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By VW
“I should say this with some degree of modesty. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen anything like this. Anyplace. Period.” Those were the words Pete Dye, the renowned course architect, used to describe the Straights Course. Built along the bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, this course is a work of utter majesty. As the host to the 2004 PGA Championship, the golfing world was given its first glimpse of Dye’s creative immortality. To walk this course, to experience Whistling Straights, is to see heaven on earth.
| #1 |
"Outward Bound." Standard advice for the entire course is to focus on tee shot accuracy. The landscape offers several painful ways to lengthen the course and drive up your score. Aim your tee shot right of center to offer the best approach to a level green. Par is an easily achievable score to walk off the first green with. |
| #2 |
"Cross Country." A legitimate par 5 playing just over 500 yards from the whites. As the prevailing winds at the Straights are from the west, run your tee shot up the right side of the fairway. A bunker that could house the entire German Army is positioned in front of the green. This location requires some serious thought as to whether to get aggressive early in the round. A forgiving green can aid in posting low scores on this hole. |
| #3 |
"O'Man." This is the first par 3 on the course, playing just under 150 yards. Tee shots should take aim at the right side of the green to avoid the bunkers that line the left side of both the fairway and green. Also to be considered is the right to left breeze and the gigantic lake situated to your immediate left. The green slopes right to left, so the safe play can also reward you on your putt. |
| #4 |
"Glory." This par 4 is the hardest on the course, playing 404 yards. There are hazards on both sides of the fairway (that pesky lake again!) so the best target is the right side of the fairway. Tee shots tend to roll to the left following the contour. Too far left and your approach will have to carry the bunkers and dunes that front the left side of the green. |
| #5 |
"Snake." This par 5 is best played in three shots. Tee shots should stay to the left to avoid the water on the right. The first dogleg heads right. You can opt to cut the corner over the water, but the landing area is extremely narrow. Two mid-iron shots will get you safely to a guarded green. |
| #6 |
"Gremlin's Ear." Take aim up the left side of the fairway on this par 4 to play it safely. Long-ball hitters can attempt to cut the dogleg and drive the green, just 332 yards away. The right side of the fairway is fraught with hazards including bunkers and dunes. The safe approach is to the left side of this monster green. |
| #7 |
"Shipwreck." This mid-length par 3 is just begging for tee shots to fade into Lake Michigan on the right side. The smart play is to the left side of the green. The prevailing wind will carry your shot left to right, so take this into account to avoid some nasty bunker play on the right. |
| #8 |
"On the Rocks." Stay to the left on this 387-yard par 4. The bluff on the right is a severe drop with little chance of recovery. The green is narrow and deep, so approach shots tend to be longer than on your average par 4's. |
| #9 |
"Down & Dirty." This may be the first opportunity to let your driver loose. Tee shots should funnel from left to right on a wide open landing area. Be cautious on your approach. The recipe for success on this hole is simple; aggressive off the tee and accurate on your approach. The front of the green is open to shots that can roll up. The sides and back are well-defended with bunkers and dunes. |
| #10 |
"Voyager." Throw caution to the wind and go for the green on this short par 4. There are hazards available to any strategy, but at least you have the opportunity to make up some ground by going for the green off the tee. |
| #11 |
"Sandbox." This is a pedestrian par 5, playing 504 yards. The hole doglegs to the right, so cut the right side bunkers to shorten your second shot. The smart play is to a narrow landing area front right of the green, taking the huge bunker on the left out of play. From position A, you will have a pitch or chip to a small green. |
| #12 |
"Pop Up." Certainly one of the more beautiful holes on the course, this short par 3 requires accurate short-iron play to a downhill green. Thanks to the constant wind, club selection is key on this tough little par 3. |
| #13 |
"Cliff Hanger." This par 4 draws its name from the position of the green, as the right edge hangs over Lake Michigan. Drives down the left side will move to the right, driven by both the wind and contour of the fairway. Approach shots should be played to the left of center. There is a bailout area to the back of the green, so be aggressive on distance to make an easy par. |
| #14 |
"Widow's Watch." This 331-yard dogleg left par 4 plays routinely. Drive to the right corner of the dogleg for the best approach to an undulating green. This green, like others on this course, are heavily guarded on three sides. Skilled short iron golfers will find this an enjoyable challenge to navigate the severe slope to the right and bunker/mound combinations left and to the back of the green. The rest of us are forced again to prove our sand shot skills. |
| #15 |
"Grand Strand." Don't let the yardage fool you. This par 4 requires your entire bag of shots to maintain your round. Much like the 5th, this is a double dogleg that first goes right and then left abruptly before the green. Longer drives can take much of the work out of this hole, but will still leave a tricky short iron to a large green that, depending on pin position, can break you. Three putts were in surplus during our round. |
| #16 |
"Endless Bite." Playing just 481 yards, this is the shortest of the par 5's on the course. Immediately, you will be pressed to decide to whether to play this as a three-shot par 5 or to pull the driver out and think of the green in two. Experience dictates the more humble approach. Play a 3-wood off the tee, followed by two mid-iron shots. Your approach shot must be accurate in length and direction, unless you have always wanted to try and play a Cliffside shot. |
| #17 |
"Pinched Nerve." While on the tee box, take in the view and give a shot at hitting the large rock out in Lake Michigan. (We think it might be a 7-iron shot.) Play your tee shot over the mounded bunker on the right on this par 3. In doing so, you avoid the drop off to the left. Typically, the right hand play will leave a longer putt, but it is certain to be the lesser of two evils. |
| #18 |
"Dyeabolical." Be careful off the tee as shots tend to carry further than intended. Play the entirety of the hole to the right. The left side of the fairway is full of opportunities to add strokes to your score. Approach shots should favor the right side to avoid Seven Mile Creek. To say that the 18th green is big is the ultimate understatement. You could put a subdivision or Tiger's guest house on this green and still have room to putt. No worse than bogie should be attainable on this finishing hole. Savor the enjoyment of the round and start thinking of where to rest your weary legs after the required 18-hole walk. |
| Our most poetic descriptions of the Straights Course would still fall shamefully short of what the experience truly brings to any golfer, of any skill, who has the good fortune to literally, walk this course. In our opinion, the only downside to playing here is losing yourself in the moment and looking back, feeling simply overwhelmed and at a loss for what the round entailed. What Pete Dye built and what the fine staff carry on in Kohler is nothing short of golfing perfection. |
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| 1) |
Fee Factor
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15
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| To put this into perspective, a round here is equal to a lease payment on a mid-range BMW. With green fees, the required caddie, and gratuity, a normal round is more than $425. That said, we returned to play the twilight rate, a steal at $230! |
| 2) |
Friendliness Factor
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20
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| We came to Whistling Straights to have a great time, and it always felt like that was the goal of every employee we met. We were also fortunate to draw a great caddie who catered to us without smothering us. |
| 3) |
Fringe Factor
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20
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| The practice facility was in outstanding condition. The pro shop and clubhouse were pristine. Our drinks prior to and immediately following the round were shared in the Whistling Straights Restaurant. The service and staff were amazing. Opening the bar early for us earned the group our heartfelt appreciation. |
| 4) |
From 1st Tee to Handshake Factor
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20
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| Beautifully maintained and well-conceived. Pete Dye is the master and this is his masterpiece. Again, the required caddie seemed excessive, but after walking 18, we started to see halos over their heads. |
| 5) |
Fun Factor
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20
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| This is the way golf should probably be played, walking the course, receiving advice from your caddie, and taking in one of the great golf experiences in the world. Throw in a great group of guys and this day goes down as legendary. |
Website: http://www.destinationkohler.com/golf/ws/ws_index.html
Check out the Where to section: The Inn at Woodlake and The American Club.
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