Lawsonia - 36 Holes - Play 18 on Each or 36 on Links?

[Andy Ryall]

For all the Lawsonia gurus:

If I have a full day to devote to Lawsonia, do I play both 18 on each course or 36 on the Links?   Any preference on which to play first?   

Thanks-
Andy

[K. Krahenbuhl]

For all the Lawsonia gurus:

If I have a full day to devote to Lawsonia, do I play both 18 on each course or 36 on the Links?   Any preference on which to play first?   

Thanks-
Andy

Play the Links first and if you like it (which you probably will) go back out in the afternoon.  If you don't then play the Woodlands.

[Dan Moore]

Play 54  Links 2x and Woodlands 1x. 

[PThomas]

how good is the woodlands?? no one ever talks about it

[Phil McDade]

The Woodlands course at Lawsonia is a solid track that suffers from being right next-door to its more acclaimed, and in my view superior architecturally, neighbor. I've always thought the Woodlands would get a bit more respect from GCA nuts if it was somewhere else; I wish it were here in the Madison area, so people could see that it's a better course than the over-rated University Ridge, which is similarly carved out of woodlands and features water on several holes. Woodlands has a couple of quite cool holes, built in and around an old quarry, and it's the course of the two at Lawsonia where you can actually get a glimpse of beautiful Green Lake. It's a Joe Lee/Rocky Roquemore effort, who also did some work I believe at Cog Hill. The Woodlands is traditional parkland layout, quite tight, with fairway corridors routed through woods, plenty of flattish bunkers, and good greens but nothing distinctive.

Given a choice, I'd urge two rounds at the Links, particularly if you haven't played it or been exposed to the work of its designer/builder, Langford and Moreau. Their work is out of the ordinary, really, compared to what you find at most courses. Lawsonia is probably the duo's best and most complete effort, faithfully maintained to near its original design, and its varied playing angles, unique green sites, and demanding greens take more than one round to truly appreciate.

The Woodland is good, but not distinctive. Lawsonia is really good, and quite distinctive. If you have two days, take Dan Moore's approach.

[David Schofield]

The Woodland has also been a bit butchered recently, all in the name of wedging in a few residential lots along the shoreline of Green Lake.

[Cliff Hamm]

I dislike cold weather golf, prefer 55 or 60 degrees.  Will be playing Lawsonia late September.   For those in the know what time in the AM would the temperature be expected to be in the 55-60 degree range?  Also, what time is the latest feasible to finish up a round?

[Phil McDade]

Cliff:

Weather in Wisconsin in late September can be spectacular, but also unpredictable. I've played in temps in the 80s and sunny skies, and temps in the 50s w/ cold and brisk winds.

In late September, there is a good chance that an early-morning round could start w/ temperatures @ 50 degrees. The average high temp in this area in September is about 70, but it drops down to 60 for October. By late September, the sun sets at @ 630-645 pm, but you can (and I have) start a round as late as 3 pm and get around in time for 18 (Lawsonia's midweek twilight walking rate -- post 2 pm start -- of $28 during September may be the single best value in golfing that I know; it drops to $23 in October.) Ideally, in late September, you'll find a slightly breezy and partly sunny day in the 60s.

I will say there are few places on this planet that I'd rather be than on Lawsonia's links course during a sunny and slightly brisk fall Wisconsin day. The course, its conditioning, and colors are probably at their best.

[Wyatt Halliday]

I will say there are few places on this planet that I'd rather be than on Lawsonia's links course during a sunny and slightly brisk fall Wisconsin day. The course, its conditioning, and colors are probably at their best.

As much fun I as I had there in the summertime, being there in the fall as Phil descibes would be tits for me.
I hope you are able to enjoy yourself Andy!

[Greg Clark]

I have just played the wonderful Links course, but when I was there it looked like the Woodlands was receiving more play.  My in-laws in the area told me that this is often the case.  Does anyone know how the 2 compare in regards to rounds played?

[Dan Moore]

Check out the weekday all day rates.  A weekday in late September should be pretty uncrowded. I've played 54 many times there.  Two of us once played 54 in nine hours on a May Saturday and only passed two groups all day and stopped for lunch (of course you could just take your chances with brat slippage at the turn).   

ps  the Woodlands gets more play becuse of the woods, the dropshot par 3, the lake views and fact its easier.  A lot of people don't get the links course at first. 

[Phil McDade]

I have just played the wonderful Links course, but when I was there it looked like the Woodlands was receiving more play.  My in-laws in the area told me that this is often the case.  Does anyone know how the 2 compare in regards to rounds played?

Greg:

Following Dan's remarks, lots of folks who play the Links simply go, "Huh?" and wonder what all the fuss is about. Part of that reaction, I'm convinced, is that the course is so out of the ordinary compared to what most folks encounter here in Wisconsin, or the Upper Midwest. There are only three other Langford/Moreau courses in Wisconsin, two of which are private and the third is so far below-the-radar most folks have never heard of it. The rest of their Midwestern courses are also either private or well below the golfing radar for all but locals. So when they see and play Lawsonia Links for the first time, I think it makes some folks (narrow minded, perhaps, in a golf-architecture sense) uncomfortable. The Woodlands is much more similar to what you'd find at a typical semi-upscale parkland/wooded course in Wisconsin. I don't know the difference in rounds per course, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the Woodlands got more rounds per year than the Links.

Having said that, I've taken friends golfing at the Links who essentially say, "This is the coolest course I've ever seen."

[Greg Clark]

Thanks Phil.  That is pretty much what I would have expected to hear.  I grew up in the Midwest and from what I could see of the Woodlands course it looked nice and pretty typical of a good parkland course in that region.  I would guess that the average amateur might grow tired of playing out of the greenside bunkers on the Links, and would maybe view them as hokey and unfair.  Silly of course, but it wouldn't suprise me at all.

[Mike Bowline]

The Woodland has also been a bit butchered recently, all in the name of wedging in a few residential lots along the shoreline of Green Lake.

David. what holes have been changed, and how so? I have only played the Woodlands 3 or 4 times while I lived in Milwaukee for 16 years. Every trip up there I just had to play the original course, it is so much fun and quite a challenge too. The Woodlands just didn't compare. I even like Tuscumbia more than the Woodlans IMO.

[David Schofield]

The housing already has and will continue to encroach into the course.  Butchering, however, may have been an overstatement on my part.

Hole 5, a par 4 dogleg right, had its green moved +/- 50 yards up the fairway.  To try to make up for the loss of distance, they created an Astroturf tee box tucked back in the woods.  Hole 6, a par 3 was totally reconstructed for reasons unknown (I don't think it had anything to do with the development, but I may be mistaken). 

By the way, the original, northeast, gate to the property has been reopened as the entrance to the residential properties.  I suspect this will confuse people coming from the east into turning one entrance too early.