

Hole 8: Hell’s Gate
Par 5 (hcp 9, 532/524/492)

Next up on the list of the River course’s heart-stoppingly beautiful golf holes is the par five eighth. Nicknamed “Hell’s Gate,” the tee boxes are shockingly elevated, heading outward through a chute of trees and a sliver of initial fairway to aim for.

The green is nowhere near visible from the teeing areas, so the best you can do here is to leave yourself 225+ from the approach zone.

If your tee ball is playable, you’ll want to firm up your strategy on the second shot. While it’s probably possible for some players to go for this green in two, I’d think it would be an incredibly difficult green to hold from that kind of distance. The smart choice is to choose between the left/lower fairway or the top/right one.

The fairway up top will leave you with a shorter, direct shot in, but toys with an acute drop-off to the river if overpowered. The lower fairway, on the other hand, will leave a short shot in that has to carry the hillside and find a way to stop.

This is such a unique and gorgeous, fun par five golf hole.

Hole 9: Cathedral Spires
Par 4 (hcp 11, 361/337/316)

The ninth and 13th look and feel somewhat similar aesthetically and with the challenges they present. Each hole offers an opportunity for heroics: Aim over the bend in the river on the right side for a chance to get home early, or bail out left for a short layup.

If you’re spending $400-plus on a round of golf, you can probably be coaxed easily into going for it here: “I didn’t drive to Kohler, Wisconsin to lay up!” This is typically my train of thought, and I’ve gotten mostly good results.

This time, I set up for a big draw with my driver around the trees toward the green. The ball came off the clubface hard left, heading dead-center into the middle of the largest tree. I heard it hit and never saw it after that. Reteeing, I took my medicine and hit a hybrid to the left side of the fairway.

When we drove out to the fairway we found my provisional and then, 20 yards ahead of Jeff’s drive, my first ball just 50 yards from an extreme front pin in the fairway. This would lead to my second birdie of the day – not a strategy I’d recommend, but it sure worked out this time.

The ninth is the hole I was most excited to photograph on the River course, and it did not disappoint. Its wide fairways, the beautiful river that teems with salmon swimming upstream during the fall and the spectacular setting, overall, were an absolute thrill to photograph in the early morning.

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A post shared by Paul Seifert (@wiscogolfaddict)

Hole 10: River and Marsh
Par 3 (hcp 14, 227/204/194)

The green tees were moved up on the 10th, teeing off from ~ 160 yards. I was feeling pretty good about my swing at this time and took dead aim. We all thought it might have been my first hole-in-one, but with a back-left hole location we couldn’t see where it ended up from the tee.

When we got up there, the ball mark was just in front of the hole but it had rolled out to about six feet. It probably should have been my easiest birdie of the day, but I left the putt outside the hole for a short tap-in par.

I’m still looking for that first ace!

Hole 11: Rise and Fall
Par 5 (hcp 6, 621/560/536)

If the views on five didn’t get you choked up, the ones on 11 might. With the winding Sheboygan River running the entire right side of the hole, it’s tempting to aim well left but keep in mind it’ll make the second shot more challenging.

The setup shot on five (hitting this green in two is probably impossible, by the way) is one of the most terrifying on the entire property. The fairway bends hard right at the elbow, requiring most players to hit long second shots over the river bank and around the tall trees that guard it to reach the other side.

Staying dry while enjoying this shockingly beautiful setting should be your entire goal here.

This brings me to another point: Along with being gobsmackingly gorgeous, the River course at Blackwolf Run is literally one of the hardest golf courses in the world. If you get it out of your mind that you want to shoot your all-time low 18-hole score here you’ll probably enjoy the experience more. To do that, do yourself a favor and play appropriate tees. 7,400+ yards with everything going on here architecturally is not for everyone – it’s certainly not for me.

Hole 12: Long Lagoon
Par 4 (hcp 2, 486/465/423)

Long Lagoon is sneakily one of the toughest holes on the River course. Featuring a long carry over water, the amount of pond bit off from the tee will determine how long a shot you’ll have in. It’s easily 250 yards to carry the middle-left section of the pond, so going just right of center is recommended though it does make your landing zone contend with the right-side tree line (and the river beyond it).

Hole 13: Tall Timber
Par 3 (hcp 10, 231/205/150)

If you hear somebody say the River course is unfair, chances are they’re either playing the wrong tees or don’t like the 13th hole.

“Tall Timber” is a perfect name for this hole. Colossal deciduous trees line the left side (and middle) of the flight zone from the back sets of tees, requiring either a high shot shape or an intentional draw directly over the river and around the tree branches overhanging it.

At over 200 yards from the two back tees (~ 190 from the greens we played), hitting a low-iron that high is not easy which makes the other viable option (if you can’t sling one around them to the right) to lay up with a high 6- or 7-iron over them.

The green tees Jeff and I played during our round were moved up to ~ 155 yards that day, so we did not have the opportunity to take on the river but still needed to carry the bunkers.

I hit another dart on this one, leading to my third and final birdie of an incredibly memorable round of golf.

Hole 14: Blind Alley
Par 4 (hcp 16, 346/310/304)

Coming back through the tunnel and returning to Swan Lake, players are reintroduced to the central / clubhouse-adjacent section of Blackwolf Run on the 14th.

“Blind Alley” is intimidating off the tee, playing over the corner of the large pond and to a narrow fairway. It’s always been into the wind when I’ve played it, as well, meaning that its short distance provides no real opportunity to drive the green when you’re talking 290-plus yards all carry.

Stay dry here and you should have a good chance at par or better with a wedge or high-iron in, though the green complex on 14 can be particularly tricky.

Hole 15: The Sand Pit
Par 4 (hcp 18, 374/354/346)

The second largest sand trap on the Blackwolf Run property takes center stage on 15: “The Sand Pit” (the most extreme, by far, is on the par five 16th of the Meadow Valleys course).

This long, deeply depressed bunker lines the left side of the landing zone, begging players to hook one into certain demise.

One of the only holes on the course with a downhill green, the putting complex on 15 works nicely as a backboard as the steep back-to-front cant allows approach shots to hit and stay.

Hole 16: Unter Der Linden
Par 5 (hcp 8, 620/560/540)

Five. Nine. Eleven. Sixteen. All of them – WOW – I mean, where else can you find so many golf holes anywhere near as picturesque!?

The 16th is a long par five, playing uphill first to a fairway that then runs downhill and right before returning left to the river bank and a long, deep and narrow green complex that abuts the Sheboygan River.

Take a look over the side of this vertical wall, but I wouldn’t recommend challenging it too much.

The Linden in the hole’s name “Unter der Linden” refers to the stately linden tree that serves as sentry to the green complex. It’s tall and will block out approach shots played from many points of the fairway, so my best pro tip here is to stay well right on your second shot to set up a better chance at reaching this green in three (the same advice forecaddies will give you).

Hole 17: Snapping Turtle
Par 3 (hcp 12, 181/175/168)

I found my way over to the par three 17th when the US Women’s Open was played at Blackwolf Run in 2012. Lexi Thompson was teeing off and hit an awesome high draw to the center of the green. I said, not too loudly, “Great shot, Lexi!” She turned to me, looked me in the eyes, smiled and said, “Thank you so much.” Nothing weird, but it always amazes me when professional athletes and celebrities take the time to connect with fans. But, I digress…

17 is a tough par three. It’s mid-length, usually requiring a 6- or 7-iron and takes on all water while playing to a green that’s angled away from the tees. While the front-right is fairly open, the middle and back of the green complex are tight targets to hit and require players to hug the hazard line.

Hole 18: Dyehard
Par 4 (hcp 4, 510/470/440)

One of the largest greens in the state of Wisconsin (though not quite as spacious as the 18th/”Flatiron” putting course at The Club at Lac La Belle or the 2-acre putting course at The Baths), the 18th shares a putting surface with the finishing hole on the neighboring Meadow Valleys course.

The bunker that runs the length of the left side of this par five is flooded with river water during tournament play, adding an extra degree of difficulty to what is already a very long, demanding finishing hole.

I love the way the clubhouse frames the 18th green, by the way, and how all the windows from the bar and restaurant have views of players putting out.

This is an iconic finish to one of the country’s ultimate modern parkland golf experiences.

One of the Country’s Top Modern Parkland Golf Courses

If you can’t tell already, I love the River course.

Is it the finest parkland course in the state of Wisconsin, though? In air that distinguished it’s either the River, SentryWorld, Pine Hills or Milwaukee Country Club, and I could honestly go any direction based on my most recent round at each, how I played or how my photos turned out.

They all deserve to be top 100 or 200 golf courses in the country, though only the River and MCC show up regularly in those overall rankings. It’s my belief Pine Hills will join them in the next couple years, as well, and SentryWorld does rank regularly in most top public courses lists including as #52 for Golf Digest and 98 for GolfWeek.

The River course, meanwhile, comes in as Golf Digest’s 117th best overall course in the country and #18 public. This is with incredible company, bookended by tracks like Sand Valley, the Dye course at French Lick and Chambers Bay. It absolutely belongs that high.

The River at Blackwolf Run is a ridiculously beautiful, challenging layout at a world-class destination that offers an unparalleled guest experience. You’d expect that based on the rates, and Destination Kohler always delivers.

What’s your favorite Kohler course?

Do you prefer the open links-like layouts of Whistling Straits or the more intimate parkland layouts of Blackwolf Run?

Kohler does golf right, and it’s my belief that these Pete Dye designs will continue to garner accolades forever.

While some folks complain about the difficulty of Dye’s forced carries and required heroic shots at Kohler now, I see that softening over the years and believe his work in Sheboygan will only be more and more beloved as time goes on.

From conversations with Dye’s former associates who carry on his legacy today, Dye heard the street who said his architecture was too penal. He worked hard to incorporate less punitive design strategies that still provide a tremendous challenge to the players looking for it, but started taking away forced carries for those who didn’t. He wanted his golf courses to be enjoyed by all, and if players choose the right tees for their golf game then they should.

That is the case at Blackwolf Run. If you want one of the most challenging golf courses in the world, here it is. If you want to enjoy your morning or afternoon in a spectacular parkland setting while enjoying world-class modern golf architecture that’s playable for the masses, well that’s here, as well.

The River course at Blackwolf Run has it all, and to me is probably the best modern public parkland course in a state rife with modern parkland courses. You will not find a better one in Wisconsin, probably not in the Midwest and maybe not in the entire country.

What are your general thoughts on the River course at Blackwolf Run? Let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear them.