[Reef Wilson]

I'm having a little trouble making a decision and would love to get some thoughts from those in the treehouse who have played these courses.

In a couple of weeks I've got the chance to play one round at Kohler. I am trying to decide between playing the Black Wolf Run (Original Championship Course) or Whistling Straits. I have never been there before, but will for sure have future opportunities to return to the resort as the in-laws are nearby.

For those who don't know, the BWR original course is only going to be available for public play this year. Next year, the remaining parts of the Valley and Meadow will be done and back open as 2 separate courses.

Is this unique opportunity to play this configuration compelling enough for me to skip my first shot at WS?

FWIW, while there is a cost difference between the 2, that is not really a factor for me on this particular trip. Also, my game is not particularly sharp at the moment. Though I doubt BWR is going to be easy, I have heard WS can be pretty tough.

I'm sure I'll be quite happy either way, just wondering what other might do in this situation.

Thanks!
Reef

PS - Does the wind pickup in the afternoon up there during the summers? Brutally so? Moreso at WS vs. BWR?

[Terry Lavin]

The Straits course is superb; Blackwolf Run is mundane, overrated and forgettable.

[Phil McDade]

Calling SHIVAS! He views the original Blackwolf Run as one the toughest SOB courses there ever was.....

Reef: I'm in agreement with the good judge. However, if you think you have a chance to get to WS in the future, I'd do Blackwolf Run -- that course won't appear, probably ever, again. The course runs hot and cold with folks, but those who like it, tend to love it.

You'll get far more wind at WS than BR. BR wanders mostly around the river in a valley, and isn't subject to the kinds of wind that WS is. WS sits right on the edge of the lake, and every hole, or nearly every one, has a view of the lake and is exposed to wind.

[Adam Clayman]

The judge is often wrong but never in doubt.  
I'll recommend the opposite. Play the original course at BWR over any faux links that requires water views to stimulate the golfer's senses.

BTW, the original is a way better golf course than the composite that is currently known as the River course. The Valley nine is simply sublime in it's variety and the way it flows.  

[PCCraig]

Both are very good and the good news is you can't go wrong. I would say to try to play WS, but if it's hard to get on or if the big price tag makes you think twice BWR is a great spot to play golf. I would disagree with Terry with it being "mundane." Overrated? I suppose so.

Of course there is always Lawsonia Links nearby. I was there this past weekend with a group of buddies and one well traveled friend said to me "this place is great....it looks and plays just like Chicago Golf!"

[Jeff Tang]

Reef, out of all the courses at Kohler I like the River course at BWR the best, more so than the Straits.  However, this course is not the same as the original course at BWR.  I feel like some of the best holes at the resort are 5-13 on the River, and these will be out of play if the original course is the one that's open.  Given that, I would opt for the Straits.

[PThomas]

Blackwolf Run is mundane, overrated and forgettable.

Overrated, maybe?  Mundane and forgettable, hardly!

both it and WS are TOUGH!!!

[Jeff Goldman]

I dissent from Adam's view of the original 18 at BWR.  The holes near the clubhouse, though good, are simply too manufactured, inconsistent with the rest, and, yes, sort of mundane, to elevate it above the River Course, though using the original tee, fairway and the 10th green from Meadow/Valley course almost makes up for it (it was hole 1 at the Womens' Open in 1998, and an outstanding hole).   4 and 14 from the River Course are simply good water holes, and 1, 2, 3 and 15 are similarly nothing special unless you like mounding.

While manufactured, straits is stylish, fun, has a lot of terrific holes, fits together except for 5 and maybe 18 (9 maybe too I guess) and is actually quite playable for mediocre golfers, possibly more so than either the River or composite courses.

[Reef Wilson]

Thanks a bunch for all your comments! I had been leaning BWR and still am but I will likely waffle for a bit while longer just because I can.

I really wanted to hit Lawsonia this time around due to all the raves, but it is a bit further from our base and I want to be sure to hit both courses when I do. Besides, the in-laws are taking the bambino off our hands for a night AND springing for a night at the American Club so that's pretty hard to pass up.

Cheers,
Reef

[PCCraig]

Thanks a bunch for all your comments! I had been leaning BWR and still am but I will likely waffle for a bit while longer just because I can.

I really wanted to hit Lawsonia this time around due to all the raves, but it is a bit further from our base and I want to be sure to hit both courses when I do. Besides, the in-laws are taking the bambino off our hands for a night AND springing for a night at the American Club so that's pretty hard to pass up.

Cheers,
Reef

Good reasons to visit the American Club and play one of the courses.

If you do go to Lawsonia the choice of which course to play is not nearly as hard as in Kohler...play the Links as many times as you can!

[Reef Wilson]

The judge is often wrong but never in doubt.  
I'll recommend the opposite. Play the original course at BWR over any faux links that requires water views to stimulate the golfer's senses.

BTW, the original is a way better golf course than the composite that is currently known as the River course. The Valley nine is simply sublime in it's variety and the way it flows.  

Adam, Thanks for the "faux links" comment. That has been something passing through my head as I consider my choice. It makes me recall my disappointment playing Fancourt "Links." In this case I will know in advance not to expect firm and fast, but still, thanks mainly to hanging out here I am quite the firm and fast snob. I know I will end up playing Straits at some point.

[Ivan Lipko]

I played the Straits and I'd recommend you to do the same. It's very enjoyable and scenic and though not a true British links is lotsa fun.

[Jud_T]

Drive the hour and 20 minutes to Lawsonia and play the Links.  It's significantly better than either Kohler course and you'll have money left over for a massage when you get back....If you simply must play one of the courses on property, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other IMHO. 

[Carl Nichols]

I was there two weeks ago and played both.  I didn't bother to figure out which holes of the BWR Original Championship Course are part of which course when they're both open, but I thought that while there are some great holes out there (e.g., 16 has to be one of the best par 5's I've played), there are also some unforgettable or overdone holes.  WS, in contrast, has lots of great holes and only a couple head scratchers -- particularly 5 and 18.  Plus you'll play it pretty close to the PGA. 

[Ronald Montesano]

I am clearly one of a few, clear-headed folks on this site.  Barrier Reef, play the original BWR course this time around.  If you'll never get the chance to play it again, you should play it without hesitation.  Then, you can sit the brain-addled members of this forum on your knee one day and remark "I remember when you advised me to play Straits, but luckily, I listened to Ron."

Straits is not a faux links.  It is a manmade links, no doubt, but it plays like a links, as do many other courses not fortunate enough to have been built on natural sand.  You will enjoy it the next time around.

The great disappointments for me at The American Club are the first three holes on Meadows Valley and the final two holes on Irish.

[RJ_Daley]

I'd say Ron is pretty clear headed on this and will second what he said.  Besides, if you say you will have plenty of other opportunities, I'd try to work in one of the shoulder season's to play WS or Irish at a later time, it will always be there whereas the composite, not so much.  As far as I know, they still have better rates before May 15 and after Oct 1 at WS and TIC.  I'd pick October, if they are offering any deals, because the course would probably be in excellent shape, firm and fast, and more likely with a good chance for some interesting wind.  Not to mention, you can get some spectacular days throughout Oct on a spotty basis, and if you luck out, it will be a magical fall round.  That Meadow 9 on the composite course isn't spoken of as much as it deserves.  Probably because people love it if they play the whole Meadow course, and miss it with the whole River, and many can't or don't have the chance to play both, so they tend to pick what they have heard is better, the River, when it may not actually be the best. 

[Mark Smolens]

I would wholeheartedly agree with those who say that you cannot go wrong with either option. However, to see that the "original" course won't be available isn't really correct -- you can always play both the River and the Meadow/Valleys when they're reopened, and figure out which ones were or will be used for the Open. My suggestion would be to play the Championship Course (cheaper), and then drive over to WS for the replay rate! Plus, if you go late enough, you won't have to take a caddy -- which can be pricey and often very unsatisfying. . .

[Jeff Tang]

Question for those familiar with BWR when it first opened.  What was the original routing?  I think for the ladies US Open in '98 the routing was current River 1-4, River 14, MV 10-18, and then River 15-18 in that order.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

However, the last time I was there I could have sworn in the clubhouse / locker room there is a sketched routing hanging on the wall that shows the order of the holes as River 1-4, River 14-18, as the front nine and MV 10-18 as the back.  Was the course originally intended to be played this way?  Was it ever played this way?  Is the current composite course the order that the women play the US Open?  Thanks in advance for anyone that knows.

[Mark Smolens]

My recollection is that River 18 was the 18th hole of the Women's Open. . . the Thai girl from Duke made an absolute bomb to get into the playoff with Se Ri?

[Ronald Montesano]

I just remembered something that should swing the pendulum toward Blackwolf Run...the first hole of the original championship course.  As I was told by the starter, you stand on the first tee of the River Course, turn 180 degrees around and stare toward a fairway that is NEVER in use.  It leads to the 10th green on Meadows Valley and is extraordinarily uphill.  You cannot ever play that hole when both courses are open, so if that is the first hole of the composite course, play the damned thing and let us know how it goes!!!!!

[Ronald Montesano]

Jenny Chuasiriporn and holy smokes, you're right, she is Thai!  I was sure she was Indian.

[Adam Clayman]

I dissent from Adam's view of the original 18 at BWR.  The holes near the clubhouse, though good, are simply too manufactured, inconsistent with the rest, and, yes, sort of mundane, to elevate it above the River Course, though using the original tee, fairway and the 10th green from Meadow/Valley course almost makes up for it (it was hole 1 at the Womens' Open in 1998, and an outstanding hole).   4 and 14 from the River Course are simply good water holes, and 1, 2, 3 and 15 are similarly nothing special unless you like mounding.

While manufactured, straits is stylish, fun, has a lot of terrific holes, fits together except for 5 and maybe 18 (9 maybe too I guess) and is actually quite playable for mediocre golfers, possibly more so than either the River or composite courses.

Jeff, I'm not sure I follow all of your dissent. Are you speaking of the 1st and 2nd holes with all the mounds, between? You do know those are original indian burial mounds, Pete decided to leave alone? The two pond holes are of course not great holes, but the next one, called Sandy Pit (Original 6th) is a fine example of Pete's ability to do low profile, lay of the land stuff, keeping the golfer on their mental toes. I won't argue your point they may be seen as mundane, especially with the increases in I&B, since I played there in the late 80's-early 90's. But I will use your point to show how much a better golf course the original is, compared to the river course. Those early mundane-ish holes set up the climax of the great Valley nine. Opposed to the climax of the River course on holes that were only starting to whet the golfer's appetite for more.
IMO, this is a great example of how great courses are more than a collection of individual holes, checked off like a report card on their individual quality.  The whole is more important to great courses and BWR is the best example of that because we can experience the difference. (save for the original 10th green)

Ronald, I shouldn't have called it a faux links. It was an exaggeration. The original 10th tee did not share ground with the original first tee. It was a different set, up on top of a mound, just below the back of the clubhouse. (near the bridge)

[Carl Nichols]

Ronald-
The hole you describe is indeed the first hole of the course right now -- and it's a very good opening hole. Fairly easy tee shot, and then a really challenging second shot straight uphill. Definitely a cool hole.

[Tim Bert]

I agree with Adam C on the Straits and with Terry L on Blackwolf Run.

How far away is Lawsonia? 

[Adam Clayman]

Carl, That's just not true, if you meant to imply that was the first hole.. The 10th hole goes up that hill. The first hole has always been "Snake" along the river. A par 5

Tim, A little over an hour I think. 90 mins. tops

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