Milwaukee is a beautiful place for golf in the summer. With cool nights and days that aren’t too overwhelmingly hot, golf courses flourish in this area allowing them to play host to some of the most notable major golfing events in America.
Within an hour of the Milwaukee area, a handful of local courses have recently hosted U.S. Opens and PGA Championships. And next year, one of the best courses in America, just a stone’s throw from Milwaukee, will host the 2020 Ryder Cup.
These noted courses in the Milwaukee area always find themselves on the Top 100 Golf Courses lists from various magazines every year.
Here are five of the best golf courses close to Milwaukee that people come from all over the world to play.
Golf Course #1: Erin Hills Golf Course
Erin Hills has become one of the best courses in the United States with its fantastic layout and stunning game play. This public course was host to Brooks Koepka’s 2017 U.S. Open, and after the tournament, the course grew in popularity with golfers coming from all over the nation to take a stab at taming this great golfing beast.
Close in look to a course you’d typically see over in the United Kingdom, Erin Hills has a wide open feel that integrates the local terrain to produce a golfing paradise that every golf lover should try to experience.
Golf Course #2: Whistling Straits - Irish Course
One of two championship courses at the Whistling Straits complex that has earned its reputation for incredible golf near Milwaukee, the Irish Course is a sight to behold. Unlike its’ brother, the Straits course, the Irish is more comfortable to play for inexperienced & senior golfers.
What brings weekend warriors to golf courses like the Irish is the beautiful, immaculate grounds that present a challenge that very few golfers can get anywhere else. Also a links-style course like Erin Hills, the Irish is a real delight that brings excitement for golfers of any skill level.
Golf Course #3: Blackwolf Run - Meadow Valleys Course
In the town of Kohler, one of the most magnificent golf courses sits within an hour of Milwaukee.
At Blackwolf Run, the Meadow Valleys course is an absolute standout with elevation changes that will give you incredible views that will have you reaching for the camera as often as you are trying to find your next club.
Meadow Valleys shares the same grounds as the more popular River course, but that shouldn’t stop you from finding a day to play one of the most spectacular and underappreciated golfing layouts in the state. With breathtaking views and jaw-dropping golf, the Meadow Valleys is worth the cost to play.
Golf Course #4: Whistling Straits - Straits Course
Home to the upcoming 2020 Ryder Cup is the second course at Whistling Straits on this list, the Straits. What’s lovely about this course is that anyone can play and enjoy the home to three past PGA championships and the aforementioned upcoming Ryder Cup.
Once you step foot on the Straits, you’ll see why everyone is in love with this perennial top-five in America golf course. The Pete-Dye design is a masterful challenge that will bring you incredible frustration while wowing you with its artistry.
Golf Course #5: Blackwolf Run - River Course
The last course on our list is another layout at the Blackwolf Run. The River course has held two U.S. Women’s Opens, and as you play this layout, you’ll quickly discover why it is one of the jewels of Wisconsin golf. With speedy greens and lush fairways, the River brings it on every hole, leaving golfers in a stupor of golfing delight, which is ideal to practice golf at the range with training aids for example - all while enjoying the landscape.
Always engaging and never dull, the River sits next to the Sheboygan River, giving you a glimpse of the natural surroundings from an unexpected vantage point. One of the best courses in America, the River is a must-play for vacationing golfers.
