WHISTLING STRAITS and THE RYDER CUP
As I am sitting here getting ready to watch the final “Sunday Singles” of the Ryder Cup…I am reminded how lucky I have been to play Whistling Straits AND to have experienced a Ryder Cup (2014!!)
WHISTLING STRAITS
What is it like to play Whistling Straits? This public course was built in 1998 and designed by Pete Dye. It abuts Lake Michigan and was created by moving massive amounts of dirt and bringing in 7,000 loads of sand to create the terrain, bunkering and more. The views are truly amazing. Lake Michigan looks more like an Ocean from the many elevated tees.
Before the course was built, the property was an abandoned airfield called Camp Haven. Wisconsin Electric purchased the property in the 1970s and attempted to build the Haven Nuclear Power Plant on the property, but its construction was opposed by local residents and Wisconsin Power & Light (Sheboygan County’s major electric utility), and the company never built the plant. It then was sold to the Kohler Company in the early 1990s.
Owner Herb Kohler famously told Dye, “I want the course to look like it’s in Ireland.” The good news… it does. Nine holes run along the shore and there are MANY risk/reward opportunities. When I played it in 2018…my knees were shaking at all of the RISK-REWARD chances….it IS a scary course! Check out these pictures…
DESTINATION KOHLER…
Did somebody say “golf?” If your ideal vacation includes an 8 a.m. tee time followed by another round in the afternoon, bring your clubs to the Village of Kohler, Wisconsin. I was there for a birthday vacation in 2018! With world-class golf comes all the amenities – luxury spa services, fine dining and high-end shopping.
Start planning now
…and you’ll be dreaming of the greens before you even get here. Over the last 21 years, Kohler has hosted nine major golf tournaments and boasts numerous acclaimed courses. In addition to the Straits Course, the Irish Course at Whistling Straits, and the River and Meadow Valleys courses at Blackwolf Run have been recognized as top picks by Golf Digest, GolfWeek and GOLF Magazine. It truly is a “Golf Getaway” at it’s finest! We stayed at the American Club and you will want to, too! Check out this video….
The American Club
… opened in 1918 and originally served as housing for the Kohler Company’s immigrant workers. Today, the resort offers four championship golf courses, nine restaurants and the Kohler Waters Spa to go along with its AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star Hotel ratings. For those that love shopping and dining…the Shops at Woodlake are irresistible. Browse boutique styles at Sweet Potato’s Unique Boutique (I bought lots of GIFTS there),Scentualities and Art Imig’s Clothiers.
Indulge your sweet tooth at Craverie Chocolatier Café
…home of Kohler’s signature chocolate terrapin and chocolate brandy. When you need to find a perfect memento, head to Wisconsin Trader, specializing in Wisconsin-made gifts. No doubt you’ll get hungry along the way. The Immigrant Restaurant, is a must-try for impeccable fine cuisine, including its cheese menu featuring 50 award-winning, indigenous cheeses. Did you know that as of 2013, Wisconsin continues to be the largest cheese producer in the United States, making over 600 different cheese varieties?? I had no idea!!!
THE RYDER CUP
As much as I LOVED my experience at Whistling Straits…I loved even MORE the Ryder Cup 2014 trip that I was SO lucky to enjoy in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland. It was Jordan’s FIRST go at a Ryder Cup and watching Ian Polter spur his team on with amazing energy was a once in a life time experience even though Team USA lost. I so loved watching Reed, Kuchar, Spieth and the whole US Team give it their best effort. The energy of a Ryder Cup is like none you will ever witness.
You can’t really describe it
….you just have to BE THERE! SO…if you are a lover of golf…make sure you visit Whistling Straits….but also make sure you add a Ryder Cup to your bucket list. It just may be better than a Super Bowl or World Cup Soccer…I have not been to either of those…but I HAVE experienced The Ryder Cup…ADD it to your LIST…I may join you at Beth Page Black in 2025!!!
