Few names in golf inspire reverence like Lee Trevino’s, and at Geneva National his legacy is receiving a modern revival. The recent renovations to the Trevino Course breathe new life into key areas of this iconic layout, enhancing both its playability and charm as the course readies to host the Wisconsin State Senior Open in September of 2025.

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a weekend enthusiast, these updates are sure to make an already memorable golf experience even more inviting.

Destination GN is The Place to Be

Over the past three to five years, Geneva National has become one of my absolute favorite places to spend time.

Even an hour from our house I’ve visited 14 times in a two-year span – mostly for photo sessions, but also for family getaways and, of course, the occasional loop including a memorable one this past February and 27 holes for the 2024 Wisconsin vs. Illinois Writer’s Cup.

There’s a vibe at Geneva National that every golf property dreams to achieve but is tough to attain.

It’s fun. It’s positive. It’s golf enthusiasts having a great time on excellent courses with everything they can ask for from the perspective of its playing experience and conditions, food and beverage, lodging and amenities in an idyllic Lake Geneva shoreline setting.

It’s not just me. Golf media both in-state and nationally have been catching on to that vibe, as well, with recent articles published by the likes of Josh Berhow for GOLF Magazine (October 2024 article) and our own Gary D’Amato of wisconsin.golf (June 2024 article).

Destination GN has always been a haven for Midwest golf enthusiasts, but recent years have marked a transformative era for the resort. A series of thoughtful investments have redefined its guest experience, with each project enhancing the property’s appeal for both casual and avid players.

This momentum kicked off with strategic tree removal across the Palmer and Player courses, opening breathtaking views of Lake Como that had long been obscured. Shortly after, Geneva National unveiled The Dance Floor, a sprawling 36-hole Himalayas-style putting course designed by Craig Haltom that blends fun with competitive intrigue.

Last year saw a substantial renovation to the Arnold Palmer Course, led by former Palmer associate Brandon Johnson. This project modernized the layout while staying true to its legendary designer’s architectural intentions. In all, four greens were rebuilt entirely and numerous tee boxes and approach areas were also updated.

Now, in late 2024, Geneva National is turning its focus to the Trevino Course. With a keen eye on both playability and aesthetic appeal, multiple sections of the layout are being reimagined to make the course more relevant and enjoyable for decades to come.

Each of these projects reflects a greater trend: Geneva National’s commitment to reinvestment and excellence, ensuring it continues to stand out as one of the Midwest’s premier golf clubs and destinations for the foreseeable future.

Geneva National’s Renovation of the Trevino Course

Currently in progress, Geneva National is working with golf course architect Craig Haltom of Oliphant Golf Management to make significant updates to its Trevino layout.

If you’ve been following WiscoGolfAddict for a while, you’ll recall my appreciation for this course from my visit in 2023:

Trevino is a cutter’s paradise with left-to-right hole layouts dominating the routing. As Trevino famously said, “You can talk to a fade, but a hook just won’t listen.”

The course, which is situated across from the clubhouse’s main entrance, features some of the most gifted terrain on property with impressive elevation changes, deep woods and ravines and several inland water features.

Trevino has always been a fun and challenging layout, but it has never been without its issues. Said Howard Storck, Geneva National’s 17-time Club Champion who played with Mr. Trevino for the course’s opening round in 1991:

“From the day the Trevino Course opened there were numerous forced carries that frustrated men and women, alike. Over the years a few of those carries were addressed. Now, there are even more fixes to difficult shots, meaning that a lot more of the course is friendlier to both the average golfer as well as the more proficient player.”

– Howard Storck

Lee Trevino has adopted a number of key philosophies that have evolved since originally designing the course of his namesake at Destination GN, and among those ideologies are:

• Bunkers should not be in front of greens
• Encourage the ground game
• Hidden hazards should not exist

It is in this spirit the club is focusing on specific key areas of the Trevino Course for this project. According to Haltom:

“It has been great to work with the team at Geneva National to implement these updates to the Trevino course, and we’ve had fantastic weather this fall to get a lot done.

The Trevino course is already so much fun to play, and these changes reinforce that. On #14, for example, we’ve expanded a pinched landing area. This could be one of the better holes on property without the influence of a hidden hazard that negatively impacted first-timers and pulled in many well-struck tee shots.

On #11, there will be improved visibility into the green and even more flexibility on the kind of approach shots that are possible.

Anytime you can give golfers more options when hitting into a green, including lower running recovery shots, the course becomes more interesting to play.”

– Craig Haltom, Architect & President of Oliphant Golf Management

Haltom at the Helm

Long-time partners, Destination Geneva National COO and General Manager Glen Murray – like I have been – has always been a huge fan of Haltom and Oliphant’s work.

Craig, after all, was the one who brought developer Mike Keiser and Dream Golf to Wisconsin, introducing him to the land in Nekoosa where Murray would serve as the original General Manager at Sand Valley Golf Resort.

Oliphant holds all the general contracting responsibilities at Sand Valley and Craig has since spread his wings as one of the industry’s top up-and-coming architects with exemplary recent work at The Club at Lac La Belle (including their current par three project, “Uncle Henry’s Backyard”), Stevens Point Country Club, the Links and Woodlands courses at Lawsonia, 12-North at Trappers Turn and, of course, The Dance Floor at Geneva National.

It’s my opinion that we in Wisconsin are fortunate Craig has been doing the majority of his work here in-state. As his brand continues to grow he’ll I’m sure be working on major projects across the US and the national golf community will get to see and appreciate his creative approaches to golf course design the way we do.

Key Areas of Focus

The 14th, especially, presented a hang-up for many.

As a 400-yard par four, the tee shot screamed driver but the hazard impinging on the left side of the fairway crept in just under 200 yards.

Unless playing the tee shot up the right side of the fairway (which is bordered by trees and out-of-bounds) or hitting a mid-iron off the tee, well-placed shots with firm conditions ran out into blind hazards of sand and red stakes. Many players were frustrated by hitting third shots from where they started after making quality swings.

For players who hit a “smart” 195-yard shot from the tee, they still faced another 200-plus on the approach, commonly resulting in a club sequence of 5-iron/5-iron for longer hitters and even 3-wood/3-wood for shorter ones.

Haltom’s improvements to 14 removed much of the hidden hazard to the left and will allow more options off the tee so players can cut down on the yardage remaining for their approach shots.

Haltom’s new contours will not only allow for more aggressive tee shots but also for the ability of the club to utilize the back-right section of the 14th green. This area was simply too difficult to hit previously and was rarely, if ever, used.

On 11, which Craig also mentioned, a wide and penal sand trap was previously situated dead-center in front of the green. As a fringe-drivable par four from the white and gold/white combo tees, it did not promote the challenge of going for the green because there was no way to run it on. Unless players carried 270-plus yards, they’d likely find themselves in a huge bunker well beneath the putting surface.

It provided only one way of play: over the hazard.

Following Trevino’s ideology, this bunker has been resized and will now allow for approach shots to be hit in various ways versus needing to come in high and hold.

The updated size of the bunker in front of 11 has resulted in more of a “Lion’s Mouth” template, offering ways around the sand both to the left and right sides while still penalizing the player who falters while challenging it directly.

One of my favorite new updates to the Trevino Course, the teeing area on the par three 13th has been expanded significantly. When I say significantly, I mean it!

The original back tee box was rarely utilized and left a substantial amount of unused space between the tips and next sets forward.

The updated principal set of tees are wide, squared off and long, which will allow the club to set the hole up differently from day to day and for recently used turf to heal while playing from new locations. Its width will also allow the tees to influence specific shot shapes (versus always being coerced left-to-right like in the past, which was especially difficult to do with a right-side pin) and, as an added bonus will probably lead to fun chipping competitions if waiting on the group ahead.

The back tees were also rebuilt near the tree line for elite-level players, but it’s the main section that stars here. This is a beautifully designed and well-executed teeing complex.

Keeping with the theme of new tees, the main complex on four has also been rebuilt.

The new middle tees (the back complex has not been changed) are now shifted slightly to the left, squared off and expanded. This will allow players to take more aggressive lines than they could previously and will also promote healthier grass through better exposure to sunlight and airflow.

The club is updating the seventh greens surround, as well. Playing to an open area of the course, it has traditionally fit in to a cove surrounded by homes.

Native grasses have been planted around the perimeter of the greens site to eventually create a “fescue amphitheater,” and new trees have been planted outside the semi-circular cart path to establish a better sense of privacy and refuge.

Over two miles of new cart path have been rebuilt with curbing near sensitive areas providing a classy touch and over 100 new trees were planted to help better seclude the course from homes in its more residential sections, especially at the beginning of the back nine.

Maintenance expectations on the renovated Trevino Course will be for firm, fast conditions, reinforcing Trevino’s philosophy of allowing players to utilize the ground game and strategize on shots in a variety of ways.

If they can carry all the greens in the air, great, but if they want to play some differently then they’ll have the option to run many approaches on, as well.

Geneva National’s Long-Term Vision

The renovation of the Trevino Course is more than just an upgrade – it’s a testament to the resort leadership’s vision for the future. By combining Lee Trevino’s timeless design philosophies with more modern architectural understandings, the resort has now created a golf course that both celebrates its past while catering to the modern golf enthusiast.

These updates reflect Geneva National’s dedication to providing an exceptional experience for players of all skill levels. The Trevino Course now invites golfers to embrace creativity, offering more shot options and enhanced playability without compromising its inherent challenge.

Whether it’s the expanded teeing areas, the improved greens complexes or the thoughtful removal of hidden hazards, every update has been made with the golfer in mind.

As Destination GN continues to reinvest in its courses and amenities, it’s clear the resort is not just resting on its reputation but building from it.

From The Dance Floor to the revitalized Palmer and now Trevino layouts, Geneva National is setting a new standard for what a Southeast Wisconsin golf resort and club can offer.

2025 will be the perfect time to experience the great energy and excitement at Destination Geneva National for yourself. Whether you’ve been a longtime member or are a first-time visitor, the Trevino Course’s transformation, in addition to everything else the property offers, will be reason enough to plan your next visit to this legendary Midwest golf resort.

Geneva National website