Well, after playing 36 holes in just under ten hours, with a break at the pub, I would have to say that this was one of the finest golf experiences of my life.  Keep in mind I'm only 21!!!

Whistling Straits has some great holes and some world class scenery.  It is a must visit, if even to just stand over the 9th and 18th holes on the Straits course.  A couple of things will leave a long-lasting impression on me.

First of all, everyone needs to see these courses and picture this land as a flat military base.  It is absolutely UNREAL the vision and imagination Pete Dye must have used to sculpt such a rugged course.

Secondly, I noticed that some of the thousands of bunkers Whistling has, have become over grown.  It will be interesting to compare pictures of the courses in twenty years to see if the bunkers continue to disappear and fill in with native grasses.  The course may just have a couple hundred bunkers if thats case.

The one negative I noticed, especially on the Straits course was the repetition in the par 4's.  They always seem to start along the water with the tee shot going slight away from the lake, with the green being perched again down by the lake.

However, I had an absolutely amazing time and the service was second to none!!!

Here are some pictures of my adventure.  I had a blast, and I would imagine anyone who enjoys the game, would also enjoy Whistling Straits; even if a million cubic yards of dirt were moved in the process.

Straits - 18th at sunset

Straits - 17th Pinched Nerve

Straits - 13th Cliffhanger

Straits - 12th Green Beautiful Undulations WILD

Straits - 11th Green Great Greenside Bunker

Straits - 8th On the Rocks

Straits - 7th Shipwreck A pictures worth a thousand words

Straits - 6th My friend's father, standing next to my ball in a deep pot bunker.

Straits - 6th Personally, they need to mow the fairway wider to open up a better angle into the green. GOOD ANGLE

Straits - 6th POOR ANGLE

Straits - 4th Glory

Straits - 3rd O'Man Great Par 3

Straits - 2nd Pot Bunker is ineffective as there is a lower area for drainage directly behind it.

Straits - 1st Green Outward Bound

The AMAZING Clubhouse

Irish - 13th Par 3 Dell Hole

Irish - 11th Par 3 Note the depth of the bunkers on left

Irish - Par 3 6th Mulligans Watch

Irish - 1st Green Setting

The course if not as difficult as it looks. The fairways are very wide. It is just a totally amazing architectural feat considering it was dead flat.

If you compare Shadow Creek and Whistling Straits for architectural acheivement for dead flat land, this wins hands down.

The course if not as difficult as it looks. The fairways are very wide. It is just a totally amazing architectural feat considering it was dead flat.

If you compare Shadow Creek and Whistling Straits for architectural acheivement for dead flat land, this wins hands down.

I get the idea that its a pretty reasonable course in terms of difficulty from anywhere but the way back tees (which for some reason we played). From there...its just as hard as it looks! 18 is impossible at 500 yards, and 17 isn't much easier (although much better of a hole).

I do echo that it is worth playing if you have the opportunity, its certainly unique to the courses that I've played.

Yes, it is a pretty amazing job with a dozer....however....I've always considered the bunkering to be a bit over the top....does it feel that way when you play it?

I recall one of the pro's saying during the PGA that the bunkers are little more than eye candy and ment to distract your attention from your shot....once he ignored the bunkers the course played easier....

I have played there a half a dozen times and I don't think the bunkers come into play that much if you keep it around the fairway.  If you hit it way off-line, then it is bunker city.  But given the alternative of either playing out of Lake Michigan or the fescue, the bunker is a nice consolation.

Cool pics, Jonathan.

From your shot of the 18th, it appears the hole has changed dramatically from the last time I played it (~5-6 years ago).  It used to be that you had to play your tee ball to the left side of a very wide fairway to avoid hitting though on the right side into a deep ravine.  I also remember there being some talk in the clubhouse about Herb himself ordering alterations to the 18th to address some rather sharp criticism of the hole.

Now it looks like the entire fairway has been moved right and flattened.  Is the back tee still in the lower left hand part of the pic?  I recall it was a ~275 carry just to reach the fairway.

#17 is a real grip-tightener.  But once you've played the hole and realize there's plenty of room beyond the gaping bunker on the right, it's not quite so bad.

Is there anyone else out there who thinks that the bunkering on this course may be just a little bit overdone?

Secondly, I noticed that some of the thousands of bunkers Whistling has, have become over grown.  It will be interesting to compare pictures of the courses in twenty years to see if the bunkers continue to disappear and fill in with native grasses.  The course may just have a couple hundred bunkers if thats case.

Let's hope so.  It looks rediculous.  

First time I've really bothered to look at many pics of WS and I simply don't like all that sand.

The more everyone here hates the look of the course, the more it makes me love it.

People really think this course deserves world wide acclaim?  

That is one great looking course. Thanks for posting the pics.

still need your bucket, spade and towel on either course by the looks of it.