Wisconsin - The New Golf Mecca?

[Keith Grande]

It's a long drive to Bandon (5 hours?) once you land from a 6+ hr flight... on a similar flight to Ireland, you are 45 minutes away and teeing off at Lahinch within an hour from the airport!

[Joe Zucker]

I agree Bandon might be the best collection of holes, the only issue is that for those on the East Coast, it's a very tough sell.  It's easier to get to Ireland and Scotland.
...

 
Portland is $300 round trip on True Blue from NYC. Rent a car and drive on the right side of the road.

How is that harder than Ireland and Scotland?

I hear ya, Garland.  I was crushed on this debate a few years ago by the GCA consensus.  I conceded that going east is probably easier for those in NYC or the upper Northeast, but for much of the country Bandon is easier.  There were debates on how much of the US population lives on the Atlantic and such.  My perspecitve was anyone west of Pittsburgh had it easier to get to Bandon, but I don't think that was a common view. 

[Keith Grande]

Location tat's part of my argument for Wisconsin, even Michigan, it's centrally located and the flight times aren't too bad from either coast.

[Garland Bayley]

It's a long drive to Bandon (5 hours?) once you land from a 6+ hr flight... on a similar flight to Ireland, you are 45 minutes away and teeing off at Lahinch within an hour from the airport!

According to the math flight website the flight to Portland is more than an hour less than the flight to Shannon.
After the 5 hours to Bandon, you have 4 world class courses, a 13 hole par 3, a nine hole par 3, and the putting course.
How much driving on Irish roads do you have to do to access that much world class golf?

Note: After driving Irish roads, Dick Daley concluded that road design and construction is not a University level curriculum in Ireland.

[Joe Hancock]

A discussion about how to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on rounds of golf, and which place to spend said money is easiest. Makes a discussion about thick vegetation on a US Open venue seem silly.


It's good to air out the first world problems from time to time, though. Don't mind me, I'm just jealous.

[Keith Grande]

So......which ones have you played?

[Garland Bayley]

So......which ones have you played?

If this was intended for me, I have played the four at Bandon, and 22 courses on the Irish Isle.

[John Kavanaugh]

The problem with Wisconsin is that maybe three days a year the weather and golf is already better where I'm at. By the time the weather is good there it's great in Chicago. I don't get the appeal.

[Mike Sweeney]

The problem with Wisconsin is that maybe three days a year the weather and golf is already better where I'm at. By the time the weather is good there it's great in Chicago. I don't get the appeal.

I'm already looking at going back in November. I'd like to get back without the tourists and experience some bad weather. Golf is golf but only the Scots are the Scots. I've never spent so much time so not pissed off.

Do Badgers piss you off more than Scots?

[BCowan]

Not saying it's cheap - but compare prices to Streamsong, Pebble, Pinehurst.  They ain't charging pennies to play...

Another point in favor of Northern Michigan other than Arcadia. Most rounds are $100-$125.00 up north. Belvedere is $79.00 to walk high season.

With N Michigan having an over supply of solid publics the prices are a lot lower then that. I played Ross Memorial for $60. 


The much overlooked part of Michigan is the DeVries action around grand rapids.  Diamond springs, Pilgrims run, and the Mines.  Throw in Hemlock (hearn) and some private Ross's and you have a great trip.  Not to mention world class breweries. 


Then the other one missed is Greywalls!  Playing 3 rounds in august.  Why not play a good thing more then once?!

[John Kavanaugh]

The problem with Wisconsin is that maybe three days a year the weather and golf is already better where I'm at. By the time the weather is good there it's great in Chicago. I don't get the appeal.

I'm already looking at going back in November. I'd like to get back without the tourists and experience some bad weather. Golf is golf but only the Scots are the Scots. I've never spent so much time so not pissed off.

Do Badgers piss you off more than Scots?

They created The Onion. I never met a Scot that thought they needed to talk down to me because their testicles were retracted. It's cold...I get it.

[archie_struthers]

 


Ok. I'm really prejudiced but the Jersey Shore in the summer or fall is so much fun .  Great places to stay in all the    beach towns . Tonight  its a hoot from AC to Cape may and there's a bunch of good golf courses you can play within a half hour of wherever you stay.   


You've got Galloway , Atlantic City CC, Greate Bay , Shore Gate , Wildwood CC, Cape May National , Sand Barrens , Avalon , Stone Harbor CC , Ballamor.   All within a half hour drive from wherever you hang your hat for the week






Not that expensive either

[Matt MacIver]

Hilton Head would be on the list.

[BCowan]

Brian, the key here is best, not most popular....other than a few Strantz, not much in MB to whet my whistle

You are a name guy.  MB has more quality courses then Strantz.  The only issue I have with MB is almost every course bans walking or atleast did. 

[Tim Martin]

I have a hard time equating Streamsong with the other referenced destinations. Yes good golf but is Bowling Green, Florida really on a par with Bandon, Kiawah, Pinehurst and Monterray? It's a stay and play out of necessity as there's no where to go. When and if you leave I guess you can experience the historical significance and natural beauty of Lakeland.

[Mike Schott]

Not saying it's cheap - but compare prices to Streamsong, Pebble, Pinehurst.  They ain't charging pennies to play...

Another point in favor of Northern Michigan other than Arcadia. Most rounds are $100-$125.00 up north. Belvedere is $79.00 to walk high season.

With N Michigan having an over supply of solid publics the prices are a lot lower then that. I played Ross Memorial for $60. 


The much overlooked part of Michigan is the DeVries action around grand rapids.  Diamond springs, Pilgrims run, and the Mines.  Throw in Hemlock (hearn) and some private Ross's and you have a great trip.  Not to mention world class breweries. 


Then the other one missed is Greywalls!  Playing 3 rounds in august.  Why not play a good thing more then once?!

I  left out Greywalls due to the drive from the NW lower peninsula. A majority of the "Up North" courses are within 2 hours or less of each other but Greywalls must be another 4-5 hour drive.

[Sean_A]

FWIW, SentryWorld belongs in the Wisconsin rota, too. And I quite enjoyed the charming nine-hole Waupaca Country Club, kind of in the center of that area.

And Waupaca is one of the better 9-holers in the state. A wonderful little course.

What's the situation with trees? Are they well managed?

Ciao

[Stewart Abramson]

The debate between GB or I vs Bandon, has so far missed the most important factor IMO. Each region in GB&I at least equals Bandon in quality and leaves Bandon in the dust for course choices. Ayr, East Lothian, Fife, the Highlands, Surrey, Kent, Donegal, NI, Sligo & Mayo, SW Ireland all call me back before a return to Bandon


Note, I am on the East coast of the US

[Jim Hoak]

I think Sand Valley is becoming every bit as good as Bandon--although a bit shorter season.

[Sean_A]

The debate between GB or I vs Bandon, has so far missed the most important factor IMO. Each region in GB&I at least equals Bandon in quality and leaves Bandon in the dust for course choices. Ayr, East Lothian, Fife, the Highlands, Surrey, Kent, Donegal, NI, Sligo & Mayo, SW Ireland all call me back before a return to Bandon

Note, I am on the East coast of the US

A subset of your point is resort VS in the wild 😎.

Ciao

[Tom_Doak]

The debate between GB or I vs Bandon, has so far missed the most important factor IMO. Each region in GB&I at least equals Bandon in quality and leaves Bandon in the dust for course choices. Ayr, East Lothian, Fife, the Highlands, Surrey, Kent, Donegal, NI, Sligo & Mayo, SW Ireland all call me back before a return to Bandon

Maybe I don't understand exactly what you mean here by "leaves Bandon in the dust for course choices".  Yes, there are way more golf courses in the regions you mention than in Bandon.  But there is no way that the top 5-6 courses in most of those regions are BETTER than what you'll get at Bandon.  You could certainly make a case for East Lothian, Surrey, NI, and SW Ireland, but to do so, you'll have to take a strong position on the merits of the original course at Bandon that few people were willing to take in that earlier thread.


Now, I love Scotland and England as places to visit; golf courses aside, I would rather travel there any day.


But, I thought this thread was about Wisconsin?  I feel like there is much less consensus about the top 5 courses in Wisconsin than there is about the pecking order at Bandon Dunes, but I will use the recent GOLF Magazine top 100 for the matchups:


The Sheep Ranch (97) matched up with Sand Valley (98)
Old Macdonald (77) matched up with Lawsonia (79)
Bandon Dunes (46) is slightly ahead of Whistling Straits (54)
Bandon Trails (40) is significantly ahead of Milwaukee CC (75)


Erin Hills and Mammoth Dunes didn't make the list; I would put either ahead of Milwaukee CC, personally; it would be nice to have a parkland course in the mix, but there are a lot of parkland courses back east I'd take over MCC.


The Lido and Sedge Valley will make the comparison more interesting, but it's still not going to be close unless you think one of the Wisconsin courses can take out Pacific Dunes.

[Tom_Doak]

PS  To show JUST how subjective this all is, I went and looked at the current GOLF DIGEST rankings for Wisconsin, and wow:


Whistling Straits (23) compared to 54 on GOLF
Erin Hills (46) not in the top 100 on GOLF
Milwaukee CC (70) slightly higher than 75 on GOLF
Blackwolf Run River course (95) not in top 100 on GOLF
Lawsonia and Sand Valley not in top 100 on GOLF DIGEST


That's against Pacific Dunes (18), Bandon Dunes (37), Old Macdonald (56) and Bandon Trails (67)


I've got to think Lido will rank higher than Old Macdonald, but what do I know?

[Jeff Schley]

The debate between GB or I vs Bandon, has so far missed the most important factor IMO. Each region in GB&I at least equals Bandon in quality and leaves Bandon in the dust for course choices. Ayr, East Lothian, Fife, the Highlands, Surrey, Kent, Donegal, NI, Sligo & Mayo, SW Ireland all call me back before a return to Bandon

Maybe I don't understand exactly what you mean here by "leaves Bandon in the dust for course choices".  Yes, there are way more golf courses in the regions you mention than in Bandon.  But there is no way that the top 5-6 courses in most of those regions are BETTER than what you'll get at Bandon.  You could certainly make a case for East Lothian, Surrey, NI, and SW Ireland, but to do so, you'll have to take a strong position on the merits of the original course at Bandon that few people were willing to take in that earlier thread.


Now, I love Scotland and England as places to visit; golf courses aside, I would rather travel there any day.


But, I thought this thread was about Wisconsin?  I feel like there is much less consensus about the top 5 courses in Wisconsin than there is about the pecking order at Bandon Dunes, but I will use the recent GOLF Magazine top 100 for the matchups:


The Sheep Ranch (97) matched up with Sand Valley (98)
Old Macdonald (77) matched up with Lawsonia (79)
Bandon Dunes (46) is slightly ahead of Whistling Straits (54)
Bandon Trails (40) is significantly ahead of Milwaukee CC (75)


Erin Hills and Mammoth Dunes didn't make the list; I would put either ahead of Milwaukee CC, personally; it would be nice to have a parkland course in the mix, but there are a lot of parkland courses back east I'd take over MCC.


The Lido and Sedge Valley will make the comparison more interesting, but it's still not going to be close unless you think one of the Wisconsin courses can take out Pacific Dunes.

I think Blue Mound should be in the discussion, unless we are beholden to the rankings which I know this board isn't.  I solidly have Blue Mound in a top 100 US myself.  The club has really taken care of their Raynor course and was a pleasure to play.

[Tom_Doak]

I get why people like Raynor courses, but the idea that every Raynor course should be in the running for top 100 in the USA is ridiculous.


Blue Mound adds variety to Wisconsin as a destination, no doubt about that.  Just like Old Mac does for Bandon.

[Jeff Schley]

I get why people like Raynor courses, but the idea that every Raynor course should be in the running for top 100 in the USA is ridiculous.

Should someone say that, I would totally agree.