Whistling Straits: Walking in the Footsteps of Legends

There are few properties in golf, let alone Wisconsin, that carry the same weight as the Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Haven. 

Ranked by Golf Digest as the fourth best public track in the country, playing it is a bucket-list experience for golf enthusiasts around the world and one that not even Wisconsinites can take for granted.

Beautiful, challenging and rich with history, the 27-year-old Straits has already hosted three PGA Championships (2004, 2010, 2015), the 2007 US Senior Open and, most recently, the memorable 43rd Ryder Cup won by the Americans in 2021.

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While the decision to move the PGA Championship to May unfortunately left the Straits without another to look forward to in the foreseeable future, the US Amateur (2028), US Junior Amateur (2033) and US Girls’ Junior (2037) will all be played at this storied venue before we know it.

From Dustin Johnson’s infamous bunker ruling on 18 in 2010 to Jordan Spieth’s miraculous recovery from the dunes left of 17 during foursome play against Team Europe, the course is as storied as any in the midwest, and playing it always seems to deliver at least one of those memorable, championship-like moments and plenty of opportunities for greatness.

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My Whistling Straits Experiences

Over the years, my indelible experiences at Whistling Straits have spanned the gamut as a player, photographer, volunteer and spectator.

Whistling Straits as a Player

I’ve had the great fortune of playing the Straits Course six times so far, most recently this past October with golf course architect Sam Beckman of Emergency 9 Golf. That round, on a crisp fall day, was my #1 Wisconsin golf experience of 2024.

The last time I’d played the Straits was in 2022 with friends Andrew and Ali from Moonshine Golf and their buddy, Garrett Wasson. Garrett, a golf course architect who worked for Pete Dye for over a decade, has since started his own design firm, Wasson Golf Design, and was a blast to talk Kohler golf with especially about The Baths at Blackwolf Run, where he had significant input alongside lead architect Chris Lutzke and Herb Kohler, Jr. 

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Early- and Late-SEason Golf at Whistling Straits

Kohler typically runs annual promotions during the shoulder seasons – usually throughout late April and early May, for example, and around the time the weather starts turning sideways in the fall until closure.

This can be a great way to play the Straits, River, Meadow Valleys or Irish “on a budget” (it will still cost you hundreds of dollars), but is it worth it?

The answer to that for the River, Meadow Valleys and Irish is yes… but, for the Straits it depends on the year.

I have had beautiful spring days on the Straits Course – for example, May 8 2014 – where the weather was golf-ready and the turf was not. I have also had earlier May days – May 5, 2019, for example – when the fairways were near prime season conditions.

Fescue grass coming out of winter dormancy, especially amid the harsh climate of the Lake Michigan coastline, is fickle and there is no standard for how quickly it will recover, firm and green up.

This is why the PGA’s decision to move its championsip to May all but crushed the Straits Course’s chances of getting another PGA Championship any time soon.

On May 8, 2014, for example, the fairways were brown/yellow and spongy – not at all the firm and fast conditions you imagine when playing a bucketlist round of golf. On May 5, 2019, on the other hand, we enjoyed lush, green fairways that were firm and fast. It all depends on the year, the previous winter and the conditions helping move the whole ecosystem along.

All that to say, conditions during early-season rates are a crap shoot but, hey, you’re still playing the Straits!

Choose the Right Tees… Seriously.

Then there was the time I played it from 7,142 yards.

Exactly one year before opening day of the PGA Championship I got out with a couple foursomes of friends as part of the deal for PGA Championship volunteers. Jeff, Kyle, Jason and I did not want to play the course from the tips while our friends in the group behind us (Ross, Greg, Chris and Johnny) – all low-single-digit, mostly ex-hockey players – did. Two of them broke 90. 

One of my favorite memories from that day was when the Scottish blackheaded sheep that roam freely across the property joined us for two holes on the back nine.

There are few more charming “details” on any course I’ve played than these sheep. Their bells ringing in the distance will bring a smile to anyone’s face. 

When trying to think of comparable on-course “bonus experiences” one of the only ones that comes to mind is the trout pond at Minocqua Country Club. 

Not much better than a fun, memorable bonus experience on an incredible golf property.

The round I’m focusing on in this article, though, is my most recent: an October 20, 2024 round on the esteemed Straits Course with my friend and Owner of Emergency 9 Golf, Sam Beckman.

Sam and I first met at Glen Flora Country Club in Waukegan, Illinois – his home course and the site of a wonderful, ongoing renovation project I began to cover in 2022.

Sam’s a great guy and one hell of a golfer, playing to around scratch or better and actively coaching his local high school’s girl’s team.

I love playing with Sam not just because he’s enjoyable to be around, but also because it’s fun to get his takes on course architecture at the properties we visit. We talked all about the design at Whistling Straits that day, about the North Hills project, Pete Dye’s legacy and everything in between.

We had the perfect day for golf with highs in the low 70s and low wind at the start that dialed up to three- to five-club gusts by the time we got to 16.

In my recap of the 2024 golf season, I considered this day and round to be my year’s number one overall golf experience.

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Whistling Straits as a Photographer

One of my most memorable visits to the Straits was for a sunrise photo shoot as part of the WSGA’s 2022 “Wisconsin Captured” series. 

Over the course of 10 days that July fellow professional golf content creators Jeff Bertch, Kyle Walton and their crew canvased the top 10 public courses in the state of Wisconsin (the 10 included in Golf Digest’s top 100 public rankings), capturing photo and video with the state’s top golf content creators including Jason John Jahnke (who was the lead creator for the Straits Course), my buddy Keith Lally, several others and me.

I was involved in the days at the Straits Course, SentryWorld and The Bull at Pinehurst Farms – the only creator with multiple “lead” responsibilities (for The Bull and SentryWorld – check out those finished videos below!).

Not only was it cool getting access to those courses to play, fly and shoot, but it was also fun to see Jeff, Kyle and Jordan Gibbons go to work. And then to see what it took to put together footage as good as they did. I was truly honored to play a part in such a great project. 

There’s something magical about witnessing the sun rising over Lake Michigan, especially across the windswept dunes of a beautiful Irish-style golf course like the Straits. 

The sky was painted in oranges and purples, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore gave the course an almost mythical aura.

The back nine was stunning that early morning, with holes like 12, 17 and 18 illuminated in golden hour light. I remember leaving the house at 4:15 that morning and the excitement and anticipation I had to fly the Straits for the first time. I was the first on site as the sun started to rise and kept to the clubhouse area until the rest of the team arrived. I was happy afterwards as some of those shots looking over 18 turned out really nice. 

This shot, in particular, is the most purchased digital download all-time on my site:

If interested in more on that experience I wrote an article on it entitled “Summer’s Sunrise Over Whistling Straits”:

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We spent that morning on the back nine as the course’s turf crew was hard at work initially on the front for guest play. This past October’s visit was my first opportunity to shoot the front nine, and boy did it deliver with several gorgeous opportunities for sunrise stunners.

I was joined that morning by my friend, Stephen, who is Kohler’s Director of Public Relations, for the shoot before he met his family en route to the Packers/Texans game in Green Bay.

The Packers won 24-22 in an exciting finish, but we couldn’t get reception while on the course. I’m pretty sure none of us cared as playing Whistling Straits was a far better option. That and Sam, who’s originally from the Detroit area, is a Lions fan.

The morning photo session flew by and time ran out quickly. There could never be enough of it to spend shooting a property like this.

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Whistling Straits as a Volunteer

In 2015 I was stationed on the 14th, “Widow’s Watch,” as a Hole Marshal with friends from North Hills Country Club. It was a treat getting up-close views of tee shots by players like Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day. I thought Thomas had the most technically sound swing I saw, by the way, but the raw power and uncorking of Rory’s was mind-boggling. 

That week was filled with unforgettable moments, from Phil Mickelson jovially launching a ball to a fan on the other side of the perimeter fence… right-handed (that kind of blew my mind!?)… to Miguel Angel Jimenez shaking my hand after pulling up his pants coming out of the nearby restroom. There was always a little small talk on the tee box while waiting for the fairway to clear, and it was interesting hearing strategic discussions between players and caddies on how to best navigate the short dogleg left.

I watched the process shake out when Russell Henley refused to hit his sand shot from a gnarly lie and was eventually granted free relief because of a “burrowing animal” (huh?), and also witnessed Jason Dufner hitting a beautiful, spinning approach to one foot. I said “great shot, Duff!” and he looked at me, shrugged and just said “never saw it,” then walked (more like moped) off… it was exactly how I imagined that would go!

If you’re interested in more little stories like these from that event, I posted about it following the experience:

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Whistling Straits as a Spectator

2004 was before my days as a true golf nerd. My college buddies Mike and Jason and I had tickets for the final round of the PGA Championship following an aggressive night downtown. I remember I was hazy, and after a morning spent traipsing through fescue we found a spot on the right side of the fairway on 16 to watch the final groups come through.

I heard a “whiz” and felt the violent motion of Chris DiMarco’s wayward tee shot just off my left ear. Startling me from my hung over state, the entire crowd encircled our group, huddled around the tournament leader’s golf ball in the rough. 

I had never seen a golf ball hit the way he hit his metal wood from the rough there. The tight draw looked beautiful in the air, but unfortunately started out too far left as it ducked toward Lake Michigan and an eventual playoff loss against Vijay Singh and Justin Leonard.

I’ll also never forget the looks of Vijay Singh’s tee shot on 10: a towering, boring draw that showed me what a golf shot should look like for the first time.

These days, the hillside surrounding the 18th green is a wonderful spot for spectating as Kohler installed gas firepits into the berms below the clubhouse and walkway. I cannot recommend enough these seating areas for post-round brews and banter while watching others navigate the challenging 18th.

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Pete Dye’s Masterpiece & the Kohler Influence

The Straits Course is one of Pete Dye’s greatest accomplishments, an extraordinary transformation of a flat, abandoned airbase into an imitation Ballybunion. 

Herb Kohler, Jr. envisioned a world-class golf destination along Lake Michigan’s shores, and through his long and fruitful relationship with the late Dye he entrusted and, over several decades, worked alongside the great architect to bring that vision to life on a scale even he probably never dreamt possible.

Kohler and Dye shared a strong working relationship – one that resulted in not just Whistling Straits but also the acclaimed Blackwolf Run River and Meadow Valleys courses in nearby Kohler and, posthumously for Dye, The Baths par three (which was completed by Lutzke and Kohler).

Dye’s architectural signature is evident everywhere on the Straits Course. Diabolical (“Dyeabolical,” as the 18th is named) bunkering, optical illusions off the tee and severe greens complexes test even the best players on this world-class golf course. 

With 1,014 total bunkers – many indistinguishable from waste areas, ahem Dustin Johnson), towering dunes, endless rows of wispy fescue and constant gusts howling off Lake Michigan, the Straits is a punishing yet exhilarating test of golf. 

The visuals are stunning and intimidating, but make no mistake: the fun you will have on this course depends on the tees you select. 

As with all of Dye’s courses as Kohler, you choose your own adventure before teeing off. 

I have made the mistake of playing the Straits Course from too long. Between the summer of 2014 and spring of 2015 I played all four of the Kohler courses from over 7,000 yards, in fact, with friends who are significantly longer, more skilled and accurate than I am. I don’t think anybody in our groups broke 80 during those rounds, and I don’t think I ever broke 90. 

Go ahead and play the tips if you enjoy hitting precise 3-woods and drivers in heavy winds, or if you covet the opportunity to play driver/3-iron… on almost every hole.

If that’s not your idea of fun, move up.

In conversation with Chris Lutzke of CR Lutzke Golf, who for 33 years was mentored by the late Dye, it pained Pete that players called his courses too hard. Especially in his later years he worked diligently to provide tee boxes for all levels of golf enthusiasts to remove or limit forced carries and make bucket list experiences enjoyable for the masses. 

While you may have a hard time removing all forced carries from the Kohler portfolio, Lutzke’s sentiments ring true: players choose their level of difficulty during tee selection. If you venture too far back, you’re probably not going to score well. If you’re the kind of player whose attitude goes down the toilet when that happens, consider moving up or be flexible during your round. 

We often play blue tees for par fours and fives, for example, and greens for threes. Or if we’ve played four or five holes and nobody can get near the greens we’ll move up a tee (we’ve also, of course, moved back – chances are that won’t happen here). Golf is a recreational sport that’s played for enjoyment.

Of course, if you want the “pro experience” from 7,790 yards then bring your longest and straightest driver, as well as an everlasting smile, quick ability to forget and move on and several beaded stroke counters.

While the Straits Course is tremendously challenging because of its length and greens complexes, also keep in mind that Dye was a master of the mindscrew. Especially on several of the par fives (eg: 2 and 16), fairway mounding is laid out to hide major portions of the fairways. Rest assured there is more room than you think to miss on the Straits Course, so pick your line and swing away freely.

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The Straits Course Hole-by-Hole Breakdown

The Front Nine

Hole 1: Outward Bound
Par 4 (handicap 15, 493/405/370)

A welcoming handshake, the opener on the Straits Course plays out toward the lake with a generous fairway. The key here is staying right to avoid the vast waste areas lining the left side and leading to the green. 

A solid drive will leave a reasonable approach to this large putting surface, making it one of the best scoring opportunities on the front nine. I actually chipped in for birdie here the previous time I played it – a rare highlight for me on this really tough track.

Hole 2: Cross Country
Par 5 (hcp 7, 597/533/521)

The tee shot on two is one of the most intimidating on the course, but trust me – like I said before, there’s more room than it appears. 

Keeping the ball in the fairway as you navigate this long par five is critical. Don’t worry about the lake – it’s really only findable if you hook one badly. And resist the urge to be a hero; playing conservatively can save you a lot of strokes here!

The second hole is where the beauty of this walk at Whistling Straits really hits you. It’s peaceful and serene with glorious scenery all around – almost makes it hard to concentrate on the golf!

Hole 3: O’Man
Par 3 (hcp 17, 188/180/166)

The third is the first of the course’s par threes along Lake Michigan, and dare I say the simplest because of the width of its green. 

Visually stunning, O’Man plays with the water all down the left while the right side of the green feeds shots left toward the middle. An accentuated false front on the right side will keep balls short if miss-hit, so step on that iron and commit to your shot fully.

I think three is a really good golf hole, and it’s also one that’s always helped boost my confidence level early on in the rounds I’ve played here.

Hole 4: Glory
Par 4 (hcp 1, 494/451/414)

The fourth is a long, dramatic par four with Lake Michigan running along its entire left perimeter. 

One of the toughest holes on the front nine, it’ll take a solid drive and daring second shot to get home in two.

Hole 5: Snake
Par 5 (hcp 5, 603/563/543)

To me, the fifth is the one part of the Straits Course that doesn’t quite fit. That said, it’s a beautiful golf hole that would be all-world anywhere else.

There are two things I don’t love about it:

1. It aesthetically doesn’t fit well with the rest of the course
2. The drive is too challenging
3. There’s little risk/reward draw (unless the tees are forward)

Unless the tees are up and the wind is not in your face (which it’s always seemed to be), the fifth features a long carry over water that ends with tall, ball-swallowing fescue. For most, a hybrid or long-iron to the fairway straight ahead will be your only reasonable choice.

The next shot, similarly, will need to be long and straight – probably with a similar club to the one you just hit off the tee. 

The odds of actually going for the green in two here are low because the green is so small and almost entirely surrounded by water with very little buffer for grace. You’d have to hit a very long, very high approach shot that hits the green and stops. Not many have that shot.

Here’s the thing, though: Dye needed a way to get from the property’s southernmost point back toward the lake and clubhouse, and with the wetlands in this area there probably weren’t many options. That said, it’s a very pretty golf hole. And very challenging.

Hole 6: Gremlin’s Ear
Par 4 (hcp 13, 409/378/360)

Maybe the most memorable of the 1,014 bunkers on the Straits Course can be found short-left of the greens complex on six. This is a really fun, short hole with an infernal finishing touch, especially when pinned on the narrow right side.

For all but the longest of hitters driver should be fine (if finding the short grass), but anything hit too short can leave a mostly blind approach shot over the hill and past all kinds of nasty hazards placed short and right of the primary playing surface.

The safe second shot here is to the left side of the green, well past the “Devil’s A$*hole”-style trap lurking there.

Hole 7: Shipwreck
Par 3 (hcp 9, 221/205/185)

A picturesque long par three along the lake, missing right on seven will lead to a watery grave for many golf balls.

With a green that runs left-to-right along the cliff’s edge, deep sand traps provide a buffer between the putting surface and rocky shoreline.

Hole 8: On the Rocks
Par 4 (hcp 3, 506/470/429)

One of my best memories of 2024 came on eight and followed my worst tee shot of the day – by far.

As our caddie, Elliot, and I searched for my blocked drive in the tall stuff, Brady (who was caddying for the twosome paired up with us) hollered out, “Guys, it’s on the beach!” I managed to miss the fairway by 75-100 yards.

The good news? It was sitting up beautifully in the sand. I grabbed the DJI Pocket 2 from my golf bag and Elliot and I made our way toward the water.

It was 142 yards to the pin with the fairway and green running left to right. With Elliot filming I managed to hit a perfect 8-iron left of the pin, running out to 20 feet and an easy two-putt par that kept my two-over front nine alive.

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Meanwhile, Sam hit a beautiful drive off the tee following by a gorgeous, high iron right at the pin – it hit and bounced hard, then rolled off the back of the green.

Sometimes this game’s just not fair, but I couldn’t have been happier with the way this one unrolled for me.

Hole 9: Down and Dirty
Par 4 (442/412/384)

One of the hardest holes on the course, the ninth plays back from the lake toward the clubhouse. The fairway is a wide downhill halfpipe, but from elevated tees always seems harder to hit than I’d expect.

With the grading downhill and sloping from both sides, approach shots into this tiny green are always awkward with seamingly nowhere to miss.

Favor short-middle, if anything, as shots pushed right will likely be lost to the tall fescue and creek while anything left should find sand or a difficult recovery toward hazards.

The Back Nine

Hole 10: Voyageur
Par 4 (hcp 12, 391/376/334)

In similar fashion to the 10th on the neighboring Irish Course, Voyageur is an inviting par four featuring a right-to-left, uphill tee shot played to a generous landing area. However, the approach plays to a raised green guarded by deep bunkers. The smart play here is to take an extra club to ensure reaching the putting surface.

This hole is a great opportunity to start the back nine with momentum. A well-struck iron into the green can set up a legitimate birdie look, but misjudging the wind or elevation can leave you scrambling for a tough up-and-down.

Hole 11: Sand Box
Par 5 (hcp 6, 645/563/544)

One of the most dramatic par fives on the course, Sand Box is a true three-shot hole for almost all players. The tee shot must avoid a series of waste bunkers along the right side, while the setup shot should be placed strategically short of the massive blow-out bunker that guards the approach.

The green is elevated, and anything short risks rolling back down its false front. A well-placed third shot can set up a reasonable birdie chance, but anything out of position will make par a challenge.

Another of the most memorable architectural elements at Whistling Straits is the tremendously built-up blowout bunker on the right side of the fairway. While it’s a beautiful, intimidating visual it’s probably rarely played from.

Hole 12: Pop Up
Par 3 (hcp 18, 163/138/118)

A picturesque downhill par three, Pop Up plays shorter than the yardage suggests.

Swirling winds off the lake can make club selection difficult here, and shots landing in the middle of the green often feed toward the back while anything short may catch one of the deep front traps.

Though not as intimidating as some of the other par threes, this hole is a sneaky challenge that requires a confident tee shot and a steady hand on the greens.

It’s always a memorable experience when the pin on 12 is in its Sunday location – a miniscule back-right area overhanging the lake with sparse room for error.

The one complaint I have about 12, which is a wonderful par three, is that the course has played it up way too close the last couple of times I’ve visited. Our tee shots for October’s round were from 90 yards, playing 75 wind-adjusted… Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something tough about committing to a 60-degree wedge off the tee!

Would you count a hole-in-one from 90, by the way?

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Hole 13: Cliff Hanger
Par 4 (hcp 14, 402/389/364)

A spectacular risk/reward par four, Cliff Hanger plays downhill along the lake, tempting long hitters to take an aggressive line off the tee. The fairway narrows dramatically near the landing area, making accuracy critical. Drives that stay too far left can find deep bunkers or, worse, the thick fescue, while anything right brings additional bunkering into play.

The approach shot on 13 is visually intimidating, as the green is perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan. The green slopes gently toward the water, meaning anything long is in danger. A well-placed approach to the left side of the putting surface will meander toward the lake, while shots that flirt with the right edge of the green can quickly roll into trouble.

This is one of my all-time favorite holes in the history of golf.

I’ve talked about it a lot lately, including on episodes of the Milwaukee Uncut podcast and Golfer’s Anonymous, but a hole like 13 on the Straits Course is the perfect change-up to the traditional elevated green approach that perpetuates across most modern course designs.

My friend and occasional business partner, Cody Retlich of Midwest Aerial Productions, put it best when he told me about an experience he had as a caddie on this hole while getting MAP started: “I had a player who was hitting fairways all day but couldn’t hit a wedge to save his life, so we were 105 yards out on 13 and I gave him his putter and told him to hit toward this spot on the left side of the fairway. He looked at me like I offended him and asked for his wedge. I told him, “you haven’t hit a good wedge all day and this will work – unless you want to skull it into Lake Michigan?” He hit the spot I gave him and watched as the ball rolled downhill, onto the green and right into the hole. He gave me $1,000 on the spot and another $1,000 each round I caddied for him after.”

That’s the kind of adventure, and the type of opportunity for greatness (one of my favorite things about the game) that a well-designed downhill hole layout can provide. I love when an architect allows the player to get creative with their approach – there shouldn’t always be just one way to play it (eg: hit a high, accurate approach that carries the front and stops) but a myriad of options that the player can reason out before executing.

This hole does that brilliantly and, like I said, is in the upper echelon of great golf holes that I have ever seen or played.

Hole 14: Widow’s Watch
Par 4 (hcp 16, 396/360/346)

I have a lot of great memories of 14 on the Straits Course, in part because of my experiences working as a Hole Marshal there during the 2015 PGA Championship (mentioned in the “My Whistling Straits Experiences” section of this article, above).

The fairway is relatively generous on Widow’s Watch, but a craggy, long bunker complex on the left can make for an exceptionally difficult second shot (especially if you don’t get a favorable “burrowing animal” ruling as Henley did). A good drive will leave a short to mid-iron approach, but the green is well-guarded by deep bunkers short and right, and thick fescue all around.

The green is multi-tiered so placement is crucial. Pins on the lower section make for easier putts, but when cut on the top shelf it becomes a much trickier challenge. The wind off the lake often affects approach shots more than expected, making club selection crucial.

Sam found one of the most awkward third shots I’ve ever seen on this hole, hitting his wedge to the back-right part of the green and watching as it bounced high off and into a sand trap/waste area behind the green and a deep layer of fescue.

Hole 15: Grand Strand
Par 4 (hcp 4, 503/464/429)

Grand Strand kicks off one of the toughest finishing stretches in all of Wisconsin golf, if not the country.

The tee shot on 15 is played from an elevated hillside (which actually gives off some Erin Hills vibes), offering a stunning view of the hole and the lake beyond. The fairway is generously wide, but anything left can be swallowed by bunkers and fescue. Right-side misses will leave a long approach with an awkward angle.

The approach here is one of the toughest on the property to a long, narrow green that slopes sharply from back to front. The lake on the left creates a daunting backdrop, especially when the wind is up, but is far from in play. A well-placed (and long) approach will leave a chance at birdie, but missing in the wrong spot could lead to bogey or worse.

Both Kyle and I birdied this hole when we played it together in 2014 from the blue tees – one of the best holes I’ve ever played considering I went driver/hybrid from 220 yards out to a tap-in bird. That doesn’t happen every day!

Hole 16: Endless Bite
Par 5 (hcp 10, 568/545/535)

Another three-shot par five for most players, Endless Bite demands precision from start to finish. The tee shot needs to favor the right side to avoid the lake that runs the length of the hole and the second shot presents a tough decision: lay up short of the fairway bunkers or take them on to set up an easier approach?

The green, perched on a plateau against the cliff, is well-protected by deep bunkers and swales. Any approach that misses short will roll back, leaving a tricky chip. The lake on the left creates an intimidating visual, making it crucial to commit to the shot.

Despite its difficulty, the 16th on the Straits offers one of the best scoring opportunities on the back nine for those who can execute well.

Hole 17: Pinched Nerve
Par 3 (hcp 8, 249/223/197)

Perhaps the most iconic hole on the entire course, Pinched Nerve is a long par three that tests both nerve and shot-making ability. The green sits precariously on a ledge overlooking the lake, with steep drop-offs short and left and no man’s land occupying everything in between.

Club selection is crucial here. The wind often dictates whether players need to take an extra club or hit a controlled shot to hold the green, but from 200+ yards and very little room to miss you’re probably just hitting something hard and praying it works.

While there is more room than it appears – the berm short-right of the greens complex hides the true size of your target, the visual intimidation factor is undeniable. A par here is an excellent result and a bogey is nothing to be ashamed of, even if it’s a three-putt on this massive putting surface.

The story goes that Pete Dye always involved his wife, Alice, in the design of one par three on every course he worked on. On the Straits Course, this was it and apparently she was in a bad mood the day they laid it out!

As legendary as a golf hole in Wisconsin can be, golf enthusiasts will all remember Jordan Spieth’s incredible recovery from the bluff-side – a wide-open wedge hit from deep fescue over a steep embankment that led to him nearly running into Lake Michigan as he struggled to recover his balance… Maybe the most iconic moment of the entire tournament.

Maybe my favorite moment in the broadcast clip, below, is toward the end: “Somewhere Pete Dye is smiling.”

With the wind howling, Sam and I both hit solid shots on 17 with both of us winding up on the back-left section and avoiding any perilous Jordanesque shenaniganry:

Hole 18: Dyeabolical
Par 4 (hcp 2, 520/487/424)

One of the toughest finishing holes in major championship golf, the 18th on the Straits Course requires both length and precision. The tee shot needs to favor the right side to avoid deep fairway bunkers, but anything too far right risks an awkward lie in the rough. The fairway slopes significantly, making even good tee shots challenging to hold, and runs out in the middle toward 275 yards.

The fairway splits from there, branching out left toward the treeline and around the central creek and endless patches of fescue.

The second shot is where things get truly demanding. The green, shaped like a four-leaf clover, is elevated and protected by deep bunkers all around and a false front that rejects anything short. This hole can ruin a lot of scorecards, like it did mine, but I did it smiling.

Sam pulled off the shot of the day to finish his round on 18 while I played the hole perfectly from the tee then striped a solid three-wood into a four-club wind only to find myself in jail – my ball was against the back lip of the front-left greenside bunker. It took three shots to get out of there.

Meanwhile, Sam’s recovery from the bunkers left him behind a tree above the left-side fairway section with barely a window to aim for from 125-plus yards out. He somehow sniped that shot to a foot, capping off an extraordinarily memorable round of golf with a magnficently executed opportunity for greatness.

Play the 18th with me

Come along and play the hole with me…

So far, so good…

It was hit well but this could be trouble. Just enjoy the iconic walk along the 18th hole at Whistling Straits – one of the best walks in Wisconsin!

Things didn’t get any easier from there, but I thought I had a pretty good idea for how to hit my second shot in this sequence… Nope! Now I’m just feeling bad for Elliot…

Getting closer…

Mercy already… Good God!

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Regardless of my own personal anxieties over this hole following this round, it’s absolutey breathtaking to look at and obviously one of the biggest challenges you’ll find anywhere to play. Is it too hard? Maybe. But you expect that at a course like the Straits.

There aren’t many better spots to hang than over 18 following your round, either. My adventure on 18 alone required a beer to get over!

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The Magic of Whistling STraits: A Golf Experience that Stays with You

Whistling Straits is simply one of the greatest golf courses in the world and Wisconsin, and the setting, architecture and inherent challenge and beauty make it unforgettable.

While some critics scoff at the amount of land moved to create this “links-style” course, it feels to me as natural and rugged as anywhere I’ve played. I would never discount its construction accomplishments to develop Irish design elements as anything but spectacular.

Few golf experiences match a late afternoon or early morning round here. Whether it’s while photographing the sunrise over the coast, standing on the 17th tee as waves crash below or finishing 18 with a cocktail at their newly installed gas fire pits, every moment spent at Whistling Straits is indelible.

That experience isn’t cheap, of course, but if you get the chance to play it, take it. There are few places in the game comparable to the glorious Whistling Straits.

Whistling Straits, Straits Course website